‘O King of the nations, and their Desire, the Cornerstone making both one: Come and save mankind, which you fashioned from clay’.

The Gospel for today tells of the birth of Jesus from St Matthew’s Gospel, and here is an extract from the angel’s words to Joseph:  ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins’.

He will be called the King of Peace, for he will make peace by the blood of His Cross. As we draw close to the mystery of the Incarnation, the Cross is in the shadows, but the two are held together.

May we trust in the boundless mercy of our God, in all that befalls us, and may He bless us this day.