Born and raised in the Philippines, Leandro grew up in a Catholic family but found his...
The next sermon in our Christmas series explored God’s gift of hope from Matthew 1:18-25. This hope is a different kind of hope - one which is promised, secured, and does not depend on our circumstances. The Gospel of Matthew intentionally begins with Jesus’ genealogy, setting the stage for God’s unfolding plan. Here we see how God has been preparing His gift of hope since the beginning, working through ordinary and flawed people; a plan always moving toward Jesus and fulfilled by a God who keeps His promises. As we read the story of Joseph and Mary, we see God’s plan revealed quietly and personally through a special birth. God reveals Himself to be faithful and trustworthy, bringing His promises to pass even when His people cannot see the full picture. Jesus is God’s gift of Hope - a child conceived by the Holy Spirit with the special purpose of saving His people from their sins. Jesus is also Immanuel, the fulfillment of God’s promises spoken long ago through the prophet Isaiah - bringing reconciliation between God and humanity. The Hope of Christmas cannot be found in the fading and changing things of this world; it is found only in the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
