Proclamation of the Birth of Christ

Today, the twenty-fifth day of December,

unknown ages from the time when God created the heavens and the earth
and then formed man and woman in his own image.

Several thousand years after the flood,
when God made the rainbow shine forth as a sign of the covenant.

Twenty-one centuries from the time of Abraham and Sarah;
thirteen centuries after Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt.

Eleven hundred years from the time of Ruth and the Judges;
one thousand years from the anointing of David as king;
in the sixty-fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel.

In the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad;
the seven hundred and fifty-second year from the foundation of the city of Rome.

The forty-second year of the reign of Octavian Augustus;
the whole world being at peace,
Jesus Christ, eternal God and Son of the eternal Father,
desiring to sanctify the world by his most merciful coming,
being conceived by the Holy Spirit,
and nine months having passed since his conception,
was born in Bethlehem of Judea of the Virgin Mary.

Today is the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.

There are two ways of looking at what we will celebrate tonight. One is to say, “Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King.”

Another is to say, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

Both say exactly the same thing in the end.

Merry Feast of the Incarnation of the Son of God! I’ll be scarce till the New Year. Please play well with others in the comboxes!