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Friday, December 14, 2007, St. John of the Cross
Isaiah 48:17-19, Psalm 1, Matthew 11:16-19
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/121407.shtml
"MARY" CHRISTMAS
"I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on
the way you should go." —Isaiah 48:17
To have the Christmas God intends for us, we must simply obey God and not
be selfish. Spoiled brats who insist that everyone dance to their tune
will not have Christmas (see Mt 11:16-17). However, those who are like
Mary will have a true Christmas. They hearken to God's commands (Is 48:18)
and let Christmas be done unto them according to God's word (see Lk 1:38).
The key to Christmas is not self-indulgence, but self-surrender in
obedience to the Lord, doing what we don't want to do. We should not do
our own thing but God's thing. We should not try to feel good but please
the Lord. If we want to follow Jesus to Christmas, we must deny our very
selves, take up the cross each day (Lk 9:23), and obey the Lord.
To prepare for Christ's Christmas coming, we should:
* Repent of our disobedience and go to Confession.
* Ask the Holy Spirit to alert us to opportunities to obey the Lord.
* Pray for the strength to obey.
* Obey.
The Lord has a wonderful Christmas planned for us. It is more than we can
ask for or imagine (Eph 3:20). We just have to follow instructions. "Mary"
Christmas!
Prayer: Jesus, may I love You as Mary loved You at the first Christmas.
Promise: "Time will prove where wisdom lies." —Mt 11:19
Praise: St. John was able to surrender all by writing beautiful poetry
while living in deplorable conditions.
(For a related teaching, order our tape "The Necessity of Confession for
Renewal" on audio AV 70-1 or video V-70.)
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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, 2008 through January 31, 2008
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July
30, 2007
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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