Morning Prayer for Christmas

In Thee, my God and Saviour, my heart rejoices, as I now awake from sleep, and think of Thy holy conception and birth. Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh. My weak and finite mind cannot, indeed, comprehend or explain the Incarnation; but my soul is enraptured by its contemplation. And although my reason must bow in awe before the impenetrable veil which shrouds this mystery — a veil which shall be removed only in eternity, — Thy Word, which is the truth and cannot lie, not only assures me that the incarnation actually took place, but even indicates not unclearly the manner in which it occurred. It describes Thy conception and birth beautifully in the words of the angel to Mary: “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.”

In this description I find ample cause for joy; and when I contemplate it, I am filled with delight. For I picture to myself how the Holy Spirit, as the all-wise and all-powerful Architect, came to Mary; cleansed from all sin the building which Thy divinity was to occupy; and filled it with His most holy gifts. I lecture to myself how Thou, the power of the Highest, whose name is called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, didst occupy this holy building, unite it with Thy divinity, and impart to the human nature which Thou didst assume all Thy divine attributes and prerogatives. I picture to myself how Thou, by becoming a child and partaking of our flesh and blood, hast sanctified our human nature, and made us acceptable to Thy heavenly Father. What streams of blessedness must not descend upon me, if, when I awake, I ponder over these things in holy contemplation!

O my Jesus, who by Thy incarnation hast become my Brother! how rich, how blessed Thou dost make me! In Thee I now possess all things. With Thee I can secure all things. With Thee I can undertake and do all things. I will not now despair, no matter what tribulations may come upon me; but will turn to Thee, and confidently say: Jesus, my Brother, help me. No distress or sorrow shall cause me to lose courage. I will cling firmly to Thee, because Thou art my Brother, and because, as such, Thou lovest me, and wilt certainly have mercy upon me.

In Thy incarnation, O Jesus, Thou didst take upon Thee my nature, and thereby unite Thyself with me. Make me also partaker of Thy divine nature, that I may lead a godly life, and may surrender myself entirely to the power and guidance of Thy Holy Spirit. Let the high relationship in which I stand to Thee keep me from sin and from fellowship with the world, that I may do nothing which will offend Thee. Let me value Thy friendship higher than anything that is upon the earth. Let me serve Thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life. And since to love Thee is better than all else, let me love Thee ever, and thus remain in Thy fellowship in life and in death, in time and in eternity. O my Brother, my Elect! What joy shall not be mine when, in everlasting blessedness, I behold Thee, whom even here on earth I have loved, clothed in Thy glory and majesty, and am united with Thee forever! I rejoice in spirit at the prospect; my heart is filled with joy. And why should I not rejoice, when, in hope, I am already saved and in heaven with Jesus my Brother? Amen.