As we engage with the season of Advent, I want to invite you into a simple but powerful practice: take time this month to read and reflect on the birth narratives of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2). These familiar passages are often wrapped in layers of modern traditions, cultural expectations, and childhood memories. Beautiful as those may be, they can sometimes blur the depth and clarity of the biblical story itself.
So here’s the challenge: set aside every assumption. Pretend you’re reading these Scriptures for the very first time. Let the words speak without the influence of nativity scenes, Christmas pageants, movies, or sentimental traditions. Notice what the text actually says—and what it doesn’t say. Pay attention to the people God chooses, the unexpected turns, and the quiet ways His faithfulness unfolds.
My hope is that, as we approach Christmas, you’ll encounter the story of Christ’s birth with renewed wonder and deeper understanding. May this season draw us closer to the heart of God, who stepped into the world not in glitter or grandeur, but in humility and grace.
Blessings this Advent,
Rev. Kendell Linh Healy
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