for adults
"I tell you, many prophets and kings wished to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." —Luke 10:24
You've heard the saying: "Christmas is for kids." That's not true. Christmas is primarily for adults. Kids shouldn't be out in the cold, witnessing a woman's labor and her Baby's delivery in a barn. Kids should be warm, tucked into bed, secure, dreaming sweet dreams, not having to face such harsh realities.
However, Christmas is for adults who have the simple faith of kids. Christmas is "hidden from the learned and the clever" but "revealed to the merest children" (Lk 10:21). Only "the merest children" would believe in the virgin birth (see Mt 1:23). Christmas is for those who are poor in the eyes of the world but rich in faith (Jas 2:5). It is for those considered absurd and foolish by worldly standards (1 Cor 1:27). Christmas is for anyone who will depend not on their own intelligence but trust in the Lord with all their heart (Prv 3:5).
Prayer: Father, may I not put myself in a position where I am hiding from a true Christmas.
Promise: "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." —Is 11:2
Praise: St. John Damascene had his right hand cut off by the emperor, but had it restored by the Blessed Mother.
Reference: (Give yourself the joy of a child at Christmas by reading the Bible every day. We have several tape series to help you. Overview of the Bible is six audio tapes starting with AV 10A-1 or three video tapes starting with V-10A. 15-minute Bible Teaching - New Testament is forty audio tapes starting with #700. An Introduction to each Book of the Bible is thirty-two audio tapes starting with AV 21-1 or seventeen video tapes starting with V-21.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 30, 2007
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