Jesus Christ Is The Sign Of Our Salvation

 

Salvation is not in any other creature but Jesus Christ.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, December 20th of Advent, 2023
Texts: Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24:1-6; Luke 1:26-38 

Jesus Christ is the sign of our salvation. Prophet Isaiah reveals this truth in today’s first reading. He says, “Therefore the  Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God is with us].” He is the sign of our salvation because it is in Him God fulfilled the plan of our salvation. St. Paul says, “in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us” (2Cor. 5:19). 

Today’s gospel reading affirms that Jesus fulfils the prophecy that a new born baby will save his people. This is clear in the message of angel Gabriel: “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name  Jesus. 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, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." 

How shall this be, since I have no husband?

Mary is the virgin that prophet Isaiah mentioned. This is clear when Mary asked, “How shall this be, since I have no husband?" In answering Virgin Mary, angel Gabriel tells us it will happen by the power of Holy Spirit. He also tells us the significance of being a virgin: The child will be called holy, the Son of God. In his words: “And the angel said to 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.” 

The Church of God gives us today’s readings to invite us to faith in Jesus Christ as our salvation. We are reminded that God’s plan of salvation is in Jesus. Salvation is not in any other creature but Jesus Christ. We are not to turn to any other person or place for salvation except in Jesus Christ. Hence, St. Peter says, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). 

Prayer  

O God, eternal majesty, whose ineffable Word the immaculate Virgin received through the message of an Angel and so became the dwelling-place of divinity, filled with the light of the Holy Spirit, grant, we pray, that by her example we may in humility hold fast to your will. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke