My Soul Magnifies The Lord: Advent 4 2021

Decided to do a video blog this morning rather than write one. I do this now and then but it takes a bit of time so I often choose the written.

The Unborn Recognized The Unborn

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 

                                                                 (Luke 1:39-45 KJV)

How old do you have to be before you know Jesus?  Do you have to have a certain amount of knowledge taught to you by humankind before you can know him? 

St. John the Baptist, the one who later introduced Jesus to the world,  recognized Jesus and leaped for joy while still in his mother's womb! John had not seen Jesus but he felt his presence. He knew Jesus even before he was born. 

It is not by any knowledge that the world gives us that Jesus comes into our lives.  It is by faith alone which is purely a gift from God. 

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God..." (Eph 2:8)

May God open our ears, eyes, minds, and hearts so that we might know the abiding presence of Jesus the Christ, for he is with us always. Help us dear Lord to live life more fully in his presence.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

They Will Praise The Lord

Hebrews 2:12

Let this be recorded for a generation to come,

   so that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord:
that he looked down from his holy height, 
   from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
to hear the groans of the prisoners, 
   to set free those who were doomed to die;
so that the name of the Lord may be declared in Zion, 
   and his praise in Jerusalem,
when peoples gather together, 
   and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.                                   (Psalm 102:18-22 NRSV)

How and why will a people yet unborn praise the Lord?

It began with those first followers of Jesus. They shared what they saw. They repeated what they heard and the next generations did the same. The next generation will praise the Lord when the Good News of the Kingdom of God for all who believe in Jesus will be shared with them. They will praise the Lord when by the power of the Holy Spirit they understand that they have been set free from the bondage to sin. They will praise the Lord when they understand that Jesus overcame the power of death over us. They will praise the Lord when they hear the Word.

It is New Year's Eve. Let us resolve to share the Good News loudly and clearly that the next generation might genuinely praise the Lord!

God's Peace - Pr. J