Jesse ornament is the lily, to represent the Virgin Mary. The Madonna lily is a pure white lily which is more graceful looking than the Easter lilies, but the same color and shape.
Scripture reading :Luke 1: 26-38
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
Have you ever considered how important the concept of the virgin birth is to the message of Salvation through Christ? Jesus had none of Adam’s original sin, which is why His sacrifice on our behalf had the power to take away all our sins, even to that which was passed down to us through Adam’s original sin.
Mary, in her humble acceptance of God’s great plan, is an example of childlike faith, mustard seed faith, which brings forth the will of God on the earth. God partners with us. This is a wonderful mystery. We cannot fathom the goodness of God, we can only accept and receive it.
More about the Jesse Tree
Why do we shop for Christmas gifts? We want to symbolize in our giving to one another the gratefulness for the Gift of God, Christ Jesus to us. Is our gift giving staying true to that motivation? Do we give as God gave to us? According to our need? Without duress or obligation? With a heart full of love?
How can we give better? Is the mad shopping spree that leaves us in indebtedness, with anxious fear that our gifts won’t be enough, won’t be the right brand name, won’t win approval…. like God’s gift? How can we adjust our expectations and efforts to reflect the spirit of the season?
