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Today's scripture readings go
right to the heart of the Incarnation. What was the reason God
sent His Son to us? The prophet Micah tells us, "He shall stand firm and
shepherd his flock by the strength of the Lord...and they shall
remain..."
In the letter to the Hebrews
we hear, "On coming into the world Jesus said, 'I come to do your will,
O God.'" In Luke's gospel, Elizabeth says to Mary, "Blessed are you who
believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."
Sin came into the world through disobedience. Salvation comes into the
world through obedience of Mary and Jesus to the will of the Father.
Each of today's readings reflects the joy and power that comes from
obedience to the Father.
In order to accept the Father's plan for us, we must first discern his
will. This is where most of us get into trouble. We presume that we
already know what the Father wants. Recall that at every significant
crossroads of his life, Jesus spent the night in prayer. Our Lord never
presumed that he knew the Father's will. He always went to the Father
and asked for His guidance. It is impossible to know the Father's will
without prayer. Every morning we get up and go about our business,
confident that we are doing the Father's will, but without ever asking.
We might really ask ourselves, are we doing what the Father wants in our
lives?
May this Christmas season be a time of special prayer for you. May
the Lord reveal his will for your life and give you the grace to
accomplish it.
God bless you and your family at this Christmas time and throughout the
coming year.
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