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Model Christian Family: Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (C) (27th December, 2015)

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Homily
for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (C) (27th
December, 2015) on the Gospel and the Feast<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Sir
3:2-6.12-14 or 1Sam 1:20-22.24-28;<o:p></o:p></div>
Ps
127:1-5. (R. v. 1) or Ps 83:2-3.5-6.9-10. (R. v 5);<o:p></o:p> 
Col
3:12-21 or 1Jn 3:1-2.21-24;<o:p></o:p> 
Lk 2:41-52.<o:p></o:p> 
 
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeArKMsCTrucgFSHs-V8nbddkrP-cPqCyKt65-ZbVDBeGKveXgaxyb9Vus7TgSc6DYYVsgxISnPhE9-pCPc1od5o2UzmNgcBA-WIWflYwteTCraGWebgcHuvr0M03iJOtRGG6FLtPq8ucz/s1600/images2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeArKMsCTrucgFSHs-V8nbddkrP-cPqCyKt65-ZbVDBeGKveXgaxyb9Vus7TgSc6DYYVsgxISnPhE9-pCPc1od5o2UzmNgcBA-WIWflYwteTCraGWebgcHuvr0M03iJOtRGG6FLtPq8ucz/s200/images2.jpg" width="160" /></a>Holy Family consists of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Jesus" title="Child Jesus">Jesus</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessed_Virgin_Mary" title="Blessed Virgin Mary">Blessed Virgin Mary</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph" title="Saint Joseph">Saint Joseph</a>. Veneration
of the Holy Family was formally begun in the 17th century by Saint <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_de_Laval" title="François de Laval">François de Laval</a>, the first bishop of New France, who founded
a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confraternity" title="Confraternity">Confraternity</a>. And the Feast of the Holy Family is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liturgy" title="Liturgy">liturgical</a> celebration
in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church" title="Catholic Church">Catholic Church</a> in honour of the trio. Since the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysterii_Paschalis" title="Mysterii Paschalis">1969 revision</a> of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Roman_Calendar" title="General Roman Calendar">General Roman Calendar</a>, the feast is celebrated on the Sunday
between <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas" title="Christmas">Christmas</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Day" title="New Year's Day">New Year's
Day</a> (both
exclusive), or on 30 December when both Christmas Day and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Day" title="New Year's Day">New Year's
Day</a> (the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solemnity_of_Mary,_Mother_of_God" title="Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God">Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God</a>) are Sundays<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/fb/Year%20C%202015-2016/Advent%20&amp;%20Xmas/Holy%20Family%20of%20Jesus,%20Mary,%20and%20Joseph.docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</a>.
<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Topic: Model Christian Family.<o:p></o:p></div>
It is important to know that the
primary purpose of this feast is to present the Holy Family as a model for
Christian families. As a result, I consider it important to look at some
aspects of family life through this model family.<o:p></o:p> 
 
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In today’s gospel, we see one of the
few pictures of the holy family as recorded in the bible. The gospel reads in
part: <o:p></o:p></div>
 
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...every year his parents went to
Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old,
they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they
started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents
did not know it (Lk 2:41-43).<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph were not
only truly religious as manifested in their yearly observance of the Passover
but they understood also the passage: “Train up a child in the way he should
go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov 22:6). Hence they did not just observe the Passover but also took
Jesus along with them. But many parents today have forgotten everything about
God who builds and sustains the family, cf. Ps 127:1-2. Among those who still go to church and other religious
activities many do not consider it important to take their children along.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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And when they noticed that Jesus was
not going back with them, both set out immediately in search of him which took
them a whole three days. Yet the bible did not tell us that there was any rancour
between them. I still remember one day a catechist taught the children preparing
for the First Holy Communion the importance of peacefully coexisting with each
other. He used the relationship between different political parties in Nigeria as
an example. He then asked the children to give other examples of people who are
not living peacefully. One little boy told the catechist that no other example
will be better than his parents. The boy went on to tell the catechist that they
live like cat and dog and hardly agree on anything. And no one supports the opinion
of the other.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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In Nigeria, there are so much noise caused
by people apportioning blames to others and vice versa. Yet the positive change
we look forward to is yet to come. In this same vein, many parents resort to apportioning
blames to each other without achieving anything positive. Mary and Joseph on
the other hand did neither apportion blames to each other nor grumble for the
disappearance of the child Jesus. Yet they searched for him with great anxiety
expressed thus through his mother: “Child, why have you treated us like this?
Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety” (Lk 2:48). Parents ought to look for their
children and the solutions for the evils that bedevil our families today.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Children must remember always that
obedience to parents is not a privilege but their right, cf. Matt 15:4; Ex 20:12; Col 3:20; Eph 6:1. In today’s gospel, Jesus
obeyed his parents and went down with them to Nazareth and was obedient to
them, (cf. 2:51a) where he grew in
wisdom and in years.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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May we all emulate the Holy Family of
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Bible Reading: Ps 127:1-5; Eph 6:1-4; Col 3:18-22; Jas 5:7-9.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Thought for today: Fulfilling your responsibility in the family.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Let us pray: May the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph help us transform our
individual families into model Christian homes –
Amen.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Jesus, Mary and Joseph – I give you my heart
and soul.<o:p></o:p></div>
Jesus, Mary and Joseph – assist me in my last
agony,<o:p></o:p> 
Jesus, Mary and Joseph – may I breath forth my
soul in peace with you–Amen. <o:p></o:p> 
 
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Dear child of God, <o:p></o:p></div>
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And we plead with you to
continue to reflect with us daily on any of these media:<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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                                                                                           <o:p></o:p></div>
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To Contact and/or to support this ministry: <o:p></o:p></div>
 
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
 
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God bless you+<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/fb/Year%20C%202015-2016/Advent%20&amp;%20Xmas/Holy%20Family%20of%20Jesus,%20Mary,%20and%20Joseph.docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Family">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Family</a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Model Christian Family: Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (C) (27th December, 2015)

Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (C) (27 th December, 2015) on the Gospel and the Feast Sir 3:2-6.12...

26th December, 2015: Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr

Unknown 0 Solemnities and Feasts 01:18

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Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of
Saint Stephen, First Martyr (26th December, 2015) <o:p></o:p></div>
 
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(Octave of Christmas) on the Gospel and the Feast</div>
 
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Acts 6:8-10. 7:54-59;<o:p></o:p></div>
Ps 30:3-4.6.8.16-17. (R. v. 6)<o:p></o:p> 
Matt
10:17-22. 
<o:p></o:p> 
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKTxWlokAXLkNKm7RqeHuHrJfmy11FfQVspiEAlRkqDUYIzGYYm-CuHO43bNEIWHsM1hQEooGnoheeDdsb0vy0lpyBM8t5qbNV6OHlcZRW5sd7Jf5GwLp-YtZvzVAGHqb8LBMOyZU7Yh_/s1600/images18U38RFL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKTxWlokAXLkNKm7RqeHuHrJfmy11FfQVspiEAlRkqDUYIzGYYm-CuHO43bNEIWHsM1hQEooGnoheeDdsb0vy0lpyBM8t5qbNV6OHlcZRW5sd7Jf5GwLp-YtZvzVAGHqb8LBMOyZU7Yh_/s320/images18U38RFL.jpg" width="320" /></a> 
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The primary source of information about Saint Stephen is the
Acts of the Apostles. Stephen or Stephan, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protomartyr" title="Protomartyr">first Christian martyr</a>.  He was a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deacon" title="Deacon">deacon</a>, cf. Acts 7:54-59. Stephen is
mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as one of the Greek-speaking <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_Jew" title="Hellenistic Jew">Hellenistic Jews</a> selected to participate in a fairer distribution of welfare
to the Greek-speaking widows, cf. Acts
6:5. He was accused of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphemy" title="Blasphemy">blasphemy</a> and his <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrdom" title="Martyrdom">martyrdom</a> was witnessed by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_of_Tarsus" title="Saul of Tarsus">Saul of Tarsus</a> (Saint Paul), a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharisee" title="Pharisee">Pharisee</a> who would later himself become a follower of Jesus, cf. Acts 8:1.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons/Octave%20of%20Christmas.docx" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</a> 
<o:p></o:p> 
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Topic: Beware <o:p></o:p> 
Just yesterday we popped champagnes among other things that the
long-awaited saviour was born. And today, we celebrate the first person who died
for this saviour. He warns us in today’s gospel: “Beware of them, for they will
hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be
dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and
the Gentiles” (Matt 10:17-18). <o:p></o:p> 
 
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This warning tells us among other things that to be a
Christian is not all rosy. A call to be a Christian is a call to be a martyr no
matter the circumstance one finds him/herself. At the face of every persecution
that might come one’s way, one must bear witness to the new born king, cf. Lk 21:13. Again, for anybody to be
saved, he or she must endure to the end, cf. Matt 10:22. Saint Stephen is a very good example.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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So my dear one, as we celebrate our saviour’s birthday we
must also contemplate what it means to be Christ’s follower. Each of us must be
ready for anything that pleases our newborn King to befall us. Beware, anyone
who wants to live an authentic Christian life must be ready for persecution even
from those one least expects. <o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Bible Reading: 1Pt 4:12-19.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Thought for today: Tighten your belt and lace your shoes for action.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Let us pray: May the newborn King help us live
out our call as Christians no matter what it might cost – Amen.</div>
 
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Saint Stephen – pray for us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<o:p> </o:p> 
 
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Dear child of God, <o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Help to increase the number of God’s children by SHARING our reflections with all your
friends and by RECOMMENDING them to
Google if they worth it. We also need your comments
to help us know how we are doing.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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And we plead with you to continue to
reflect with us daily on any of these media:<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
 
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To Contact and/or to support this
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God bless you+

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<div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons/Octave%20of%20Christmas.docx" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</a> (Please, visit this site for more) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen</a>
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26th December, 2015: Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr

Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr (26 th December, 2015) (Octave of Christmas) on the Gospel and the Fe...

Merry Christmas

Unknown 0 News 00:42

Merry Christmas

Your gift to the newborn Christ: Homily for the Nativity of the Lord (Mass During the Day) (A, B, C) (25th December, 2015)

Unknown 0 Solemnities and Feasts 02:37

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Homily
for the Nativity of the Lord (Mass During the Day) (A, B, C) (25th December,
2015) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Is 52:7-10;<o:p></o:p></div>
Ps
97:1-6. (R.v. 3);<o:p></o:p> 
Heb
1:1-6;<o:p></o:p> 
Jn 1:1-18 or Jn 1:1-5.9-14.<o:p></o:p> 
 
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Take a moment to reflect on how you will feel if on
your birthday, one or some of your guests vow to make things go wrong. What they
do and/or say testify that they are out just to ruin your day.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Topic: Your gift to the newborn Christ.<o:p></o:p></div>
Birthday is one of the most common
anniversaries we have. It is normally a great day for the celebrant and
probably family members who normally invite friends and well-wishers to
celebrate with them. As the invitees make out time to honour the invitation
they also consider the gift to offer to the celebrant. As a result of this, the
celebrant normally receives varied gifts. <o:p></o:p> 
 
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We celebrate today the Birthday of
birthdays. We are celebrating today that the Word was made flesh for our
salvation. Despite the fact that the hair has been made, different styles of
clothing sewn, shoes bought, houses built, cars bought, and so on and on just
for this period, we are also to prepare birthday gifts for Him who was born for
us. All these things mentioned and many more are for ourselves not for Him. Gifts
say so much about both the giver and how he or she values the receiver.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Today’s gospel pericope reads: “All
things came into being through him, without him not one thing came into being….
From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” Jn. 1:3, 16. In reply to his disciples, John the Baptist said: "No
one can receive anything except what is given him from heaven” (Jn 3:27). Since we received everything
from God not even offering everything to him will make us think that we have
done much. Hence, Jesus taught us: “… when you have done all that you were
ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought
to have done!” (Lk 17:10). We are
nothing before God, cf. Rom 4:2. According
to St Ambrose, “Every soul who has believed both conceives and generates the
Word of God and recognizes his works” just as Mary believed and conceived. We
celebrate life which is light for all peoples, cf. Lk 2:32. And as we celebrate Christ’s birthday, he expects us to
offer our lives which ought to be light for others.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Just as John the Baptist came as a
witness to Christ's first coming which we celebrate today, cf. Matt. 3:11; Mk 1:7; Lk 3:15-16; Jn 1:6-9
we ought to be witnesses that he has come, that he is with us, and that he will
come again with our lives. We are called to witness to Christ until he comes
again, cf. Mk 8:38; Lk 9:26. In this
alone we shall find peace and joy. Anything outside God will not be able to
offer us anything good. Saint Paul tells us: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again
I will say, Rejoice” (Phil 4:4). And
for the Psalmist it is in the Lord that we are to boast, cf. Ps 34:2. Let us celebrate this Christmas
as Christ’s witnesses. Through prophet Jeremiah God says: “but let him who
glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who
practice steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth; for in these
things I delight, says the LORD." (Jer
9:24).<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Looking at some public places and
even private homes also, one will know that something is happening. The actual
end of the Advent season is yet to come. Christmas is not the end. How one
plans to celebrate Christmas says it all how much one understands the mystery
we are celebrating, the Nativity of
the Lord. Most often we see it just from the social point of view. One can
either be a source of pride or of shame to Christ on this birthday. We can ask
ourselves whether we present basket of flowers or of shame to Christ. What one does during this Christmas
period and not just what one say says it all. We are all invited to Christ’s
birthday. Every host regrets inviting one or those who will mar the event. Will
Christ regret offering you this rare invitation? Christmas is Christ's feast as
well as ours. He has come to take our sins away, cf. 1Jn 3:5. Prepare your own gift now if you have not. You still can
prepare a better one if the one you prepared is not good enough for the newborn
King.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Do not forget the poor out there as
you look for Christ to present your gift/s. That man or woman or child out
there in need of your help is the Christ we are celebrating his birthday. Do
not look for another one, cf. Matt 25:
40, 45.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Bible Readings: Acts 17:28; Rev. 21:1-8; Matt 10: 32-33; Lk 17:7-10.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Thought for today: What do you have for Christ?<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Let us pray: Newborn King, give us the grace to be good birthday gifts to you – Amen.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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The Word
became flesh – and lived among us! (Jn 1:14).<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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May the
peace and the love of the newborn King be with you now and forever + Amen.<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Dear child of God, <o:p></o:p></div>
Help to increase the number of God’s children by SHARING our reflections with all your friends and by RECOMMENDING them to Google if they
worth it. We also need your COMMENTS
to help us know how we are doing.<o:p></o:p> 
 
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And we plead with you to
continue to reflect with us daily on any of these media:<o:p></o:p></div>
 
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Wishing you all a life-changing
Christmas experience.<o:p></o:p></div>

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