Almighty, merciful, and gracious God,
In a world that seems long on worry and fear, but short on hope, have us pause on this Christmas Eve night to reflect that you carry and deliver hope in the most unlikely ways and into the most undignified places. Today, and every day, turn us to Christ in hope. Hope in the creator of the universe, who entered into His creation not in glory, but in the muck and mire of a stable and a lowly manger. Hope in the King of kings, who came to us not in the purple robes of earthly royalty, but enrobed in the soft and fragile flesh of a newborn baby. Hope in the Word made flesh, dwelling among us, the One long promised whose arrival marks the day that the ancient slavery to sin is ending, the day the Light shines in the darkness, the power of death is broken, the curse of sin is taken away and removed from us.
King Jesus,
We so often spin our wheels, hoping to find you in the extraordinary. Turn us in hope to those ordinary things outside of us through which you work. Those seemingly unlikely and undignified places where you promise to be. Hope in you here, in the midst of your body, the church, dwelling in the person to our left and right, and through whom you pour love, service, and forgiveness into the world. Hope in you, here, in your body and blood in, with, and under ordinary bread and wine which you give for our renewal and the strengthening of our faith. Hope in you, here, where you take action in the muck and mire of our lives through your Word from the ordinary lips of another. Hope in the proclamation of the Good News. The good news that the payment for our sins is satisfied, and the righteousness of God is ours, solely and fully on account of You. Grant us rest in that Good News.
Make a way in our hearts, Lord, for Emmanuel is here, the child long promised. The author of love, who knows what it is to be abandoned and so enters into our loneliness that by His love we might never be alone.
Make a way in our hearts, for the King is here, the One long promised. The Servant King who is the fount of joy, yet knows grief, so enters into our sadness to comfort the sorrowful.
Lord, envelop us in the light of your presence, the Word made flesh, bright within this dark world. Spiritual light for the spiritually blind, the cup of salvation for the thirsty, the bread of life for the hungry. For unto us a child is born, a son is given. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Emmanuel, God is with us.
All this we pray in your holy name.
AMEN.