Prayfor2

Shepherds, wisemen, or magi?

Whichever you call them, their story in the Gospel of Matthew is an intriguing part of the Christmas narrative.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled…; and he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’”

Then Herod summoned the wise men …and he sent them to Bethlehem… they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was… they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Let’s pray – Jesus our Savior. May the light of your love inspire us like the star of the East, and may we be changed like the Magi by our encounter with you. Amen.

This is Mike Kelly with Pray For 2. Listen anytime at prayfor2.com, or on the Redeemer Radio app.

Many of us struggle with seasonal blues. There is the loss of the warmth of summer, and the winnowing daylight, hitting a trough on the Winter Solstice.

It is not a coincidence that Jesus was born on one of the darkest days of the year. The timing of Christmas is providential, warming our hearts in the middle of the dark and cold.

From the first words of the account of His life, Jesus is called, “the light of the world.” Like a match struck in a dark room, that relatively small amount of light can overcome what seems like an overwhelming amount of darkness.

Saint John began his gospel account this way,

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Later, John would share,

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

This light wasn’t just a flash in the pan. Jesus promised to be with us until the end of the age, as an eternal and enduring light amidst our trials and darkness.

Let’s pray. Jesus our Redeemer. Thank you for your light amidst the darkness of the Christmas season. Help us rest in the peace of your enduring light. Amen.

This is Mike Kelly with Pray For 2. Listen anytime at prayfor2.com, or on the Redeemer Radio app.

There are few more memorable opening lines in all of literature than the opening of the Gospel of Saint John.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.

The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory… And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace.”

Let’s pray. Dear Jesus – full of grace and truth. You are the Word made flesh, who came to dwell among us. Captivate our hearts with the wonder of your Christmas entry into the world. Amen.

This is Mike Kelly with Pray For 2. Listen anytime at prayfor2.com, or on the Redeemer Radio app.

Today, let’s imagine standing as a shepherd in the countryside of rural Judea 2000 years ago.

It’s pitch black, with only the occasional bleat of a sheep breaching the calm. Close your eyes and breathe in the smell of your flock, and the peace of the night.

Now imagine your fear when a bright light appears, surrounding a creature larger than you’ve ever seen. It assures to not be afraid, then shares the best news you will ever hear.

Picture yourself as the shepherd in this Christmas account of the birth of Jesus from the Gospel of Saint Luke,

“And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!”

Let’s pray – Jesus our Redeemer. You break into the darkness as the light of the world. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Amen.

This is Mike Kelly with Pray For 2. Listen anytime at prayfor2.com, or on the Redeemer Radio app.

That’s the description many scholars use for the Old Testament book of Isaiah. It is rich in foreshadowing the coming of Jesus, and a staple of the daily readings in the Advent season.

Today, listen to the excitement and urgency of this prophet. He can barely contain himself, comparing the coming of Jesus and the Kingdom of God to the vindication of the city of Jerusalem.

“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines forth like the dawn, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My delight is in her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.”

Let’s pray – Jesus our Redeemer. You sent prophets like Isaiah to foreshadow your coming into the world. Bless our Advent, as we prepare for your vindication to shine forth like the dawn. Amen.

This is Mike Kelly with Pray For 2. Listen anytime at prayfor2.com, or on the Redeemer Radio app.

Do you ever think of Christmas as adoption day?

When God sent His son, Jesus Christ, into the world, He began the reconciliation of

humanity to Himself. This relationship had been severed by the original sin of Adam and

Eve in the Garden of Eden. Through the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we

were redeemed, making us adopted sons and daughters of God the Father.

Listen to Saint Paul, writing to the Church in Ephesus, speak of our adoption.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us…In him, according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will, we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of his glory.”

Let’s Pray – Father of Grace and Mercy. You sent your son, our beloved Lord and Redeemer, into the world to reconcile us to you. Bless our Advent preparations as we await this ultimate gift, the gift that arrived on our adoption day. Amen.

This is Mike Kelly with Pray For 2. Listen anytime at Godislove.blog, or on the Redeemer Radio app.

“Give me a sign!”

Is there a person out there that hasn’t questioned God by asking for a sign to prove he exists and loves us?

Jesus even called us out in the Gospel of Saint John, saying,

“Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”

The irony is that Jesus Christ was, and is, the ultimate sign of God’s existence and love for us. Not content to be remote or distant, Jesus not only came into the world, but continues to enter into us in the Holy Eucharist at every mass.

As we continue our Advent preparations for Christmas, let’s listen to the sign given to Ahaz in the Old Testament book of Isaiah,

“Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel (meaning God with us).”

Let’s pray. Jesus our Savior. We ask for signs to affirm our belief in you. Help us to recognize with new eyes that you are the greatest sign of God’s love for us. May we trust in faith and rejoice in hope this Advent season, knowing you are truly Emmanuel - God with us . Amen

This is Mike Kelly with Pray For 2. Listen anytime at Godislove.blog, or on the Redeemer Radio app.

Today, let’s pray from Isaiah 11, a passage rich in hope, prefiguring the coming of Jesus.

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.

Righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall feed; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The sucking child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

This is Mike Kelly. You can find Pray For 2 at Godislove.blog, or on the Redeemer Radio app.

Jesus Christ carries many titles – King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Savior of the World. Another role prefigured in the Old Testament book of Isaiah was a unifier of nations – the Prince of Peace.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Listen to Saint Paul imparting the spirit of this Prince of Peace as he writes to the Romans…

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise thee among the Gentiles, and sing to thy name.””

Let’s pray. Dear Jesus – you came into our world to be a unifier of nations, the Prince of Peace. Help us to Welcome one another, as you welcomed us, for the glory of God. Amen.

This is Mike Kelly. You can find Pray For 2 at Godislove.blog, or on the Redeemer Radio app.

Mary’s fiat, her “yes,” where she accepts the message that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the child of God, Jesus Christ, is memorialized in the Gospel of Saint Luke.

Today, I’d like to propose that Joseph also had a fiat, when he honorably accepted the Mary’s pregnancy.

Listen to the account in Matthew,

“The birth of Jesus Christ took place this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emman′u-el” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.”

Let’s pray – Father of Grace and Mercy. You challenged Mary and Joseph with the miraculous pregnancy of Jesus. Help us to recognize both of their fiats, as they provide models for the “yes” you call us each to in following you in faith.

This is Mike Kelly with Pray For 2. Listen anytime at Godislove.blog, or on the Redeemer Radio app.