Happy Advent and new year! Today begins a new Church year. If we say "yes" to the Lord, this year can be a fresh start, a clean slate, a new horizon. Some of us haven't let God do anything new for years – year after year, rerun after rerun. Yet the Lord has promised: "See, I make all things new!" (Rv 21:5)
Let's drop the sins of the past at the foot of the cross. Let's forgive everyone who has ever hurt us, even our most bitter enemies. Let's forgive and be forgiven. We must repent of the old jealousy, resentment, and bitterness. Let the old order pass away and all be made new (2 Cor 5:17).
As we begin preparing for Christ's Christmas coming and continue to prepare for His final coming, let's commit or re-commit our lives to Jesus as Lord. When we make Him Lord of our lives, He will be free to give us a "new" new year.
"Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!" (Is 2:5) On this first day of the Church year, "put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh" (Rm 13:14).
| PRAYER: | Father, do whatever You want in this Advent, Christmas season, and new year. Do things great beyond reach of my knowledge (Jer 33:3). |
| PROMISE: | "You must be prepared in the same way. The Son of Man is coming at the time you least expect." –Mt 24:44 |
| PRAISE: | Praise You, Jesus, the "Beginning" (Rv 21:6). Alleluia to You, "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Rv 19:16). |
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