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Sunday, December 19, 1999

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Fourth Sunday of Advent


2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11, 16
Romans 16:25-27
Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29
Luke 1:26-38

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a "mary," merry christmas

"Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be...?' " —Luke 1:34

To have a true Christmas, to meet Christ at Mass in a new, glorious way during the Christ-mas season, we must have a "Mary" Christmas and love Jesus as Mary does. To have a "Mary" Christmas, we should:

  • not fear (Lk 1:30),
  • be filled with God's grace (Lk 1:30),
  • have "the Holy Spirit...come upon" us (Lk 1:35),
  • believe that "nothing is impossible with God" (Lk 1:37),
  • rejoice in being the Lord's servants, that is, the slaves of the Lord (Lk 1:38),
  • "let it be done" to us according to God's word (Lk 1:38),
  • trust "that the Lord's words" to us will "be fulfilled" (Lk 1:45),
  • proclaim "the greatness of the Lord" and find "joy in God" our Savior (Lk 1:46-47),
  • "be pierced with a sword" of sorrow (Lk 2:35),
  • "do whatever He (Jesus) tells" us and tell others to do the same (Jn 2:5),
  • be at the foot of Jesus' cross (Jn 19:25), and
  • together devote ourselves to constant prayer for a new Pentecost (Acts 1:14).

A "Mary" Christmas is a Christmas of faith, joy, self-sacrifice, obedience, evangelistic zeal, redemptive suffering, praise-filled worship, and constant prayer in the Holy Spirit.

"Mary" Christmas!

Prayer:  Jesus, may You get what You want for Christmas.

Promise:  "The favors of the Lord I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim Your faithfulness." —Ps 89:2

Praise:  "O Flower of Jesse's stem, You have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in Your presence; the nations bow down in worship before You. Come, let nothing keep You from coming to our aid."

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, July 21, 1999


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 29, 1999