Tag Archives: Christmas

A MERRY HEART

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Friday 25th December-. Solemnity of The Birth of Our Lord.
REFLECTION: ISAIAH 52:7-10 A MERRY HEART

Wow! How time flies! Just like it is a dream, today we have come to another yuletide. First of all we wish a “Merry Christmas”. But how merry are you today? Are you truly merry? Well, friend, there may be so many reasons not to be merry, but really we have to find that happy spot in our souls today and give someone a big hug. Yes, a big hug. The Word of God says in the book of Proverbs that “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine”. (Prov. 17:22a). Wonderful, isn’t it?

 Beloved, today being the celebration of the birth of our Lord offers a wonderful opportunity for us to show that spirit of fraternity and oneness that should exist between us and those around us. We are encouraged to be the channel through which Christ will be born anew in the heart of someone else. The birth of Christ should be for us a new beginning. We don’t have to wait for the New Year before we take the decision to be a better person. Beloved, time waits for no one. One of the best decisions we can make this season is to be a blessing to someone else. Remember that when you give people joy, you also reap joy in return, when you give people peace, you also reap peace as well. 

So let’s go all out today and be merry, not forgetting to show love to all around us. One again, Merry Christmas.

PRAYER: Father please fill my heart with joy today by Your Holy Spirit, I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Being cheerful keeps you healthy.” Proverbs 17:22a. GNB.

Today’s Readings: Isa.52:7-10; Heb.1:1-6; John1:1-18

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DECORATING THE INSIDE

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Sunday 20th December – 4th Sunday of Advent

Reflection: Hebrews 10: 5-10

DECORATING THE INSIDE

 “And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ” Heb 10:10

Christmas is very much in the air. The streets are decorated, Christmas songs are being played and we all are preparing in various ways for the celebration of the Lord’s birth. Travel preparations and shopping for clothes and food items are in top gear and everyone is looking forward to the celebrations that end each year. It is great to look forward to Christmas with all the external preparations yet, we all run the risk of focussing so much on them that we lose the internal preparation that the Church has been calling us to through the past three weeks.

As we begin the 4th week of Advent, take a moment to ask yourself if you are truly ready to receive the precious gift of our Lord at Christmas. How ready is your heart for our Saviour? Have you cleaned up your life and decorated it just as you may have done your house of office? The writer to the Hebrews reminds us today that God’s will is for us to be made holy through Christ’s self-offering.

Beloved, as we head on to celebrating our Lord’s best, prepare your heart for Him this week. Make efforts to mend broken relationships, seek reconciliation from your neighbours and offer forgiveness to those who have hurt you, attend confession and make your heart right with God. Let this year’s celebration truly make you holy, thus fulfilling the purpose of our Saviour’s birth.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please help me to truly be holy as I celebrate your birth this week. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAAT 6 – Why did God become man in Jesus?

“For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven” (Nicene Creed). In Jesus Christ, God reconciled the world to himself and redeemed mankind from the imprisonment of sin.

HIDE A TREASURE: “And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” Hebrews 10:10 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Micah 5:1-4; Psalm 80: 2-3, 15-19; Hebrews 10: 5-10; Luke 1: 39-44

THE LIGHT OF MEN

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Thursday 25th December – Christmas Day, Solemnity (Mass during the day)

Reflection: John 1:1-18

THE LIGHT OF MEN

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men” John 1:4

Glory to God in the highest and peace to men of goodwill! It is yuletide again; a time of reunion and togetherness. Christmas is a time to share, following the example of our Father who gave his only son to redeem us. What a perfect example of love which we ought to imitate as children of God every day of our lives.

Today’s reading reminds us of the mystery of the incarnation; the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). The miracle of the incarnation showcases God’s mercy and brings to fulfillment His plan of redemption. To refuse to ponder on such great mystery is to deliberately remain in the darkness of ignorance and this ultimately prevents us from celebrating the birth of Christ in its truest sense – it reduces our celebration to mere eating and drinking without leading us to appreciate God for the gift of our salvation.

Beloved in Christ, our lives must be purified by the event of Christmas. As we gather together to celebrate with our family and friends, we must seek ways in which we can be better Christians. Let us allow the light of Christ to permeate every area of our lives and dispel the darkness of hatred, malice, discord and all forms of unrighteousness so that our lives can radiate God’s light and love to others as we share and celebrate today. Let us do all things with the consciousness of Christ’s presence, the joy of the EMMANUEL – God with us. Jesus Christ is the light of the world and in him there is no darkness (1 John 1:5). He is the prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6) which our family and the world constantly needs.

Seek him more in your life and allow him to be the king of your heart. This is the greatest gift you can offer the new born King. Welcome; my Lord and King. Happy Birthday to you, the Light of men. Merry Christmas!!!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please dispel all darkness in my life and family with the light of your presence. Let me rejoice in your saving power always. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 76 – Why did God become man in Jesus?

“For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven” (Nicene Creed).
In Jesus Christ, God reconciled the world to himself and redeemed mankind from the imprisonment of sin. “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son” (Jn 3:16). In Jesus, God took on our mortal human flesh (incarnation), shared our earthly lot, our sufferings, and our death, and became one like us in all things but sin.

HIDE A TREASURE: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light”
Isaiah 9:2 GNB

Readings for Today: Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98:1-6; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18