Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Oh, what a beautiful morning. Christmas morning. The messenger comes with beautiful feet, says the prophet—beautiful because they carry a message of good news: God is made known at last. The Lord has bared his holy arm so all nations can see it—no mistake. But, surprise! This bared arm turns out to be a bare arm: the bare arm of a baby in a manger, the bare arm of an innocent man nailed to a cross, the bare arm of one who will bear sins but who will refuse to bear arms. A different kind of ruler to usher in a different kind of rule, a different kind of world. A world where salvation extends to every nation and every people. Oh, what a beautiful morning! -Fred Gaiser
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Isaiah 52:7-10 (NRSV)
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."
8 Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion.
9 Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. |
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