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Tag: advent

Advent for a too familiar Nativity
GOOD NEWS!

Aren’t you glad you’re NOT a preacher this ‘Christmas’ season? After all, how much more can we say about the nativity of the Lord Jesus in Bethlehem.

WE have preached the Gospel every year — the openings of the Gospels applicable to our pageants, programs, concerts, carolings, Christmas Eve services, Midnight Masses, Christmas Day dinner feasts — CHRIST-MASS — how much more can we possibly have to say about worship of a baby born in Bethlehem?

εὐαγγέλιον – Good Tidings

Lexicon :: Strong’s G2098 – euangelion
- the glad tidings of the kingdom of God soon to be set up, and subsequently also of Jesus the Messiah, the founder of this kingdom. After the death of Christ, the term comprises also the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ as having suffered death on the cross to procure eternal salvation for the men in the kingdom of God, but as restored to life and exalted to the right hand of God in heaven, thence to return in majesty to consummate the kingdom of God
- the glad tidings of salvation through Christ
- the proclamation of the grace of God manifest and pledged in Christ
- the gospel
- as the messianic rank of Jesus was proved by his words, his deeds, and his death, the narrative of the sayings, deeds, and death of Jesus Christ came to be called the gospel or glad tidings
Let’s get the GOOD NEWS right

So because I’m NOT a pastor today’s ‘Advent’ message in the year of our Lord 2022 will simply point out an overlooked FACT or two concerning what the Gospels actually say about the birth of Jesus.

The Gospel of Mark

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet..

Mark does not address the manner and place of Jesus’ birth, but proceeds directly to the Lord’s ministry and teaching.

The Gospel of 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 any thing 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.

The Apostle introduces Christ in genesis before creation and mortals. John adds his authenticated witness of Jesus the Messiah without reference to the nativity so oft’ told each ‘Christ–mass‘.
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(Christmas reminder for Protestants - the mass is a worship service)
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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Good News of the Apostle John 1:14 English Standard Version

Gospel of Matthew

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham..

The Apostle Matthew begins his Gospel with a Jewish genealogy of Israel’s Messiah as introduction to Jesus’s birth. The Apostle then proceeds into some detail of the nativity in Bethlehem.

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way..

Matthew continues to set the scene with some marriage background involving Joseph and Mary.

..an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Gospel of Matthew 1:21 ESV

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea

Matthew jumps suddenly to a time AFTER the Lord was born. Once again he provides some historical context.

.. in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem..

2:1 Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλέεμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἐν ἡμέραις Ἡρῴδου τοῦ βασιλέως ἰδού, μάγοι ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν παρεγένοντο εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα

From Matthew 2:1 in the King James Version note the facts presented by the Apostle:

behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem
- wise men – magos – wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, augers, soothsayers, sorcerers etc.
- from the east – anatolē – the east (the direction of the sun’s rising)
Wise men, plural without saying how many AND from the east, therefore NOT from the Roman Empire or African continent, likely Babylonians (Chaldeans), Medes, or Persians.

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Gospel of Matthew 2:2 – Question of the wise men to King Herod

Are there three wise men.. perhaps four, five or more?

Why would these men from the east come to worship a Jewish king?

(Could they be Jews of the diaspora to Babylon never returned to Jerusalem under the yoke of Rome?)
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Of course all of these questions don't fit into the choreography of our usual nativity pageantry too well but sticking close to the Scripture of Matthew let's observe a couple of other details.
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And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 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.
- the star went before them to ‘the place where the child was
- they went ‘into the house’
- the wise men ‘fell down and worshiped him,’ *the wise men did not worship Mary, though she was with the child Jesus
Matthew continues with a brief account of how Jesus got to Nazareth from Bethlehem via Egypt.

Gospel of Luke

Luke’s narrative like that of the Apostle Matthew sets the scene for us ‘in the days of Herod, king of Judea.’ He connects two signs of miraculous births: that of John the Baptist and of Jesus Christ.

26 In the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy] the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary..

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

How?

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”

38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

And the angel departed from her.

Luke 2:
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Even unbelievers know this Nativity narrative from Luke as frequently read in many places from Scripture.
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Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?

The Birth of Jesus Christ

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In this most familiar Nativity scene:

Mary gives birth to Jesus, wraps the Christ-child in swaddling cloths (whatever those are) and lays Him away in a manger φάτνη (no crib for a bed, etc. etc..) BECAUSE Luke records, the small little town of Bethlehem had ‘NO ROOM’ in the inn. (No innkeeper of record here.)

BUT (recalling Matthew’s gospel) when the wise men come to worship the Christ-child later:

the star went before them to ‘the place where the child was’ AND they went ‘into the house.’
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NOT a discrepancy, but it doesn't fit neatly into a single scene (or manger set).
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YET NEAR-BY:

there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear..

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 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 those with whom he is pleased!”

16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

The Childhood of the Christ-child

Luke’s gospel provides some additional detail of the powerful signs and significance of events to follow. Without providing exact dates or itineraries of Joseph, Mary and the Christ-child he gives us some brief insight.

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
Gospel of Luke 2:22-24, King James Version

Mary’s purification by Mosaic Law would not have taken place until after forty days [ritually, 7 plus 33 more] after JESUS was born.

THEREFORE, these two important signs involving Simeon and the prophetess Anna although extremely connected to Old Testament prophesy do not add detail to the nativity story of Jesus except as a connection between the birth of the Savior.

Advent 4 – preparation of the nativity forgotten

I close with a post-script to the Scripture of our all-too-familiar nativity story.

When we were children we would open twenty-five windows on a December calendar focused on anticipation of Christmas. Churches typically redecorated for an Advent season leading up to Christmas Day. Many Christians worshipped Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day.

Gifts? Yes. But clearly the gift was JESUS born as a CHILD just like we were. (What an irony!)

Shopping? Parents shopped (mostly Mom). Children just asked for gifts (NOT shopped for whatever our little hearts desired) and we really didn’t know what gift we might get EVEN IF we could just be ‘good.’ I think they shopped for others too, just like baking for neighbors or sending Christmas cards to good friends. GIFTS — for others, NOT shopping and shipping for our SELVES.

JESUS was a gift of GOD the Father to the world.

(Every good little Christian boy or girl knew at least that.)

Santa, reindeer, elves and all the rest? Stories — fables like Aesop’s or the Nutcracker Ballet, not real.. but FUN enough for a bored kid in need of some imagination. BUT St. Nicholas, as nice as the story always shows, was never Jesus — the JESUS of the Gospels also read to us.

– the Christ of Christmas was no Santa Claus, not a gift-giver but the Gift Himself. The songs and celebrations from the beginning of Advent to the joy of Christmas morning reflected a hope for more than just a merry Christmas, but a life of peace in our brief mortal years of growing up — growing through — growing into a more complete faith in Jesus Christ.

AND

WE children raised in a Christian household and local church didn’t have to take anyone’s word for it. WE believed because we believed God, whose very word was right in our hand in a BIBLE presented to us by our local church.

NO preacher would ever feel the need to CHANGE any of the Gospel — not one jot or tittle of Scripture we could read for ourselves. Nor would a pastor dare reintroduce JESUS with some more personal persona than CHRIST or LORD.

Do you wonder how Advent has nearly become archaic?

I know that this previous ‘advent’ post from Matthew 25 in not related to the Nativity or birth of Jesus Christ..

Matthew 25 – Parable of the Ten Virgins

BUT has our PREACHING forgotten to fill the lamps for the more imminent coming of CHRIST for His Bride?

Even so, come Lord Jesus.
December 17, 2022
The Christ Child bound in the womb of eternity
A human life is bound in the womb of eternity. In one sense a child is not fully born by its mother into the fullness of life — but only into a helpless and limited mortal life — where babe may become child, child may become man or woman — this quick-passing human life bound in the confines of mortal time followed inevitably by death and judgment.

Born once in a human womb

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Gospel of John 1:14

adam bore both sin and death conceived in a womb of measured time, incomplete and nourished in the blood of our mother — growing to burst forth into a glory beyond the bounds of this place to which we have clung for such a brief time — measured time ended beyond the bounds of our dark inner existence.

What once was death separated from our mortal time within these bounds inevitably becomes life beyond humanity’s brief prison lifted into a glory of the everlasting Light beyond.

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
Hebrews 9:27

So Christ was born a son of man

to bear the sins of many, AND JESUS the SON of GOD, who IS and was God,

will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
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See Hebrews 9:
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Ἐμμανουήλ
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Lexicon :: Strong's G1694  [click for pronunciation of the Greek word above- emmanouēl ]
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“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL^G1694,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”

Christians (and even many unbelievers who have witnessed an annual Christmas pageant) know the Scripture well. But think of its implication as well as the impact of Almighty God entering measured time and mortal flesh.

An anointed Virgin of the Eternal God will have a son by the Holy Spirit of God!

This Son of the Everlasting One IS actually GOD [theos] WITH US [in mortal flesh and blood], BORN — as are all mankind AND who must suffer DEATH as is appointed to EVERY son of man.

Emanu–el – Hebrew Gospel announced in Matthew’s manger

Matthew addresses the genealogy of JESUS EMMANUEL as he would any line of adam.

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Gospel of Matthew 1:1

I will not detail this linage of the promise of God through Abraham (who was childless) and David (whose Kingdom ended in defeat by Babylon) or that in his Gospel lineage Matthew designates Joseph as the husband of Mary. Matthew then adds that before she conceived JESUS, that is GOD WITH US, by the HOLY SPIRIT [v.18], however note that by these important names Matthew introduces of the LORD GOD in a fragile frame of a HUMAN CHILD.

1:1 βίβλος γενέσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ υἱοῦ Δαυὶδ υἱοῦ Ἀβραάμ

Ἰησοῦ – iēsous –

JESUS, in the now common language of the Roman Empire – JESUS, in Greek.

[pronounced]

JESUS Of Hebrew origin יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (H3091)

You should recognize the name of an earlier savior who the LORD sent into the land promised to Abraham after the death of Moses.

Joshua or Jehoshua = “Jehovah is salvation”

From יְהֹוָה (H3068) and יָשַׁע (H3467)

Joshua, almost literally Jesus IS Salvation from the Hebrew of Jacob [Israel], descendants of the promise of Yᵊhōvâ to save.

[yeh-ho-shoo’-ah] יְהוֹשׁוּעַ

יָשַׁע

Χριστός

Lexicon :: Strong’s G5547 – christos

Christ (from the Greek) or Messiah (Hebrew)
- The KJV translates Strong’s G5547 in the following manner: Christ (569x).
- Outline of Biblical Usage [?]
  - Christ = “anointed”
    
    Christ was [and is]1 the Messiah, the Son of God
    
    anointed from χρίω
    
    to anoint
    
    consecrating Jesus to the Messianic office, and furnishing him with the necessary powers for its administration
    
    enduing Christians with the gifts of the Holy Spirit
And Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called [Messiah] Christ^G5547.
Gospel of Matthew 1:16 LSB

Jesus’ Apostles witness Jesus as the Christ – Matthew 16 times in his Gospel and John 19 times in his Gospel plus 11 times in two brief letters and 7 times in Revelation.
Χριστός Christós, khris-tos’;
from G5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:—Christ. – BLUELETTERBIBLE.ORG

The Christ child

NO other term in the New Testament is used more than CHRIST [500+x] to characterize JESUS. ‘Christians‘ should not take lightly any replacement of CHRIST in Scripture with some less characteristic human title.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com

The Good News of Matthew:

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:

when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly [divorcing his betrothed {with whom they ‘had not come together’}]. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the One who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name

Jesus,

for He will save His people from their sins.”
- Did you catch that?
The angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream as commands his to call the child, JESUS.

JESUS, unlike Joshua of the same name before, “Jehovah is salvation,” not only is not born of an earthly father but is NOT sent to SAVE the sons of Abraham from earthly enemies or lay claim to an earthly land as a king.

NO, Jesus, a son of man ONLY by the virgin Mary, “will save His people from their sins,” a mercy ONLY God can grant to a condemned son of adam.

The Good News of John

We began consideration of the Apostle’s Christian logic behind the birth of Jesus into time and human flesh. Today I end with his explanation of what also seems convincingly logical from the Savior who John calls ‘The Word‘ (λόγος – logos).
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Thirty years later -- from the Gospel of John 3:
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“Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born [from above] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

“How can a man be born when he is old? ..

Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
“That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit.

“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Will you be born again (though we are old)?

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words [logos] will not pass away.
A word of Jesus Christ from the Gospel of Matthew 24:25

Here is the significance of the Christ child in a manger and the Son of Man Jesus on the cross who was born to save His people from their sins.

Pilate said to them,

“Then, what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

Gospel of Matthew 27:22a LSB
December 6, 2022
Matthew 25 – Parable of the Ten Virgins
Awake, the voice is calling us!
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"Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" (literally: Awake, the voice is calling us) is a Lutheran hymn written in German by Philipp Nicolai, first published in 1599 together with "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern". 

It appears in German hymnals and in several English hymnals in translations such as "Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying" (Catherine Winkworth, 1858), "Wake, O wake! with tidings thrilling" (Francis Crawford Burkitt, 1906), and "Up! Awake! From Highest Steeple" (George Ratcliffe Woodward, 1908). 

The hymn is known as the foundation of J.S. Bach's chorale cantata Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140, as well as being the foundation of settings by other composers.

P. Nicolai wrote the hymn in 1598, a time when the plague had hit. - Source:  BachCantatas.com
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Wake up, the voice calls us
of the watchmen high up on the battlements,
wake up, you city of Jerusalem!
This hour is called midnight;
they call us with a clear voice:
where are you, wise virgins ?
Get up, the bridegroom comes;
Stand up, take your lamps! Hallelujah!
Alleluia!
Make yourselves ready
for the wedding,
you must go to meet him!

Zion hears the watchmen sing,
her heart leaps for joy,
she awakes and gets up in haste.
Her friend comes from heaven in his splendour,
strong in mercy, mighty in truth.
Her light becomes bright, her star rises.
Now come, you worthy crown,
Lord Jesus, God’s son!
Hosanna!
We all follow
to the hall of joy
and share in the Lord’s supper.

May gloria be sung to you
with the tongues of men and angels,
with harps and with cymbals.
The gates are made of twelve pearls,
in your city we are companions
of the angels on high around your throne.
No eye has ever perceived,
no ear has ever heard
such joy.
Therefore we are joyful,
hurray, hurray!
for ever in sweet rejoicing.

Advent 1

Advent, (from Latin adventus, “coming”), in the Christian church calendar, the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ.
- In Western churches, Advent begins on the Sunday nearest to November 30 (St. Andrew’s Day) and is the beginning of the liturgical year.
- In many Eastern churches, the Nativity Fast is a similar period of penance and preparation that occurs during the 40 days before Christmas. The date when the season was first observed is uncertain.
- Bishop Perpetuus of Tours (461–490) established a fast before Christmas that began on November 11 (St. Martin’s Day), and the Council of Tours (567) mentioned an Advent season.
Source: Britanica.com

a woke OR AWAKE?

I’m uncertain in these last days of the Common Era (once commonly called Anno Domini, literally “in the year of our Lord“ IF our church is woke or awake.

(See link to ‘woke’ on TalkofJESUS.com cover page to learn more.)

I’m also not certain if Linus reading Luke is the anti-inclusive message of the Gospel which offends the Holiday spirits of TV audiences, but I suspect that our aversion to ‘christmas‘ with a capital CHRIST (Christ-mass) is a deepening darkness as evident as the coming winter solstice.

The title for this non-series for Advent ignored and ‘christian‘ ‘churches‘ CLOSED on christmas eve, christmas day or BOTH reflects my own nonplus question of why it seems so few christians really want to TALK OF JESUS at all, especially those of our local ‘church.’
Roger@TalkofJESUS.com

In previous years I have also prepared our hearts for Advent.

The Scandal of a Virgin

From Advent in the year of our Lord 2014

In fact, December in the year of our Lord 2022 seems to be a time to gather the oil for our lamps that at least some of the virgins might be prepared for Christmas .. in fact, prepared for more.

the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew

Doctrinally, it must be repeated that the belief in the Virgin birth of Christ is of the highest value for the right apprehension of Christ’s unique and sinless personality.
R. A. Torrey :: The Virgin Birth of Christ

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham..

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise:

When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together,

she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Gospel of Matthew 1:18 – King James Version

Therefore, Sleepers AWAKE!

Parable of Ten Virgins

“Then the kingdom of heaven may be compared to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.

“For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.

“Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout,

‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

“Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

“But the prudent answered, saying, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’

“And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast;

and the door was shut.

“And later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’

“But he answered and said, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’

“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

A Caution of Jesus Christ to His betrothed, the Church

This hour is called midnight;
they call us with a clear voice:
where are you, wise virgins ?

Advent AD 2022: Are YOU awake?
A Savior IS come.
Christ died. Christ IS risen! Christ will come again.

Are YOU preparing your soul with the oil of Christ’s anointing in the advent of His return?
December 2, 2022