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Friday, December 16, 2022

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Isaiah 56:1-3, 6-8
Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 7-8
John 5:33-36

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sunday and christmas day

“My salvation is about to come, My justice, about to be revealed.” —Isaiah 56:1

This Christmas, the Lord’s salvation is about to come, and His justice about to be revealed. To receive His salvation and justice, we must “observe what is right, do what is just” (Is 56:1). We must especially keep the sabbath free from profanation (Is 56:2, 6). We must obey the Third Commandment and keep holy the Lord’s Day, Sunday, the sabbath of the new covenant (see Ex 20:8). In doing this, we will make our churches and homes houses of prayer (Is 56:7). This will prepare the way of the Lord (see Mt 3:3). In other words, Sunday is the key to Christmas Day; Sunday Mass is the key to Christ-Mass.

This revelation may come as a surprise to many of us who spend the Lord’s Day in general doing our own thing. For many of us, Sunday is our day, not the Lord’s Day. However, if we don’t make Sunday the Lord’s Day, then our lives are not the Lord’s lives. If we’re not under the lordship of Jesus, how can we accept Jesus into the manger of our hearts? How can we have a true Christmas?

Prayer:  Father, I repent of disobeying the Third Commandment.

Promise:  “These very works which I perform testify on My behalf that the Father has sent Me.” —Jn 5:36

Praise:  Peter’s Christmas became Christ-filled when Jesus drew him back to His Church after decades away.

Reference:  (For a related teaching on Keep Holy the Lord’s Day, view, download or order our leaflet or listen to, download or order our CD 45-1 or DVD 45 on our website.)

Rescript:  In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from December 1, 2022, through January 31, 2023. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio April 12, 2022

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") 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 the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.