Redeemer Lutheran & St. Theodore’s

By Lisa Rotchford

Reverend

Often, simplest is best. This Christmas, when we are instructed to stay home, experiencing a simpler, quieter holy-day season than before, we can see the quiet as a gift. We might have more time to rest and reflect.

In the 19th century, Christini Rosetti wrote a poem that reminds us of the true gift of Christmas: God’s love.

“Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, Love divine; Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine; worship we our Jesus, but wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine; love to God and others, love for plea and gift and sign.”

The poem is based on 1 John 4:7-11, a passage that mentions “love” 11 times: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

May you feel love come down from heaven, share that love, and know you are loved this Christmas and always.