Jesse Tree - Week 4
December 18-24

Day 22, December 18: Anne and Joachim

 Anne and Joachim  According to tradition, Anne and Joachim were the parents of Mary. The book is the symbol of the way that St. Anne taught Mary.  It was from Anne that Mary heard the story of the chosen people and of the messiah who was to save the world.  Little did Mary realize that one day God would choose her to be the mother of His son.

Day 23, December 19: Mary

Luke 1:26-38 God sent the angel Gabriel to Mary in Nazareth.  Gabriel told her the Lord was with her and that she was chosen among all women to bear God’s son, the king of all people, whom she should name Jesus.  Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant.  May it happen to me as you have said.”  The symbol of a loving heart represents Mary, our mother in heaven.

Day 24, December 20: Joseph of Nazareth

Matthew 1:18-25  Joseph, a descendant of King David, was a carpenter.  While he was engaged to Mary, an angel appeared to him and told him that Mary had conceived a son by the power of the Holy Spirit and that this son would be the Messiah.  Joseph agreed to take Mary as his wife as the angel instructed and he loved and protected Jesus, the son of God, as his foster son.

Day 25, December 21: Star of Bethlehem

Star of Bethlehem – Many years before, the prophet Micah had predicted that from the town of Bethlehem a ruler would come who would save Israel.  And so it happened that a census was ordered and Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem to be taxed.  They stayed in a stable because there was no room in the inn.  While they were there Mary gave birth to Jesus.  That night a special bright star shone in the sky over the place where Jesus was born.

Day 26, December 22: Shepherds

Luke 2:8-20  On the night Jesus was born; there were some shepherds in the fields keeping watch over their flocks.  An angel appeared to them and told them their Savior had been born.  They found Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus lying in a manger.  The shepherds were the first to welcome Jesus and they went away singing praises to God for all they had seen and heard.

Day 27, December 23: Angel

 Luke 2:8-14  The angel of the Lord who appeared to the shepherds announced:  “I bring you good news of great joy for all the people, for unto you is born in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  Suddenly the sky was filled with a great choir of angels, singing their praise to God:  “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and good will to all.”
 

Day 28, December 24: Jesus
 Luke 2:1-20  So it was that Jesus came to be born in Bethlehem, the son of Mary and Joseph of Nazareth.  He was the Messiah whose coming had been predicted by the prophets and long awaited by the people of Israel.  As the star shone down from on high, Jesus lay in his manger bed, the greatest sign of God’s infinite love for his people.