Christmas 2024

“And it came to pass” is a phrase often mentioned within scripture. Hundreds of times it acts as a bridge connecting two ideas. Some sources say it’s used over seven hundred times while others go as high as twelve hundred. This phrase can be likened to “and it happened,” or “it was so,” or simply used instead of the word “and.”  This phrase is telling us this or that happened at a certain time. In other words, something was going down, or up for that matter.

That phrase rings true within the cadence of life. We might say, “And it came to pass that I didn’t pass my test.” Or perhaps, “It came to pass that my fudge is runny as I put too much butter in it. Lots of things come to pass such as birthdays, graduations or holiday celebrations.

Soon, it will come to pass that 2024 will come to an end as we shake the dust off our sandals and keep moving to the thrum of what we are to be marching to the beat of. Fun thing is, the marching orders have not changed since it came to pass that there were shepherds in the field by night watching over their flocks.

When it came to pass that the babe came down, he passed on instructions as he grew. Those instructions remain the same as life passes. No matter the ages and stages of all who have come to pass, the call remains the same as our stability comes from that stable. He never wavers from the greatest commandment—or the second greatest for that matter—no matter what comes to pass.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.” That was the greatest, and to “love your neighbor as yourself” would be the second greatest. (Matthew 22:37–39). Whatever comes to pass, these are our marching orders. They protect and will remain as we pass through milestones etching that which passes into the record books. And it came to pass alright that one day we too shall pass, and that which we leave behind must be the remnants of what he calls for all to do this side of the veil.

Loving well doesn’t mean giving everyone everything they want. We’d have a pile of grumpy two-year-olds rolling into adulthood if that were the case. And it came to pass that we eventually have to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. And it came to pass that even the Father, our Father, relinquished his only begotten Son as he came down for each of us.

And it came to pass that after his only begotten Son passed, he left us plenty of comfort to place within the manger of our hearts. And it came to pass that the Comforter he sent was not only available to all back then but is still available to all today. ALL.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning, great is his faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22–23).

May 2025 usher in a time of peace that passes all understanding as we rest in him who was and is and is to come. Amen.

Kathleen Kjolhaug, Theology in the Trenches

Photo by Anna Tarazevich on Pexels.