To have the Christmas God intends for us, we must simply obey God and not be selfish. Spoiled brats who insist that everyone dance to their tune will not have Christmas (see Mt 11:16-17). However, those who are like Mary will have a true Christmas. They hearken to God's commands (Is 48:18) and let Christmas be done unto them according to God's word (see Lk 1:38).
The key to Christmas is not self-indulgence, but self-surrender in obedience to the Lord, doing what we don't want to do. We should not do our own thing but God's thing. We should not try to feel good but please the Lord. If we want to follow Jesus to Christmas, we must deny our very selves, take up the cross each day (Lk 9:23), and obey the Lord.
To prepare for Christ's Christmas coming, we should:
The Lord has a wonderful Christmas planned for us. It is more than we can ask for or imagine (Eph 3:20). We just have to follow instructions. "Mary" Christmas!
| PRAYER: | Jesus, may I love You as Mary loved You at the first Christmas. |
| PROMISE: | "Time will prove where wisdom lies." –Mt 11:19 |
| PRAISE: | St. John was able to surrender all by writing beautiful poetry while living in deplorable conditions. |
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