A Reversal of Fortune | The Eve of the Nativity of our Lord | 24 December 2025 | Luke 2:1-14 | Timothy Eichler |

Luke 2:1-14 English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

A Reversal of Fortune

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

On this Christmas Eve, we have read Holy Scripture and sang songs celebrating a reversal of fortune for our lives as a people and as individuals. The texts of Holy Scripture and the songs we have sung are very familiar. Almost too familiar as they become nostalgia. That sentimental longing for past experiences when in our hearts and souls times were simpler. Still as familiar as Holy Scripture or the words of the songs are to us. They are comforting words embracing us.  We are comforted by their glow in the darkness of the night. Into the darkness of our lives comes the light of God in Jesus Christ a light to illuminate our way. A light to reverse the fortune of darkness.

The reversal of fortune … our salvation comes to us as the declared in our reading from Isaiah 9:

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned, (Isaiah 9:2).

The darkness in which people were walking and are walking is a life filled with government corruption or ruling authorities corruption; from the time of Isaiah to Caesar Augustus to our own lives.  This is the darkness of those desiring to rule or are ruling over life. Our readings from Isaiah and Luke this night bring us face-to-face with the political realities of Isaiah’s time to the Roman occupation under Caesar Augustus to the struggle for power in our own time. What the political realities of Isaiah’s time, Luke’s time, and our time have in common is an oppression soft or hard by those who desire to exert power and control over the population for their own benefit. Why else would Caesar Augustus mandate a census? Why would the government or ruling authority want to know where the people are? Who the people are? Other than to control them. In other words, the census is a declaration of who is in charge. Who is the authority in life? This is our communal darkness.

The other darkness we live in is a more personal darkness. It is the darkness of our personal lives: lack of health, lack of resources (wealth), grief, loneliness, do I make a difference as in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”, or general welfare.

It is into the darkness of life, when you you cannot see your hand in front of your face, comes the light of life. Isaiah describes the coming of this light in the seventh chapter of his book:

Therefore the LORD [Yahweh] himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel [God with us], (Isaiah 7:14).

It was my first year in the parish, my first Christmas Eve serving and living on the northern prairie of North Dakota. The sun had set and the temperature was a bit warmer than the day before as it was a balmy -16 below instead of -26 below. The church was located on the prairie truly a country church surrounded its graveyard and vast farmland. The nave of the church was full. There was the nip in the air — if you can call -16 nippy — with snow gently falling. In the midst of what many would consider wilderness came the message of the nativity of our Lord Jesus — Immanuel. God who saves is with us!

I hold this memory close to my heart and soul. In the darkness of the landscape and weather resided a darkness in part of my heart. My mother died unexpectedly four months earlier, two weeks before my ordination. In the darkness of that cold December night came the God who saves us and dwells with us: Jesus Christ!

Singing along with the congregation we sang:

Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay. Close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in your tender care. And fit us for heaven to live with you there. (Away in a Manger verse 3).

As we sang this verse from Away in a Manger my heart and soul were lifted. The burden of the darkness was lifted. The promise of God coming into our world gave hope. The promise of God dwelling with us reminds us that we are not alone.

Into the darkness of life comes the God who saves and dwells with us: Jesus Christ!

To God be the glory now and forever. Amen

©Timothy Richard Eichler
pastoreicher@gmail.com
Resurrection Lutheran Church
Coronado, CA, USA