oh, baby!
"He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb." —Luke 1:15
God rescues His people by sending babies filled with the Holy Spirit. This has been God's plan throughout salvation history. God has always sent babies to redeem and deliver His people. The babies Samson (Jgs 13:5), John the Baptizer (Lk 1:16-17), and Jesus (Lk 1:32-33) are commissioned before conception to rescue God's people. In addition, Scripture presents baby Moses (Ex 2:2ff) as an infant who should have been killed but was rescued from certain death so he could rescue Israel.
Since God rescues His people by sending anointed babies, it stands to reason that Satan would fight strongly against the conception, delivery, and raising of babies. Millions of babies are aborted chemically and surgically each year. Many millions more never were conceived because of artificial contraception. Those babies who are conceived and survive the womb may still have to face the dangers of abuse, divorce, inadequate or unloving parenting, etc. Even babies with the best parents must survive the hostile culture of death and its assault on life. Jesus Himself was nearly assassinated by this culture (see Mt 2:13ff).
Let's not reject God's plan of deliverance through babies and attempt to defeat it (Lk 7:30, RNAB). This Christmas, embrace the Infant Jesus and all babies. "Make disciples" (Mt 28:19) by fostering holy married couples who will conceive, bear, and nurture babies anointed from the womb. Jesus, "the Life" (Jn 11:25; 14:6), plans to defeat the culture of death through our openness to life. "Choose life" (Dt 30:19).
Prayer: Father, may I "be fertile and multiply" for You (Gn 1:28).
Promise: "Joy and gladness will be yours." —Lk 1:14
Praise: "O Flower of Jesse's stem, You have been raised up as a Sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in Your presence; the nations bow down in worship before You. Come, let nothing keep You from coming to our aid."
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 19, 2005
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