the only true christmas spirit
"The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him: a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a Spirit of counsel and of strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord." —Isaiah 11:2
We must receive the Christmas Spirit, or we will not have the true Christmas. The only true Christmas Spirit is the Holy Spirit, God, the third Person of the Blessed Trinity.
Isaiah prophesied that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on the Messiah (Is 11:2). John the Baptizer proclaimed that Jesus, the Messiah, would baptize "in the Holy Spirit and fire" (Mt 3:11). We Christians have been baptized into Christ (Rm 6:3). Because we are in Him on Whom the Spirit rests, the Holy Spirit rests on us. We have the true Christmas Spirit, and we will have the true Christmas. The Holy Spirit will bear witness to Jesus (Jn 15:26). By the Spirit, we will proclaim this Christmas in faith, freedom, love, and boldness that "Jesus Christ is Lord" (see 1 Cor 12:3; Phil 2:11).
Let us stir into flame (2 Tm 1:6-7) the Holy Spirit of Christmas and not quench the Spirit (1 Thes 5:19). Let us rejoice in the Spirit (see Lk 10:21) and not grieve the Spirit (Eph 4:30; Is 63:10). Let us live our Baptisms and Confirmations to the full to express our love for the Lord and thereby have the true Christmas.
Prayer: Father, in this Advent may I let You heat me up from lukewarm to hot (see Rv 3:16).
Promise: "Accept one another, then, as Christ accepted you, for the glory of God." —Rm 15:7
Praise: Praise Jesus, Who sends us His Spirit of Love!
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, May 30, 2001
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 4, 2001