Soul Food: Week of December 22, 2024

This week’s respectfully offered daily meditations:

Sunday - Saturday: In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth … to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him & was expecting a child ....

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born & she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths & placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room [at the only inn in town] available …

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks … An angel of the Lord appeared to them & the glory of the Lord shown around them & they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths & lying in a manger.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God: “Glory to God in the highest heaven & on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. When the angels left & gone into heaven, the shepherds … hurried off & found Mary & Joseph & the baby who was lying in the manger …

Davd Soul