Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 2:17, ESV
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was made fully human. This is important always to remember and why we celebrate His birth. God Immanuel did not just appear as if He were human walking with us; He was born in the usual way but without sin. He had to go through many of the same struggles that we all face. He had to cry to let His mother know that He was hungry or wet or needed to be held and comforted. So, our Lord knows what it is to be human. We are made in the image of God, but unlike God, we have sin within us. God cannot know or tolerate sin Himself, but in Christ, He brought a way to free us from its bondage. In Christ, we are restored and made fresh and new, and that will come to fulfillment at His return. For this, we await and seek to proclaim Him to all that will hear. Today, we look ahead to the remembrance of His birth and celebrate Him as we await His return. The gifts we give for His birth are ourselves with all of our brokenness, and He returns us to wholeness, and the love of the Father is fully known to us.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.