.

TODAY’S WORD…

The Lord Himself will give you a sign. Look, the virgin is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

– Isaiah 7:14

REFLECTION…

The virgin mother, the child, and his name, “Immanuel” – what a wonderful sign of peace and salvation!

The name “Immanuel” is a prophetic indication of the revelation that the child’s birth implies – the name conveys the joyful news that Jesus is truly “God with us”.

QUOTE…

“Learn from the prophet himself how all this could come to pass.

Does it, perhaps, follow the laws of nature? Absolutely not, replies the prophet: “Look, the virgin…” What a miracle! A virgin will become a mother and remain a virgin! […]

It is fitting that he who enters into human life to save all mankind […] should be born of a woman of perfect integrity who has given herself wholly to Him”

 – St Gregory of Nyssa

PRAYER…

Holy Spirit, fill me with glorious expectation.

Thank You for the faith You have given me;

for the fact that my heart beats faster

as I contemplate upon this magnificent event

when the Word was made flesh so as to dwell among us.

Holy Spirit, I pray that this Christmas many will open their hearts wide to You

so as to truly appreciate the awesome significance of God being with us.

.