"Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives: Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan."
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, December 8, 1941
It is one of those generational dates in history. The kind of date marking an event that everyone who was alive can remember where they were [Listen to FDR's speech at wikipedia]. Roosevelt's speech stands along with the announcement of the assassination of President Kennedy, the first images and sounds of Astronaut Neil Armstrong taking that giant leap onto the surface of the moon. Since then, we have had the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy, and the attacks of September 11.
Three of these are tragic, one cause for celebration. All of these have the common characteristic and trait of having occurred after the advent of modern communication. Radio, then television, and now the internet allow millions of people to witness events in real-time. This has helped, I believe, to spread more quickly the news and the commentary on events that soon become history.
That was not the case with arguably the most significant announcement of history: the advent of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea. Despite the help of a host of angels, the news spread slowly about what had happened. The commentary about the significance of Jesus' birth took even longer to develop. Only a handful knew, most notably Mary. Yet, here we are celebrating the entrance into history the One who changed everything. It is more than a date to be remembered, or a figure to be studied. He is one to be worshiped.
See you in worship, Scott
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