Fourth Sunday of Advent
Micah 5:2-5 NLT
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf. The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies until the woman in labor gives birth. Then at last his fellow countrymen will return from exile to their own land. And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored around the world. And he will be the source of peace.
Luke 1:46-55 NLT
Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.
He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.
His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands.
He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful.
For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.”
Christmas Sermon by St. Augustine
Sermon 185
That day is called the birthday of the Lord on which the Wisdom of God manifested Himself as a speechless Child and the Word of God wordlessly uttered the sound of a human voice . . . With yearly ceremony, therefore, we celebrate this day which saw the fulfillment of the prophecy: Truth is sprung out of the earth: and justice hath looked down from heaven (Psalm 85:11).
Truth, eternally existing in the bosom of the Father, has sprung from the earth so that He might exist also in the bosom of a mother.Â
Truth, holding the world in place, has sprung from the earth so that He might be carried in the hands of a woman.Â
Truth, incorruptibly nourishing the happiness of the angels, has sprung from the earth in order to be fed by human milk.Â
Truth, whom the heavens cannot contain, has sprung from the earth so that He might be placed in a manger.
For whose benefit did such unparalleled greatness come in such lowliness? Certainly for no personal advantage, but definitely for our great good, if only we believe.
(Credit: https://fsspx.news/en/news/sermon-st-augustine-christmas-day-18151 )
O Little Town of Bethlehem
https://youtu.be/7Ya2OmIeyvI?si=LTi5_OuNPosvLzAe
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
ADVENT CALENDAR ONLINE
Joy for every December day! This online Advent calendar provides Scripture and a devotional thought, a song, and sometimes a work of art to guide you into worship each day through the Advent season and into the celebration of Christmas. It runs for the entire month of December. Just click on the link and then click on the date.
https://www.ailbe.org/shepherds/shepherds-content/22-articles/2332-rusty-s-online-advent-calendar
