Send the Spirit of Your Son into Our Hearts--Dec. 24, 2015

In our distress we call upon you, O God,

we cry to you for help, for darkness

covers the earth, thick darkness the peoples.

Arise upon us; let your glory appear

over us.  Send the Spirit of your Son into our hearts,

crying, "Abba! Father!" for he will set us

free to be your children, and you will be with us.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 18:1-20; 147:12-20; 126; 62

Isa. 60:1-6

Gal. 3:23-4:7

Matt. 1:18-25

Selected Verses

Ps. 18:6a

In my distress I called upon the LORD;

     to my God I cried for help.

Isa. 60:2

For darkness shall cover the earth,

     and thick darkness the peoples;

but the LORD will arise upon you,

     and his glory will appear over you.

Gal. 4:6

And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 

Gal. 4:7

So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

Matt. 1:22-23

All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

     "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

            and they shall name him Emmanuel,"

which means, "God is with us."