O come, O come, Emmanuel!

What do you know about the story of your birth? If someone asked you to tell them the story of your birth, how would you respond? Maybe you know some of the details:  time of day…how much you weighed…who was there. Perhaps all you know is that you were born.

Now…What if someone asked you to tell them the story of Jesus birth? Where would you even begin to tell the story?  We might talk about angels and shepherds and wise men…basic Christmas pageant stuff. 

This is the time of year when this story is front and center. We love to tell the story, both in word and song, of the birth of our Savior. It is the story of the good news of God coming to be with us…Emmanuel!

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. Matthew 1:18

Matthew in his gospel tells us the dramatic story of a pregnant Mary betrothed to Joseph who is reassured by an Angel in a dream to take her as his wife. More importantly the angel tells Joseph that this will not be any ordinary child. This child will save his people. 

Not from armies, or natural disasters, or plagues, or financial ruin. He will save us from our sins!

We tell and sing of the story of Jesus’ birth for this reason: that this baby who was laid in the hard wood of the cradle would one day “stretch out his arms on the hard wood of the cross so that everyone might come within the reach of his saving embrace.” *

O come, o come, Emmanuel!

Blessings,

Matthew+

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.  (BCP p. 212)