Many people have missed out on Christmas again. They mistakenly thought the true Christmas spirit was pleasure, selfishness, lust, or greed. "Beloved, do not trust" every Christmas spirit, "but put the spirits to a test to see if they belong to God, because many false prophets have appeared in the world" (1 Jn 4:1). "This is how you can recognize" the true Christmas Spirit, the Holy Spirit (1 Jn 4:2):
Test the spirits by their relationship to Jesus, their kind of involvement in the world, and their obedient hearing of the Church. "Thus do we distinguish the Spirit of truth from the spirit of deception" (1 Jn 4:6).
We don't have to miss out on Christmas and life anymore. Test the spirits, and recognize the true Christmas Spirit.
| PRAYER: | Father, as we begin this year, give me the charism of discerning spirits or lead me to someone with this gift (see 1 Cor 12:10). |
| PROMISE: | "On those who inhabit a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen." –Mt 4:16 |
| PRAISE: | St. Elizabeth dedicated her all to her heavenly Father as she founded a sisterhood that spread its goodness to relieving the poor and teaching the young. |
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