An Advent Prayer for December 11

Prayer for the Feast of Christmas

Traditional Orthodox Prayer

Before Thy birth, O Lord, the angelic hosts looked with trembling on this mystery and were struck with wonder: for Thou who hast adorned the vault of heaven with stars hast been well pleased to be born as a babe; and Thou who holdest all the ends of the earth in the hollow of Thy hand
art laid in a manger of dumb beasts.

For by such a dispensation has Thy compassion been made known, O Christ,
and Thy great mercy: glory to Thee.

Today Christ is born of the Virgin in Bethlehem.

Today He who knows no beginning now begins to be,

and the Word is made flesh.

The powers of heaven greatly rejoice

and the earth with mankind makes glad.

The Magi offer gifts, the shepherd proclaim the marvel, and we cry aloud without ceasing: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men.

            “The angelic hosts looked with trembling.”  When was the last time we came with “trembling” to a worship service or dropped to our knees, “sore afraid” in the presence of the Almighty God?  In the attempt of the church to make its experience seeker-friendly and its message palatable to the listener, has the sense of awe disappeared?  As the stories of the gospels are told through the lips of Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato, do our children lose the sense of mystery, that the word is truly made flesh?

            Yes, as the spiritual mournfully tells us, “O, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.”  Not just the death and resurrection of Jesus, but his reconciling birth as well.  “Glory to God in the highest!”

Prayer Focus:  to worship with awe and trembling