We at Presentation Ministries wish you a very holy and blessed Christmas. We pray you will receive Jesus, the Word Incarnate, in a new way into your heart.
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Sunday, December 25, 2016, Christmas
Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-6, Psalm 98:1-6, John 1:1-18
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122516.cfm
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, 2016 through January 31, 2017
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 10, 2016
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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