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The idea that there’s a force of love and logic behind the universe is overwhelming to start with, if you believe it. Actually, maybe even far-fetched to start with, but the idea that that same love and logic would choose to describe itself as a baby born in straw and poverty is genius, and brings me to my knees, literally. To me, as a poet, I am just in awe of that. It makes some sort
of poetic sense. It’s the thing that makes me a believer, though it didn’t dawn on me for many years.
- Bono
(The Christmas season continues until January 13, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. We continue to marvel at God's generous Gift to us in the Christ.)
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1 JN 1:5—2:2; PS 124:2-3, 4-5, 7CD-8
MT 2:13-18
When the magi had departed, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you.
Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night
and departed for Egypt.
He stayed there until the death of Herod,
that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,
Out of Egypt I called my son.
When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi,
he became furious.
He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity
two years old and under,
in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.
Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture |
"He ordered the massacre of all the boys...in Bethlehem." —Matthew 2:16
At the first Christmas, Herod killed several innocent children. This Christmas, many thousands of innocent children will be killed each day not only through surgical but especially chemical abortions. Today's death toll of innocent babies is unprecedented in the history of the human race.
St. Joseph saved his Foster-Son, Jesus, from death by obeying a revelation he received in a dream. Likewise, the Lord has revealed to us how we can stop the massacre of infants. He told us through Pope St. John Paul II that prayer and fasting are the most effective weapons in fighting against the culture of death (The Gospel of Life, 100). "Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world
of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above" (Eph 6:12). Some demons cannot be driven out except by prayer and fasting (Mt 17:21, NAB).
Like Joseph, we have been told by the Lord how to save lives. Will we be like Joseph and obey the Lord, or will we through our disobedience let demons use the Herods of today to continue the massacre of innocent children? Be like Joseph. Be obedient. Be for life.
Prayer: Father, may I not be selfish and thereby defeated by Satan.
Promise: "If anyone should sin, we have, in the presence of the Father, Jesus Christ, an Intercessor Who is just. He is an Offering for our sins, and not for our sins only, but for those of the whole world." —1 Jn 2:1-2
Praise: "The Holy Innocents gave witness not by words but by their life's blood" (Liturgy of the Hours).
Presentation Ministries
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Abandonment to Divine Providence
- by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
CHAPTER II. THE DIVINE ACTION WORKS UNCEASINGLY FOR THE SANCTIFICATION OF SOULS.
SECTION I.The Divine Action.
The divine action, although only visible to the eye of faith, is everywhere, and always present.
The will of God has nothing but sweetness, favours and treasures for submissive souls; it is impossible to repose too much confidence in it, nor to abandon oneself to it too utterly. It always acts for, and desires that which is most conducive to our perfection, provided we allow it to act. Faith does not doubt. The more unfaithful, uncertain, and rebellious are the senses, the louder faith cries: “all is well, it is the will of
God.” There is nothing that the eye of faith does not penetrate, nothing that the power of faith does not overcome. It passes through the thick darkness, and, no matter what clouds may gather, it goes straight to the truth, and holding to it firmly will never let it go.
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