"Oh, if I had only been there... I would have washed His crib and made His bed."

There are many who think as follows: "Oh, if I had only been there, how well I would have served the infant; I would have washed His crib and made His bed. Oh, if only I were as fortunate as the shepherds to see Him lying in the manger,"and the like. Yes, you want to do that now since you now know how great Christ is. But you wold have done just as little for Him as did the citizens of Bethlehem in their day. Those are childish and foolish thoughts. Why don't you do it now? You have Christ in your neighbor whom you shall serve with good works. What you do for your neighbor who is suffering and stuck in misery, you do for Christ Himself as He will say on the last day to the elect: "What you have done for these My poor brothers you have done for Me." That is why it is so annoying, yes, foolish to hear such childish thoughts. Therefore let us once against open our eyes since we can scarcely find any better example, lest a great calamity come over us.

Luther, Christmas Eve

Luther's Festival Sermons

Translated by Baseley, p. 108