For the ninth day of Christmas, I don’t have nine dancing ladies to gift you. But I do have this conversation between Joshua and I shared with Dr. Johanna, who both enjoys dancing and can cover for a dozen ladies when it comes to thoughtful conversation.
Here is the prayer Johanna offers at the top:
Heavenly Father, Most Merciful God, we're inundated with so much pressure of fake joy at this very moment and grappling with how to hear the news of your incarnation, death, and resurrection through the noise of that. And we pray that you hear us with forgiveness and grace and that you be with us in this conversation and as we move into the rest of our day that we can bring your love and light to everyone that we encounter. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
And here is the passage from Athanasius that I read at the beginning:
“Furthermore, if the death of the Lord is a ransom for all, and by his death the wall of partition is broken down, and the call of the Gentiles is effected, how would he have called us had he not been crucified? For only on the cross does one die with hands stretched out. Therefore, the Lord had to endure this and stretch out his hands that with the one he might draw the ancient people and with the other, those of the Gentiles, and that he might join both in himself. This he himself said when he indicated by what manner of death he would ransom all men. When I shall be raised up, I shall draw all men to myself."
Merry Christmas, friends, and Happy New Year!
On the Incarnation