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Monday, December 24, 2001

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2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11, 16
Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29
Luke 1:67-79

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make it snappy

"Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, uttered this prophecy." —Luke 1:67

Zechariah had been unable to speak for nine months. He repented, obeyed God, and "snapped out of it," as He was "filled with the Holy Spirit."

The Church is full of people like Zechariah. These people have prayed for years and are good people, but in some ways they are spiritually deaf, dumb, blind, or paralyzed. Although they may be very active in their churches and doing a lot of good, something is holding them back from a full life in the Holy Spirit.

On this Christmas Eve day, the Lord is giving the grace to "snap out of it." The Lord is snapping chains right now. He is snapping His fingers, and people are waking up spiritually, facing reality, repenting, and giving their lives to Him. Hearts and minds are being opened to love Jesus, and tongues are being loosed (Lk 1:64) to witness for Jesus. The Lord is giving us instant freedom so that "rid of fear and delivered from the enemy, we should serve Him devoutly and through all our days be holy in His sight" (Lk 1:74-75). Before Christmas, "snap out of it."

Prayer:  Father, when You snap Your fingers, may I wake up to Your love.

Promise:  "I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you." —2 Sm 7:9

Praise:  Lynn, quiet and soft-spoken by nature, spoke up boldly against falsehoods and untruths that were being asserted at an RCIA meeting.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, May 30, 2001


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 4, 2001