DAY 26: Happy Birthday Jesus!
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age’” – Matthew 28: 18-20 ESV
My Thoughts:
It is today, the last day of Advent, that we celebrate Jesus’ birthday as our Savior. Jesus’ name in Hebrew (Yeshua) means “God saves.” The other name given to him at birth, Immanuel, means “God with us.” Both are fitting. We today celebrate the birth of the God-man who saves us from our sins and is with us always and forever.
And on a side note, I’d like to thank everyone who has joined me on this month-long journey to Bethlehem and beyond. Merry Christmas!
Poem:
The Work of Christmas Begins
by Howard Thurman (adapted)
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with the flocks,
then the work of Christmas begins:
to heal those broken in spirit,
to feed the hungry,
to release the oppressed,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among all peoples,
to make a little music with the heart…
And to radiate the Light of Christ,
every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say.
Then the work of Christmas begins.
The message of the Feast of Epiphany announces to all people, everywhere:
“Rise up in splendor…your light has come,
The Glory of the Lord shines upon you!”
Let the work of Christmas begin, and let it begin with you.
Prayer:
May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the perseverance of the
wise men, the obedience of Joseph and Mary, and the peace of the Christ child be
yours this Christmas; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.