The exact date of
the birth of Jesus is not known, and during the earliest centuries of the Church
it seemed to have little signifi-cance. This followed the Early Church’s
tradition of honoring and celebrating a Christian’s death as his or her birth
date into eternity and the ongoing presence of Jesus. Likewise the life, work,
death, and resurrection of Christ was of much greater importance to early
Christians than the earthly details of His life. The earliest nativity feast,
Epiphany (January 6), celebrated both the birth and Baptism of Christ. However,
in the fourth century great Christological controversies that questioned
Christ’s divinity and humanity raced throughout Christianity. By AD 336,
December 25 had been established in Rome as the celebration of Christ’s birth,
a festival welcomed particularly by orthodox Christians in the West. From Rome,
Christ’s natal festival spread throughout the Western Church. In Eastern
traditions of the Church, Epiphany remains the principal celebration of the
birth of Jesus. [Kinnaman, Scot A. (2008-10-31). Treasury of Daily Prayer
(Kindle Locations 32468-32469). Concordia Publishing House. Kindle Edition.]
Collect of the Day
O God, You make
this most holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that as we have known the mysteries of
that Light on earth we may also come to the fullness of His joys in heaven;
through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with
You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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