For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon His shoulder,
and His name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
(Isaiah 9:6).
Day 23 (December 24, 2018)
Silent Night, Holy Night
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
’Round yon virgin, mother and child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing “Alleluia:
Christ the Savior is born;
Christ the Savior is born!”
Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
Words: Joseph Mohr, 1792-1848
Music: Franz Gruber, 1787-1863
Stanzas 1-3
Day 22 (December 23, 2018)
What Child is This
What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through;
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail, the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise the song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
William Chatterton Dix, 1837-1898
Stanzas 1-3
Day 21 (December 22, 2018)
Luke 2:15-20
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God had revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told! (Luke 2:15-20).
Translation: The Message
Day 20 (December 21, 2018)
Luke 2:8-14
There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please Him (Luke 2:8-14).
Translation: The Message
Day 19 (December 20, 2018)
Luke 2:1-7
About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancee, who was pregnant.
While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel (Luke 2:1-7).
Translation: The Message
Day 18 (December 19, 2018)
Lo, in the silent night
A child to God is born
And all is brought again
That ere was lost or lorn.
Could but thy soul, O man,
Become a silent night!
God would be born in thee
And set all things aright.
15th century, author unknown
Day 17 (December 18, 2018)
Whate’er my God Ordains is Right
What God ordains is always good:
His will is just and holy.
As He directs my life for me,
I follow meek and lowly.
My God indeed
In ev’ry need
Knows well how He will shield me;
To Him, then, I will yield me.
What God ordains is always good:
He never will deceive me;
He leads me in His righteous way,
And never will He leave me.
I take content
What He has sent;
His hand that sends me sadness
Will turn my tears to gladness.
What God ordains is always good:
His loving thought attends me;
No poison can be in the cup
That my Physician sends me.
My God is true;
Each morning new
I trust His grace unending,
My life to Him commending.
Samuel Rodigast, 1649-1708
Stanzas 1-3
Day 16 (December 17, 2018)
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (cont’d)
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of humankind;
O bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be for us our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Latin, c. 12th century
Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, Koln, 1710
Translated by John Mason Neale, 1818-1866
Stanzas 1 & 7
Day 15 (December 16, 2018)
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (cont’d)
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by Your drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadow put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Latin, c. 12th century
Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, Koln, 1710
Translated by John Mason Neale, 1818-1866
Stanzas 1 & 6