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A Blessed and Joyous Christmas Season and a Happy, Healthy and Holy New Year to you and your family!

John 1:1-18
 
It is an immutable fact that Christ Jesus, the Son of God who was the Son of Man was born into the world, ministered to the people of his day, died, and rose again, to rescue humankind from the jaws of sin, death and eternal darkness.  As we head into a new “Year of Grace’, 2019, the question is – Will I receive the life of Christ into all of my being?  Will I believe in a Life full of Grace and Truth, that came into the world through Christ Jesus? Will I live into His life, that can light up my whole be-ing – my heart, mind, soul and strength? This Christmas season will I accept the gift that God hold out to me: the power to belong to the family of God as a beloved son, a beloved daughter?  I need only receive, believe, and accept into every fibre of my being the Life that is the Light of world, and journey with Him day by day, hour by hour throughout the coming year. Christ Jesus, let your Life be Light of my be-ing.   
 
Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways.  (Psalm 128 )
 
When Jesus takes your hand He keeps you tight.
When Jesus keeps you tight He leads you through life.
When Jesus leads you through life He brings you safely home.
Casper Ten Boom, quoted in Corrie Ten Boom’s book, In My Father’s House
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

                                                                                                          
A Blessed and Joyous Christmas Season to you
and your family!
 
Colossians 3:12-21
 
Just as I put on clothing each day for the purpose of protection, modesty and functionality, so every morning it is good to clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience –that is, the clothing of love. These virtues protect me against the heat of anger and persecution and the cold of rejection and abandonment.  These clothes of love cover my heart and mind and keep the intimate mysteries of faith, hope and love away from prying eyes and careless words. And when I put on compassion with kindness, modesty, humility, and patience, I am able to move easily through the relationships, the challenges and the activities of the day with joy and liveliness. Today, will I clothe myself with frustration, anxiety and sentimentality, or put on the garments of love of Jesus?  Christ Jesus, help me to clothe myself with compassion... and patience. 
 
Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways.  (Psalm 128 )
 
God of God, Light of Light,
Lo, he comes forth from the Virgin’s womb.
Very God, begotten not created.
O Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.  
John F. Wade, Adeste Fideles
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
Soli ad gloriam Dei

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A Blessed and Joyous Christmas Season to you
and your family!
     
John 1:1-18

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it...” What is light to world? Without light we stumble physically; without the light of Christ we stumble spiritually.  From plants that do not grow without sunshine, we know that light gives life; the light of Christ gives our spirits life.  Within white light are all the colours of the spectrum; within Christ all the beauties and ‘colours’ of life become apparent. A small ray of light in a dark room brings much comfort; even a brief prayer that allows me to hold the hand of Jesus brings courage as well as comfort.  The sun is shining 24/7 on planet earth; the light of Christ’s grace and truth is available 24/7, 365 days of each year, for millennia. Come, Holy Spirit of Jesus, and be light for my life.
 
Lethe heavens be glad and earth rejoice; let the sear roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy!    (Psalm 96 )
 
God of God, Light of Light,
Lo, he comes forth from the Virgin’s womb.
Very God, begotten not created.
O Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.  
John F. Wade, Adeste Fideles
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Luke 1:67-79 The Benedictus, the Son of Zechariah
 
The peace of God is not dependant of an absence of war and conflict, but rather the presence of the Holy Spirit of God. The ‘Peace on Earth’ heralded by the angels was the over-arching peace proclaimed by Zechariah at the birth of John the Baptist, and pointing to the birth of Jesus (‘God Saves’), Emmanuel (“God with us”).  This peace, incarnate in the nativity of Christ Jesus, is a peace that fulfills the holy covenant of God and forever provides a path of redemption for human kind that allows us to live holy and abundant lives based on forgiveness, righteousness and mercy. Just as Zechariah guided the feet of John to Jesus, his cousin, so the angels guided the feet of the shepherds to behold the Prince of Peace in a stable. Today, the Holy Spirit guides me, guides you, to the heart of Jesus, who is the heart of Christmas, and the one place of irrevocable and life-giving peace.  Holy Spirit, Guide my feet into the way of peace.  
 
I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.     (Psalm 89:1)
 
O Come, Radiant Dawn, splendour of eternal light, sun of justice: Shine on those lost in the darkness of death!  
O Antiphon. Common Lectionary for December 24nd
 
Traditional expression of the Gospel Mystery of the Nativity:
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her king!
Let every heart, prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing!
 
Contemporary expression of the Gospel Mystery of the Nativity:
I am (you are!) a child of the one who is the maker of the universe,
I am (you are) beautiful and wonderfully made,
I am (you are) created to know, to love, and to serve Him,
So that I (you) can have eternal [& abundant] life!        Cat Chat, Birthday Party VBC, CD
 
A Blessed and Joyous Christmas Season to you and your family! 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
Soli ad gloriam Dei
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Luke 1:46 - 56

Mary, the Mother of Jesus knew how to prepare for His coming. “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour...” Each day of my life, how do I prepare for Christ’s welcome into my being?  Do I magnify my plans, passions and pastimes? Or does my whole being, through my thoughts, words and actions, magnify the Lord and rejoice in his salvation –salvation from  darkness to light, from despair to hope and from death to life? Awake my soul!  Magnify the Lord and rejoice in God our Saviour.
 
His name will be called Emmanuel, because he will be God-with-us.    (Isaiah 7:8 )
 
O Come, King of all nations, source of your Church’s unity and faith: save all people, your own creation.  
O Antiphon. Common Lectionary for December 22nd
 
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
Soli ad gloriam Dei