Article Tools
- Text Size
- Add a comment (1)
- Print-Friendly
- Email this article
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Old Testament is the way God revealed himself and his plans to his people through the prophets.
While their prophecies covered many different topics, one theme kept coming up: God’s desire to save his people through some kind of messiah—a new king, a “suffering servant,” or even another prophet who was destined to come. Today as we look back on their messages, it is both inspiring and a little bit eerie to see how accurately they described Jesus—and none of them even knew him!
Think about it: The prophets spoke about a virgin birth, but they didn’t know about Mary. They spoke about a forerunner, but they didn’t know about John the Baptist. They spoke about God’s deep desire to transform his people so that they would shine like “the jewels in a crown,” yet they didn’t know it would happen through a crucified carpenter (Zechariah 9:16). And one refrain runs through all of these prophecies: Rejoice! Rejoice because God is coming to save you and to be with you forever!
When Gabriel appeared to Mary, he said to her: “Hail, favored one!” (Luke 1:28). Mary was troubled by the angel’s words. She asked questions, and she wondered what her life would be like now that God was turning it upside down. But despite her surprise and her questions, Mary said, “Yes.” And as a result, she was blessed because she “believed that what was spoken” by the Lord “would be fulfilled” (1:45).
Receive the Gift of Joy. Christmas is the most joyful season of the year. It’s a time to thank God for all of his blessings. It is also a time, in the midst of our thankfulness, to look at the prophets and ask, “Why did they rejoice?”—or look to Mary and ask, “Why did this young woman prefer God’s will to her own?” It’s a time to ask the Holy Spirit to give us new insights and new reasons for us to rejoice as we celebrate Christmas.
The prophets rejoiced in anticipation of a promised messiah. Mary rejoiced in anticipation of the birth of her son. And Jesus wants you and me to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). But he doesn’t just want us to drum up this joy on our own. He wants to give us a spirit of rejoicing—like a Christmas present. And we will receive this gift as we ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and convince us to believe that everything that God has promised will be accomplished.
From all of us at The Word Among Us, I’d like to wish you and your family a blessed Christmas. You know me. You see my picture and read my letters each month. For my part, I feel close to all of you as my brothers and sisters in The Word Among Us family. But the truth is, there are nearly sixty people working with me, all striving to serve you and the whole church. I want to thank them for their dedication and tell you how much I appreciate their service. May God bless you all.
Joe Difato, Publisher |
Dear Joe,
I just subscribed to web online only for 2 weeks trial. I read the WAU for free before that. Thank you for all your service to the Catholics around the world. May Almighty God bless you and all your staffs a Happy and Joyous Christmas.
I take it as a Christmas gift from WAU for the 2 weeks.
With love