Promises, Promises

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. (Micah 5:2)

How often have we heard people say, "promises, promises," meaning that they do not believe they will see the actualization of what the speaker is saying. They have no faith in the one who is making the promise. But we who are Christians have faith in God because He has delivered what He has promised: the Messiah, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Micah promised the Israelites that they who were outcast and re-jected among the nations would be more powerful. Those who were scat-tered would be reunited. There would be security and peace. Many disbelieved because there were many valleys of doubt and many hills to climb before God's promises came to be a reality in Christ's Incarnation – His miraculous birth.

We who live today are still in a world filled with doubt. We still struggle to believe. We still await the promises of Christ to come and remove all obstacles to peace and security. Yet, how can we doubt what we have heard, seen, looked upon and touched (1John 1:1)? We have not only received Christ on earth, we have received Him in our bodies. As we read the words of Micah the prophet, we realize that God has kept His promises over the ages. Even though the struggle to climb out of the valleys of sin through which we must walk sometimes obscures the presence of God in our lives, we go on surrounded with the promise of Christ that He will never fail us or forsake us. The birth of Jesus is the proof for us that God is faithful and His Spirit sent to us is the confirmation of His continuing concern to guide the remnant who believes in His Kingdom where all will be united eternally and where security and peace will not be a hope but reality.

May the prophet’s words ring true in your hearts and homes this Christmas Season. May the promises of the God through Christ be fulfilled in your family in 2012.

Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year 2013!

+ Fr. Chris