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Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born
Jesus who is called the Christ. Matthew 1:15–16
The last line of the Gospel passage above offers much for us to
meditate upon this day and throughout the week ahead. “Of her was
born Jesus who is called the Christ.” What an amazing reality we
celebrate! God Himself took on our human life, experienced
conception, birth, infancy, childhood, etc. As a human, He also
experienced hatred, abuse, persecution, and murder. Again, what an
amazing reality we celebrate!
For the next eight days, the readings for Mass will focus more
directly upon this amazing reality. We ponder today the lineage of
Christ Jesus and see that He comes from the line of Abraham and
David and that His ancestors were the great Judges, Kings and
Levitical Priests. In the coming days of preparation for Christmas,
we will ponder the role of Saint Joseph, the response of our
Blessed Mother to the angel, the Visitation, Zechariah’s lack of
faith and our Blessed Mother’s perfect faith.
As we enter into this octave of immediate preparation for the
celebration of the birth of Christ, do use it as a time of true
spiritual preparation. Though all of Advent is a season of
preparation, these final days should especially focus upon the
great mysteries surrounding the Incarnation and birth of the Christ
Child. We must ponder the people Whom God chose to be intimately
involved, and we should reflect upon the smallest of details
regarding how this miracle of miracles took place.
Reflect, today, upon the true reason for Advent and Christmas. This
final week leading up to Christmas can oftentimes become filled
with busyness and other forms of preparation, such as shopping,
cooking, traveling, decorating, etc. Though all of these other
preparations have a place, don’t neglect the most important
preparation—the spiritual preparation of your soul. Spend time with
the Scriptures this week. Savor the story. Think about the amazing
reality that we are about to celebrate.
My precious Lord, I thank you for coming to dwell among us, and
I thank you for this Advent season in which I am able to
prayerfully ponder all that You have done for me. Please make this
last week before Christmas a time of true preparation in which I
prayerfully ponder the amazing reality of Your Incarnation. May
this last week of preparation not be wasted but, rather, used as a
foundation for a glorious and prayerful celebration of the holy
gift of Christmas. Jesus, I trust in You.
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Featured image above: Virgin and Child By Giovanni
Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato, via Wikimedia Commons
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