If we don't recognize Christ, we don't recognize Christians, Christmas, and other dimensions of Christianity. If we don't recognize Christ, we don't recognize the only Way to God the Father and Truth Himself (Jn 14:6). Thus we would deprive ourselves of Life (Jn 14:6).
Yet, we have difficulty recognizing Christ. Even St. John the Baptizer, whose mission was to prepare the way for Christ's coming, did not recognize Christ for some time (Jn 1:31, 33). How then can we recognize Christ, Christians, Christmas, and Christianity, and thereby know God our Father, live in the Truth, and have the abundant life? (see Jn 10:10) John recognized Christ when he "saw the Spirit descend like a dove from the sky" and rest on Jesus (Jn 1:32). We too will recognize Christ by the working of the Holy Spirit. Thus, Christmas and life itself depend on our docility to the only true Christmas Spirit, the Holy Spirit.
As we draw closer to the last day of the Christmas season, when we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus in the Holy Spirit, let us repent of any resistance to God's will and cry out: "Come, Holy Spirit!"
| PRAYER: | Father, give me the true Christmas Spirit forever. |
| PROMISE: | "Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall later be has not yet come to light. We know that when it comes to light we shall be like Him." –1 Jn 3:2 |
| PRAISE: | "At Jesus' name every knee must bend in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth, and every tongue proclaim to the glory of God the Father: JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!" (Phil 2:10-11) |
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