The Prophet Isaiah Predicts the Coming of our Savior
"Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, the virgin shall conceive,
and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Isaiah 7:14
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a child is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."* Isaiah 9:6
And It Came To Pass
"And so it was that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, an angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shown round about them; and they were very much afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:6-14
Oh Holy Night
Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees; Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine ;Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine; Oh night divine
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the wise men from Orient land
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend.
Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
"Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, (Isaiah) saying, "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which, being interpreted, is God with us." Matthew 1:21-23
"The joy of Christmas is the intuition that all limitations to growth into higher states of consciousness have been overcome. The Divine light cuts across all darkness, prejudice, preconceived ideas, prepackaged values, false expectations, phoniness and hypocrisy. It presents us with the truth. ...."
"On the feast of Christmas, the joyful expectancy exemplified by the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist and Isaih... and shared by us in the Advent liturgy....comes to fulfillment. Christ is born anew in our hearts through the increase of his light within us, and the consequences of our union with him begin to unfold.
In the feasts that follow, all that is contained in the explosion of divine light at Christmas is gradually revealed, culminating in the feast of Epiphany which is the fullness and crowning feast of the Christmas-Epiphany Mystery. In the clear light of Epiphany, faith in the divinity of Jesus and in our incorporation in him as members of his mystical body is the light (our guiding star) that empowers us to follow him and to be transformed into him. "
P. 13-14 The Mystery of Christ: The Liturgy as Spiritual Experience.. by Thomas Keating.
Prayer
"Glorious Lord, You sent me a Savior - heaven's Light breaking into human night. Yet , sometimes I have closed my door to your Light, afraid to give you room in my heart. Still, your Light shines; your mercy refuses to let my rejection quench the light of your love. Forgive me for denying your due honor. Lift me by your Spirit to join angelic hosts in anthems of joy and peace, brought to us in the holy advent of Jesus Christ, our Lord, in whom I now receive into my heart during this most holy time of year.. Amen"
"Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the sun of righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that we no more may die, Born to raise us from the earth, Born to give us second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Have a Wonderful and Blessed Christmas!
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