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Gospel Reading for December 18, 2024 – Matthew 1: 18-25
SO VERY BLESSED and VERY GRATEFUL
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall be
with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him
Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.
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After a long line of prophets who foretold the coming of the Messiah, and who prepared the people for his coming, when the Messiah finally came, he was not the warrior they hoped would fight for them against the Romans. Instead, the Messiah brought God to them. When Jesus healed the sick, it was God himself healing the sick. When Jesus spoke, it was God himself speaking to them. When Jesus fed the crowds, it was God feeding them. If they realized this, they would have felt SO VERY BLESSED and VERY GRATEFUL. Imagine, they had a “Meet and Greet” opportunity with the one who created the universe and the one who created them!
We need not have been born during Jesus’ time, to be assured of God’s presence among us. “God is with us” even now. When the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of God, came down on Pentecost, it was a promise that God will always be with us. We will be SO VERY BLESSED and VERY GRATEFUL if we realize this. In the midst of challenges and difficulties, we are sure that we are never alone. God is with us.
There are those of us who “go gaga” over k-pop stars, but these stars are no match for Jesus, the one and only star! He is the Son of God!
Lord Jesus, be with us every step of the way!
