all i want for christmas is...
"Two blind men came after Him crying out, 'Son of David, have pity on us!' " —Matthew 9:27
What do you want for Christmas? Because of selfishness, you may not be wanting much. Most people think that selfish people want too much; in fact, the opposite is true. A selfish person usually wants money to buy a vacation, car, or other toys for adults. But unselfish people want much more. They want the deaf to hear, the blind to see, and the poor to "ever find joy in the Lord" (Is 29:18-19). Selfish people want luxuries; unselfish people want all "to be saved and come to know the truth" (1 Tm 2:4).
One of the purposes of Advent is for us to want more and to want more unselfishly. We come to want more because we believe and love more. We want more unselfishly when we repent and love more. Advent is a matter of love, which is a matter of faith and repentance.
Every day of this Advent, ask the Lord for love, faith, and repentance. This will change you, your desires, and your prayer. Then this Christmas there will be "glory to God in high heaven, peace on earth to those on whom His favor rests" (Lk 2:14).
Prayer: Father, this Christmas, may I want salvation, justice, and mercy so much for the world that I would be willing to die for it.
Promise: "They recovered their sight." —Mt 9:30
Praise: Nicholas constantly and faithfully taught his flock the full truth about Jesus. The town in which Nicholas was pastor was the only town in his entire area which did not succumb to the Arian heresy.
Reference: (To help prepare a wish list for Christmas, order our book, Seek the Gifts of the Spirit.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Edward J. Gratsch, June 20, 1996
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 26, 1996