love supreme
"This fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ." —1 John 1:3
Christmas is a special time to begin or deepen our personal relationship with Jesus. Like John, we are running to Jesus and hope to end this Christmas season with a deeper faith in Jesus than ever before (Jn 20:8). We want Jesus to become so real to us that by faith we have heard His voice, seen His face, and touched His nail-scarred hands (1 Jn 1:1). Our Christmas prayer is "to grasp fully, with all the holy ones, the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love, and experience this love" (Eph 3:18-19).
The best Christmas present is a personal relationship with the Lord that is so strong it will overcome the strongest temptations, the most terrifying fears, and the most traumatic events — even suffering, sickness, and death. Like John, we want to be called beloved disciples (see Jn 20:2) in a deeper sense, because of this Christmas time spent together with Jesus. May His Christmas love be for us greater than life (Ps 63:4) and stronger than death (Sg 8:6; Rm 8:38-39).
Prayer: Jesus, may my relationship with You be deeper than my relationship with my spouse, children, parents, or friends.
Promise: "Indeed, our purpose in writing you this is that our joy may be complete." —1 Jn 1:4
Praise: St. John's spiritual journey developed from thunderous vengeance (Lk 9:54) to total and complete service and love.
Reference: (To have a love for Christ greater than love for life, read the Bible every day. We have several tape series to help you. Overview of the Bible is six audio tapes starting with AV 10A-1 or three video tapes starting with V-10A. 15-minute Bible Teaching - New Testament is forty audio tapes starting with #700. An Introduction to each Book of the Bible is 32 audio tapes starting with AV 21-1 or 17 video tapes starting with V-21.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 27, 2011
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