Tagged: Daily Reflections
Merry Christmas “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him Who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation.” —Isaiah 52:7 We parents can spend much time gazing at our babies. We enjoy the way our infant’s feet and toes curl up and expand. We count the number of toes and fingers. Each little movement brings fresh delight. Before we know it, we’ve spent a half-hour contemplating our baby. We can spend hours looking at our own baby, and never tire of it. This is because we love our baby so much. Jesus took on flesh...
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“Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, uttered this prophecy…” —Luke 1:67 To give birth, a mother must be pregnant for approximately nine months. To give birth this Christmas, a Christian must be filled with Jesus for at least a few weeks. The birth of every creature requires a pregnancy of varying duration. Have you carried the baby long enough? Have you reached full term? How far apart are the contractions? Tomorrow is birth day, Jesus’ birthday. Are you ready for birthing? Zechariah went through the nine-month pregnancy with his wife. It was a difficult pregnancy. He was deaf...
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“He will purify the sons of Levi.” —Malachi 3:3 Two days before Christmas, the Church reads to us from Malachi the prophet. Malachi prophesied to priests, calling them to greater holiness and leadership in worship and instruction (Mal 1:6; 2:1, 6-7). Malachi foretells that priests, that is, “the sons of Levi,” will be refined in fire “like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord” (Mal 3:3). Zechariah was a priest (Lk 1:5). He was struck mute because of his disbelief in God’s Good News to him (Lk 1:20). When Zechariah the priest obeyed God’s...
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“When Joseph awoke he did as the angel of the Lord had directed him.” —Matthew 1:24 Many of you have Christmas planned. You’re going to go to certain parties, see certain family members and friends, and give specific presents. You expect to receive a few presents yourself along with some Christmas goodies. The Christmas you have planned is about the same as last year’s Christmas, with a few minor variations. What if Jesus decided to change your Christmas plans dramatically? Would you let Him be Lord of your Christmas? Ahaz had plans about how to avoid destruction by the Assyrians....
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“Hark! my lover — here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills.” —Song of Songs 2:8 At the very beginning of her pregnancy, Mary visited Elizabeth. “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice: ‘Blest are you among women and blest is the Fruit of your womb. But who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?’ ” (Lk 1:41-43) Both Elizabeth and John responded to Jesus’ presence and Mary’s visitation with praise in the Holy...
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