Wednesday 24 December 2025
Christmas Eve
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord – Ps 88(89):2-5, 27, 29. Luke 1:67-79.
Hold fast to hope
One of the gifts of having readings from both the Old and New Testaments is that we can see how a community’s relationship with God develops and changes with their times. In today’s readings, we see King David in a moment of peace, considering how the God who has blessed them might be better honoured. In the Gospel, Zechariah speaks during a time of struggle for the Jewish people but still hopes that God will rescue the people ‘from the hands of our enemies’ and ‘enable us to serve him without fear’. We know, though, that Zechariah’s son John the Baptist will himself be killed for his ministry.
Today’s world is different again, but not without its challenges. Many Christian communities across the globe will celebrate this Christmas amid fear of persecution, including violence and death. We pray that their courage to hold fast to the hope offered by God might inspire our own faith and courage this Christmas.
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