Christmas is Jesus' birthday. Birthday parties often feature shouting and singing. The birthday boy or girl usually shouts when opening the presents. Then, of course, everybody sings "Happy Birthday." If Jesus is going to have a real birthday party this Christmas, we must give Him presents that will get Him to shout and "sing joyfully...as one sings at festivals" (Zep 3:17-18). Pretty packages, a cake, and candles will not get Jesus to sing. In fact, it's difficult to give Him a birthday or Christmas gift because He already has everything — with one exception.
The present that gives God and all of heaven more joy than anything else is repentance and conversion (Lk 15:7). When we take the plank out of our own eye and then help take the speck out of others' eyes, we get God to shout and sing (Mt 7:5). When we proceed "in haste into the hill country" (Lk 1:39) or into the highways and byways (Lk 14:23) and lead people to Christ, this also calls for a song. As He sings, we sing: "My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my Savior" (Lk 1:46-47). Then we have a real birthday party and a real Christmas.
| PRAYER: | Jesus, on this first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, I ask for a spiritual springtime. |
| PROMISE: | "Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come! For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth." –Sg 2:10-12 |
| PRAISE: | "O Radiant Dawn, Splendor of eternal light, Sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death." |
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