Encourage the spiritual growth of your family and friends during the new year by forwarding this newsletter to them.
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There are no shortcuts to holiness. . . Christian character is a matter of growth, not of secrets or formulas. Growth takes time. It also takes the discipline of prayer, of study, of heart searching, of sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's pleading, and of consistent obedience. It must always begin with a renewed thankfulness for the never-ending grace of God, and a sense of being set free repeatedly to a life of
holiness.
- John White
(Renew your commitment to these disciplines this new year.)
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1 JN 2:29–3:6; PS 98:1, 3CD-4, 5-6
JN 1:29-34
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel.”
John testified further, saying,
“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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"When you see the Spirit descend and rest on Someone, it is He Who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit." —John 1:33
The finale of the Christmas season is not Christmas day or even Epiphany but the Baptism of Jesus. This is more emphasized in the Eastern Church. Christmas is Trinitarian. Christmas is to the Father, through the Son, and in the Spirit. Christmas is focused on Christ and culminates in the Holy Spirit, the only true Christmas Spirit. Thus, we should be looking to conclude the Christmas season by having the Holy Spirit stirred into flame in our lives (see 2 Tm 1:6-7). In a way, the Christmas season
ends as Easter does — with a new Pentecost.
In our Baptism, Jesus has immersed us in the Holy Spirit (see Jn 1:33). We should be preoccupied with the Holy Spirit. However, we can fall into the temptation of being preoccupied with ourselves. The Lord teaches through the Church: "The more we renounce ourselves, the more we 'walk by the Spirit' " (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 736). The Spirit poured out within us fights against our selfishness (Gal 5:17).
By the Spirit, we can "put to death the evil deeds of the body" (Rm 8:13).
In these last nine days of the Christmas season, let us not merely "have the Christmas spirit" but may the Holy Spirit of Christmas have us. Then we will truly have a great Christmas.
Prayer: Father, give me Christmas by Your standards.
Promise: "See what love the Father has bestowed on us in letting us be called children of God. Yet that is what we are." —1 Jn 3:1
Presentation Ministries
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Abandonment to Divine Providence
- by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
BOOK II,
CHAPTER II. THE DUTIES OF THOSE SOULS CALLED BY GOD TO THE STATE OF ABANDONMENT
SECTION I. Sacrifice, the Foundation of Sanctity. The first great duty of souls called by God to this state is the absolute and entire surrender of themselves to Him.
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It is therefore of the first importance to love God and His will, and to love this will in whatever way it is made manifest to us, without desiring anything else. The soul has no concern in the choice of different objects, that is God’s affair, and whatever He gives is best for the soul. The whole of spirituality is an abridgment of this maxim, “Abandon yourself entirely to the over-ruling of God, and by
self-oblivion be eternally occupied in loving and serving Him without any of those fears, reflexions, examens, and anxieties which the affair of our salvation, and perfection sometimes occasion.” Since God wishes to do all for us, let us place everything in His hands once and for all, leaving them to His infinite wisdom; and trouble no more about anything but what concerns Him. On then, my soul, on with head uplifted above earthly things, always satisfied with God, with everything He does, or
makes you do. Take good care not to imprudently entertain a crowd of anxious reflexions which, like so many trackless ways, carry our footsteps far and wide until we are hopelessly astray. Let us go through that labyrinth of self-love by leaping over it, instead of traversing its interminable windings.
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