To have the Christmas God intends for us, we must simply obey God. 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. 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. Juan Diego humbly took flowers to his bishop, obeying his mother Mary, and the world was changed. His persistent obedience to Our Lady of Guadalupe led to the conversion of eight million people in the next decade. |
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