The LORD God said to the serpent, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel."
The Gospel according to Matthew (1:20-23)
But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us).
The Gospel according to John (12:28, 30-33)
"Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again."
Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not Mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself."
He said this to show by what kind of death He was going to die.
Homily ...
At the beginning of the week, we refer back to the beginning of history when what was created "very good" became marred by rebellion of man. yet in God's justice is this promise of salvation. The tempter would be crushed at the cost of a bruising for the seed of woman. Somehow with further revelation from the eternal God, His plan of salvation would be understood to signify that the seed of only woman (virgin birth) would be Savior, who would cast down Satan (our Adversary) that we might have victory through the faith in the blood of the Lamb. A death Jesus gave Himself to accomplish (John 10:17-18), in order that the devil would be thrown down from his position of power and that Christ may draw people to Himself.
Prayer ...
Postscript
The Revelation of Jesus Christ as given to John (12:9-11)
And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,
"Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"
Prayer ...
Postscript
The Revelation of Jesus Christ as given to John (12:9-11)
And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,
"Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"
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