Christmas Day is over, or at least it is for those of us in the West, but for those in the Eastern Orthodox tradition it is yet to come, the birth of Christ being celebrated on 7 January. There is, I think, a lesson we can draw from that: the fact that the message Christmas proclaims is not tied to a particular place and time but goes on being true for all people in all places, day after day. The following prayer, taken from my book A Calendar of Classic Prayer, comes, fittingly, from the Eastern Orthodox Church, and captures a sense of the awesome significance of God sharing our humanity and walking our earth, the Word made flesh. It is not just shepherds and magi that give thanks but all creation, and that poses an all-important question to you and me: in what way have we responded to this most precious of gifts? RSVP.
What shall we offer thee, O Christ,
who for our sakes hast appeared on earth as Man?
Every creature made by thee offers thee thanks.
The angels offer thee a hymn;
the heavens a star;
the magi, gifts;
the shepherds, their wonder;
the earth, its cave;
the wilderness, the manger:
and we offer thee a Virgin Mother.
O God from everlasting,
have mercy upon us.
Amen.