| << Saturday, December 23, 2006 >> |
St. John of Kanty
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Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24 View Readings |
Psalm 25 |
Luke 1:57-66 Similar Reflections |
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JESUS CHRIST IS COMING TO TOWN |
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| "Who can stand when He appears?" —Malachi 3:2 |
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Jesus is coming! He is coming in a new way into our lives and our world this Christmas. "Yes, He is coming" (Mal 3:1). His first coming was humble and generally unrecognized by most of the world. The secular culture is working hard to ensure that Jesus' coming this Christmas will also be unrecognized. The culture has replaced Jesus' Christmas coming with Santa Claus' "holiday" coming. This Christmas, will you be among the humble shepherds who recognized Jesus' Christmas coming, or the innkeepers whose lives were too full to make room for Jesus? (Lk 2:7) Is your life too full or too busy to make room for Jesus? Repent of anything that keeps you away from Jesus. Let Him purify and refine you of anything that causes you to have no room for Him (Mal 3:2-3). It's nice to give presents, but it's eternally critical to give Jesus your presence. May you be fully attentive to Him at His Christmas coming, so that Jesus will not have to say on Christmas: "Why was no one there when I came?" (Is 50:2) |
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| Prayer: Jesus, I offer You the Christmas present You desire most: my life. |
| Promise: "The friendship of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and His covenant, for their instruction." —Ps 25:14 |
| Praise: "O Emmanuel, King and Lawgiver, Desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God." |
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| (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.) |
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Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant my permission to publish One Bread, One Body covering the period from December 1, 2006 through January 31, 2007. †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 13, 2006. |
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed. |
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