Merry Christmas to all our readers from the Saint Joseph’s College Online Theology Program.
When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”
So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
Luke 2: 15-20
The prophecy was being fulfilled via – THE CHRIST CHILD, known amongst all in heaven, an hell very well. The three wise men were happy, as they had followed the stars to find the child, and knew he could, and would save the world. In fact, as the three wise man parallel the blessed trinity in number, Christ said to the apostles a he entered maturity, the three important qualities to have to please the Father, and do our part are, “Faith, Love, and Hope. The most important being Love.”
Thank you Saint Josephs Theological Faculty for reminding me to always love the Father with all our mind, body, and spirit. Also, to love your neighbor as you do yourself. The former and the latter are the essence for pleasing the Lord, and getting to heaven. although, no one is guaranteed entrance into heaven, not even the Blessed Pope Francis, what’s impossible for man is possible for God.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!
I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR STUDIES.
WORK HARD AND LOVE, RESPECT, HONOR THE FUTURE (CHILDREN) AND THE ELDERLY (THE WISDOM).
We often think of those shepherd as kids in white sheets from the Christmas plays. At one time being a shepherd was an honorable profession for we think back to David later to be King David, who we first hear of as a shepherd boy. Over the years shepherding had been reduced to the lowest of jobs in the first century. Shepherd kept out of town rarely coming into the villages. If you have ever been on a working farm, sheep are the dirtiest animals, picking up every twig, and bur in their wool. The shepherd kept to the outside of towns as they rarely if ever used the Roman baths. Yes smelly, dirty shepherd were not welcome in town.
Who do you announce the birth of your new born child too? Usually to your best friends, those on the same social level or higher if possible! Imagine going into town and tell the homeless about the birth of your son or daughter? God, the creator of the World, picked lowly smelly, dirty shepherds to send his Angelic messengers to tell them of the birth of God’s only Son! Not the kings, rulers, politically connected, not even the merchants. Consider who God announced the birth of Jesus to the next time you pass by that homeless person.
Christmas…. when heaven came to earth!
Learner Button,
I understand your post completively, from a tacit mindset, its clear you never no where an angel may take the form of. I feel this was the reason why Christ told us to love as he has loved us, and love thy neighbor as thyself. In fact, humans have a choice, and it would not change the scriptures if we all loved. Christ is coming to judge us this time, and if EVERYONE is loving, helping each other, I think he would probably say well man and womankind have done well, you are still being judged, but we do not have much to judge for you followed my last commandment, so in about 10 minutes we will be down there to get you to come on up to heaven.
V/R,
Learner Lipscomb
P.S. Mr. Button you wrote from the heart, and truly the holy spirit (the love between Christ and the Father) is working within you. Thank you.
Joy and Peace to all students and their families of the program as well to the awesome faculty and their families.