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Sunday, December 16, 2012

MORE JOY IN SUFFERINGTHAN IN ENJOYMENTS - One Bread, One Body, 12/16/2012

Praise Jesus! A Spanish version of One Bread, One Body will be available in print for the February / March 2013 issue.

To order copies or yourself, faith group or church send an email to informacion@presentationministries.com with your name, complete address and number of copies desired.
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Sunday, December 16, 2012, Third Sunday of Advent

Zephaniah 3:14-18, Philippians 4:4-7, Isaiah 12:2-6, Luke 3:10-18
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121612.cfm

MORE JOY IN SUFFERINGTHAN IN ENJOYMENTS

"With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation." -Isaiah 12:3

As we near Christ's coming this Christmas, the Lord commands us to "shout for joy" and to "sing joyfully" (Zep 3:14). In doing this, we are joining our heavenly Father, Who is singing joyfully because of us (Zep 3:17).
The Lord commands us not only to rejoice sometimes, but to rejoice always (Phil 4:4). This does not mean we rejoice over all things, but that we rejoice in the Lord under all circumstances. Because the Lord is our Joy and the circumstances are not, we can rejoice in the midst of "the distress of many trials" (1 Pt 1:6). By God's grace and our faith in the Lord, sufferings do not rob us of our joy. In fact, we rejoice in the measure that we share Christ's sufferings (1 Pt 4:13). This miraculous joy is the joy of Jesus and therefore complete joy (Jn 15:11). It is divine joy, "inexpressible joy" (1 Pt 1:8), Marian joy (see Lk 1:47), and the true joy of Christmas.
Therefore, "rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again. Rejoice!" (Phil 4:4)


Prayer: Father, on this Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday, give me a deeper faith and a spirit of unselfishness (see Phil 4:5) so as to produce in my life the fruit of the Spirit called joy (Gal 5:22).

Promise: "He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire." -Lk 3:16

Praise: "I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul" (Is 61:10).

(When we know about our Lord's deep love for us, we can "rejoice always". Order our tape on "Divine Love" on audio AV 52-3 or video V-52.)

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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, 2012 through January 31, 2013
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 27, 2012

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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