My “elevator speech” explanation of the Bible goes something like this:
The Bible is the story of how God gathers his people together and prepares them to be with him in his Glory forever.
That’s painting with a massive brush, to be sure. But overall, that’s what the scriptures are trying to explain to us.
O God, you are and you have been forever. You have shone forth from a Virgin: have mercy on us!
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
Prayers and blessings to all.
Lord my God, I sing you a Nativity hymn, rejoicing in the vigil of the feast. By your birth you have given me divine rebirth, raising me up to my first excellence.
O Lord, do not rebuke me in your wrath, nor chasten me in your hot displeasure! I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. In you, O Lord, do I hope; you will hear, O Lord my God.
Vindicate me, Lord my God, according to your righteousness; and let not my enemies rejoice over me. Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions. Say to my soul: “I am your salvation.”
You, O Lord, are my hiding place. You shall preserve me from trouble. You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we place our hope in you. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise befits the upright.
When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. I acknowledged my sin to you. I have not hidden my transgression. And you forgave the discord of my sin.
I said in my haste, ‘I am cut off from before your eyes!’ Nevertheless you heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to you. Blessed be the Lord, for he has shown me his marvelous kindness.
