John 1:1-5 & 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Matthew 1:18-24: This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about. His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Whatever has happened in your life this year, may you take comfort in the reality of the gift we celebrate this Christmas. God made flesh, living among us, and born to die to save us all.
I pray that each of you is able to spend time with families of origin or families of choice. I also pray that for those of you for whom the holidays are difficult due to memories of past abuses or recent losses, you may find peace with the Prince of Peace. Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.
Stop back on Thursday to see where the North American Shop Hop is visiting next!