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| Villa Alessa EARLY MORNING SUNSHINE December 28, 2024 |
“Rise, take the child and his mother,
flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you.
Herod is going to search
for the child to destroy him.”
(Matthew 2:13)
The young and the innocent are the ones who need the love and the protection of the ones around them. They trust the kindness of the friends and the family, they depend on the guidance of the teachers and the mentors. Protect the children with your love, with your kindness that heals their wounds, with your compassion that comforts their tears, with your wisdom that guides their steps
The young and the innocent are the ones who dream the hope and the possibility of the future before them. They imagine the adventures of the heroes and the villains, they aspire to the greatness of the stars and the leaders. Protect the children from the hate, from the violence that scars their hearts, from the injustice that denies their rights, from the war that shatters their peace.
The young and the innocent are the ones who see the beauty and the wonder of the world around them. They marvel at the colors of the rainbow and the flowers, they listen to the music of the birds and the breeze. Protect the children with your voice, with your words that inspire their minds, with your stories that enrich their imagination, with your songs that uplift their mood. Protect the children from the dark, from the monsters that lurk in the night, from the fears that haunt their dreams, from the dangers that threaten their lives.
The young and the innocent are the ones who feel the joy and the excitement of the life within them. They laugh at the silliness of the jokes and the games. They cry at the sadness of the pain and the loss. Protect the children from the harm, from the pain that wounds their souls, from the sorrow that dims their joy, from the loss that breaks their spirit. Protect the children from the cold, from the hunger that gnaws at their bones, from the sickness that weakens their bodies, from the poverty that robs their hopes.
The young and the innocent are the ones who teach the wisdom and the lesson of the world to us. They remind us of the values of the truth and the justice. They inspire us to be the best of ourselves and others. Protect the children with your heart, with your passion that ignites their fire, with your faith that strengthens their resolve, with your hope that brightens their future. Protect the children with your action, with your deeds that show your care, with your efforts that make a difference, with your courage that fights for their cause.
When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt I called my son. When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more. (Matthew 2:13-18)
God is light, and in Him there is no darkness. He is the source of all that is good and true. He is the creator of all that is beautiful and bright. He is the Father of all that is living and loving. Walk in the light of the divine love that radiates from the source of all that is, that heals your wounds and forgives your sins, that fills your life with a blissful bliss.
God is light, and He shines in our hearts. He is the guide of all that is right and wise. He is the healer of all that is broken and hurt. He is the friend of all that is lonely and lost. Walk in the light of the morning sun, That brightens the sky with its golden rays, that warms your skin and lifts your mood, that fills your eyes with a joyful gaze.
God is light, and He calls us to follow Him. He is the leader of all that is brave and faithful. He is the teacher of all that is humble and learn. He is the master of all that is obedient and serve. Walk in the light of the shining stars that twinkle in the dark with their silver sparks, that guide your way and calm your mind, that fill your heart with a hopeful mark.
God is light, and He promises us eternal life. He is the giver of all that is gracious and merciful. He is the redeemer of all that is sinful and fallen. He is the savior of all that is hopeful and believe. Walk in the light of the glowing moon, that illuminates the night with its gentle glow, that soothes your soul and eases your fears, that fills your dreams with a peaceful flow.
5 Beloved: This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 2:1 My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. 2 He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world. (1 John 1:5–2:2)
God is our help in times of need. He is our refuge and our strength, our shelter and our shield, our rock and our defense. Let us be with the Lord at all times. He is our shepherd and our guide. He is our protector and our provider. He is our healer and our redeemer.
God is our help in times of trouble. He is our comfort and our peace, our hope and our salvation, our joy and our release. Let us be with the Lord at all times. He is our joy and our strength.
He is our peace and our hope. He is our love and our grace.
God is our help in times of doubt. He is our light and our truth, our faith and our assurance, our grace and our proof. Let us be with the Lord at all times. He is our king and our lord. He is our master and our savior. He is our creator and our father.
God is our help in times of praise. He is our glory and our honor, our worship and our thanks, our love and our donor. Let us be with the Lord at all times. He is our companion and our friend. He is our comforter and our counselor. He is our helper and our defender.
2 Had not the Lord been with us when men rose up against us, 3 then would they have swallowed us alive. When their fury was inflamed against us. (R) 4 Then would the waters have overwhelmed us; the torrent would have swept over us; 5 over us then would have swept the raging waters. (R) 7 Broken was the snare, and we were freed. 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:2-3, 4-5, 7-8)
Lord, thank You for making me your child, for adopting me into Your family, for giving me Your name and Your inheritance, for loving me with an everlasting love. Help me to live as Your child, to honor You with my words and actions, to obey You with my heart and mind, to follow You with my faith and trust. Teach me to grow as Your child, to learn from You with humility and grace, to serve You with joy and gratitude, to share You with others with courage and compassion. Bless me as Your child, to enjoy Your presence and Your peace, to receive Your gifts and Your guidance, to experience Your power and Your purpose. I am Your child, and You are my Father. You are my Creator and my Savior, my Lord and my Friend. You are my God and my Everything. Amen.
Pericope:
I: The Infancy Narrative
THE FLIGHT TO EGYPT / THE MASSACRE OF THE INFANTS
Matthew 2:13-15 / 16-18
GOD IS LIGHT / CHRIST AND HIS COMMANDMENTS
1 John 1:5-10/2:1-6
Fifth Book of Psalms 107-150
GOD, THE RESCUER OF THE PEOPLE
Psalm 124:1-8