JESUS CHRIST IS COMING TO TOWN

“Who can stand when He appears?” –Malachi 3:2

Mass Readings: December 23
First: Malachi 3:1-4,23-24; Resp: Psalm 25:4-5,8-10,14; Gospel: Luke 1:57-66

Jesus is coming! He is coming in a new way into our lives and our world this Christmas. “Yes, He is coming” (Mal 3:1). His first coming was humble and generally unrecognized by most of the world.

The secular culture is working hard to ensure that Jesus’ coming this Christmas will also be unrecognized. The culture has replaced Jesus’ Christmas coming with the “holiday” coming of Santa Claus.

This Christmas, will you be among the humble shepherds who recognized Jesus’ Christmas coming, or the innkeepers whose lives were too full to make room for Jesus? (Lk 2:7) Is your life too full or too busy to make room for Jesus?

Repent of anything that keeps you away from Jesus. Let Him purify and refine you of anything that causes you to have no room for Him (Mal 3:2-3). It’s nice to give presents, but it’s eternally critical to give Jesus your presence. May you be fully attentive to Him at His Christmas coming, so that Jesus will not have to say on Christmas: “Why was no one there when I came?” (Is 50:2)

PRAYER: Jesus, I offer You the Christmas present You desire most: my life.

PROMISE: “The friendship of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and His covenant, for their instruction.” –Ps 25:14

PRAISE: “O Emmanuel, King and Lawgiver, Desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.”