START AT "THE BEGINNING" (Rv 22:13) - One Bread, One Body, 1/1/2010

Happy Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God! Read our brochure entitled "Mother
Mary"

http://www.presentationministries.com/brochures/MotherMary.asp
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, January 1, 2010, Mary, Mother of God

Numbers 6:22-27, Galatians 4:4-7, Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8, Luke 2:16-21
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/010110.shtml

START AT "THE BEGINNING" (Rv 22:13)

"When the designated time had come..." —Galatians 4:4

We begin this new year, 2010, with Jesus, Who is "the Beginning" (Rv
22:13). "In the beginning was the Word" (Jn 1:1), Jesus. "He was present
to God in the beginning" (Jn 1:2). Jesus is the Master and Lord of all
beginnings.

Though many begin the new year with parties, drinking, and ambitious
resolutions, some people regularly begin the new year at the midnight hour
with Mass, rosary, prayer and praise, and/or small Christian community
gatherings. They begin the year with Jesus, the Beginning. They are thus
laying the foundation for the year on Jesus (see 1 Cor 3:10ff). Their new
year, built upon Jesus, will stand up to the trials and storms that come
(see Mt 7:24-25).

Mary is well versed in beginning with Jesus. When she said "yes" to the
angel Gabriel, she began her life as the mother of God. She began with a
great victory at Elizabeth's home (Lk 1:41ff). Yet that beginning nearly
turned to disaster as Joseph planned to divorce her (Mt 1:19). Mary had
committed to Jesus, and God then remained faithful to His part of the
commitment by arranging for Joseph to receive her into his home (Mt 1:20).
Mary's family life began with a midnight flight out of the country to
escape a murder attempt (Mt 2:13ff). It was a difficult series of
beginnings, but God used it to work the greatest of endings.

With Mary and Jesus, begin anew. Even if your beginning in Jesus is a
small step, don't be discouraged by the "day of small beginnings" (Zec
4:10). Begin the year with Jesus; stay with Him until the end. Then you
will hear Him proudly say: "You have been with Me from the beginning" (Jn
15:27).

Prayer: Father, make 2010 "a year of favor" (Lk 4:19).

Promise: "You are no longer a slave but a son!" —Gal 4:7

Praise: "May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise
You!" (Ps 67:4, 6)

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

You can find One Bread, One Body archives, the letter to readers, OBOB
eBook edition, and an online donation form at
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2010 Presentation Ministries

To add your e-mail address to this list go to
http://www.presentationministries.com/general/emailList.asp

To remove your e-mail address from this list go to
http://www.presentationministries.com/general/emailList.asp?mode=r