“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10)
January 4, 2023
Dear Children of God, how are you? How are you welcoming the feast of Lord Jesus Christ’s Birth day? We hope you are getting ready to celebrate it with your family, neighbors and friends. Though it is the time for holiday, you must also be prepared for the mid semester exam and study hard. You shall read more and understand well the courses and notes that your teacher taught you. We hope you do well in your exams and pass all of them.
Dear Children, as education is practical knowledge, you have to make use of what your teacher teaches you every day in school to be a good student, child and citizen. If so, it will help you to be good for others and make God happy. You will become generous, kind, intelligent and have love for people. Good children! Today we will tell you the story of “The Birth day of Lord Jesus Christ.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, was born from Holy Virgin Mary in the city of Bethlehem during the reign of the emperor Augustus (Octavian). On that year, Caesar Augustus issued a ruling for a general census (counting of people in one country) in all the Roman Empire. For that reason, Joseph (the guardian of Saint Mary) rose, with virgin Mary with him, and went from the city of Nazareth to “Bethlehem” to be counted in the census there because he was from the tribe of Judah, from the house of Prophet David. Bethlehem was the city of David. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the Saint Mary gave birth to her first born child and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and put him in a manger, for they did not have a place for them in the inn (guest house).
There were shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; Then they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all the people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: you will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.” Suddenly there was, with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found the Baby, Saint Mary, Joseph, and Salomi, (who was the cousin of Saint Mary). The place was shining with light. Now when they had seen him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this child. Then they worshipped the child and they returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen. (Luke 2:1-20)
Dear Children of God, we should receive this feast with purity and every good thing. We should comfort and help the poor. We should ask God to forgive our sins, and to bless our gatherings,
May God grant us many returns of this feast, filled with the blessings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who came for our salvation.
To Him be the Glory and Honor forever. Amen.
Source: Coptic Orthodox Synaxarium