CONSTRICTED BY LOVE - One Bread, One Body, 12/25/2008

The December issue of My People Newspaper is now online. Articles
include:

United Effort Required to Meet Food Crisis
Pius XII: A Mon Of Peace And Courage
In Defense of Life: Unleashing Love
Catholics, Muslims Dialogue
Light to the Nations: A Christian Perspective on World News
New Church Groups Are a Precious Resource

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Thursday, December 25, 2008, Christmas

Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-6, Psalm 98, John 1:1-18
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/122508.shtml

CONSTRICTED BY LOVE

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." —John 1:14

On this great celebration of Christmas, we recall Jesus being constricted
for love of us:
* Jesus, Son of God and Eternal Word of God, Whom the universe cannot
contain (2 Chr 6:18), is constricted in the womb of the Blessed Virgin
Mary.
* Jesus, through Whom all things came into being (Jn 1:3), accepts the
constraints and limitations of a human body.
* After birth, Jesus was "wrapped in swaddling clothes" (Lk 2:12).
These clothes encircled His body, constricting Him.
* The Baby Jesus was hunted down by the government. His family fled to
Egypt. He was constricted through life as a Refugee in a land far from His
home (Mt 2:14ff).
* Jesus was constricted on the cross, the almighty God pressed to its
wood by a few nails.
* Jesus was constricted again by swaddling clothes. His burial cloths
were wrapped around His immobile body.
* After dying, the body of Jesus was constricted in a tomb.

Why did Jesus submit to these constrictions for our sake? "God is love" (1
Jn 4:16), and love endures all things (1 Cor 13:7).

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for taking on the constrictions of our humanity
so You could set us free in the power of Your resurrection! I join my
human life to Yours. I put my life in Your hands.

Promise: "Any who did accept [Jesus] He empowered to become children of
God." —Jn 1:12

Praise: "For a Child is born to us, a Son is given us; upon His shoulder
dominion rests" (Is 9:5). "With the Lord is kindness and with Him is
plenteous redemption" (Ps 130:7).

(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, 2008 through January 31, 2009
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, June 17, 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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