Starting Off Briskly

“The Christian story starts off briskly in St. Matthew's account with a place and a date: "When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King."' St. Luke, still more practically and prosaically, pins the thing down by a reference to a piece of government finance. God, he says, was made man in the year when Caesar Augustus was taking a census in connection with a scheme of taxation. Similarly, we might date an event by saying that it took place in the year that Great Britain went off the gold standard. About thirty-three years later (we are informed) God was executed, for being a political nuisance, "under Pontius Pilate" — much as we might say, "when Mr. Joynson-Hicks was Home Secretary." It is as definite and concrete as all that.” ―Dorothy Sayers, Creed or Chaos

In the Flesh

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” ¹⁶ And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” ―1 John 1:14-18

Prayer

O Lord of history, we gladly acknowledge that You are sovereign over all the events of this world and that no one can frustrate Your perfect plan. We worship You for the glory of Your awesome power for that which You have ordained and decreed cannot help but come to pass. In Your wisdom and love You sent forth Your Son into the world―at the right time and place, a real man of flesh and blood―to bear our sins in His body on the cross. For this, we are eternally grateful. Amen.

Advent Action

Pay a visit to someone who is alone and in need of physical companionship. Hold their hand or embrace them as you offer them the comforting words of Scripture and pray with them.