St Peters RC Church Hamilton

“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us in God, who has also sealed us
and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 1 v 21, 22
It is Christmas.
This has happened.
Our Father has accomplished wonders
Establishing humanity in Jesus,
That by the Holy Spirit,
We share the divinity
Of God’s only Son,
The holy, begotten One.
How marvellous!
How truly glorious!
Life has been renamed,
Being reclaimed by
The birth of a Baby
In a truly remarkable way.
As we pray
We feel the effect of Jesus’ presence.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances
you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on
love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3 v 12, 13, 14 NIV
We obtain the blessing,
Love addressing us,
Love reshaping us,
Love offering new life to us,
All through the birth
Of Jesus, holy Saviour.
As life takes on
A new direction heavenwards,
Jesus, in the Eucharist
Will become for us
Faith’s nourishment.
Let this then be our experience,
As we pray for each other
And ourselves, persistently,
In the hope
Of making the joy of love our discovery.

“Be, Lord Jesus, a bright flame before me,
A guiding star above me,
A smooth path below me,
A kindly Shepherd behind me:
Today, tonight, and forever.” Saint Columba

“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures
forevermore.” Psalm 16 v 11
Dearest Father, I truly believe this, thanks to meeting with Jesus as our Saviour, Lord, Master,
Brother, Your living and abiding Word, our faith’s peace, hope and joy.
Thank You for giving birth to all of this that First Christmas, Jesus come to us so we are no
longer separated from You, not now nor eternally.
“My heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not
Psalm 16 v 9, 10 leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.”
Death will not separate us, for as Jesus has been resurrected from the dead, so will we, all
thanks to His †; His sacrifice being our salvation. At the incarnation so many possibilities open
up before us.
I think primarily of the blessings of the Eucharist by which we receive of our Lord, for it has
been, under the substance of bread and wine, able to sustain and nourish our faith. This is so
important, this recognition and acknowledgment of our salvation.
Yes, “ ‘You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your
presence, for Jesus, the promised Messiah, is new life to us, opening out the blessings of
Acts 2 v 28 eternity’.”
“ ‘The LORD said to my Lord, sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your
footstool.’ Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this
based on v 36 Jesus, whom we crucified, both Lord and Christ’.”
May the whole world come to know this as the joy of Christmas is shared worldwide in the
partaking of holy communion.
May many, many more “Repent...be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
based on v 36 of sins, and they shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” I ask this because without the
Spirit we will not grow to know Jesus.
Come, Holy Spirit, Lord, come be the Spirit of Christmas, our outreach in love to each other, that
love which covers over many an offence between us.
Increase please, our fellowship with each other that truly the love of the Father and the Son is
evident in us as You, Holy Spirit, Lord, arrange this.
Ever draw us nearer to our Saviour, into an unbroken bond of friendship. May love cement us
through Jesus, that our partnership is made useful, beneficial to the good of many.
I ask this in the uplifting name of Jesus, the Saviour of the entire world, born to Mary to be our
Brother Redeemer. Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the Messiah who has come in all power.
Let us pray in His name of sovereign authority, the privilege of holy power. “ ‘Until now you
John 16 v 24 have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full’.” I
ask in this season of Christmas as the gift of Jesus will renew our love for each other. Thank
You. Amen.

28.12.18