Good Words for Today: December 24

Martin Luther wrote many hymns, most notably “A Mighty Fortress.” His best-known Christmas carol is “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come.” Luther originally wrote it for his family’s Christmas Eve devotions in 1531. The version printed in the Lutheran Hymnal contains 15 stanzas. Here are two from the middle of the song: Ah, Lord, who hast created all, How weak art Thou, how poor and small, That Thou dost choose Thine infant bed Where humble cattle lately fed! Were earth a thousand times as fair, Beset with gold and jewels rare, It yet were far too poor to be A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee. This stanza seems like a fitting Christmas Eve prayer: Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child, make now a bed, soft, undefiled within my heart, a quiet place, a holy chamber for Your grace.

December 24, 2016