Second Week of Advent: Hope & Love.

 Hope does not disappoint us,

   because God has pour out his love

   into our hearts… (Romans 5:5)

Strength to festoon our home with Christmas decorations has diminished. We don’t put up so many lights. Nevertheless, Linda insisted we at least get the crèche put together: Mary, Joseph and the Christ Child—God in a manger. It’s such a human scene. Only a star mounted above hints that something Eternal is going on. At the manager God’s “everlasting love” (Jer 31:3) merges with human affection. Can there be any greater scene of human love than that of mother and child? Especially, when it is “The mother of my Lord,” as Elizabeth proclaims (Lk 1:43).

When the Eternal Son of God becomes man the result can’t help but be love; for, as the Bible reveals: “God is love” (1Jn 4:8). There is love within the whole of our triune God who loves within Himself—the love between God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Thus, whatever comes forth from our triune God comes out of love—like creation for example. There is no necessity for God to create. He calls forth the heavens and the earth out of his freedom, love and delight. So, too, our redemption in Christ Jesus comes to us out of God’s absolute freedom, love and delight. 

Notice how the whole of our triune God is present on Christmas morning. The Holy Trinity is so eternally spacious that God the Son can be born on Christmas morning, while God remains Almighty God. That’s the mystery and wonder of Christmas.

Daily Readings for Second Week of Advent: Love

        Monday:       Jeremiah 31:3-6   &  First John 4:7-9

        Tuesday:       Psalm 145:8-9      &  John 3:16-17

        Wednesday: Psalm 145:11-14 &  Romans 8:38-39

        Thursday:     Isaiah 11:1-2        &  Luke 1:34-38

        Friday:           Isaiah 7:14           &  Matthew 1:18-25

        Saturday:      Psalm 98:3            &  Second Corinthians 13:13