Today’s readings: Click on today’s date at http://www.usccb.org/bible/
Mary, did you know?
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Third Week of Advent
Matthew 1:1-17
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham … Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of Mary was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
We too want to know who our father’s father’s father and mother were, and where they lived, and how they lived. And so we too pay attention to our genealogy, our family tree, like Matthew and his Jewish readers did in Jesus’ time.
Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
What baby are we worshipping when we join the shepherds at the manger? In Revelation, John writes that the great dragon, the devil, tried to kill the baby as he was being born. This baby came as the tabernacle of God. “He dwelt among us” (John 1:14). The eternal, infinite God somehow became a human.
The second member of the Trinity joins himself to human nature for eternity. This is the greatest miracle of all. The Creator of the universe comes to us in diapers. In that baby all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell (Colossians 1:19). And meditating on the deity of God in a baby tends to change the way we treat ourselves, our spouses, our children, our loved ones, and the strangers among us.
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding is the great I am!
This idea of the God-man offends other religions: God is above human beings; it is ridiculous and insulting to God to think of him as human. But if the Ancient of Days has become an infant, that incarnation opens a window for us into his Being, and a door into his Presence. We can know him, love him, and know that he belongs to all of us.
Lord, let the joy of Christmas come alive again. The baby in the manger is also God. Give us new wonder, Lord, new excitement. Oh how good you are!
Lyrics:Â http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/m/mark_lowry/mary_did_you_know.html
Song:Â https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U2G8wsbXBo
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1213
