Zechariah 2:14-17, Judith 13:18-19, Luke 1:39-47
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"MARY" CHRISTMAS
"Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day." —Zechariah
2:15
During Advent, the Lord repeatedly commands us to prepare the way for Him.
We know the Lord is telling us to repent in a mountain-leveling,
valley-filling, straightening, and smoothing way (Is 40:3-4). But how
exactly do we do this?
Today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of
the Americas. Mary is the expert on preparing the way of the Lord, because
she conceived and birthed Jesus. Outside of Mexico City, hundreds of years
ago, Mary prepared the way for the Lord so well that eight million people
gave their lives to Jesus in seven years. Mary prepared the way of the
Lord by:
* obeying. She said: "I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to
me as you say" (Lk 1:38; see also Jn 2:5).
* evangelizing. "Thereupon Mary set out, proceeding in haste into the
hill country to a town of Judah, where she entered Zechariah's house and
greeted Elizabeth" (Lk 1:39-40).
* prophesying. She announced that the Lord "has deposed the mighty from
their thrones and raised the lowly to high places. The hungry He has given
every good thing, while the rich He has sent empty away" (Lk 1:52-53).
* suffering. "Near the cross of Jesus there stood His mother" (Jn
19:25).
* praying. At the first Christian Pentecost, "together they devoted
themselves to constant prayer" (Acts 1:14).
Prepare the way of the Lord. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!
Prayer: Father, may I be prepared for Christ's coming this Christmas. May
I prepare others as Mary does.
Promise: "Your deed of hope will never be forgotten by those who tell of
the might of God." —Jdt 13:19
Praise: "God Who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is His name"
(Lk 1:49).
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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, 2009 through January 31, 2010
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, June 4, 2009
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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