Happy new Church year! Happy Advent!
Let's begin the year and our preparations for Christ's Christmas coming by saying to Jesus: "Just give an order." The Church leads us to pray this Biblical verse right before Holy Communion. May the desire of our hearts, the theme of our year, and the meaning of Christmas be: "Just give an order," that is, "Only say the word." May we no longer live to "do our thing," but to go when the Lord says "Go," come when He says "Come," and do what He wants done (Mt 8:9). Then the lives we live will no longer be our own lives, but will instead be lives of faith in Him (Gal 2:20). We will lose our lives to gain them (Lk 9:24). Our food and fulfillment in life will not be our self-centered pursuits, but doing the will of our Father (Jn 4:34). Our lives will be lives of love.
May the Lord get everything He wants this Christmas. May He get us – our hearts, our wills, and our lives.
| PRAYER: | Father, may this be a year in which You always get Your way in my life. May this be a year of love. |
| PROMISE: | "Come, let us climb the Lord's mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may instruct us in His ways, and we may walk in His paths. For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." –Is 2:3 |
| PRAISE: | Fr. Robert had grown fond of his small congregation, but obediently moved on to pastor a new parish when his bishop gave an order. |
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