Therefore in the forty-second year of Octavianus Augustus Caesar, when Herod was king of the Jews and all sovereignty had been taken away from the Jews, the Lord Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, a town of Judea, to the race of David, from the Virgin Mary. This came about as was fitting: that when the succession of kings and pontiffs descended from the race of Jacob had run its course, the eternal King and Pontiff should be born.

  - Augustine Hibernicus, On the Miracles of the Holy Scriptures (Irish, 7th century)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

  - Isaiah 9.6, 7

Christmas celebrates the birth of the eternal King and High Priest of God, even our Lord Jesus Christ. He came to declare and bring near the unshakeable Kingdom of God, which He acquired from His Father through His righteousness and sacrifice.

Upon His resurrection and ascension He was approved by God and given the Kingdom which had been promised Him from before the foundations of the world, and foretold by the prophets, from Jacob to Isaiah.

He gives this Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit to His own people and commands us to seek it as of the first priority in all aspects and areas of our lives.

The eternal King and High Priest, Jesus the Righteous, has come in the flesh, has lived, died, risen again, ascended to the Father, and, even as He upholds the world and everything in it by His Word of power, is advancing His glorious reign, of which "there will be no end," on earth as it is in heaven.

We are His people, who believe in Him. We are citizens of His Kingdom and members of His Body. And if citizens, then ambassadors; if members, then partakers. We are in Him, and His Spirit is in us; yet we strive for the upward prize of the high calling of God which we shall yet attain to in Him, in our glorious and eternal King and High Priest.

Oh friends, Christmas is the season of glorious portent! We recall the birth of our King so that we may be renewed as participants in His Kingdom and Body.

Jesus lived and died to give us the Kingdom.

May we live and die seeking and advancing it, to the praise of the glory of His grace.

Merry Christmas from Susie and me, and from the Members and Board of The Fellowship of Ailbe, to all of you, our fellow citizens and saints, and our friends.

T. M. Moore, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.