sunday and christmas day
"My salvation is about to come, My justice, about to be revealed." —Isaiah 56:1
This Christmas, the Lord's salvation is about to come, and His justice about to be revealed. To receive His salvation and justice, we must "observe what is right, do what is just" (Is 56:1). We must especially keep the sabbath free from profanation (Is 56:2, 6). We must obey the Third Commandment and keep holy the Lord's Day, Sunday, the sabbath of the new covenant (see Ex 20:8). In doing this, we will make our churches and homes houses of prayer (Is 56:7). This will prepare the way of the Lord (see Mt 3:3). In other words, Sunday is the key to Christmas Day; Sunday Mass is the key to Christ-Mass.
This revelation may come as a surprise to many of us who spend the Lord's Day in general doing our own thing. For many of us, Sunday is our day, not the Lord's Day. However, if we don't make Sunday the Lord's Day, then our lives are not the Lord's lives. If we're not under the lordship of Jesus, how can we accept Jesus into the manger of our hearts? How can we have a true Christmas?
Prayer: Father, I repent of disobeying the Third Commandment.
Promise: "These very works which I perform testify on My behalf that the Father has sent Me." —Jn 5:36
Praise: The Smiths habitually refuse outside commitments on Sundays so that their eight children can spend the day with their parents and with their Lord.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet, Keep Holy the Lord's Day, or our tape on audio AV 45-1 or video V-45.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 27, 2011
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