We have 2 days left til our Lord comes once again to us. He keeps reminding us what we need to do to gain everlasting life. Are we listening? You know, I had a birthday last week and got gifts to pacify me. I'm thinking, what have we decided to give Christ on His birthday? There's only ONE He wants: US! Will we leave Him something under the tree for Him? How about a place at the dinner table, when we dine with our loved ones. Will we keep a place open for Him?
The Jews missed the boat on this one. They were so full of themselves that they didn't see the signs toward the Truth, Who would be coming shortly to them to save them, despite all of the prophets who announce it to them. Now I will once again copy from my book, 'The Liturgical Year' concerning this.
"O EMMANUEL! King of peace! Thou enterest today the city of Thy predilection, the city in which Thou hast placed Thy temple--Jerusalem. A few years hence the same city will give Thee Thy cross and Thy sepulchre: nay, the day will come on which Thou wilt set up Thy judgement-seat within sight of her walls. But today Thou enterest the city of David and Solomon unnoticed and unknown. It lies on Thy road to Bethlehem. Thy blessed Mother and Joseph her spouse would not lose the opportunity of visiting the temple, there to offer to the Lord their prayers and adoration. They enter; and then, for the first time, is accomplished the prophecy of Aggeus (2:10), that great shall be the glory of this last house more than of the first; for this second temple has now standing within it an ark of the Covenant more precious than was that which Moses built; and within this ark, which is Mary, is contained the God whose presence makes her the holiest of sanctuaries. The LAWGIVER Himself is in this blessed ark, and not merely, as in that of old, the tablet of stone on which the Law was graven. The visit paid, our living ark descends the steps of the temple, and sets out once more for Bethlehem, where other prophecies are to be fulfilled. We adore Thee, O Emmanuel! in this Thy journey, and we reverence the fidelity wherewith Thou fulfillest all that the prophets have written of Thee; for Thou wouldst give to Thy people the certainty of Thy being the Messias, by showing them that all the marks, whereby He was to be known, are to be found in Thee. And now, the hour is near; all is ready for Thy birth; come then, and save us; come, that Thou mayst not only be called our EMMANUEL, but our Jesus, that is, He that saves us. Amen."
One more thing. I found this prayer of St. Gertrude the Great, who received it from Jesus Himself. It's worth doing every day, in my opinion.
"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with all of the Masses said throughout the world today; for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, for those within my own home, and within my family. Amen"
Our Lord promised to St. Gertrude that He would free one thousand (1000) souls from purgatory each time this prayer is said devoutly.
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