Sunday, December 19, 2010

Christmas Greetings

 Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Sunday, December 5, 2010

The Blessed Virgin Mary

Mary was a resident of Nazareth, which is in Galilee. In those days, Nazareth had a bad reputation, as it was close to the territory of Gentiles, and in fact, it was as bad as Gentile’s land.

“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathaniel asked.

Surprisingly, God brought glory to Nazareth. He chose Mary from the land to fulfill the scriptures, and Jesus was known as Jesus of Nazareth.

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel - Is. 7:14.

The virgins of Palestine knew the scripture pretty well, yet they didn’t know how it would be fulfilled. Thinking that no matter how it would be fulfilled, every virgin dreamed of becoming the virgin to give birth to Jesus Christ. However, they didn’t get the chance. God gave it to Mary, who was a poor virgin.

God doesn’t see the out form of humans. He sees the inner things: humbleness, God fearing, simplicity. The Devine characters impress God. Not our ability, stature, status, and controlling power. Mary had had the Devine characters.

Gabriel said to Mary, ‘You have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son’.

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” Lk. 1:34.

Though Mary knew the scripture {Is. 7:14} she wasn’t enough confident that it was possible to God. Her words made it clear.

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy one to be born will be called the Son of God - Lk. 1:35.

Gabriel said another news to Mary in order to let her know nothing is impossible with God.

Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth  month. For nothing is impossible with God - Lk. 1:36.

Then Mary was wholeheartedly prepared to give birth to Jesus Christ. Thus, she was used an instrument of God. She put her trust in God, who gave her strength to overcome humiliations and hurdles.