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Saturday, December 28, 2002

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Holy Innocents


1 John 1:5—2:2
Psalm 124
Matthew 2:13-18

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we wish you an obedient christmas

"He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem." —Matthew 2:16

At the first Christmas, Herod killed several innocent children. This Christmas, many thousands of innocent children will be killed each day not only through surgical but especially chemical abortions. Today's death toll of innocent babies is unprecedented in the history of the human race.

Joseph saved his Foster-Son, Jesus, from death by obeying a revelation he received in a dream. Likewise, the Lord has revealed to us how we can stop the massacre of infants. He told us through Pope John Paul II that prayer and fasting are the most effective weapons in fighting against the culture of death (The Gospel of Life, 100). "Our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens" (Eph 6:12), and some demons cannot be driven out except by prayer and fasting (Mt 17:21, NAB).

Like Joseph, we have been told by the Lord how to save lives. Will we be like Joseph and obey the Lord, or will we through our disobedience let demons use the Herods of today to continue the massacre of innocent children? Be like Joseph. Be obedient. Be for life.

Prayer:  Father, may I not be selfish and thereby defeated by Satan.

Promise:  "If anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world." —1 Jn 2:1-2

Praise:  The Holy Innocents now number hundreds of millions. They pray for us to repent.

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tapes on Lord, Teach Us to Pray on audio AV 57-3 or video V-57.)

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend David L. Zink, June 12, 2002


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 13, 2002