Christmas

Christmas story

 -Birth of Jesus Christ in the Nativity

God sent His only son to become man in the most humble way even though He is King of this world and of Heaven just to make the ultamate sacrifice to save us from death.

The announciation-Gabriel the Angel Messenger of God appeared to the virgin Mary and announced that she would carry the son of God. Mary's "Yes Let it be done to me according to your word" changed everything for us all.

Joseph, the man who was with Mary was frightened by this but an angel appeared to him in a dream and told him its okay to take Mary into your home she is carrying God's child. Elizabeth who is Mary's cousin in her old age also was withchild and Mary visited her once and John the Baptist (who as an adult proclaimed the good new of Jesus making the way for Him) aka her child leapt for joy in the womb and she exclaimed Blessed are you amongst women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. ( Where part of the Hail Mary Prayer comes from)

Christmas day is the birth of Jesus. No room for them at the inns in town they found a stable and Mary gave birth in the hay under a bright star that shone above the place where the baby Jesus lay.

 The angels in the field appeared to the shepherds singing out “Holy Holy Holy” and proclaiming the news of a king. They followed the star to go see Him. Three men from the East came and brought Him gifts fit for a king.

•Candlemas is not as well known but some Catholics still follow this one. I love to. Candlemas is waiting til February 2nd to remove Christmas decorations til then because that is the day of the presentation of Jesus and we are still celebrating His birth.

Reflections: The fact that Jesus (THE SON OF GOD HIMSELF) humbled Himself and came as a little human baby became human faced everyday struggles then His passion all for us really gets me everytime. Do we reconize Mother Mary as Blessed and Holy and rejoice and thank her and greet her in our hearts as Elizabeth did?

Mary is blessed amongst women to carry the son of God. As we celebrate the coming of the end of Advent and the coming of our Savior, think about this and discuss it with your family, or those you pray with.

(Do you Pray alone all the time or sometimes do you offer to invite your family to pray with you? There's nothing that scares the devil more than a family that prays together. He wil try to attack families at Christmas time but that is when we need to stand firm togehter more than ever in preparaation for the coming of our Lord)

• Are we like the wise men? Eager to see and spend time with Jesus or eager for opening material presents?

• Are we excited for His Coming, or do we only give Him some of our time especialy at Christmastime we get busy shopping, planning events,cooking,etc, but what about spending time with the one who Christmas is about?

How about Rejoicing it outloud to the world that He is born, and being joyous telling our kids and families about Him, and making our holiday parties about Christ's Birthday more than about opening whats under the tree, spend time with the ones you love and pray together, sing christmas hymns of praise to Him who has come into the world for us!

what about telling our boss at work or someone at the store that you know who has lost faith due to a bad situation about the great news of Jesus's coming into the world? Do you give gifts just to those who you are close to and act like the pharisees acting better than others or staying in your clique, or do you Catholic, Christian People, Go Out? Go Out to the poorest of the poor? Those who hate and persecute you as they did to Jesus and do you Love and give your time, effort, gifts, love to them?

(Ways you can do this include: give a cheerful christmas card to that grumpy man at work, sing carols to those in hospitals, give a meal or a hot cocoa to the homeless, or reach out to that neighbor who puts political signs out in their yard that are different than yours and invite them to dinner or bring over a tray of cookies, shovel snow off the driveway of the neighbor who allways has their pet do their duty in your yard? These are just some of the many ways you can do something Jesus would do this Christmas.)

• Is this Christmas about celebrating the greatest gift of all? The birth of Christ?

  and Do we celebrate that by giving instead of being focused on ourselves as Jesus gave Himself into this world for Us?

• What Does Christmas Mean to Me?

Merry Christmas Everyone! Have a Blessed Season! Sending Prayers and Love...

Let's end with a prayer:

Lord Jesus please bless and watch over this reader and their family and loved ones this year and all of those who feel alone this Christmas let us as your followers make everyone feel welcome especially at your church. Thank you for coming into this world so humbly to make the ultimate sacrifice for us. We Love You. Amen.

BIBLE VERSES:Luke 2:11: "For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you, who is Christ the Lord,"

Luke 2:10-11 (KJV): "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord". This, along with the heavenly choir's praise in Luke 2:14 ("Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men")