(Angels announcing birth of Jesus Christ to shepherds)

Jesus birth was so eventful and full of divine interventions. God assigned his angels special duties to make easy his sons birth on earth as an ordinary human being. Let us take a close look at all these and have a clear idea on how Jesus Christ was born here to save us from our sins.

How was the birth of Jesus Christ

• Angel visits Mary – An angel named Gabriel visited a young Jewish woman named Mary. Gabriel informed Mary that she would have a son, Jesus, who would be the Son of God! Mary became so confused and worried about this sudden news as she was still a virgin, but she had faith in God and said, “I am the Lord’s servant; let it be as you say.”

• Angel visits Joseph – Angel of the Lord comes to Joseph in his dream and says “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Joseph was a god-fearing person and decided to play his part in God’s elaborate plan to save mankind.

• Joseph and Mary goes to Bethlehem – In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with his wife Mary, who was expecting a child soon.

• Jesus Christ is born – While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in any inns, due to the pouring crowd who came there for the registration. Thus the prophecy ‘A virgin will become pregnant and have a son, and  he will be called Immanuel (which means “God is with us”)’ was fulfilled.
  

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them to announce the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ. The glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on
whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them after announcing Jesus birth, the shepherds said to the one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby Jesus, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this  child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2: 1-20)

Soon after the birth of Jesus, wise men, or magi, from eastern countries saw a star in the sky that signaled the birth of a new king. They came to Judea, the region around Jerusalem and Bethlehem, to worship Jesus, the new king. They followed the star until it was right above the manger where Jesus was born. They brought Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, some of the finest things in the ancient world. Frankincense was burned to make a sweet smell, and myrrh was an expensive perfume.

Thus was the birth of Jesus Christ, son of God, who came down to live with us so that we may be exempted from our sins and have our chance to lead a far better sin-free life. He had to sacrifice himself at the Calvery for our sins. Think, are you leading a sin-free life or are you crucifying Jesus again and again with your sins?

Solemnity of Christ The King

We celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, on the fourth sunday of November, every year. On this day, the Scripture readings remind us about what sort of Kingdom Jesus came to establish.

The Feast of Christ the King was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as an antidote to secularism, a way of life which leaves God out of man’s thinking and living and organizes his life as if God did not exist. The feast is intended to proclaim in a striking and effective manner Christ’s royalty over individuals, families, society, governments, and nations.

——————————————————–

Today’s Mass establishes the titles for Christ’s royalty over men:

1) Christ is God, the Creator of the universe and hence wields a supreme power over all things; “All things were created by Him”;

2) Christ is our Redeemer, He purchased us by His precious Blood, and made us His property and possession;

3) Christ is Head of the Church, “holding in all things the primacy”;

4) God bestowed upon Christ the nations of the world as His special possession and dominion.

——————————————————–

Today’s Mass also describes the qualities of Christ’s kingdom.

This kingdom is:

1) supreme, extending not only to all people but also to their princes and kings;

2) universal, extending to all nations and to all places;

3) eternal, for “The Lord shall sit a King forever”;

4) spiritual, Christ’s “kingdom is not of this world”.

Lets hail our king and praise Him in every way we can. Amen.

See Jesus Face with scenes from His life.

Look at the lines the artist used to draw this picture of Christ.  There are scenes from Christ’s life.

Have you ever seen anything like this? Amazing is the Gift of drawing pictures!

When we are called by the Lord into an area of ministry, then he gifts us in special ways to enable us to fulfill that ministry. There are many spiritual gifts. Paul writes about some of them. They are available to all believers as needed. Now, however, I wish to speak about special gifts, abilities and personal characteristics that the Lord draws out of a person, which are fairly unique to that person.

What is it about someone that causes people with a particular problem to go to them for help? Part of the answer is what I call special ministry gifts. There is no complete list of these. The Lord is not bound by tradition, convention or law when he creates them in someone. I will mention a few I have encountered in my journey of healing. You, no doubt, could add others to the list once you know what to look for.

1. Unusual Uses of the Gift of Tongues

2. Drawing Pictures

3. Burden Bearing

4. A Father Heart

5. Other Prophetic or Apostolic Gifts

I will explain about each of these gifts in the coming weeks, in detail.

NB : Share this picture with a friend or two. In the Circle of God’s love, God’s waiting to use your full potential.