way of the LORD!
http://www.presentationministries.com/brochures/AnIsaiahAdvent.asp
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Sunday, November 30, 2008, First Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 63:16-17, 19; 64:2-7, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Psalm 80, Mark 13:33-37
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/113008.shtml
CHRISTMAS FEAR
"There is none who calls upon Your name, who rouses himself to cling to
You." —Isaiah 64:6
Happy new year! Today we begin the Church year and the season of Advent.
We begin to prepare for what could be one of the greatest events in our
lives, Christ's Christmas coming. Christ will come in glory and power this
Christmas if only we have faith to open the door. Will we open our hearts
to the Lord as He comes to "rend the heavens and come down, with the
mountains quaking" before Him? (Is 63:19) Are we open to "awesome deeds we
could not hope for, such as they had not heard of from of old"? (Is
64:2-3) "No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen" what the Lord has
prepared for us this Christmas (Is 64:3).
If we're honest with ourselves, we may be afraid of Christ and Christmas,
for "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb
10:31). We're tempted to hide from God (Gn 3:10) in Christmas customs,
activities, and even in mindless consumerism. There's a Herod in each of
us that's threatened by and afraid of Christ and Christmas. We must
change, repent, and die to self. We need time to let Him change our
hearts. We need the four-week preparation of Advent, or we will run away
from Christ and a true Christmas.
Prayer: Father, strengthen us to the end so that we "will be blameless on
the day of our Lord Jesus [Christ]" (1 Cor 1:8).
Promise: "Yet, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay and You the
Potter: we are all the work of Your hands." —Is 64:7
Praise: Praise Jesus, the coming Messiah, Whose birth was foretold in ages
past!
(Is your family ready for Christmas? A related teaching would be our
leaflet, "Healing the Family Tree".)
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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
October 1, 2008 through November 30, 2008
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, May 1, 2008
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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