|
Message of the Day
|
|
Any time we open ourselves up to fear, we fall prey to his (the
devil's) deceptions and intimidations. Yet, if we submit our hearts to God and stand in faith, we can resist those first fearful thoughts. As we yield to God we can master our reactions to fear and the enemy will soon flee. - Francis Frangipane
(What are your fears at this time? Hold them up to God and believe in God’s providential care for your needs.)
|
|
Readings of the Day
|
1 John 4:7-10; Psalm 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8 Mark 6:34-44 When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.
By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said,
"This is a
deserted place and it is already very late.
Dismiss them so that they can go
to the surrounding farms and villages
and buy themselves something to eat."
He said to them in reply,
"Give them some food yourselves."
But they said to him,
"Are we to buy two hundred days' wages worth of food
and give it to them to eat?"
He asked them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see."
And when they had found out they said,
"Five loaves and two fish."
So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green
grass.
The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.
Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples
to set before the people;
he also divided the two fish among them
all.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments
and what was left of the fish.
Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand
men. USCCB lectionary
|
|
Reflection on the Scripture
|
Love, then, consists in this: not that we have loved God, but that He has loved us and has sent His Son as an offering for our sins.” —1 John 4:10
God loved the world so much (see Jn 3:16) that He: - created us,
- became a man,
- died on the cross for us,
- rose from the dead for us,
- offers us a share in His divine nature through Baptism (2 Pt 1:4),
- forgives all our sins,
- makes it possible
for us to be His sons and daughters,
- invites us to be members of His mystical body, the Church,
- wants us to live in Him and Him in us (see Jn 6:56; 17:23),
- gives us His Body and Blood in Holy Communion,
- wants to make us a “royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Pt 2:9), and
- will return to take us to the perfect love and happiness of heaven.
God is indeed Love (1 Jn 4:8, 16), and there is no greater love than His perfect, infinite, unconditional, eternal love. We “love because He first loved us” (1 Jn 4:19). Therefore, let us live in His love (Jn 15:9-10) and love one another (1 Jn 4:7), especially our enemies. Let us love even to the point
of laying down our lives for our brothers and sisters in Christ (1 Jn 3:16). Remain in Love and remain in God (1 Jn 4:16).
Prayer: Father, on this day of the Christmas season, give me love “from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith” (1 Tm
1:5).
Promise: “God’s love was revealed in our midst in this way: He sent His only Son to the world that we might have life through Him.” —1 Jn
4:9 Presentation Ministries
|
|
Spiritual Reading
|
|
|
|
The Practice of the Presence of God: The Best Rule of Holy Life, by Brother Lawrence (1611 - 1691). Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
https://ccel.org/ccel/lawrence/practice/practice Third Conversation
Faith working by love. * Outward business no detriment. * Perfect resignation the sure way. That he expected hereafter some great pain of body or mind;
that the worst that could happen to him was, to lose that sense of GOD, which he had enjoyed so long; but that the goodness of GOD assured him He would not forsake him utterly, and that He would give him strength to bear whatever evil He permitted to happen to him; and therefore that he feared nothing, and had no occasion to consult with anybody about his state. That when he had attempted to do it, he had always come away more perplexed; and that as he was conscious of his readiness to lay down
his life for the love of GOD, he had no apprehension of danger. That perfect resignation to GOD was a sure way to heaven, a way in which we had always sufficient light for our conduct. That in the beginning of the spiritual life, we ought to be faithful in doing our duty and denying ourselves; but after that unspeakable pleasures followed: that in difficulties we need only have recourse to JESUS CHRIST, and beg His grace,
with which everything became easy. That many do not advance in the Christian progress, because they stick in penances, and particular exercises, while they neglect the love of GOD, which is the end. That this appeared plainly by their works, and was the reason why we see so little solid virtue. That there needed neither art nor science for going to GOD,
but only a heart resolutely determined to apply itself to nothing but Him, or for His sake, and to love Him only.
Paperback and eBook versions
|
Please support this outreach with a tax-deductible donation. |
|
|
