unpredictable
"In the beginning was the Word; the Word was in God's presence, and the Word was God." —John 1:1
The Bible is the most unpredictable book ever written. The first words from God's Word for the Christmas Day Mass are: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him Who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation" (Is 52:7). When everyone else is thinking about gaudy extravagance, God is talking about beautiful feet. These feet are beautiful because they bring the good news of peace (Is 52:7). After centuries of chaos, we can finally have shalom-peace, perfect harmony through salvation from sin, death, slavery, and Satan. This is accomplished not by our mere human efforts but by the God-King (Is 52:7).
Amazingly and once again unpredictably, the God-King is also the Infant-King, Jesus. Jesus is our Peace (Eph 2:14) and our Savior. He has become a Son of Man so we may become sons and daughters of God and even "sharers of the divine nature" (2 Pt 1:4). All we have to do is accept Him on His terms as Savior, King, Lord, and God. "To His own He came, yet His own did not accept Him. Any who did accept Him He empowered to become children of God" (Jn 1:11-12). Now, Christmas Day, "is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!" (2 Cor 6:2)
Prayer: Jesus, I give my life to You. I decide to do Your will and not mine, to live for You and not for myself.
Promise: "In times past, God spoke in fragmentary and varied ways to our fathers through the prophets; in this, the final age, He has spoken to us through His Son." —Heb 1:1-2
Praise: "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us" (Jn 1:14). Alleluia!
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 3, 2017
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