Say Yes (Lk 1:45) by Kevin McNicholas

21 Dec Say Yes (Lk 1:45) by Kevin McNicholas

“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.'”  ~ Lk 1:45 (full readings)
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Kevin’s Reflections:  St. Elizabeth makes a great statement both to and about Mary here, one that is as true today as it was 2,015 years ago. The Holy Mother believed what God spoke to her through the Angel Gabriel, and said “yes” to God then, and many times throughout her life. God speaks to each of us everyday, maybe not in as obvious of a way as sending an Angel to give us a message, but He speaks to us nonetheless. His Words to us are transmitted more by events and people in our lives, Words and people that sometimes we struggle to accept. An irritating co-worker, a difficult family member, or a disobedient child can bring us to frustration very quickly. What is God trying to tell us, under the surface of problematic interactions? So frequently, God is trying to speak to us through another life, and that life is saying “I’m hurting! Help me, please.” It is easy to love those who love us, especially this time of year. Christmas and the entire Holiday Season are a great time to hear happy stories of generosity and love, and this time of the year often brings out the best in those around us. For so many other people, this is the most difficult time of the year, one that does not conjure up the warm and happy childhood and lifetime memories that it does for me. People act according to what is taking place inside them, and if chaos is inside a person, often their words and actions will match. Today I am going to pray for the grace to reach out to someone who appears to be hurting inwardly, see them with God’s Eyes rather than my own, and answer “yes” to God, just as Mary did. Yes. I will do God’s Will!
* Kevin is a School Social Worker in Southern Illinois. He and his wife Laura have been blessed with two living miracles: a 3 year old daughter named Elliana (“the Lord Answers”) and a 1 1/2 year old son named Jeremiah (“God is Exalted”), and one miracle now in Heaven, may our baby Jordan (8.12.15 – 9.3.15) rest in peace. They have also been blessed during the 9 1/2 years of their marriage to be able to visit Catholic pilgrimage sites worldwide, as well as to serve their Parish and community..

Faith Challenge:   Pray today for the Son of God, the true Gift of Christmas, to live in our hearts and minds this Holiday Season and always!

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel..
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Our Prayers: Pray LIFE Runners Creed to End Abortion.  Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, unceasingly. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day:  St. Peter Canisius
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Faith Quote:  “Today these prophetic words have been fulfilled! In Jesus, born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary, kindness and truth do indeed meet; justice and peace have kissed; truth has sprung out of the earth and justice has looked down from heaven. Here we see the power of faith! God has done everything; he has done the impossible: he was made flesh. His all-powerful love has accomplished something which surpasses all human understanding: the Infinite has become a child, has entered the human family. And yet, this same God cannot enter my heart unless I open the door to him. Porta fidei! The door of faith!” ~Pope Benedict XVI: Urbi et Orbi address, Christmas Day 2012.

All In Christ for Pro-Life,
Kevin McNicholas
Lk 1:37