It’s Advent.
December comes around and Christians everywhere are celebrating and preparing for the birth of Christ. The season is just filled with happiness in the air. People are greeting each other and wishing them a “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas”. Don’t get me wrong, the frenzy of the shopping season can lead to a dislike and annoyance at people. What an experience. Black Friday shopping is no joke.
But, all that aside, every year we celebrate the birth of Christ in December. He came into the world as an innocent baby, unsure of the plan that His Father had for Him.
I heard the greatest quote and I feel called to share it with you.
“A thousand times in history a baby has become a king to rule a nation. But only once has a king become a baby to save all nations.”
How powerful is that? “For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son to save us all.” John 3:16.
When you think about it, God’s plan to send His son was plotted since the beginning of time. Throughout the whole of the Old Testament, God continually promised that He would send a Messiah, a Savior.
Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. This set up the future of humanity. The world was sent into a spiral of sin. We, as humans, still fail daily. But, God’s mercy proves stronger than any sin. Even though He banished Adam and Eve from the Garden, He still took care of them. He promised to send someone to crush the head of the serpent in the ultimate battle of life and death. We are kind of left with a cliffhanger at this beginning chapter of the story of Salvation.
Then, we see the story of Abraham. In his old age, he and his wife Sarah were promised a son. They named him Isaac. Abraham thought that God was calling him to sacrifice his son, but God sent him a lamb to sacrifice instead. God told Abraham that he would have more descendants than the number of stars, that they would receive the promised land, and that he would be the father of many nations. Abraham took God’s promise and held it in his heart.
Isaac, Judah, Jesse, and David continue the genealogy of Christ. Each one has something special to their name. Isaac was the grandfather of the twelve tribes of Israel and the father of Jacob. Judah was the son of Jacob and Leah, the founder of the Kingdom of Judah, the land of Judea. Judah continues the lineation to Christ, which was mentioned in the book of Ruth.
Jesse, who we know from the Jesse tree, was the grandson of Ruth and Boaz. Jesse’s son David became the most famous King of Israel. He drew up the plans for the Temple. Yes, like most humans, he sinned as well. But, he ultimately was preparing the land of Israel for the birth of Christ.
The prophecy stated that the Messiah would be born of the lineage of David. Both Joseph and Mary have similar ancestors, and are both of the house of David, making them distant cousins. God already had this in His mind. He is all-knowing and knew Mary would say Yes, even though we humans have free will (more on that at another time).
There was no mistake in God’s plan. On December 25, a small baby was born in the stable to the Virgin Mary and her husband – in the lowliest of places, where the animals resided and there was nowhere to place the baby except in a wooden manger. Yet, the entire world was alert and ready for the Messiah. “Stay awake! Be Ready. You do not know the hour when the Lord is coming. Hallelujah!”
So, as you go into this Advent season, open your hearts and minds to the call of God. His plan is so perfect that there were no mistakes in the time that Christ was born. Rome was at peace for the first time in history, the Pax Romana, and the Savior was born. Trust in His plan, my friend. He loves you so much.
Pray this prayer every day, 15 times a day, from now until Christmas to obtain your desires. “Hail and blessed be the hour and moment In which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, (here mention your request), through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.”
Happy and Blessed Advent, everyone. Jesus is coming soon.