December
15

Her Firstborn Son.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the inhabited earth should be enrolled. This enrollment was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, everyone to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed wife, being great with child. And it came to pass, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should bring forth; and she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling-clothes, and laid Him in the manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7)

Faith was said to be the firstborn of the church, and also the right of primogeniture was attributed to it, that is, the right of priority and superiority over the good of charity; when yet the good of charity is actually prior and superior, and the truth of faith only apparently so. (Arcana Coelestia 9224:2)

Good is indeed the essential of the church, and is actually the firstborn, but the good which those have who belong to the spiritual church is in itself truth. For when they act according to the truth which is of their doctrine, then the truth is called good, having then passed from the understanding into the will and from the will into act, and that which is done from the will is called good. (Arcana Coelestia 8042)

Love and the faith thence derived are the “firstborn.” All love is the Lord’s, and not one bit of it is man’s; therefore the Lord alone is “the Firstborn.” (Arcana Coelestia 352)

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