What Kind of God Is This? 

   “She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2: 7) 

   The King of the World, the Son of God, the Messiah, came to us in weakness, as a baby.  No room for our Savior at the inn, He was laid in a manger, a feeding trough for animals, perhaps a foretelling of the Eucharist, feeding the faithful with His body and blood.  An infant King, dependent upon Mary and Joseph for His very life.

   He was visited by kings from far away, signifying that His kingdom would be for all the world.  The shepherds, the lowly of the earth, were told by the angels of His birth.  He came for all mankind, rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, free and slave.  His kingdom was not of this world, but all of this world would be invited.

   He grew up just as we do.  He learned to walk and to talk.  From His earthly father He learned a trade and most likely helped support the household.  He went often to synagogue, listening to the words and prophecies of the Torah.  Words and prophesies that told of His coming, words ignored by those who knew Him and would reject Him.

   He was like us in all things but sin.  He suffered as we suffer, felt pain just the same as us.  He was betrayed by one of His chosen, abandoned by most everyone, suffered, died on a cross and was buried.

   He rose again, overcoming death and ascended into heaven to prepare a place for those who would believe.  He opened the gates of heaven to the faithful and will come again in glory.

   What kind of God is this?  A God who loves us, wants nothing but the best for us.  A God who desires that we spend eternity with Him in ever-lasting love and happiness.  This is the one true God who came to save the world. 

We look forward to celebrating Your birth.

The birth of an infant King.

A King who so loved us that He died for us.

Fill our hearts with Your eternal love. 

Amen