From Heaven Above

But the angel said to them, ‘Fear not; for behold I bring you good news of a great joy for all people: for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with that angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace, good will to men!’
Luke 2:10-14

 From Heaven Above LBW 51

 1    From heav’n above to earth I come to bring good news to ev’ryone!
     Glad tidings of great joy I bring to all the world, and gladly sing:

2    To you this night is born a child of Mary, chosen virgin mild;
      this newborn child of lowly birth shall be the joy of all the earth.

3    This is the Christ, God’s Son most high, who hears your sad and bitter cry;
      he will himself your Savior be and from all sin will set you free.

4    The blessing which the Father planned the Son holds in his infant hand,
      that in his kingdom, bright and fair, you may with us his glory share.

5    These are the signs which you will see to let you know that it is he:
      in manger-bed, in swaddling clothes the child who all the earth upholds.

6    How glad we’ll be to find it so! Then with the shepherds let us go
      to see what God for us has done in sending us his own dear Son.

7    Look, look, dear friends, look over there! What lies within that manger bare?
      Who is that lovely little one? The baby Jesus, God’s dear Son.

8    Welcome to earth, O noble Guest, through whom this sinful world is blest!
      You turned not from our needs away! How can our thanks such love repay?

9    O Lord, you have created all! How did you come to be so small;
      to sweetly sleep in manger-bed where lowing cattle lately fed?

10  O dearest Jesus, holy child, prepare a bed, soft, undefiled,
      a holy shrine, within my heart, that you and I need never part.

11  My heart for very joy now leaps; my voice no longer silence keeps;
      I too must join the angel-throng to sing with joy his cradle-song:

12  “Glory to God in highest heav’n, who unto us his Son has giv’n.”
      With angels sing in pious mirth: a glad new year to all the earth!

Martin Luther, 1483-1546

When we think of the hymns of Martin Luther, “A Mighty Fortress” comes to mind.  But Luther was a prolific writer, and loved Christmas before it was cool. He wrote this hymn for his son, Hans, to be sung by the family on Christmas Eve.   It is a beautiful reminder that the promise of the birth of Christ was good news, “to all people”!  We could all use a little Good News right now!

 Prayer:  Father, thank you for the gift of your son at Christmas.  May this hymn remind us that no matter what this Christmas may bring, that Christ once born in a manger, is also born into each and every loving heart!  Amen.