“The Virgin Shall Conceive
And Bear A Son”
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah
took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but
before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy
Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and
unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.
But just when he had resolved to do 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 as
your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will
bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from
their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord
through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they
shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from
sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him;
he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had
borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
Christmas can be an emotional winter,
a dark night when the holiday lights are dimmed and
cheery greetings are muted by loneliness or fear, but that doesn’t have to be
the case. A 16th century poet wrote – “This Flower, whose fragrance
tender with sweetness fills the air; Dispels with
glorious splendor the darkness everywhere. True man, but very God, from sin and
death He saves us and lightens every load.”
A Rose has bloomed at
The message of
the cradle
proclaims the mission
of the cross.