Five Minutes with the Word

Five Minutes with the Word

Advent 2008

""Lift up your hearts." "We lift them up to the Lord." "Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God." It is right to give him thanks and praise." So goes the dialogue that begins every liturgy of the Eucharist. Day after day, week after week, we are called to affirm how "right" it is to honor and worship the Lord our God. Especially as we are preparing for Christmas, it is a good idea to do a little self-examination to test the depth of our own worship of the one whom we are called to adore.

When is the last time you worshipped the Lord like this? Not just by attending Mass or studying Scripture. These are good things to do, but worship involves being moved in our heart to demonstrate your reverence and gratitude for who Jesus is and for all that he has done for you through his birth, death, and resurrection. Savor those times you have experienced his love, compassion, and grace. Try to recall these moments of grace every day until Christmas, and take note of what God does in you in response. you will be amazed at all the blessings that flow from a humble, worshipping heart."

Reading from Wednesday December 17, 2008.
Joe Difato, Publisher

What is Christmas?

What is
Christmas?

More than the tree
or the decking of halls,
More than the music and mobs at the mall,
More than the feasts
that are planned and prepared,
the family stories remembered and shared...
More than the lights
that will soon disappear,
The manger and star
that get stored till next year,
More than these things which all play a small part,
Christmas is love
that lives on in each heart!

From: C. Carter

Thought for the Day

"The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the most of everything."

Author unknown

In the Spirit of Christmas

Do you remember the phrase
"Silence is golden"?
There must have been a reason for it.
Have you ever tried it?
Seriously, take a few minutes to view the site below,
enjoy the tranquil and peaceful presence it brings and think about its meaning.

http://www.ASilentNightMovie.com

May God's peace be with you during this Christmas season
and follow you through the New Year!