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Day 15, the Third Sunday of Advent, "The Journey"

Luke 2:1-7
1  In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
2  This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3  And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
4  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5  to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

The surprises kept on coming.  First the angel Gabriel tells Zachariah and Elizabeth they are to have a baby - a baby they hadn't been able to have on their own.  

 Then the angel Gabriel comes to Mary and tells her she will have a baby - a baby she shouldn't have had because she was a Virgin, but the angel reminds her, "nothing is impossible with God".

An angel is sent once more - to Joseph and he tells him that the baby to be born in Mary is from God, and his name will be called Immanuel, which means God with us.

 Months pass, and politicians do what politician do best - they seek to raise taxes, and send Joseph by command to return to his hometown, Bethlehem.  The journey is long and made longer still by Mary's impending birth. 

The Journey was only the beginning of God's work - "It's time" - the words resounded in Heaven.  This is it...the journey is the beginning of everything that was about to change.

Mary and Joseph traveled a long way - some 80-90 miles.  They probably met all sorts of pilgrims on the way, all also returning to their home towns.  They passed through villages, slept in inns, and kept on moving south towards Bethlehem. 

This was a Journey they alone made.  Two people, one pregnant with a nine month old baby enclosed in her womb, just waiting until they arrive.  As the journey to Bethlehem continues, ancient prophecies are being fulfilled:
Micah 5:2 
2   But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. 

The journey - God says, "it's time"... the Advent of the Son is soon to be here.

Peace

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