Christmas is a special time to begin or deepen our personal relationship with Jesus. Like John, we are running to Jesus and hope to end this Christmas season with a deeper faith in Jesus than ever before (Jn 20:8). We want Jesus to become so real to us that by faith we have heard His voice, seen His face, and touched His nail-scarred hands (1 Jn 1:1). Our Christmas prayer is "to grasp fully, with all the holy ones, the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love, and experience this love" (Eph 3:18-19).
The best Christmas present is a personal relationship with the Lord that is so strong it will overcome the strongest temptations, the most terrifying fears, and the most traumatic events – even suffering, sickness, and death. Like John, we want to be called beloved disciples (see Jn 20:2) in a deeper sense, because of this Christmas time spent together with Jesus. May His Christmas love be for us greater than life (Ps 63:4) and stronger than death (Sg 8:6; Rm 8:38-39).
| PRAYER: | Jesus, may my relationship with You be deeper than my relationship with my spouse, children, parents, or friends. |
| PROMISE: | "Indeed, our purpose in writing you this is that our joy may be complete." –1 Jn 1:4 |
| PRAISE: | St. John's spiritual journey developed from thunderous vengeance (Lk 9:54) to total and complete service and love. |
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