Every Catholic church in the world should be packed today as we celebrate the Incarnation, when God became man in the womb of Mary. This is one of the greatest events in the history of the human race. It made possible the greatest events ever – Jesus' death and resurrection.
However, most Catholic churches in the world will be virtually empty today because most Christians seem to be giving only "lip service" to the Incarnation. We may be a lot like Ahaz (see Is 7:10ff), who did not want any great revelations from God. We've planned our life the way we want it, and we don't want God interfering.
If we were to truly accept the Incarnation, we'd have to make a lot of changes. If God has become a human being, then all human beings must be treated with great dignity. We can't be unforgiving, manipulative, jealous, or unjust. The Incarnation opens up a new world. The old world must pass away. In general, believing in the Incarnation will demand that we do the Lord's will rather than our own.
What's your decision? "Let it be done" to you according to God's word (Lk 1:38).
| PRAYER: | Father, not my will but Yours be done (see Mt 26:39). |
| PROMISE: | "By this 'will,' we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." –Heb 10:10 |
| PRAISE: | Praise: Mary accepted the astounding message of an angel and Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, became her Child. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College