VOL. 35 ISSUE B-12 MONTH-DECEMBER YEAR-2006
OBEDIENCE IN HARDSHIP LEADS TO VICTORY!- Reflection of the Word :: O MOTHER OF GOD, BLESSED AMONG WOMEN, PRAY FOR YOUR BELOVED CHILDREN! :: LEGENDS BEHIND THE CHRISTMAS TREE :: A SHORT PRAYER TO ST. FRANCIS XAVIER :: Fulfill my wishes, Dear CHRISTMAS FATHER... :: BIBLE QUIZ :: OT READING PLANS FOR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2006 :: LIVING WITNESSES OF GOD IN JEEVAN DHAM :: CHRISTMAS WISHES FROM JEEVAN DHAM :: GREETINGS FROM THE EDITOR :: CROWD PIC :: GUIDE MAP TO REACH JEEVAN DHAM


OBEDIENCE IN HARDSHIP LEADS TO VICTORY!- Reflection of the Word


...an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.” (Matt. 2:13-15)

Mary’s husband, Joseph, was a righteous man who feared God, yet his obedience to God forced him to flee for his life to a foreign country to escape Herod’s murderous intentions. Joseph’s hardship came, not because of his sin, but because of his obedience. Although Joseph and Mary were forced to move to Egypt, they remained in the God’s will. Later, when Herod died, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream (in Egypt) to take his family back to the land of Israel. He received another message about the harsh rule of Archelaus (son of Herod) in Judaea and was guided to go to Galilee. He settled with his family at Nazareth where Jesus was brought up and taken care of.
One of the loveliest New Testament legend connected with the flight into Egypt is a child’s story, yet quite interesting. When Joseph and Mary and Jesus were on their way to Egypt, as the evening came they were weary, and they sought refuge in a cave. It was very cold, so cold that the ground was white with hoar frost. A little spider saw the little baby Jesus, and he wished so much that he could do something to keep him warm in the cold night. He decided to do the only thing he could and spin his web across the entrance of the cave, to make, as it were, a curtain there.
Along the path came a detachment of Herod’s soldiers, as the story runs, seeking for children to kill to carry out Herod’s blood thirst order. When they came to the cave they were about to burst in to search it, but their captain noticed the spider’s web, covered with the white hoar frost and stretched right across the entrance to the cave. “Look”, he said, “at the spider’s web there. It is quite unbroken and there cannot possible be anyone in the cave, for anyone entering would certainly have torn the web.”
So the soldiers passed on, and left the holy family in peace, because a little spider had spun his web across the entrance to the cave. And that, so they say, is why to this day we put tinsel on our Christmas trees, for the glittering tinsel streamers stand for the spider’s web, white with the hoar frost, stretched across the entrance pf the cave on the way to Egypt. It is a lovely story, and this much, at least, is true, that no gift which Jesus receives s ever forgotten.
Spiritual assaults and attacks by the ungodly are not always signs that one is out of the will of God; they may even indicate that one is in the very centre of God’s will. God’s will for you may involve hardship when you begin to fulfill His commands, as it did for His Son (John 15:20), but He loves you as His own Son and since He is faithful, He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing He will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it (1Cor.10:13). Your commitment to obedience following the path of Christ will lead you to victory- victory over Satan and victory over death through Jesus, who faced opposition and persecution and had been victorious. He had warned his disciples to expect persecution but should keep courage for God will lead them through everything (John 16:33). Jesus says, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”

 

   O MOTHER OF GOD, BLESSED AMONG WOMEN, PRAY FOR YOUR BELOVED CHILDREN!
 

Help of Christians and Refuge of sinners, Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the our Saviour Jesus, pray for your dear children in this world who seek your precious help amidst the challenges, temptations, perils and difficulties which they face everyday. Offering your immaculate womb to God, you partook in the salvific work of Jesus Christ as a humble and obedient handmaid of the Lord. The almighty God had blessed you with His Son. Today, you are our ideal and guide on our way to Jesus, our Lord and King. Bless us, O mother of divine grace, with your affection and care. Amen.

LEGENDS BEHIND THE CHRISTMAS TREE

The birth of Jesus is celebrated with great rejoicing all over the world. Today in many homes a Christmas tree is put up with sweets, lights, gifts, tinsels and shining stars hanging on its branches, all of which add to the festivity of Christmas and create an awareness of the
great historical event - The incarnation of the Word as Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. Do you know that the Christmas tree has a unique as well as an antique tradition? Fair Robson says, "The Christmas tree has gone through a long process of development and is rich in many legends."
The Christmas tree tradition has an ancient origin in the German speaking countries. Originally, it was a pagan tradition. German winter was a harsh reality and the felling of leaves during winter was considered by them as the doing of evil spirits. To overcome this, they adorned certain evergreen trees, which they thought to be the symbol of immortality in their homes. The Germans believed there is a magical power in these trees and attributed it to a Good Spirit.
Tradition says that the Christmas tree has a long association with Christianity. It began in Germany almost 1,000
years ago, when St. Boniface, who converted Germans to Christianity, was said to have come across a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree. In anger he cut down the tree and to his amazement a young fir tree sprang up from the roots of the oak tree. He took this as a sign of the Christian faith.
There are many legends about the first Christmas tree. One of them tells about a woodcutter who helped a small hungry boy. The next morning, the child appeared to the woodcutter and his wife and the child was none other than Christ-child. The child broke a branch from the fir tree and told the couple that it would be a tree which at Christmas time will bear fruit. When Christmas came, the tree was laden with apples of gold and nuts of silver.
Another legend has it that Martin Luther began the tradition of decorating trees to celebrate Christmas. On a crisp Christmas Eve about the year 1500, he was walking through snow-covered woods and was struck by the beauty of a group of small evergreen trees. The branches were covered with snow and shimmered in the moonlight. When he got home, he set up a little fir tree indoors, so he could share the story with the children. They decorated it with a candle, which he lit in honour of Christ's birth.
Some people trace the origin of the Christmas tree to an earlier period. Even before the Christian era, trees and boughs were used for ceremonials. The Egyptians while celebrating the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, bought green palms into their homes as a symbol of "Life triumphant over Death". The early Scandinavians were said to have paid homage to the fir tree. To the French, evergreen holly in the house meant eternal life. To those inclined towards superstition, branches of evergreen trees placed over the door kept out witches, ghosts and evil spirits.
This does not mean that our Christmas tree custom evolves solely from pagans. Trees and branches can be made purposeful as well as symbolic. The Christmas tree is the symbol of a living and evergreen Christian spirit and brings into our lives a pleasant aroma of the forest, in close friendship with nature.


  A SHORT PRAYER TO ST. FRANCIS XAVIER

O devoted servant of God, St. Francis Xavier, Patron Saint of Indian missionaries, the Father filled you with special gifts while on earth and made your heart a furnace burning with love for Jesus. Impelled by this love, you went from country to country and spent yourself unto death to proclaim me Name of Jesus and the Good News of salvation.
For this total offering of your life, God rewarded you with a high de­gree of glory in heaven and preserved your body from corruption here on earth. Filled with joy for these unique gifts we (I) join you in praising the Father.
We (I) too have received the priceless gift of the Faith you proclaimed.
So we (I) ask you to obtain that our hearts (my heart) too may burn with the same love of Jesus and be filled with a thirst for making Him know to other men. Show us (me) how in our (my) own state and condition of life we are (I am) to fulfill this duty of our (my) Christian calling and make our (my) entire life be according to the teaching of Jesus, a brightly shining light.
We (I) place before you also our (my) other needs and the earnest desires of our hearts (my heart) ...
(mention your special request) ...
We (I) ask you to intercede for the fulfilment of these desires if they are pleasing to the Father. And for everything together with you we (I) praise the Father. And for everything together with you we (I) praise the Father through Jesus, in the Spirit. Amen.

Fulfill my wishes, Dear CHRISTMAS FATHER...

Saint Nicholas of Bari (southern Italy) is doubtless one of the beloved Saints, his relics kept at Bari being venerated to this day for their power of healing. He was elected the Bishop of Myra (modern Turkey) during the first half of the fourth century.
God worked numerous miracles through him, and his love for children and his charity for the poor became proverbial. Whenever possible, he tried to perform his charitable acts anonymously, as in the famous case of the three daughters of the impoverished nobleman for whom St.Nicholas provided dowries by throwing gold-filled purses in through the window during the night.
The Myra Christians kept the memory of their beloved Bishop alive after his death by leaving surprise gifts for their children during the night before his feast. This custom gradually got tranferred to Christmas, and St. Nicholas in popular parlance got contracted to Santa Claus or Christmas Father.

O Christmas Father!
I ask you this Christmas, Joy to the sorrowful, and let their sorrows pass. Shower love to the lonely and peace where there is war and let all losers emerge victorious. O Christmas Father, I ask you to bring to those who experience winter, a little bit of spring; to those who are in sorrow, a little bit of joy; to those who are in despair, a little bit of hope; to those who are suffering, a little relief; to those who are separated, reunite them in love.
O Christmas Father, gift these to them as a special gift. O Christmas Father, bring peace to the broken world; heal those who live with shattered hopes and broken dreams; blessings to all around us, kindly shower our friends and foes, our families and relatives too.
O Christmas Father, bless those who are struggling to survive, transform lives of those who lost the charm to live, bring peace to the world and joy to those who are cold, O Christmas father, may these my wishes come true.

 

NEW BIBLE READING PLANS FOR 2006

The Holy Bible, the Divine
Word of God, the Book of Faith and Revelation, should be read regularly everyday to nourish our Spirit, to strengthen our faith, hope and love, and to guide us at every moment of our life. Last year we had presented you with the 365-Day Bible Reading Plan- covering the whole Bible, with plans corresponding to each month of the year. We believe that, although it was little stretched out, it had benefitted the readers who stuck to the schedule and read the whole Bible within the year. This year we would like to introduce two new plans, viz., the 26-Week (6-month) NT reading Plan and the 52-Week (1 Year) OT reading Plan, which would help you to read the OT and the NT daily (OT in the morning and NT in the evening or vice versa). Hence, starting from this month, we will be providing you with both the reading plans every month. Set apart some time to read the passage everyday (early morning/evening/late night) and try your best to stick to the schedule. You’ll definitely get incredible results.
God Bless You!

12-MTH./52-WK. OT READING PLAN
WEEKS 49 - 53 (December 2006)
DAY WEEK 49 WEEK 50 WEEK 51 WEEK 52 WEEK 53
Sun Ez.47-48/Dan.1 Hos. 5-7 Amos 8-9 Zeph.1-3 Mal.2-3
Mon Dan.2-3 Hos. 8-10 Obadiah/Jon.1 Hag.1-2/Zech.1  
Tues Dan.4-6 Hos. 11-14 Jon.2-4 Zech.2-5  
Wed Dan.7-9 Joel.1-2 Micah 1-3 Zech.6-8  
Thurs Dan.10-1`2 Joel.3-4/Amos 1 Micah 4-7 Zech.9-10  
Fri Dan.13-14/Hos. 1 Amos 2-4 Nahum 1-3 Zech.11-13  
Sat Hos. 2 -4 Amos 5-7 Hab. 1-3 Zech.14 / Mal.1  

This ends the 12-Month/52-WK OT Reading Plan.



BIBLE QUIZ
XXXII. JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD, RESURRECTION AND LIFE
Chs.10-12: THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
 

Complete the following bible verses taken from the Chs.10-12 of the Gospel of John after locating them (mentioning their chapter and verse numbers) in the Gospel. Also name the persons who made these statements.
1. “Whoever ______ me must _____ me, and where I ___, there will my _______ be also. Whoever serves me, the ______ will honor.”
2. “These are not the ______ of one who has a ______. Can a ______ open the _____ of the ______?”
3. “This _______ does not lead to _____; rather it is for God’s _____, so that the ____ of God may be ________ through it.”
4. “The gatekeeper _____ the _____ for him, and the sheep _____ his voice. He calls his own sheep by _____ and _____ them out.”
5. “Why was this ______ not sold for three ______ ______ and the _____ given to the _____ ?”
6. “The _____ comes only to _____ and ____ and _______. I came that they may have ____, and have it abundantly.”
7. “Yes, _____, I ______ that you are the ______, the Son of ____, the one coming into the ______.”
8. “It is not for a _____ work that ___ are going to stone you, but for __________ , because you, though only a ______ being, are making yourself ____.”

Answers to Last month’s Quiz
XXXI. THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
Chapters 7-9: THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

1. a), b), c), & d) (8:43-44, 47)
2. a), b), &c) (7:16-18; 8:16, 18, 26, 28, 49-50, 54)
3. b), c) & d) (8:12,23,31-32,36,42; 9:5)
4. a), b), & c) (8:14-19,23,26,28-29)
5. a), b), & d) (7:35; 8:52,57)
6. a),b),c),&d)(7:15-16,26-27,41-43,52)
7. a), b), & d) (9:17,31,35-38)
8. a) (7:1, 30; 8:20)

Send Your Answers to:
JEEVAN DHAM, H.No. 696/ Sec-22, Faridabad-121005, Haryana.Rules to be followed:
1. Answers may be sent by post or e-mail latest by the end of the month. Answers received after that will not be considered.
2. You should clearly specify your name and postal address. Mention the quiz number and title before the answers written in order.
3. Prizes will be awarded to the winners of three consecutive quizzes.
4. Answers and winners of each quiz will be published in the subsequent issue of the newsletter.

Thanks for taking the Quiz! Good Luck!

 

A) THE CHILDLESS WERE GIFTED WITH A CHILD AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF MARRIAGE!

  

B) TO HIM BE ALL GLORY AND PRAISE ! THEIR CHILDREN (photo on the right) GOT RID OF THE TUMOUR IN THEIR STOMACH THROUGH THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD!! (pic only)
!

Crowd Pic

CHRISTMAS WISHES FROM JEEVAN DHAM


JEEVAN DHAM wishes all a Joyous CHRISTMAS and a Prosperous New Year!


GREETINGS FROM THE EDITOR:

A BLISSFUL CHRISTMAS! A JOYFUL NEW YEAR!



GUIDE MAP TO REACH JEEVAN DHAM:



  And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”(Isaiah 30:21)










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