I can see him, but not now, I’m looking at him, but not up close. A star rises from Jacob, a scepter rises from Israel | Nm 24, 17.

Already in the books of the Old Testament, the arrival of the Savior who will come out of the chosen nation was heralded. It is already mentioned in one of the books of Moses, where we hear a word from the book of Numbers: I see him, but not now; I look at him, but not close. The star rises from Jacob, and the wand rises from Israel. The entire Jewish nation recognized this word and eagerly awaited its fulfillment. Another powerful promise that the Savior who will come to this earth will rule with a scepter of iron comes from King David, who prophesied in Psalm 110 with the words: The Lord will extend the power of your scepter from Zion: rule among your enemies. From the day of your birth, the reign in sacred splendor belongs to you. I begot you like the dew before the rising of the pupil. (Vs. 2-3)

Years passed, and the Israelites expected the arrival of a mighty ruler with a sword and an iron scepter. Still, God comes in the secret of the house of Nazareth to the Virgin promised to Joseph, where with the words of an angel, he fulfills all the Old Testament prophecies: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s family forever, and his kingdom will have no end. (Lk 1, 31-33)

The promised Messiah came, who was not born into the luxury and wealth of this world but into the stench and poverty of the Bethlehem barn, where no one had prepared a festive welcome for His arrival. The time is coming when we, too, prepare for the birth of the world’s Savior. A characteristic feature of this period is that we are often absorbed in buying gifts and slavishly cleaning and decorating our homes, which usually brings more nervousness than joy. And when we finally sit at the Christmas dinner table, we are exhausted. Jesus gives us instructions on how to fully experience Christmas when every year he is born and waits for your embrace.

Prayer: Lord, we ask that we live this time with our eyes fixed on the simple crib. Let our homes not become an exhibition of wreaths and Christmas decorations, but a place ready for the arrival of the King. Amen.

Questions: Are you ready to embrace the coming Jesus?