Today begins the "octave" before Christmas, and that means it will be eight more days to Christmas.
This time of Advent, this "octave" before Christmas, is also a time when the identity of Jesus Christ is reflected and meditated upon.
Jesus is the Word of God made flesh and He is God who became man.
The 1st reading prophesied that from the tribe of Judah will arise a ruler to whom the peoples shall render obedience.
That means the Messiah or the Saviour would come from the tribe of Judah.
In the gospel, the first line begins with this: A genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham.
Jesus is the Christ, the "Anointed One" of God, and He is given the title of "Son of David" to mean that he will be from David's line and he will be a greater king and ruler than David.
Jesus Christ is also given the title "Son of Abraham" to mean that He will fulfill the covenant that God made with Abraham, who is the father of faith.
But besides these profound titles and profound meanings, what is essentially important is that Jesus is the "Emmanuel", the God who came to be with us and to be like us in all things except sin.
Let us meditate and be in the presence of God so that we can truly experience the saving love of God made present in us.