Bethlehem: Holy City

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2012

Bethlehem: Holy City of the Savior

Luke 2

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob and ancestor of Jesus, is buried in this town. And thus ended a marriage that marked the beginning of the 12 Tribes of Israel.

And then in that same place, another marriage began. From a great distance Ruth traveled to this little village with her mother-in-law Naomi, and by Christ's mercy, she found her future husband Boaz. He was a native of this town and after he had married Ruth, they had a son named Obed. Obed grew up there and he got married and had a son named Jesse. Jesse grew up there and got married and he had a son named David.

The prophet Samuel traveled to this city and found King David living there, just as the Magi would travel to find the King there many years later.

This place had an ancient bloodline. This place whose name is literally “House of Bread” was chosen as the birthplace of the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ. This place is Bethlehem.

The Holy Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 2.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a Child. While they were there, the time came for the Baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Gospel of the Lord.