Month: December 2018

Oh, that birth forever blessèd,
When the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bore the Savior of our race,
And the babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face
Evermore and evermore.
(LSB 384 st. 2)
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And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy–the Son of God.”
(Luke 1:35)

Mary asks the angel Gabriel, “How will this be?” Gabriel’s reply is not only a clear revelation of salvation being the work of the Holy Trinity, and it is much more than communicating the facts of the virgin birth of our Lord Jesus. This is the fullness of what it meant for the cloud to overshadow the tent of meeting and the glory of Yahweh to fill the tabernacle. God is always about dwelling with His people (Revelation 21:3). Therefore, Jesus takes on human flesh. The Holy Spirit comes upon the tent of Mary’s own body, the power of the Most High Father overshadows her, and the glory of Yahweh fills the tabernacle of her womb. God does this in order to dwell with mankind forever (Matthew 28:20).
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Although Mary alone bears the title Theotokos (“God-bearer”), the Christian shares in the same pattern of God’s saving work in their own life. By Word and Baptism, the Holy Spirit comes upon us and we are made temples of the Holy Spirit. The Incarnate Christ comes to dwell in the body of the Christian as they receive the Holy Supper of the body and blood of the Lord. How can this be? All of this is possible because “nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). That little baby in Mary’s womb is God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself and it is that work that does the great things that these gifts deliver to us here and now. God makes us His beloved sons, gives His Holy Spirit, and dwells among and in us by the incarnation of His Son, Jesus Christ.
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Let us pray: Almighty Father, God Most High, You sent the Holy Spirit upon Mary and caused her to bear Your Beloved Son in her womb, that He would dwell with and redeem humanity. Send Your Holy Spirit upon us and dwell in us that we would live each day in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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(Stanley Lacey, Sem II)

Of the Father’s love begotten
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see
Evermore and evermore.
(LSB 384 st. 1)
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In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
(1 John 4:9)

With words of profound depth and clarity, the ancient Christian hymn-writer affirms the faith confessed in the Nicene Creed, “begotten of His Father before all worlds.” As we echo back these ancient words in the Advent season, anticipating the birth of our blessed Lord and His return, we too confess the same. “God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God…” When we sing this hymn, we confess that our Lord is truly God.
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There is more: “He the source, the ending He, of the things that are, that have been, and that future years shall see.” For as John the Evangelist says, “God sent His only Son into the world, that we might have life through Him” (1 John 4:9). The Word became flesh (John 1:14) so that by His suffering, death, and resurrection, we might have life. This life we are given in holy Baptism—for in the water of Baptism we are washed and united with Christ, united to His death and resurrection, so that we who were once dead are brought to life by Life Himself. Christ our God has been raised; He will never die again: “Of His kingdom there shall be no end.” The only begotten of the Father from eternity, born of the Virgin Mary, reigns to all eternity. And to those whom He has given life in His name shall be the honor of singing His eternal praise, “evermore and evermore.”
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Let us pray: Almighty God, heavenly Father, You sent Your Beloved Son to deliver us from eternal death and give us new life in Him. Protect us against the evil one, and keep us steadfast in the Faith, that at the last Day we be raised in the flesh to behold the glory of our Lord; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.
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(Chris Durham, Sem II)

At whose dread name, majestic now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
All things celestial Thee shall own,
And things terrestrial, Lord alone.
(LSB 351 st. 4)
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By myself I have sworn;
from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall swear allegiance.’
(Isaiah 45:23)

Advent is generally a cheery season as all anticipate the coming holiday of Christmas. Yet Advent not only reminds us of the first coming of Christ, it also prompts us to remember that Christ will come a second time—an occasion which will indeed be cheery for Christians but certainly not for all people. In Christ’s second advent, “All knees must bend, all hearts must bow” and that “to me [Jesus] every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance” (Isaiah 45:23).
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The point being that we really don’t get a choice—no one gets a choice. On Judgement all will recognize Him as “Lord alone.” And while all will call Him Lord, not everyone will be very excited about it. His faithful believers most certainly will be, for we get to live in the new, perfect creation praising God forever. Yet those who did not believe will be subjected by the Lord of all to everlasting torment in hell. We should remember to thank God for his first advent in which He won for us salvation and eternal glory with His death upon the cross; for calling You to be a faithful believer in Him through His Word and Sacraments; and for His coming second advent when He will receive us into that eternal glory.
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Let us pray: Returning Lord, thank You for coming Christmas morn, for calling me to faith, and for promising to come again. Always remind me that You will come again and keep me in the one true faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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(Written by Rob Schrader, Sem II)

Thou cam’st the Bridegroom of the bride,
As drew the world to eventide,
The spotless Victim all divine
Proceeding from a virgin shrine.
(LSB 351 st. 3)
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“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
(Isaiah 7:14)

Immanuel
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Isaiah prophesied long ago that a virgin would miraculously give birth. Centuries later, his prophecy is fulfilled as the virgin Mary gives birth to Jesus on Christmas morning in Bethlehem. Jesus’ lack of an earthly father reveals who He truly is: the Son of God. Though He is born into time, His Father, God Almighty, has begotten Him from the beginning of all time. And to this child, born of a virgin, Isaiah gives the name “Immanuel:” God with us. Jesus’ name Immanuel announces that God at last has come to dwell with His people. He doesn’t dwell by just walking around and seeing the sights; He dwells by suffering with us, and by taking on the same pains and struggles we have. Indeed, Immanuel becomes clearest as He dies on the cross, reconciling us to His Father. God comes to dwell with us so that we might dwell with Him.
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Let us pray: Heavenly Father, you sent your only-begotten Son to be born of a virgin, so that He might dwell with us and bring us to You. Give us eyes to see His presence even now as He dwells with His Church until the end of time; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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(Written by Martin Hill, Sem II)

Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death a universe,
Hast found the healing, full of grace,
To cure and save our ruined race.
(LSB 351 st. 2)
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Behold, the Lord will empty the earth and make it desolate,
and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants.
The earth shall be utterly empty and utterly plundered;
for the Lord has spoken this word.
The earth lies defiled
under its inhabitants;
for they have transgressed the laws,
violated the statutes,
broken the everlasting covenant.
Therefore a curse devours the earth,
and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt;
therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched,
and few men are left.
(Isaiah 24:1, 3, 5-6)

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and God saw that it was very good. Yet sin entered the world through the disbelief of one man. Thus all creation was put under the ancient curse, brought about through one man’s actions. This curse grieved God. Yet because He is a God of justice, He promised destruction to all, as we see in Isaiah 24, and thus He must enact it. Yet he is also a God of mercy, and thus sent his Son to live the perfect life in our place since we could not, to suffer and die the death which we deserved. In this work of Christ Jesus, Son of God, is the cure for our sins and salvation for our fallen race, given by gift of God to all who believe.
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Let us pray: Almighty God, You sent Your Son into our fallen race to save us from the curse placed on all creation. Grant us faith in Your Son our Savior; through the same, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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(Written by Raymond Doubrava, Sem IV)

Creator of the stars of night,
Thy people’s everlasting Light:
O Christ, Redeemer, save us all
And hear Thy servants when they call.
(LSB 351:1)
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“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”
(Isaiah 9:2)

A Light in the Darkness
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If you have ever been on a walk or hike at night, you know the uniqueness and challenge of moving at night. Without a light, roots, rocks, or uneven paths become obstacles to movement. Complete darkness was not the setting in which God intended His creation to live. He placed the sun, moon, and stars in the heavens above to govern the day and the night. He gave His creation light. Light gives growth, it illuminates, it exposes, it guides. But humanity rebelled, turning from the light of God’s Word to the darkness of sin. Humanity has walked in spiritual darkness since that fall, stumbling along the way.
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But God remembered His people. Through God’s promise of a Messiah, God’s people were promised a light. They were promised a deliverer, Christ, the Morning Star, the One who shines with God’s Own truth and light. The darkness of sin is deep, yet God’s love in Christ shines on us and illumines our hearts and minds. Darkness cannot overcome light; so too Christ has overcome the world. With the light of God’s Word shining before us and the light of Christ in us, we wait for the return of the Morning Star who will deliver us from this land of deep darkness.
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Let us pray: Light of the World, You were long foretold to be the light in a land of deep darkness. By Your Holy Spirit enlighten Your Church so that we may traverse this dark world with hope, love, and purity; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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(Written by Cory Kroonblawd, Sem II)

So, when next He comes in glory
And the world is wrapped in fear,
He will shield us with His mercy
And with words of love draw near.
(LSB 345:4)
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“Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.
At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord.
(Zephaniah 3:19-20)

In Advent, we look forward to the celebration of Jesus’ human birth on Christmas. But in the Church, we similarly anticipate his second coming on the final judgement. It’s easy to be excited for Christmas; not so much for the thought of Judgement Day. We are afraid of the unknown.
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Our hymn text offers us comfort. We are assured that, though the world fears the last day, Jesus’ death for our sins means God will preserve us as His faithful children on that Judgement Day. The sinful world will be condemned, but God will shield us and draw us near to His love forever.
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Likewise, our scripture from Zephaniah promises us deliverance from the pain of this life. Whether we feel oppressed or shamed, or when we age and our bodies begin to fail, our Lord promises to gather us in and restore us as His chosen people.
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Let us pray: Heavenly Father, help us to remain faithful in Your Son until the last day when You gather us all to be with You; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
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(Written by Paul Gaschler, Sem IV)