For Unto Us a Child Is Born Намуна

ANTICIPATION 

The beautifully adorned Christmas tree with its twinkling lights and sparkling ornaments filled her eyes with anticipation of Christmas morning when she could finally open her Christmas presents. Although her excitement made it difficult to fall asleep, she eventually dozed off nestled snug in her bed as visions of sugarplums danced in her head. (A nod to "Twas The Night Before Christmas," a poem by Clement Clarke Moore.) Christmas morning was soon to come! 

Anticipation can be exhausting, and waiting for something or someone special can seem never ending. You know the feeling if you've ever anxiously and joyfully awaited the birth of a child or grandchild, caught the first glimpse of a loved one de-boarding a plane, or finally reached a milestone or goal. As the world anticipates a Covid-19 vaccine and dark social and economic times to end, we await a brighter future. 

The advent of Christmas strengthens our hope that light overcomes darkness and death.  The birth of Christ fulfilled God's promise to send a light into the world who would shine on everyone living in darkness. The light of the world, Jesus Christ, was prophesized by Isaiah in another time of great gloom and despair during which the kings of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) were all evil: 

“For unto us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah's Messianic prophecy brought hope to a people anxiously anticipating peace and light during a time of great tribulation. It was fulfilled nearly eight hundred years later, with the birth of Jesus Christ. 

Footnote: All images in this prayer plan are taken from The Wiedmann Bible, a visual rendering of the Holy Scripture by German artist, Willy Wiedmann (1929-2013).