We cannot give love unless we first have received it. The Lord has poured out love in our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Rm 5:5). Yet have our hearts been open? Have we received the incarnate, crucified, infinite, unconditional love of God for each of us personally? The purpose of life and of Christmas is to receive the perfect love of God already given. Then, when we open and receive the gift of God's love, we can give it to others.
We open ourselves to the downpour of God's love by:
Make this Christmas a "grand opening." Let yourself be loved. Live in His love (see Jn 15:10).
| PRAYER: | Father, You are Love. May I live in You and live in love (1 Jn 4:16). |
| PROMISE: | "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me; therefore He has anointed Me. He has sent Me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives." –Lk 4:18 |
| PRAISE: | Martha prayed for decades for her husband to be converted. At her funeral, he made a pledge to become a Catholic. Now he receives Jesus in the Eucharist every day. |
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