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<< Thursday, December 25, 2014 >>

Christmas

Isaiah 52:7-10
Hebrews 1:1-6
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Psalm 98:1-6
John 1:1-18
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LOVE-CHRISTMAS

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

At Christmas, we do not celebrate primarily that God became a human being but that God, a human Being, was born. At His birth, Jesus moved from the womb of Mary to the outside world. This made it possible for people to relate to Him in a personal way. Jesus was then able to be held, kissed, touched, seen, and heard. He was also able to be hit, hurt, rejected, and crucified. The change from being in the womb to living in the outside world is dangerous. That's why we celebrate a birth. A dangerous transition has been made without any serious problems, although the danger of living in a fallen world still remains.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can still relate to Jesus in a personal way. We can be like Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, Simeon, and Anna. We can lavish our love on Jesus — person to Person. However, we can also be like Herod by rejecting Jesus and refusing to make any room for Him in our lives and hearts (see Lk 2:7). Christmas reminds us that Jesus remains available to us on a person to Person basis.

On this first day of the Christmas season, obey the first commandment of all. Love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (Lk 10:27).

Prayer: Jesus, on this Christmas Day, I decide to love You completely, unconditionally, and forever by Your grace.

Promise: "Of His fullness we have all had a share — love following upon love." —Jn 1:16

Praise: "Glory to God in high heaven, peace on earth to those on whom His favor rests" (Lk 2:14).

FOR THE ELDERLY

Dear Lord,

as my life declines

and my energies decrease,

more than ever hold me by Your Power,

that I may not offend You,

but daily increase in Your Love.

Give me strength to work in Your Service

till the last day of my life.

Help me to ever have

an increasing dread of venial sin,

or whatever would cause

the slightest withdrawal of Your love,

all day long,

and at night keep me close to Your Heart;

and should I die, ere the morning breaks,

may I go rejoicing in that vision

of Your entrancing beauty,

never to be separated from You.

Amen.

One Bread, One Body

LOVE-CHRISTMAS

FOR THE ELDERLY