Quiet Faithfulness in the Coming of the Son, Matthew 1:18-25

How does Joseph respond when he discovers Mary is pregnant? How does he respond when he learns her pregnancy has been caused by the Holy Spirit? He responds with righteousness and faithfulness before God! He is a quiet man who strives to do as God commands and takes on the task of being the earthly father of the Messiah, who he knows to be more than an ordinary man.

Image: An Angel Appears to Joseph in a Dream, uploaded by Martin LaBar, licensed under: CC BY-NC 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar/2079380

Lift Up Your Heads, O Gates, Psalm 24

Psalm 24 is most likely a reflection of the Ark of the Covenant being brought into Jerusalem after David had conquered the city. Yet, it also becomes something more in light of Jesus’ coming into this world and his return at the end. What do we hear in this psalm that can lead us into opening wide the gates when Jesus returns?

Image: Entry of David into Jerusalem, by Frans Francken the Younger. (Public Domain) Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:David_Entry_into_Jerusalem.jpg