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We are all called: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (A) (29th December, 2019).

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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily for the Feast of the Holy
Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (A) (29th December, 2019) on the Gospel and the Feast<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sir
3:2-6.12-14;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1v-4eYBymyKOXhiBF-L_12SULmxoYwhlabrXKNHQsVlMQ-on6Kin65VNHEJC2c-xLpqyVBKOIenxgEYhr_g0XQ5dJrAFNhXyJQByQeHJxZvuOmBtNG97NRQQdCBvKuUOrwtwOfZiEIYw/s1600/29.12.2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1v-4eYBymyKOXhiBF-L_12SULmxoYwhlabrXKNHQsVlMQ-on6Kin65VNHEJC2c-xLpqyVBKOIenxgEYhr_g0XQ5dJrAFNhXyJQByQeHJxZvuOmBtNG97NRQQdCBvKuUOrwtwOfZiEIYw/s1600/29.12.2018.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Holy Family</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
consists of </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Jesus" title="Child Jesus"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Jesus</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessed_Virgin_Mary" title="Blessed Virgin Mary"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Blessed Virgin Mary</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, and </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph" title="Saint Joseph"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Saint Joseph</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
Veneration of the Holy Family was formally begun in the 17th century by Saint </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_de_Laval" title="François de Laval"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">François de Laval</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, the first bishop of New France, who founded a </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confraternity" title="Confraternity"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Confraternity</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
And the <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Feast of the Holy Family</span>
is a </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liturgy" title="Liturgy"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">liturgical</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
celebration in the </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church" title="Catholic Church"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Catholic Church</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
in honour of the trio. Since the </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysterii_Paschalis" title="Mysterii Paschalis"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">1969 revision</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> of the </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Roman_Calendar" title="General Roman Calendar"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">General Roman
Calendar</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, the feast is celebrated on
the Sunday between </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas" title="Christmas"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Christmas</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Day" title="New Year's Day"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">New Year's Day</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
(both exclusive), or on 30 December when both Christmas Day and </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Day" title="New Year's Day"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">New Year's Day</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> (<span style="font-size: 14pt;">the </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solemnity_of_Mary,_Mother_of_God" title="Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Solemnity
of Mary, Mother of God</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">)</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> are Sundays</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/fb/YEAR%20A%202019-2020/Advent%20&amp;%20Xmas/Holy%20Family,%20A%20(2019).docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Topic: We are all called</span></b><span style="font-size: 15pt;">.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes some look at other’s states
in life as better than theirs. This could be as a result of difficulties
experienced or lack of knowledge. I remember when the reality of the sacrifice
I was about to make was dawning on me, a woman told me that the best vocation
in life is the call to be either a priest or religious man or woman. She listed
few things in her mind as the base for her assertion. I looked at her pitifully
and was still introducing what it takes to be a celibate when she changed her
stand. I will save the details for some other time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we celebrate the Holy Family, our
focus will be on married life. Marriage is a serious business through which
humans cooperate with God in the work of creation, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gen 1:28, Deut 7:14</b>. It took Adam time to see among all creatures
one helpmate, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gen 2:18-24</b>.
Marriage is of divine origin and the importance of God in the family life
cannot be overemphasized. In the beginning, God considered it necessary to find
a helpmate for Adam, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gen 2:18</b>.
God is the key to a successful marriage, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tob 8:4-15</b>. We have some areas to reconsider today. They include,
whether we involve God in marriages today, the choice of partners, and the
value of marriage today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Bible has a lot to teach us about
marriage. Some of them make marriage to be attractive whereas others might make
one to be at least more careful. The Psalmist tells us: “Your wife will be like
a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots
around your table” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ps 128:3</b>). But
one can inherit house and wealth from parents but a good wife and good husband
are gifts from God, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prov 18:22; Prov
19:14</b>. The Book of Proverbs goes further: “A good wife is the crown of her
husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prov 12:4</b>). “A foolish son is ruin to
his father, and a wife's quarrelling is a continual dripping of rain” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prov 19:13</b>). These also apply to
husbands.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For there to be marriage, a man and a
woman must leave their parents and cling to each other to become one body, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gen 2:24</b> because it is between a man
and a woman. In marriage, both gains and losses are mutually shared, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gen 7:7</b>. Saint Paul also writes: “If
one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice
together” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 12:26</b>). For any
family to worth the name, each and every member must be faithful to his or her
call. Although the man is the head of the family but the woman is not of less
importance, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eph 5:23; Prov 31:10</b>.
Today’s gospel tells us how Joseph in obedience to God protected the lives of
both Jesus and his mother by taken them first to Egypt and later to Nazareth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Marriage is the result of matrimonial
consent through which a man and a woman irrevocably and mutually give and
accept each other, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">can 1057§2</b>.
This involves in the words of Saint Paul: “The husband should give to his wife
her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does
not rule over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not
rule over his own body, but the wife does. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 7:3-4</b>). But today some deny their partners conjugal rights
thereby opening the door for the devil. Even before the coming of Christ, it is
a terrible sin for a man to leave his wife or a woman her husband for someone
else, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gen 12:18; Gen 39:8; Lev
20:10; Deut 22:22; Deut 27:20</b>. God warned Abimelech in these words:
"Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken; for
she is a man's wife" (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gen 20:3</b>).
The essential properties of marriage are unity and indissolubility (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">can 1056</b>). Divorce is human
terminology, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 16:18, Mk 10:11</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again, in as much as I am not against
marrying a man or a woman from another community, I think it is good to know
who one is getting married to. Our people used to find out about the fiancé and
fiancée before entering into marriage until recently. This helps to avoid
avoidable mistakes that we are paying dearly for today. Dear ones in the Lord,
it is a wonderful thing to marry but we should marry in holiness and honour,
cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Thess 4:4</b>. When the disciples
heard that marriage is a land of no return they said: “it is better not to
marry” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 19:10</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Readings</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Gen 2:18-24; Lev 18; Tob 8:1-18; Eph 5:21-33; 1Cor 12:12-26; Matt
19:1-12.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> God Almighty, as we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus,
Mary, and Joseph, give us wisdom to understand our call and power to live it
out – Amen</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus, Mary
and Joseph – I give you my heart and soul.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus, Mary
and Joseph – assist me in my last agony,<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus, Mary
and Joseph – may I breath forth my soul in peace with you–Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are free
to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May God bless you all+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/fb/YEAR%20A%202019-2020/Advent%20&amp;%20Xmas/Holy%20Family,%20A%20(2019).docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Family"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Family</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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We are all called: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (A) (29th December, 2019).

Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (A) (29th December, 2019) on the Gospel and the Feast Sir 3:2-6.12-14...

Herod’s anger: Feast of the Holy Innocents, Mm. (Octave of Christmas) (28th December, 2019).

thepulpitonline.com 0 Solemnities and Feasts 04:29

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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of
the Holy Innocents, Mm. (Octave of Christmas) (28<sup>th</sup> December, 2019)
on the Gospel and the Feast<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b><br />

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ak3_q1wTVOh_k7ZnJ8TN49BkxLn1IuSDik6cufsIiMhvPfMAziTl7EHERIrddUP2tQX3T2GGbJ7EHE9zXioeCwZ2IIRvGBJ44Ub4SLH_K7Uttr00RL52k-NxroFBFmdBzkmWk_kb2Ak/s1600/28.12.2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ak3_q1wTVOh_k7ZnJ8TN49BkxLn1IuSDik6cufsIiMhvPfMAziTl7EHERIrddUP2tQX3T2GGbJ7EHE9zXioeCwZ2IIRvGBJ44Ub4SLH_K7Uttr00RL52k-NxroFBFmdBzkmWk_kb2Ak/s1600/28.12.2019.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The</span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">Feast of the
Holy Innocents commemorates the children Herod the Great, the Roman-appointed
King of the Jews killed. He directed the Magi from the east who were searching
for Jesus to Bethlehem, and requested them to let him know the newborn king
when they found him. But they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod. Saint
</span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph" title="Saint Joseph"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri;">Joseph</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> also
took the child and his mother to Egypt as directed by an angel. And when Herod
realized that he had been tricked by the Magi, he was furious, and gave orders
to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old or
under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. The number of the
infants is not certain. The Holy Innocents, although Jewish, have been claimed
as </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_martyrs" title="Christian martyrs"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">martyrs for Christianity</span></span></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II%20(2019-2020)/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons%20(2019-2020)/Octave%20of%20Christmas%20(2019).docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Herod’s anger</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the gospel according to Saint Matthew, King Herod was
frightened when he heard that a king was born, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt2:3</b>. He saw him as a rival. As a result, he ordered for the
massacre of every male child in and around Bethlehem who were 2 years old or
under as we read in today’s gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These Holy Innocents committed no offence. And in fact, no
offence was committed. Yet they were killed in such gruesome manner without any
atom of mercy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May be you have suffered Herod’s anger in one way or another.
And surely it was too painful because of the fact that you are innocent. Or
even you may still be suffering or nursing such pains.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the other hand, has anybody suffered Herod’s anger in your
own hands? And what have you done about it or hope to achieve through that?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you have suffered unjustly or still suffering like the
Holy Innocents, look unto God for surely He is coming soon, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rev 22:20</b>. Again, “...hold fast what
you have, so that no one may seize your crown” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rev 3:11</b>). And if others have suffered or are still suffering in
your hands, make amends today. It is very important. Remember, God is coming to
reward all according to what each has done, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rev 22:12</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Eph 4:25 – 5:2.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Has anyone suffered unjustly in your hands</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> May God help us bring healing to all
those who suffer – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Holy Innocents – Pray for us</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are free to share this reflection with
others if you consider it worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May
God bless you all+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II%20(2019-2020)/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons%20(2019-2020)/Octave%20of%20Christmas%20(2019).docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_the_Innocents"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_the_Innocents</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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Herod’s anger: Feast of the Holy Innocents, Mm. (Octave of Christmas) (28th December, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of the Holy Innocents, Mm. (Octave of Christmas) (28 th December, 2019) on the Gospel and the Feast ...

...he saw and believed (Jn 20:8): Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist (Octave of Christmas) (27th December, 2019)

thepulpitonline.com 0 Solemnities and Feasts 05:02

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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of
Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist (Octave of Christmas) </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">27<sup>th</sup>
December, 2019</b>)<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> on the Gospel and
the Feast</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhNqbB0B-c8spNtXjFE3f17ygkvYjULDjc3kX-QXCNdToqso-tOR-Qym2MDmMUZWKWZYEz_qXV7ZJovvmLLoAM5YccBRWsJXZ12WUKjRGclx8G8B3mXNy6ZyVgISDQe7ZoXa8TYxtkXM/s1600/27.12.2019.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhNqbB0B-c8spNtXjFE3f17ygkvYjULDjc3kX-QXCNdToqso-tOR-Qym2MDmMUZWKWZYEz_qXV7ZJovvmLLoAM5YccBRWsJXZ12WUKjRGclx8G8B3mXNy6ZyVgISDQe7ZoXa8TYxtkXM/s1600/27.12.2019.png" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saint John the Apostle was son of Zebedee and Salome,
and one of the Twelve Apostles. He was called to be an Apostle by our Lord in
the first year of His public ministry. Saint John is considered the same person
as John the Evangelist, John of Patmos and the Beloved Disciple. Saint James
the Great was his elder brother. Jesus referred to the duo as “Boanerges,” (sons
of thunder). He is believed to be the longest living apostle and the only not
to die a martyr's death. John was the only one of the Twelve Apostles who did
not forsake the Saviour in the hour of His Passion and He made him the guardian
of His Mother at the foot of the cross. After the Assumption of Mary, he went
to Ephesus. He was later banished to the Greek Island of Patmos. John is known
as the author of the Gospel of John and four other books in the New Testament –
the three Epistles of John and the Book of Revelation. He died in Ephesus after
AD 98 and is the patron saint of love, loyalty, friendships, and authors.</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II%20(2019-2020)/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons%20(2019-2020)/Octave%20of%20Christmas%20(2020).docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: ...he saw and believed</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 20:8</b>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In today’s gospel pericope, Mary Magdalene ran to Peter and
John and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we did
not know where they have laid him.” The duo set out for the tomb. Although John
outran Peter, Peter first entered the tomb. John later entered the tomb. He saw
and believed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While discussing with
Nicodemus, Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and
testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 3:11</b>). And in his first letter,
Saint John wrote, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We declare to you ... what we have heard, what we have seen
with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning
the word of life – this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to
it ...so that you also may have fellowship ...with the Father and with his Son
Jesus Christ (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn 1:1-3</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saint John testified that “the Father has sent his Son as the
Saviour of the world” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn 4:14</b>).
And only those who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to
become children of God, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:12</b>.
Let no one wait to see before he/she believes because, “Blessed are those who
have not seen and yet believe” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 20:29</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Jn 20:25-29; 1Jn 4:7-12.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> ...the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:14</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> God, open our eyes to see your Son
who dwells among us – Amen (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:14</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II%20(2019-2020)/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons%20(2019-2020)/Octave%20of%20Christmas%20(2020).docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=228"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=228</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>

...he saw and believed (Jn 20:8): Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist (Octave of Christmas) (27th December, 2019)

Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist (Octave of Christmas) ( 27 th December, 2019 ) on the Gospel a...

Beware: Memorial of Saint Stephen, First Martyr (Octave of Christmas) (26th December, 2019)

thepulpitonline.com 0 Memorials 04:47

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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial
of Saint Stephen, First Martyr (Octave of Christmas) </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">26<sup>th</sup>
December, 2019</b>)<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> on the Gospel and
the Memorial<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b><br />

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_XqwzB1pBtq9xv-uNQxsTqXFtrv3XyOHNvb8VMCT6Mrpq9tlgS4XCvtho5f9Hxj8-yjqJL5i2Jv7CCHX9hBSzTLQNP6igmFwpAUoYw9dpGxpTACKVmiRpdSWRcg2Pohw56YYesP4R0Q/s1600/26.12.2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_XqwzB1pBtq9xv-uNQxsTqXFtrv3XyOHNvb8VMCT6Mrpq9tlgS4XCvtho5f9Hxj8-yjqJL5i2Jv7CCHX9hBSzTLQNP6igmFwpAUoYw9dpGxpTACKVmiRpdSWRcg2Pohw56YYesP4R0Q/s1600/26.12.2019.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The primary source of information about Saint Stephen
is the Acts of the Apostles. <b>Stephen</b> or <b>Stephan</b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">,</span> a man full of faith and the Holy
Spirit, is the </span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">first Christian martyr</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">deacon</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts 7:54-59</b>. Stephen is mentioned in the
Acts of the Apostles as one of the Greek-speaking </span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hellenistic Jews</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> selected to
participate in a fairer distribution of welfare to the Greek-speaking widows,
cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts 6:5</b>. He was accused of </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">blasphemy</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
and his </span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">martyrdom</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
was witnessed by </span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saul of Tarsus</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> (Saint Paul), a </span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pharisee</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> who would later
himself become a follower of Jesus, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts
8:1</b>.</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II%20(2019-2020)/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons%20(2019-2020)/Octave%20of%20Christmas%20(2020).docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Beware</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just yesterday we popped champagnes among other things that
the long-awaited saviour was born. And today, we celebrate the first person who
died for this saviour. He warns us in today’s gospel: “Beware of them, for they
will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will
be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and
the Gentiles” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 10:17-18</b>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This warning tells us among other things that to be a
Christian is not all rosy. A call to be a Christian is a call to be a martyr no
matter the circumstance one finds him/herself. At the face of every persecution
that might come one’s way, one must bear witness to the new born king, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 21:13</b>. Again, for anybody to be
saved, he or she must endure to the end, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 10:22</b>. Saint Stephen is a very good example.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So my dear one, as we celebrate our saviour’s birthday we
must also contemplate what it means to be Christ’s follower. Each of us must be
ready for anything that pleases our newborn King to befall us. Beware, anyone
who wants to live an authentic Christian life must be ready for persecution
even from those one least expects, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt
10:21; Mk 13:12</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Readings</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">1Pt 4:12-19</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Tighten your belt and lace your shoes for the race.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">May the newborn King help us live out
our call as Christians no matter what it may cost – Amen</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saint Stephen – pray for us.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are free to share this reflection with
others if you consider it worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May
God bless you all+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II%20(2019-2020)/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons%20(2019-2020)/Octave%20of%20Christmas%20(2020).docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Beware: Memorial of Saint Stephen, First Martyr (Octave of Christmas) (26th December, 2019)

Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial of Saint Stephen, First Martyr (Octave of Christmas) ( 26 th December, 2019 ) on the Gospel and t...

Your gift to the newborn Chris: Nativity of the Lord (Mass during the Day) (A, B, C).

thepulpitonline.com 0 Solemnities and Feasts 07:18

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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for the Nativity
of the Lord (Mass during the Day) (A, B, C) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is 52:7-10;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrE8uUhRo-_TFKv8l_ksCw8P1STgw8aD6CgkR9oeQxomaHIGhWXw84EOCGeWtLM0Dticj-ihYXe9gKVaKngNlZ3wR854KiILxhvDTzuC3fFEKAIFzJf6eSPfM1SMBR7bkIRWmpjx1ZhU/s1600/25.12.2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrE8uUhRo-_TFKv8l_ksCw8P1STgw8aD6CgkR9oeQxomaHIGhWXw84EOCGeWtLM0Dticj-ihYXe9gKVaKngNlZ3wR854KiILxhvDTzuC3fFEKAIFzJf6eSPfM1SMBR7bkIRWmpjx1ZhU/s1600/25.12.2019.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Take a moment to reflect on how you will feel if on
your birthday, one or some of your guests vow to make things go wrong. What
they do and/or say testify that they are out just to ruin your day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Topic: Your gift to the newborn Christ</span></b><span style="font-size: 15pt;">.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Birthday is one of the most common
anniversaries we have. It is normally a great day for the celebrant, and
probably family members and friends who normally invite people to celebrate
with them. As the invitees make out time to honour the invitation they also
consider the gift to offer to the celebrant. The celebrant normally receives
varied gifts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We celebrate today the Birthday of
birthdays. We are celebrating today that the Word was made flesh for our
salvation. Despite the fact that the hair has been made, different styles of
clothing sewn, shoes bought, houses built, cars bought, and so on and on just
for this period, we are also to prepare birthday gifts for Him who was born for
us. All these things mentioned and many more are for ourselves not for Him.
Gifts say so much about both the giver and how he or she values the receiver.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today’s gospel pericope reads in part:
“All things came into being through him, without him not one thing came into
being…. From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn. 1:3, 16</b>). All we have are gifts from
God, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 4:7</b>. So not even
offering everything to him will make us think that we have done much. Hence,
Jesus taught us: “… when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say,
‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 17:10</b>). We are nothing before God,
cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom 4:2</b>. According to St
Ambrose, “Every soul who has believed both conceives and generates the Word of
God and recognizes his works” just as Mary believed and conceived. We celebrate
life which is light for all peoples, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk
2:32</b>. And as we celebrate Christ’s birthday, he expects us to offer our
lives which ought to be light for others, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 5:14</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just as John the Baptist came as a
witness to Christ's first coming which we celebrate today, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt. 3:11; Mk 1:7; Lk 3:15-16; Jn 1:6-9</b>,
we ought to be witnesses that He has come, that He is with us, and that He will
come again. We are called to witness to Christ until He comes again, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mk 8:38; Lk 9:26</b>. In this alone we
shall find peace and joy. Nothing outside God can offer us anything good. Hence,
we shall rejoice and boast only in the Lord, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Phil 4:4; Ps 34:2</b>. Let us celebrate this Christmas as Christ’s witnesses.
Through prophet Jeremiah God said: “but let him who glories glory in this, that
he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practice steadfast love,
justice, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, says
the LORD” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jer 9:24</b>). And the book
of Ecclesiastes reads, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,
and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of
your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God
will bring you into judgment (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eccl 11:9</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The actual end of the Advent season
is yet to come. Christmas is not the end. How one plan to celebrate Christmas
says it all how much one understands the mystery we are celebrating, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the Nativity</b> of the Lord. Most often we
see it just from the social point of view. One can either be a source of pride
or of shame to Christ on this birthday. We can ask ourselves whether we present
basket of flowers or of shame to Christ.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
</b>What one does during this Christmas period and not just what one say says
it all. We are all invited to Christ’s birthday. Every host regrets inviting
one or those who will mar the event. Will Christ regret offering you this rare
invitation? Prepare your own gift now if you have not. You still can prepare a
better one if the one you prepared is not good enough for the newborn King.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do not forget the poor out there as
you look for Christ to present your gift/s. That man or woman or child out
there in need of your help is the Christ we are celebrating his birthday. Do
not look for another one, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 25:
40, 45</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Readings</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Acts 17:28; Rev. 21:1-8; Matt 10: 32-33; Lk 17:7-10.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Newborn King, give us the grace to be good birthday gifts to you – Amen</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Word
became flesh – and lived among us! (Jn 1:14).<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To Contact and/or to support this ministry:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tel: +234
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>Email: </span></span></b><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May God bless you all+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

Your gift to the newborn Chris: Nativity of the Lord (Mass during the Day) (A, B, C).

Homily (Reflection) for the Nativity of the Lord (Mass during the Day) (A, B, C) on the Gospel Is 52:7-10; Ps 97:1-6. (R.v. 3); H...

Glory to God in the highest heaven: Nativity of the Lord (Midnight Mass) A, B, C

thepulpitonline.com 0 Solemnities and Feasts 21:21

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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily for the Nativity of the Lord
(Midnight Mass) A, B, C on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Is 9:2-7;</span><br />

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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Topic: “Glory to God in the highest heaven ….” (Lk 2:14)</b>.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePYMMo7dMZ6JUQT-wQkJxvw5xTN4URo0hrGexNx_BZVSmOj_qYN23yjapM1cuUYtlOPtngPkWmwbVCZhgWYKP55yNDorrjimYlgvuwu2BZLa7YLyXUikl8l2fhsxxBHiWEEB58iUMj5w/s1600/25.12.2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePYMMo7dMZ6JUQT-wQkJxvw5xTN4URo0hrGexNx_BZVSmOj_qYN23yjapM1cuUYtlOPtngPkWmwbVCZhgWYKP55yNDorrjimYlgvuwu2BZLa7YLyXUikl8l2fhsxxBHiWEEB58iUMj5w/s1600/25.12.2019.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The season of Advent has come to an
end and with the Evening Prayer I of the Nativity of the Lord we entered the
season of Christmas. We have every reason to thank God. Chiefs among these
reasons are the gift of our Lord, Jesus Christ and that we are alive to
celebrate this year’s memorial of his birth as a man. We also thank God because
Christ has removed the fault of our first parents that shut the gates of heaven,
cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gen 3</b>. Through his birth, we
have been made a kingdom of priests to God his Father and a holy nation, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ex 19:6; 1Pt 2:9</b>. To him be glory and
dominion forever and ever, Amen (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rev 1:6,
cf. Rev 5:10</b>). For these among other innumerable reasons we sing with the
multitude of the angles of God: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on
earth peace among those whom he favours!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">God who alone has immortality and
dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has ever seen or can see has been made
man (mortal and visible), cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Tim 6:16</b>.
The gospel according to Saint John reads: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the
only Son from the Father” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:14</b>).
What no human mind could conceive has been made possible. To him be glory both
now and forever, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom 11:36</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">We also sing with the four living
creatures and the twenty-four elders for the new born King: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">You are worthy to take the scroll and
to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for
God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; you have made
them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth
(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rev. 5:9-10</b>). </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">As Christians, we have been buried
with Him by baptism into death, so that we too may walk in the newness of life
(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom 6:4</b>). Hence Saint Paul tells us
that our bodies are members of Christ and should therefore not be defiled, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 6:15</b>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">During the transfiguration of
Jesus, we see the responsibility attached to this unmerited gift of God. The
voice of the Father was heard from the cloud: "This is my beloved Son; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">listen to him</b>." (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mk 9:7, Matt 17:5, Lk 9:35</b>). Saint Peter
also cited <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deut 18:15</b> in Acts of the
Apostles: “The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as
he raised me up. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You shall listen to him
in whatever he tells you</b>” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts 3:22</b>).
There is a warning attached to this call: “I shall put my words into his mouth
and he will tell them everything I command him. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Anyone who refuses to listen to my words, spoken by him in my name,
will have to render an account to me</b>” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deut
18:19</b>). In line with this prophesy, Jesus tells us: “He who rejects me and
does not receive my sayings has a judge; the word that I have spoken will be
his judge on the last day” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 12:48</b>).
And in the gospel according to Luke we read: Blessed are those who hear the
word of God and keep it (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 11:28</b>).
We can ask ourselves how far we are ready to do what Christ tells us.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Christmas season goes with
euphoria that often takes our minds away from the other forms of the coming of
Jesus Christ that we are also called to prepare for especially during the Advent
season. So, as we celebrate the season of Christmas, the season of Advent is
still on because we still prepare to receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist and secondly
for when he will come again which will be either at our individual deaths or at
the end of the world. May we therefore always imitate the crowd who readily
welcomed Jesus because they waited for Him, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 8:40</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 4:45</b>. The new
born King is telling us to wake from sleep and rise from the death of sin that
He may give us light, (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eph 5:14</b>)
because it is only those who fear God can praise him, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ps 22:23</b>. Saint Paul asks us to present our bodies as living
sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom 12:1</b>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Gen 3; Rev 1:4-8; Eph 5:3-20</span>.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Silent Prayer:</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> How ready are you to glorify God for the
gift of His Son? </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Let
us pray</b>: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of
the birth of Christ your Son, may we always be found ready for His second
coming – Amen!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">You are free to share
this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.</span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For
more homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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Glory to God in the highest heaven: Nativity of the Lord (Midnight Mass) A, B, C

Homily for the Nativity of the Lord (Midnight Mass) A, B, C on the Gospel Is 9:2-7; Ps 96:1-3.11-13 (R. Lk 2:11) Tit 2:11-14; ...

We are all called: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (A) (29th December, 2019).

Herod’s anger: Feast of the Holy Innocents, Mm. (Octave of Christmas) (28th December, 2019).

...he saw and believed (Jn 20:8): Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist (Octave of Christmas) (27th December, 2019)

Beware: Memorial of Saint Stephen, First Martyr (Octave of Christmas) (26th December, 2019)

Your gift to the newborn Chris: Nativity of the Lord (Mass during the Day) (A, B, C).

Glory to God in the highest heaven: Nativity of the Lord (Midnight Mass) A, B, C

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