Merry Christmas

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And there were in the same country shepherds watching and keeping the night watches over their flock. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them and the brightness of God shone round about them: and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people: For, this day is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of good will.

Fear not, for I bring you good tidings of great joy, what in the world could be more joyful than God becoming man to redeem the whole human race? God, the same God that created us became a little child to be born in a cold, dark, cave; surrounded by Mary, Joseph, and all sorts of animals. God did this, not you, me, or anyone else; God. How can we not be humbled by such a gesture as that? And the sign, the way the sheperds were to know that Christ was born was that he would be dressed in "swaddling clothes," cloth, not a garment of King, or a would-be King, not even a garment of the upper class, no, swaddling clothes, a mere cloth to cover his frail body.

How can we not be humbled by that? Christ, the same Savior becomes a child, a little, helpless, weak, and frail child, though He could have come in so many ways, He comes to us as a child. A child that cannot walk, cannot talk, who is severely limited in bodily form; allows Himself to come as someone who needs to be held, needs help to eat, needs shelter, needs clothes, a child who comes with the same needs as us, and at the same time, unable to fulfill those needs as a little child, as a baby lying in manger.

And we rejoice, we, as the sheperds go to Bethlehem beginning tonight, and all the way on until late January, to worship and adore. We kneel before that same child that we do everyday in Church, but this time, we are especially focused on His Incarnation. How can we not be, how can we not want, like Mary, to hold Him in our arms, cradling our precious Jesus?

"Let us go over to Bethlehem and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath shewed to us" Let us all go, let us all see this child that is born today, let us love the self-same Jesus who came as a little child to redeem us, to save us, all out of His great love.

Let us slow down, and pause for a moment. The world likes things fast, they like it when we forget Jesus, when we forget the purpose of Christmas, when we rush through everything, through gifts, through dinners, through time spent with others, let us slow down and pause this "Silent Night," let us all feel the presence of Christ this Christmas season, and allow Him to be born, as He always is, within our hearts.

"Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of good will." Yes Glory to God, to God alone, not to the presents, not to the family, not even to yourself, Glory to God in the highest. And Peace, how we so need peace, peace in our world, peace in our families, peace in our hearts, "in our palaces peace." And who has the power to bestow that peace? God, God alone through His instruments; us, peace begins when we know peace, but how can we know peace, if we don't know He who is peace?

Let us all echo with the choirs of angels this Christmas Season, Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace and goodwill towards all.

God Bless you all, and Have a very Merry and Blessed Christmas Season, as well as a Happy, Holy, and Peaceful New Year.

-- (seminarian@ziplip.com), December 24, 2002

Answers

Merry Christmas all.

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), December 24, 2002.

And to ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

Jane

-- Jane (Jame@don'tlike.spameither), December 24, 2002.


Happy Birthday, Jesus!!!!

-- Jackiea (sorry@dontlikespam.com), December 24, 2002.

I wish a holy and peaceful Christmas to everyone. John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), December 25, 2002.

Merry Christmas!

MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), December 25, 2002.



Thanks Lord Jesus. We surely needed this gift. Holy Christmas to all!.

-- ed Richards (loztra@yahoo.com), December 25, 2002.

Merry Christmas all

Thanks be to god

-- Andrew.M.Tillcock (Drewmeister7@aol.com), December 25, 2002.


Though I couldn't get on the computer yesterday to say it, I wish all of you a very merry Christmas, and Happy Birthday Jesus!

God's love and blessings to you all,

Carolyn

-- cksunshine (ck_sunshine@hotmail.com), December 26, 2002.


Now that the Christmas Season has begun (lasting until February 2), I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. May the Christ Child remain with you.

Isabel

-- Isabel (isabel@yahoo.com), December 26, 2002.


Amen! To all my brothers and sisters in Jesus here, may His wisdom be upon you, my His words be on our lips, even unto death, like Stephen. May we grow in holiness, and have a holy life, and a holy death.

God be with you all!! Love, Theresa

-- Theresa (Rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), December 26, 2002.



Blessed Christmas to all.

-- jake (jake1@pngusa.net), December 26, 2002.

There are about 17 days left in the Catholic Church's Christmas season, so let us celebrate with great joy! We will enter Ordinary Time the day after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which (I think) will fall on January 12 this year.
Merry Christmas. Happy St. Stephen's Day.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), December 26, 2002.

After experiencing Christmas first hand, my daughter wasn't too keen on the idea of "Ordinary Time"...

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), December 26, 2002.

Emerald,

She is an adorable little girl that you have. I will rember her in my prayers tonight, as well as your brother that is a priest.

David

-- David (David@excite.com), December 26, 2002.


Hey thanks Dave; she's cute, but I wish she would sleep. I got about 3 hours sleep for the last week... lol!

jake kids are too cute, huh?

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), December 26, 2002.



Yes, Emerald, Jake and Regina have adorable children too. I didn't know Jake's link was pictures. I was doing a little speed reading trying to catch up on reading some threads. Thanks.

Beautiful children Jake and Regina. Merry Christmas.

God bless you.

David S

-- David (David@excite.com), December 27, 2002.


Thanks, David. Oh, BTW, that intention I asked you to pray for? I got it! Thanks SO much.

Emerald, I love that picture of your little girl. Regina & I had a big laugh over what must have caused her to make such a grumpy face. Care to share?

-- jake (jake1@pngusa.net), December 27, 2002.


I can't remember and my wife can't either, but from the looks of it, she probably was asleep with her face down on the tray and just woke up. The food on her face seems to match what's on the tray.

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), December 27, 2002.

Jake,

Thanks for that information. You will be a busy man so make sure you eat good vitamins.I will keep praying that you stay healty to raise your big family.

I will rember you and the family in my prayers, please rember mine in yours.

God bless you.

David S

-- David (David@excite.com), December 28, 2002.


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