Advent Devotion

Wednesday, December 24, 2025  

Today's Scripture
Matthew 1:18–25

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. (NRSV)

Reflection

Even as we finally turn the page to the New Testament today, there are still unmistakable Old Testament echoes all throughout the early chapters of Matthew’s Gospel: genealogies, Joseph and his dreams, and quotations from prophets like Isaiah. Yet for all the ways Matthew’s text looks back, the coming arrival of “Emmanuel” promises to alter everything moving forward. Joseph is told that Mary is with child from the Holy Spirit — the same Spirit present in Genesis 1’s account of creation — and that this child who is to be named Jesus will usher in a re-creation of both our relationship with God, as well as our wider world.

That re-creation of our world has not yet come in full. We still live in a time gripped by hurt, hunger, and harm. Yet even when things are dire or hopeless, the arrival of “God with us” is a promise we will never be alone — and that God’s promised future always lies on the horizon.

That truth was captured beautifully by Alfred Delp, a Jesuit priest, who wrote these words in Advent 1944 as he awaited execution in a Nazi prison cell: “Space is still filled with the noise of destruction and annihilation, but just beyond the horizon the eternal realities stand silent in their age-old longing. There shines on us the first mild light of the radiant fulfillment to come. From afar sound the first notes as of pipes and singing, not yet discernible as a melody. It is all far off still, and only just announced and foretold. But it is happening. This is today. And tomorrow the angels will tell what has happened with loud rejoicing voices, and we shall know it and be glad.”

That is our hope this Christmas Eve. Our world shall one day know true love, true joy, and true peace in full — and be glad. May that hope be born anew in us this day — and may we carry with us in the days to come the light the Christ child came into this world to bring.

Prayer

Emmanuel, help each one of us take heart in the wonder of your love that, as we gather around the manger, we might be a changed people. May hope, peace, and joy fill our hearts this day and all days. Amen.

Written by Matt Helms, Associate Pastor

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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