christmas giving or giving christmas?
"His commandment is this: we are to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ." —1 John 3:23
Yesterday we celebrated the highlight of the Christmas season, Epiphany. The love of Christ and Christmas is welling up inside us and overflowing. We've just got to tell someone and everyone about Jesus. He's God, Man, Savior, and Lord. He's the only Hope of the world and the only Meaning of life.
In prayer and evangelization, we must bring to Jesus "all those afflicted with various diseases and racked with pain: the possessed, the lunatics, the paralyzed" (Mt 4:24). Jesus will cure them all, and, even better, give them new and eternal life.
So many have missed out on Christmas because they have not accepted Christ. Without knowing Christ personally, they have no possibility of experiencing a real Christmas. Yet when we share Jesus with others, we give them the opportunity for their very first Christmas. Then "a people living in darkness" will see "a great light. On those who inhabit a land overshadowed by death, light" will arise (Mt 4:16).
Don't just give a Christmas gift, give Christmas by giving Christ.
Prayer: Jesus, without You we can do nothing, including Christmas (Jn 15:5). May I tell someone about You today and thereby give You what You want for Christmas.
Promise: "For there is One greater in you than there is in the world. —1 Jn 4:4
Praise: St. Raymond prayed: "May you never be numbered among those whose house is peaceful, quiet, and free from care, those on whom the Lord's chastisement does not descend."
Reference: (We might think "giving Christ" to another is "impossible." Learn how to go about this through our audio tape Mission Impossible AV 46-1 or video V-46.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 27, 2012
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