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Tuesday, December 15, 1998

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Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13
Psalm 34
Matthew 21:28-32

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will i have christmas?

I will "remove from your midst the proud braggarts." —Zephaniah 3:11

"I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly." —Zephaniah 3:12

To deprive yourself of Christmas:

  • be rebellious (Zep 3:1),
  • accept "no correction" (Zep 3:2),
  • be a proud braggart (see Zep 3:11),
  • "exalt yourself" (Zep 3:11),
  • have "a deceitful tongue" (Zep 3:13), and
  • refuse to repent.

To meet Christ in a new way this Christmas:

  • trust in the Lord (Zep 3:2),
  • draw near to God (Zep 3:2),
  • "change and purify" your lips (Zep 3:9),
  • "call upon the name of the Lord" (Zep 3:9),
  • "serve Him with one accord" (Zep 3:9),
  • bring Him offerings (Zep 3:10),
  • be "humble and lowly" (Zep 3:12),
  • "take refuge in the name of the Lord" (Zep 3:12),
  • "do no wrong" (Zep 3:13),
  • pasture and care for God's people (see Zep 3:13), and
  • repent and believe in Him (see Mt 21:32).

Prepare the way of the Lord (Mt 3:3; Is 40:3).

Prayer:  Father, prepare me for the best Christmas ever.

Promise:  "When John came preaching a way of holiness, you put no faith in him." —Mt 21:32

Praise:  Raul, a Baptist deacon, received the gift of praising God in tongues while stuck in a traffic jam listening to a Catholic radio program. Later, his pastor and several members of his congregation also received this gift.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert J. Buschmiller, June 11, 1998


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 20, 1998