Joseph planned to divorce Mary and, therefore, Jesus. This Christmas, we also may be tempted to divorce Jesus indirectly, and thereby miss out on Christmas. Throughout history, there have been more innkeepers and Herods at Christmas than wise men and shepherds. Even now, few are at the side of Jesus in the manger. Most of the world continues to ignore the Christ of Christmas.
Joseph would have rejected Jesus if he had not made a super act of faith and accepted Mary as his wife under overwhelming circumstances. Often for us, the key to Christmas is to have the faith, like Joseph, to accept a spouse, parent, child, brother, or sister in the Lord under difficult circumstances. The Lord commands us: "Accept one another, then, as Christ accepted you, for the glory of God" (Rm 15:7).
To meet Jesus this Christmas, accept:
To meet Christ this Christmas, be like Christ Who has always kept His promise: "No one who comes will I ever reject" (Jn 6:37).
| PRAYER: | Father, thank You for accepting and convicting me by the Spirit (Jn 16:8). |
| PROMISE: | "In His days Judah shall be saved, Israel shall dwell in security." –Jer 23:6 |
| PRAISE: | "O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, Who showed Yourself to Moses in the burning bush, Who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out Your mighty hand to set us free." |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College