The Message: The Messiah has come! No longer is God to be called on, nor a Savior to be sought after, but a God and Savior who has already
come to seek and save the lost (Luke 9: 10), because He is the Good Shepherd who is willing to lay down His life for His sheep (John 10:11). Truly,
His name is “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” Isa.9: 5b. The promise the Lord gave to Israel when they cried
out from the depths of the Babylonian captivity was fulfilled by the coming of the Messiah, it said: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the
Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope“Jer.29: 11. The Messiah did not come to condemn but to save (Jn. 3:17),
for He is an ever-present help in trouble (Ps. 46: 1b). In that respect, the true cause and the source of our suffering is sin, the nature and spirit of
injustice, wickedness, and death, which separates us from the Holy and Living God (Isa.59: 2). That is how John the Baptist said, seeing and pointing
to Him, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29. He accepted to really die for us so that we might live (1 Jn. 4: 3),
and to fight our battles in order to make us winners (Isa.49: 25 / Jn. 16: 33b); which means, in another words, so that we may receive His peace. But
the peace that God gives us is of another kind, of the highest kind, in that the sinner is forgiven so that he may be reconciled to God and have
fellowship with Him, because he has been redeemed by Christ with His precious blood (1 Pet.1: 19 ). This is the blood of the covenant of eternal
redemption (Heb. 9: 12), which made Jesus say to His Father: « I have not lost those You have given Me » John.18: 9. Therefore, it may be said that
all those He has redeemed are called « sons of peace. » They remain in God and inherit His kingdom, and no one can snatch them out of His hand
(Jn.10:28). For them the blessing declares: “On earth peace among those whom he favors!” Lk.2: 14.
Monday 30: The Messiah has come, full of the Spirit of the Lord.
“The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him” Isaiah 11: 2a.
Reading 1: Luke.2: 14-21. Reading 2: Isa.11: 1-2. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Isaiah 11: 2.
Introduction: The Messiah is a Messenger appointed by the Father, who said about Him: « This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am
well pleased; listen to him! » Mat.17: 5. So when He appeared to us, He was filled of the Spirit of God’s grace. Jesus said: “It is the
spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” Jn.6: 63. So He breathed on his
disciples and said to them, « Receive the Holy Spirit » John 20:22.
Tuesday, 31: The Messiah has come to raise up children for God.
« Wherefore you are no more servants, but children … » Gal.4: 7a.
Reading 1: John 1: 6-13. Reading 2: Gal.4: 1-7. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Gal.4: 7.
Introduction: The Messiah has come to raise us up as children of the heavenly kingdom. For it is written, « To all who did receive him,
to those who believed in his name, he gave the power to become children of God » Jn.1: 12. And as such,they dwell in Him (John 8:
35). In this regard the Apostle Paul said: “It is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if
children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” Rom.8: 16-17.
Wednesday, 01: Happy New Year 2020!
The Wonderful Child.
“The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him” Luke 2:40.
Reading 1: Isa.9: 1-6. Reading 2: Luke.2: 33-40. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Luke.2:40.
Introduction: The revelation of the Messiah – the Word who became flesh – manifests God’s wanting to dwell among us so that He
took our human form. This is what is reflected in Jesus Christ, theWonderful Child full of grace, but also the loving Shepherd of
God’sheep, who « came to seek and to save the lost » Luke.19: 10. For it is written, « For God so loved the world that he gave his only
Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life » John 3:16.
Thursday 02: The Messiah has come, justice for His people.
“But with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth” Isa.11: 4.
Reading 1: Matt.15: 21-27. Reading 2: Is.11: 3-5. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Isa.11: 4.
Introduction: The Messiah has come; it first means that He justifies the sinners by forgiving all their sins (Eph.1: 7). The second idea
of justice is that God justifies to those who cry out to Him for salvation, and grants them justice. For Jesus said: “And will not God
grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant
justice to them” Lk.18: 7-8. This is how He says to them: « Peace be with you. »
Friday 03: The Messiah arrives, bringing about renewal.
“See, I am making all things new” Rev.21: 5a.
Reading 1: John 3: 1-8. Reading 2: Rev.21: 1-7. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Rev.21: 5.
Introduction: Since all things have died because of sin, the Messiah has come to bring about restoration. The Lord said, “For I am
about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind” Isa.65: 17. To all men
Jesus says, « No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above » Jn.3: 3; “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new
creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” 2 Cor.5: 17.
Saturday 04: The Messiah arrives, the Gospel is fulfilled.
« Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing » Luke 4: 21b.
Reading 1: Matt.11: 1-6. Reading 2: Luke 4: 14-21. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Matt.11: 4-5.
Introduction: The fulfillment of Isaiah’s announcement ofthe coming of the Messiah which took place eight hundred and thirty years
earlier was a great and extraordinary event. This is a great joy for all men, in agreement with the angels’s proclamation (Luke 2: 10b),
and which allows believers like Simeon to claim in the temple: “Lord, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to
your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation”Luke 2: 29-30.