* * *** “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil 2:10-11)

~ Karlskirche in Vienna / Tetragrammaton high above the main altar, transliterated as YHWH

* * *** “The brightness of God illuminated the holy city Jerusalem, and the nations will walk by its light.” (Communion Antiphon-Cf. Rev 21:23, Daily Roman Missal)

— The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior of the World. (CCC 528)

* * ***

“O God, who through the blessed Apostle John have unlocked for us the secrets of your Word, grant, we pray, that we may grasp with proper understanding what he has so marvelously brought to our ears. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal)

“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… For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (Jn 1:14,17)

We wish you a Blessed Christmas! ~ from all of us at Midwest Theological Forum

* * *** “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Rev 12:1 ~ Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal)

— The miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the tilma of St. Juan Diego is preserved at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, in Mexico City.

* * ***

— On the third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday), the faithful rejoice in hope as the Solemnity of Christmas draws near!

* * *** — The Holy Land: An Encounter with Jesus Christ —

For those seeking to make a Holy Land pilgrimage and also anyone interested in learning more about this sacred place. The Pilgrim Kit includes an illustrated Pilgrim Handbook, Missalette, and DVD video series of select Holy Land sites. For more information, please visit: www.holy-land.org

* * ***

— St. Andrew was a disciple of St. John the Baptist before he became a follower of Christ, to whom he also brought his brother, St. Peter. “Andrew told his brother Simon: We have found the Messiah, the Christ, and he brought him to Jesus.” (Cf. Jn 1:41-42, Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal)

* * ***

“‘Let us go joyfully to meet the Lord’… Let us walk with joy and watchfulness, as we wait for the season that recalls God’s coming in human flesh, a time which reached its fullness when Christ was born in a stable in Bethlehem. It is then that the time of waiting was fulfilled.” (Eucharistic Celebration, […]

* * *** “O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (Ps 95:1-2)

We wish you and your family a Blessed Thanksgiving! – from all of us at Midwest Theological Forum

didachebible