REFLECTIONS

December 27th, 2020

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,

John 1:14 NKJV

The Opera—Growing Up

For months, Gabriel’s message echoed through Mary’s head “…you will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” Dizzied with doubt, and in search of answers, she clung to the angel’s assurance, “For nothing is impossible with God.”

Humbly Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” But as her body signaled the truth of God’s blessing to her, she sang:

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;

For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

For He who is mighty has done great things for me,

And holy is His name.

 (Luke 1:46-49 NKJV)

*****

The eighth day, the time to circumcise him. Mary’s loving eyes fell on her newborn son that morning. Truth in all its innocence lay before her. God’s blessing warmed her heart.

And they named him Jesus.

*****

Meanwhile, far to the east, Magi followed the beam of an uncommonly bright star. It led them to Jerusalem and the palace of King Herod. “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)

After they had heard the king, they went on their way … On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and… they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of frankincense and myrrh.

When [the Magi] had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. (Matthew 3:9-11, 13-15)

When Jesus was twelve years old, his parents went up to the Feast of the Passover as they did every year. After the Feast was over, … the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it… “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

(Luke 2:43-44, 50-52)

You are the light of the world,

Richard +www.reflectingthesavior.org


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