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\\nOn Christmas Eve, the grand sweeping journey of salvation history comes to an important epoch with the “yes” of a virgin named Mary. \\xa0From that point, the world is transformed forever. \\xa0Msgr. Esseff challenges all of us to identify the tendency or flaw that cripples us. \\xa0Give whatever that is to God. \\xa0 Christ has the power to heal you and change you into the person you were created to be. \\xa0He encourages us to allow the Father in Heaven to embrace and love us.
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\\nDiscerning Hearts questions for reflection on this episode:
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\\n* Understanding God’s Plan: Reflect on a time in your life when you felt that God was guiding you through a difficult situation. How did you perceive His presence and guidance during this time, and how has this experience influenced your faith and trust in God’s plan for your life?
\\n* Role of the Sacraments: Consider the importance of the sacraments in your Catholic faith. How do sacraments like Baptism, Confession, the Eucharist, and Confirmation strengthen your relationship with God? What personal transformations or experiences have you had through participating in these sacraments?
\\n* Living the Beatitudes: The Beatitudes are a central teaching of Jesus. Choose one Beatitude that resonates with you the most. How do you apply this Beatitude in your daily life, and what challenges and rewards have you encountered in trying to live out this teaching of Christ?
\\n* Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Reflect on a time when you found it difficult to forgive someone or seek forgiveness. How did you overcome these challenges, and what role did prayer, reflection, or the teachings of the Church play in this process? How did this experience impact your understanding of God’s forgiveness?
\\n* Personal Calling and Vocation: In what ways do you feel called by God to serve others and contribute to the Church’s mission? How do you discern your vocation or calling, and what steps are you taking to fulfill this calling in your daily life, whether through your career, volunteer work, family life, or community involvement?
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\\nReading 1 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
\\nWhen King David was settled in his palace,
\\nand the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,
\\nhe said to Nathan the prophet,
\\n\\u201cHere I am living in a house of cedar,
\\nwhile the ark of God dwells in a tent!\\u201d
\\nNathan answered the king,
\\n\\u201cGo, do whatever you have in mind,
\\nfor the LORD is with you.\\u201d
\\nBut that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
\\n\\u201cGo, tell my servant David, \\u2018Thus says the LORD:
\\nShould you build me a house to dwell in?\\u201c\\u2018It was I who took you from the pasture
\\nand from the care of the flock
\\nto be commander of my people Israel.
\\nI have been with you wherever you went,
\\nand I have destroyed all your enemies before you.
\\nAnd I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
\\nI will fix a place for my people Israel;
\\nI will plant them so that they may dwell in their place
\\nwithout further disturbance.
\\nNeither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,
\\nsince the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.
\\nI will give you rest from all your enemies.
\\nThe LORD also reveals to you
\\nthat he will establish a house for you.
\\nAnd when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
\\nI will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
\\nand I will make his Kingdom firm.
\\nI will be a father to him,
\\nand he shall be a son to me.
\\nYour house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me;
\\nyour throne shall stand firm forever.\\u2019\\u201d
\\nGospel Lk 1:67-79
\\nZechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit,'