#lectionary #Christmas #proper02 Titus 3: 4-7... "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." #sonship #sanctification #HolySpirit

IMHO, the Titus 3 passage of the #Christmas #lectionary #proper02 best captures the #Gospel message. God saves, through #Christ and the #HolySpirit , and this is not from ourselves; it is the gift of God.

For the #proper02 #christmas reading, I can't help but think about how #israel was OCCUPIED TERRITORY as they AWAITED the promised redeemer / king. #Jerusalem posted sentinels & hoped their grain wouldn't be stolen by the Romans (Isaiah 62:6-12)... The #LORD is king, especially over the foreign/ #pagan gods. (Psalm 97) ... And the #gospel #pericope references the emperor's decree for mandatory inconvenient travel (Luke 2:1-20). #expectantWaiting #advent #lectionary https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=6