The Manger (Lk 2:7) by Fr. Daren Zehnle

25 Dec The Manger (Lk 2:7) by Fr. Daren Zehnle

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB).  Leaders.  Guest Authors.
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“She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” ~ Lk 2:7 (full readings)
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Fr. Daren’s Reflections:   Though the word “chaotic” may be too strong to describe the circumstances of the Lord’s Birth, disorganized and messy seem to fit well, what with being born in a stable and all.  There is often a constant temptation for us to “tidy up” and make things look nice for the Lord or for others, and it is certainly not bad to do so.  Had I been present at that stable, likely enough I would have picked up a broom to start sweeping the straw into nice piles or perhaps even constructed a makeshift bed for Mary, all with the aim of tidying up and making things nice and better suited for Jesus.  Yet what we see in His Birth is that the Lord comes precisely into the messiness of our lives without seeming to worry about how untidy our lives may be; what is necessary is that He is welcomed.  Our goal as LIFE Runners must be to help women who feel burdened, trapped, and forced to consider abortion to recognize that Jesus wishes to come into the messiness of their lives as well, asking only that He be welcomed.
* Fr. Daren Zehnle serves as Priest Secretary and Master of Ceremonies to Bishop Paprocki in the Diocese of Springfield, IL.  He is the Associate Director of the Office for Vocations.  He blogs at Servant and Steward.
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Faith Challenge:  On this day of joy, remember that the Christ Child was born into the messiness of our human world.  Surrender yourself to God in your own messy life.  And in all things today, offer thanks as we celebrate these words from the Gospel of John:  “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.”
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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:  Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord.  Christmas!
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Faith Quote:  “Today, as in the time of Jesus, Christmas is not a fairytale for children, but rather God’s answer to the drama of humanity in search of peace.” ~ Pope Benedict XVI
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Through Christ Our Lord,
Fr. Daren