And soon, it will be Christmas! Happy, happy, God-blessed Christmas to you all and your loved ones!
The December 25th reflection of Streams in the Desert wrote, " They will call Him Emmanuel- God is with us." ( Matthew1:23). " There is a song in the air! There's a star in the sky! There's a mother's deep prayer, and a baby's low cry! And the stars rains its fire while the beautiful sing, for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!"
And the angel proclaimed: "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord!" ( Luke 2:10-11).
Have we prepared enough for Christmas? We do not mean gifts, food, or visits and reunions only. Have we all done our spiritual preparations as well to "feast on God's graces," as the December 23 reading of Didache reminded us?
" The shepherds reflected God's mercy, the wise men, His royalty, Joseph and Mary His obedience, the angels His glory, the manger His humility. What about you, what about us, what do we all reflect for Jesus this Christmas?" The same Didache reading reminds us.
In another reminder for us from the December 23 reading of Living Water, we are asked, and if I may paraphrase the message, what does Christmas mean to us?
" Christ comes." What does this mean to us? Do we remember why we are celebrating? Do we remember the true reason for the season?
" Jesus comes. To redeem us from sin, to save us from suffering, to deliver us from death, to sanctify us as children of God, to reveal Himself as our Lord and Savior."
Are we prepared to receive and to give Jesus to ourselves and to all who come our way this Christmas , a day of love, hence Christmas refers to each precious day of love through the year?
God has given every one the most perfect gift of love- Jesus Christ, His Son. No one should therefore feel that he/she is alone and has been forgotten this Christmas. God has shared the best gift of all- His only Son. God's love and presence all throughout our days- let us rejoice and be glad and proceed with so much joy, peace, and gratitude for each God-blessed day, for Christmas that continues each day in our lives.
" Father, Your gift is most precious. Grant me the grace to show my appreciation by living a life that speaks of Your love. Amen."
As we fall silent in thankful prayer for God's gift to us, let us remember those in the midst of war and conflict, those in difficulties and with challenges, the homeless, the hungry, the families and their family member abroad and away this Christmas.
" Lord God, may Your peace, comfort, and love be in their hearts in the midst of their trials and pains. Lord God, may You guide us to share whenever we can, however we can, this Christmas and all through our days, the joy and peace of Your love and presence, through Christ's birth, amen!"
From Living Water, these inspiring words, " By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness… to guide our feet into the way of peace. ( Luke 1:78-79).
Tonight, there is a promise of hope. A promise of light. A promise of peace, of a new beginning. Tonight, the Savior comes to us like the dawn that will illumine our lives forever."
" Today , let us renew our commitment to Christ, our love for family and friends. Let us all start to be new creations " from this Christmas on.
Happy, happy God-blessed Christmas again to you all!