CCSIS Cornerstone

𝐉𝐎𝐇𝐍 1:32-34📖

"Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝙀𝙇𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙉 𝗢𝗙 𝙂𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙀! 🌟

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.””
— LUKE 2:1-14

𝙃𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙀𝙇𝙐𝙅𝘼𝙃! 𝙃𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙀𝙇𝙐𝙅𝘼𝙃!

𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐆𝐎𝐃! 🙌

𝙃𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙀𝙇𝙐𝙅𝘼𝙃! 𝙃𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙀𝙇𝙐𝙅𝘼𝙃!

𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝙏𝙀𝙉 𝗢𝗙 𝙂𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙀! 🌟

“When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.

Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.”
— LUKE 1:57-66

The birth of John is a powerful testimony of God’s love and mercy. Zechariah and Elizabeth spent most of their married life bearing the shame and judgment of others for having no children as they grew old. Yet, God was working in His perfect time. In the Gospel, we see His promise beautifully fulfilled.

As their first child, it would have been an honor for Zechariah to pass on his own name. Instead, he humbly set aside personal pride and obeyed God’s command to name the child “John.” and even during his long season of silence, when his voice was restored, he did not complain; instead, his voice was filled with praise to God.

Let's put our hearts in the hands of our merciful and loving God.

𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙀 𝗢𝗙 𝙂𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙀! 🌟

“And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.”
— LUKE 1:46-56

Day 9 shows Mary’s humility under the love and grace of the Lord. She believed, and now she sees God’s promise beginning to unfold right before her eyes.

In our faith, we do not live by the belief that “to see is to believe.”
Instead, we believe first so that we may see God’s miracles at work in our lives.

May the Lord speak to our hearts!

𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝙎𝙄𝙓 𝗢𝗙 𝙂𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙀! 🌟

“But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.”
— LUKE 1:13

Day 6 tells the story of Zechariah receiving the news from Angel Gabriel, the archangel who acts as God's chief messenger, that his old and barren wife, Elizabeth, would conceive in God’s perfect time.

This story reminds us of the importance of patience and allowing God to work in our lives. We are often so busy rushing—much like Zechariah and Elizabeth, who were already old in age and felt as though they were “running out of time.” But for God, His timing is never too early or too late; it is always perfect.

𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝙁𝙄𝙑𝙀 𝗢𝗙 𝙂𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙀! 🌟

“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”
— MATTHEW 1:24-25

Day 5 shows Joseph's love for Mary and for God and how his faith is bigger than his doubts. He believed and trusted the Lord as he took the responsibility of loving Jesus as his own flesh and blood.