Category: Daily Reflections
“We observed His star at its rising…” —Matthew 2:2 In their homeland, the Magi saw a great star at its rising. Greatly impressed, they set out on their journey to follow the star to greet the newborn King to Whom they believed the star pointed. After they had traveled for a time, they could no longer see the star. They were past the point of no return, and were not sure where God was now leading them. But the Magi did not give up on God’s leading; they did not quit and return back home. Instead, they did the reasonable...
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“It was to destroy the devil’s works that the Son of God revealed Himself.” —1 John 3:8 The purpose of God becoming man, and therefore the purpose of Christmas, is to destroy the devil’s works. That’s why the anti-Christ denies Christ come in the flesh (1 Jn 4:2-3). That’s why Herod “convulsed” in a violent reaction when he heard about the newborn King of the Jews (see Mt 2:2ff). Herod did not overreact but understood the true meaning of Christmas much better than most people. Christmas is God’s invasion of the devil’s privacy here on earth. Christmas is an attack...
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“When you see the Spirit descend and rest on Someone, it is He Who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit.” —John 1:33 The finale of the Christmas season is not Christmas day or even Epiphany but the Baptism of Jesus. This is more emphasized in the Eastern Church. Christmas is Trinitarian. Christmas is to the Father, through the Son, and in the Spirit. Christmas is focused on Christ and culminates in the Holy Spirit, the only true Christmas Spirit. Thus, we should be looking to conclude the Christmas season by having the Holy Spirit stirred into flame in our...
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“The testimony John gave when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask, ‘Who are you?’…” —John 1:19 It is very important for us to know our identity, that is, who we are. For if we don’t know who we are, we don’t know why we are, what we are to do, or who others are. Because it is so important to know our identity, the Lord reveals our identity to us. We know who we are because of Him. We are who we are because of Him. Who we are is who we are in Him. Because...
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“The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” —Numbers 6:26 Mary bore Jesus, the “Prince of Peace” (Is 9:5). Mary is called the Queen of Peace. “When the designated time had come” (Gal 4:4), she bore (Mi 5:2) a child “Who is our Peace” (Eph 2:14; see also Mi 5:4). This Child came “to make peace” (Eph 2:15) and announce the “good news of peace” (Eph 2:17). Jesus made “peace through the blood of His cross” (Col 1:20). How ironic that Mary, the woman of peace, was forced to live in such turmoil and sorrow. As a teenage...
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