DAY 1

Unto Us A King Is Born
By Lori Garcia Holman

As we approach Christmas and we get all distracted with the shopping, parties and food, let us focus on "A King Is Born" for a moment.  As I read these scriptures, so many feelings came up in me.  The first one,  gratitude:  I am humbled, because I know my own sins and yet He has removed the judgment against us.  It says, "Do not be discouraged, A Mighty Savior is in our midst."  He is here to save and help us.


I remember one time, I was walking by grandpa's room and I saw him sitting on the bed crying.  I ran in and said, "Why are you crying?  What are you so sad about?"  Grandpa looked up at me with those bushy eyebrows of his and said, "Laura, these are not tears of sadness.  These are tears of joy because Christ loves me in spite of myself."  True gratitude

The other feelings that came up were hope and excitement.  Listen, I can tell you through experience of almost 50 years that hard times will come.  We all have felt the deep heartache from the deaths of our loved ones.  Let's be encouraged though, because we have a Mighty Savior that loves us no matter what we do!  His plan stands forever and we can rejoice knowing that we will all be reunited again with our familia.  One, big-ass Texas-style Barbecue!!!  What hope this should give us!  A King was born and because of this we can celebrate the season.

Let's start off the new generations with Peace and Hope.  I pray all of you will be blessed with the joy of salvation this Christmas.

Love you all and Merry Christmas,

Cousin Lori 

Questions for reflection:

1.  When you read these scriptures, what comes up in you? 
2.  Do you have this great Peace of Salvation?

Readings
Monday December 21

ZEP 3:14-18A
Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you,
he has turned away your enemies;
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.

Responsorial PsalmPS 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21
R. (1a; 3a) Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
 Sing to him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.

R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

But the plan of the LORD stands forever; 
the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.

R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust. 

R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:

come to save us, Lord our God!

R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel LK 1:39-45

Mary set out in those days
 
and traveled to the hill country in haste
 
to a town of Judah,

where she entered the house of Zechariah

and greeted Elizabeth. 

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,

the infant leaped in her womb,

and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,

cried out in a loud voice and said,

“Most blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 

And how does this happen to me,

that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 

For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,

the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 

Blessed are you who believed

that what was spoken to you by the Lord

would be fulfilled.”