CHARGE IT

“What you have done is keep the choice wine until now.” –John 2:10

Mass Readings: January 7
First: 1 John 5:14-21; Resp: Psalm 149:1-6,9; Gospel: John 2:1-11

Most people put things off till the last minute, even Christmas. Jesus, the Reason for the season, desires to come into our lives and be our Lord, but we put Him off. Now we are in the last three days of the Christmas season. Jesus is coming on strong. It’s regrettable we’ve waited until the last minute, spending our Christmas missing out on relationship with Christ. Yet, because He is rich in mercy, He has saved the best until last (Jn 2:10).

We must open our hearts and pray for ourselves and others that life and power be given to us sinners (1 Jn 5:16). We’ve just begun 2017 and are already running out of the new wine of the Spirit (Jn 2:3). We must do whatever Jesus tells us (Jn 2:5) so He can transform our weakness into His glory and power (2 Cor 12:9). Then we in turn can transform this world for Jesus in 2017.

“We know that we belong to God, while the whole world is under the evil one” (1 Jn 5:19). There is One greater in us “than there is in the world” (1 Jn 4:4). We have “authority to expel unclean spirits and to cure sickness and disease of every kind” (Mt 10:1). We can attack the gates of hell, and the devil can’t do anything about it (Mt 16:18). Satan and all his hosts tremble before God’s people as we dismantle the strongholds of the evil one (2 Cor 10:4). People of God, charge! 2017 is the year of grace, the year of victory. Alleluia!

PRAYER: Jesus, come into my life. Do absolutely anything You want.

PROMISE: “Jesus performed this first of His signs at Cana of Galilee. Thus did He reveal His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” –Jn 2:11

PRAISE: St. Raymond is noted for promoting the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and even served as confessor to the Pope.