Second Week of Advent - Wednesday


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Love...self sacrificing love....
 
God gave the ultimate sacrifice of love by sending his One and Only Son.
 
But Mary and Joseph also showed self sacrificing love.

Mary, a young unmarried woman, called to carry and give birth to the Messiah. She must have considered the cost to herself,  her relationship with Joseph, and her community's reaction.When Gabriel appeared to Mary, she willingly gave herself to the service of the Lord. In Luke 1:38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

Joseph, engaged to marry Mary, hears that she is pregnant. The thoughts that must have run through his mind. He even contemplated to divorce her secretly. But again an angel intervened and told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife [Matthew 1:20]. His fears subsided and he marries her but had no relations with Mary until her Son was born.

Are we willing to offer self sacrificing love? Are we willing to love our neighbor as ourselves? Will we keep our promises even to our own hurt?

May we have the courage, power and strength to be like Mary and Joseph.

The following is from one of my favorite movies to watch at Christmastime...

 

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