shhh!
"I have stilled and quieted my soul like a weaned child. Like a weaned child on its mother's lap..." —Psalm 131:2
As we near Christmas, I believe the Spirit's word to the churches is: "Shhh." The Lord is putting His finger to His mouth and telling us to quiet down, to settle down, or we will miss Christ's quiet, unassuming Christmas coming. He comes to us "like dew from above, like gentle rain" (Is 45:8). If we don't have "silent nights," we won't have "holy nights." If we don't have quiet, we may not have Christmas. There may be no room for Him in our noisy inn (Lk 2:7).
At this time of year, the world turns up the volume, providing almost constant racket and noise. We bombard ourselves with TVs, radios, tapes, and movies. The devil is attempting to rob us of Christmas by drowning out Jesus. The Christ of Christmas often speaks in a still, small voice (1 Kgs 19:12-13). Only those who are quiet enough will hear Him. "Shhh." He's coming.
Prayer: (15 minutes silence in the presence of the Lord today.)
Promise: "Jesus gave this response: 'Go and report to John what you have seen and heard. The blind recover their sight, cripples walk, lepers are cured, the deaf hear, dead men are raised to life, and the poor have the good news preached to them.' " —Lk 7:22
Praise: Sandra thanked God when her hearing was miraculously restored during a healing service at a retreat. She rejoiced even more in the improvement of her spiritual hearing after she received the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, July 21, 1999
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 29, 1999