God’s Word Is Fulfilled for Us in the Flesh and Blood
of Christ Jesus, the Son of Mary
The Fourth Sunday in Advent turns our
attention toward the Nativity of Our Lord. With the Blessed Virgin Mary we
await the coming of the Christ, her Son, conceived in her womb by the Word and
Spirit of God. This fulfillment of the sign once given to the House of David,
that “the virgin shall conceive and bear a son” (Isaiah 7:14), is now
given to us in the Gospel.
The gospel declares that salvation is by
His grace alone, entirely His work and a free gift. It is also the way and
means by which the Lord our God is “Immanuel,” God-with-us. The almighty
and eternal Son of God is conceived and born of St. Mary, and is thus “descended
from David according to the flesh” (Romans 1:3–4). He comes in this way to
save us with His own flesh and blood; wherefore He is called “Jesus, for He
will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
As St. Joseph received this sign in faith and immediately “did as the angel of the Lord commanded him” (Matthew 1:24), we also live by faith in this Holy Gospel.
Psalm
130:5–8; Antiphon, Isaiah 64:1—In
the antiphon, we make known our desire to see the coming of the Lord in flesh: Oh that you would rend the heavens and come
down! Having expressed this fervent wish, we settle down and wait for the
LORD to come at His proper time. We know that the Lord will come, that He has
come, for He always fulfills His promises out of His steadfast love, especially
to redeem us from all our iniquities by His death on the cross taking our place
as our substitute.
Collect for Psalm 130: God of might and compassion, you sent your Word into the world as a watchman to announce the dawn of salvation. Do not leave us in the depths of our sins but listen to your church pleading for the fullness of your redeeming grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.[2] -12 December 2022—
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