12/18/2022 (Sunday) Today’s gospel reading: Matthew 1:18-24

18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
19 Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.
20 Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.
21 She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
23 Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”
24 When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

12/18/2022 (Sunday) Today’s gospel reflection: Matthew 1:18-24

When God created the world, He saw that it was good (Genesis 1:31). Fast forward to the present, we look at God’s creation and many people would still say it is still a beautiful world. Yet, it cannot be denied that much has been altered and destroyed, not just naturally but through man’s sinful ways.

Almost two thousand years ago, God intervened in human history primarily to restore what was lost and ruined by sin, to bring peace to all mankind, and to proclaim a year of favor. So how come we still have sinful lifestyle, a troubled world, and years of struggle? The answer may not be clear to everybody but the main solution is still the same: love.

Love is the reason why we have Christmas and the lack of love is the reason why we don’t have a fully restored world. God has already intervened by sending His only Son because He loves us so much (John 3:16). Yet the world has not yet fully responded in love by believing in Jesus, the savior of the world. Therefore, we are still awaiting the full or total salvation as promised.

May our annual celebration of Christmas reminds us of our calling to love as Jesus has taught us. In sin, we lose the presence of God but in love, we are reunited with Him through Jesus.

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