It’s the beginning of a New Year. The calendar has changed and last year is history. Change is something that we seldom feel comfortable with. Yet, we don’t have to live with fear about the future because we have the faithfulness and love of God to remind us of his care. Advent reminded us that God had a plan and a purpose that he fulfilled in sending his Son, born of the Virgin Mary. He sent His Son to be a Human, though he was God. On this last Octave day of the twelve days of Christmas, let’s remember that God continues to carry out his plans even to today.
Scripture reminds us of this:
Galatians 4:4-7
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman,
born under the law,
in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive
adoption as children.
And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our
hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave
but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.”
Hebrews 2:9, 14-18
“we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now
crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the
grace of God he might taste death for everyone…
Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise
shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has
the power of death, that is, the devil,
and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of
death.
For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants
of Abraham.
Therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every
respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service
of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because
he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are
being tested.”
God sent his Son, Jesus, who took on our humanity in order
to become like us and be for us in our greatest needs. The great 4th Century Bishop of the
church, Saint Athanasius, wrote The Word took our nature from Mary.
The Apostle tells us: The Word took to himself the
sons of Abraham, and so had to be like his brothers in all things. He had
then to take a body like ours. This explains the fact of Mary’s presence: she
is to provide him with a body of his own, to be offered for our sake. Scripture
records her giving birth, and says: She wrapped him in swaddling clothes. Her
breasts, which fed him, were called blessed. Sacrifice was offered because the
child was her firstborn. Gabriel used careful and prudent language when he
announced his birth. He did not speak of “what will be born in you” to
avoid the impression that a body would be introduced into her womb from
outside; he spoke of “what will be born from you” so that we might
know by faith that her child originated within her and from her.
By taking our nature and offering it in sacrifice, the
Word was to destroy it completely and then invest it with his own nature, and
so prompt the Apostle to say: This corruptible body must put on
incorruption; this mortal body must put on immortality. This was not done
in outward show only, as some have imagined. This is not so. Our Savior truly
became man, and from this has followed the salvation of man as a whole. Our
salvation is in no way fictitious, nor does it apply only to the body. The salvation
of the whole man, that is, of soul and body, has really been achieved in the
Word himself.
What was born of Mary was therefore human by nature, in
accordance with the inspired Scriptures, and the body of the Lord was a true
body: It was a true body because it was the same as ours. Mary, you see, is our
sister, for we are all born from Adam.
The words of Saint John: the Word was made flesh, bear
the same meaning, as we may see from a similar turn of phrase in Saint
Paul: Christ was made a curse for our sake. Man’s body has acquired
something great through its communion and union with the Word. From being
mortal it has been made immortal; though it was a living body it has become a
spiritual one; though it was made from the earth it has passed through the
gates of heaven.
Even when the Word takes a body from Mary, the Trinity
remains a Trinity, with neither increase nor decrease. It is forever perfect.
In the Trinity we acknowledge one Godhead, and thus one God, the Father of the
Word, is proclaimed in the Church.”
The wonder of Christmas has never ended. God took care of our greatest need in sending
His Son for our Sin. It’s a wonderful
peace to live when we know that God has come for each of Us…yes, You!
‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 The Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
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