Fear Not! For behold I bring you good tidings

The shepherds had good reason to fear the unmasked glory of God that shone round about them. But everyone has reason to fear the sheer glory of God, for all have sinned. The darkest recesses of the heart are all known to him. Yet the angel's message to the shepherds and to us is: Fear not. For the Christ-child is come in humility: see, he is Babe in arms. No reason to fear this; rather, let us receive him gladly and humbly, and, having received him, learn that there is nothing to fear. For his enemies could not dissuade him, nor the lack of room in the inn, nor the cold winter's night. He orders all things, even while in his mother's arms. Fear not! Sermon for Christmas Eve.