Dear Christian friends:

The angel told the shepherds that he was bringing them "Good News." Good News! There's not much of that around these days is there? True, we have news but not much of it is good. The bombing of Baghdad on the world scene, the impeachment of the president here at home accompanied by political rhetoric full of ill will and rancor dominate the news. Even our local news is mostly bad news.

Upsetting as all that is these days it is no different from what it has always been. Certainly it was the same in "those days" when Caesar Augustus sent out his decree that all the world should be taxed. Big people spoke and little people had to scramble. Decisions made by a few in one place affected people all over the world. And that's still going on today.

It was into such a world of depressing events and negative news that God sent forth His Son. The "fullness of time had come." Behind the movers and shakers of the world and unknown to them to carry out His eternal plan according to His perfect timetable. It all came together on the night when angels from the realms of glory winged their way to proclaim the news: "To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." Now that's Good News!!! News of great joy! News of peace on earth and good will to men, News for all people everywhere!

This Good News is not meant to better our economic and social life here on earth as many ministers will interpret it tonight and tomorrow. It's true, that may be a by-product of it or a side effect, but it is not the main point. The main point is this: The Savior is "Christ, the Lord." He came to save us from sin and the wages of sin which is death, spiritual death, temporal death and eternal death. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) And Jesus Himself said, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting lift. (John 3:16)

A few days ago I received a Christmas card from a pastor friend. On the cover was a nativity scene and beneath it these significant and comforting words, "He came to pay a debt He didn't own, because we owed a debt we couldn't pay." St. Paul said the same thing with these precious words, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21) This is Good News! The greatest news that honest, conscience stricken sinners can hear!

We need to hear this Good News again this Christmas. Just like the world desperately needed that same Good News the first Christmas, so we need it now. We need to hear it, take it to heart and let this Good News fill us with hope, truth, joy and peace, even though all around us we hear nothing but bad news.

Even if we have to stand at the grave of a loved one this Christmas Season we can still have hope, truth, joy and peace in our hearts amidst the tears and the grief of our loss for we have the Good News about the Savior, Christ the Lord directly from God Himself through His angel messenger.

May this Good News be for us this Christmas "Love's Pure Light" beaming radiantly into our hearts and lives!

Amen.