Beads of Joy Blog II (2025)

December 21 Emmanuel: God With Us Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14 / Psalm 24 / Romans 1:1-7 / Matthew 1:18-24 Reflection Today, all three readings converge on one stunning reality: Emmanuel. God with us. Isaiah prophesies it seven centuries before it happens: "The virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall name him Emmanuel." Paul proclaims it as the fulfillment of all God promised: the Gospel about His Son, "descended from David according to the flesh, but established as Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord." And Matthew shows it happening: Joseph wrestling with Mary's pregnancy, receiving the angel's message in a dream, waking up to obey what God commanded. All three readings circle the same mystery: God becoming human, heaven touching earth, the infinite entering the finite. Four days until Christmas. Four days until we celebrate Emmanuels birth. But today we celebrate Emmanuel ...

December 20 Behold, I am the Handmaid Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14 / Luke 1:26-38 Reflection King Ahaz faces a crisis. Enemies surround Jerusalem. Isaiah the prophet tells him, "Ask for a sign from the LORD your God, make it as deep as the netherworld or as high as the sky!" But Ahaz refuses: "I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!" It sounds pious, but it's actually faithless. Ahaz doesn't want a sign because a sign would require him to trust God instead of his own political schemes. Isaiah responds with exasperation: "Is it not enough for you to weary men, must you also weary my God? Therefore, the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall name him Emmanuel." God with us. Even when we refuse to ask, God gives. Even when we turn away, God is present. Seven centuries later, that prophecy unfolds in a young girl's room in Nazareth. The angel Gabriel appears to Mary: "Hail, full of grace! Th...

December 19 When God Breaks the Silence Readings: Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a / Luke 1:5-25 Reflection Two stories separated by centuries, connected by one beautiful theme: God loves to surprise barren situations with impossible life. In the Book of Judges, Manoah's wife can't have children. Then an angel appears with incredible news: "You will conceive and bear a son. He will be consecrated to God from the womb, and he will begin to deliver Israel." She runs to tell her husband, "A man of God came to me, he had the appearance of an angel, terrible indeed!" She doesn't even know the angel's name, but she believes every word. And sure enough, Samson is born, strong, Spirit-filled, destined for greatness. Fast forward to Luke's Gospel: Zechariah and Elizabeth, both righteous and faithful, both elderly, both without children. Zechariah is serving in the temple when Gabriel himself appears: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayer has been ...

December 18 Do Not Be Afraid Readings: Jeremiah 23:5-8 / Matthew 1:18-25 Reflection Joseph wakes up to discover Mary is pregnant. The world as he knows it has just been turned upside down. He's a righteous man, the Gospel tells us, so he plans to divorce her quietly to protect her from public disgrace. But that night, an angel appears in a dream with a message that changes everything: "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary, your wife, into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her." Do not be afraid. Those words echo through Scripture whenever God is about to do something extraordinary. The angel continues: "She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." When Joseph wakes up, he does exactly what the angel commanded. He takes Mary as his wife. He steps into God's plan even though he doesn't have all the answers. He becomes the guardian of...