31 Dec 2010, The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

Reading 1
1 Jn 2:18-21

Children, it is the last hour;
and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming,
so now many antichrists have appeared.
Thus we know this is the last hour.
They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;
if they had been, they would have remained with us.
Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number.
But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One,
and you all have knowledge.
I write to you not because you do not know the truth
but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.

Ps 96:1-2, 11-12, 13
Responsorial PsalmR. (11a)

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name;
announce his salvation, day after day.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult before the LORD.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
The LORD comes,
he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Gospel
Jn 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but of God.

And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son,
full of grace and truth.

John testified to him and cried out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said,
‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him.

Meditation: 1 John 2:18-21

“Children, it is the last hour.” (1 John 2:18)


John’s words can set our hearts racing. The end is near! Antichrists have appeared! Time is running out! But remember that these words are two thousand years old. There have always been antichrists. There will always be danger. There is really nothing to distinguish this age from any other. As the Book of Ecclesiastes tells us, there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

So does that mean that God really doesn’t care about our struggles? Or maybe he is very anxious about how we will bear up under the pressures of this age? Neither is the case! The answer lies in today’s Gospel message: Jesus Christ, the Word of God, has existed since even before the beginning of creation. He was with the Father before the first sin, and he will remain after every enemy has been defeated. He is the eternal constant in our lives, outlasting every evil the world could ever devise.

How secure we are! Regardless of the ups and downs of life, Jesus is our firm foundation. He has bound himself to us in an unbreakable covenant of love. In him, we can respond to the very real pressures of the world. By his Spirit, we can work to remedy injustice and falsehood. When we hear troubling news reports and see evil in our own neighborhoods, we can look back to before the beginning and know that tyrants and tyrannies may come and go, but Jesus remains constant. History is really his story, and no one else’s.

So as one year ends and another begins, never forget that you are a child of God. Never forget that you are wrapped in his love, enfolded in his plan, and held close to his heart. He who is from all eternity has divine wisdom to guide you as you face the challenges of 2011. No matter what comes your way, Jesus Christ, the Word of God, has taken on human flesh. He came to dwell among us centuries ago, and he is still dwelling among us today.

“Lord, I trust in you. When I start to get fearful, help me to remember that everything was made through you, and that you will see it through to the end! You are my solid foundation!”

30 Dec 2010, The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Reading 1
1 Jn 2:12-17

I am writing to you, children,
because your sins have been forgiven for his name’s sake.

I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young men,
because you have conquered the Evil One.

I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.

I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men,
because you are strong and the word of God remains in you,
and you have conquered the Evil One.

Do not love the world or the things of the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world,
sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life,
is not from the Father but is from the world.
Yet the world and its enticement are passing away.
But whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10
Responsorial PsalmR. (11a)

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Bring gifts, and enter his courts;
worship the LORD in holy attire.
Tremble before him, all the earth.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Gospel
Lk 2:36-40

There was a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.

Meditation: 1 John 2:12-17


“Do not love the world or the things of the world.” (1 John 2:15)


Have you ever noticed how magical life can feel during this week between Christmas and New Years? As far as the church is concerned, we are still in the Octave of Christmas. And as far as the world is concerned, the holiday season is still in full swing. Candles still give off their warm glow. Christmas trees remain in many homes. Families are spending more time together, and children are still basking in the mirth of the season.

So why, in the midst of all these good feelings, is John warning us not to love the world? Why caution us against “sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life” (1 John 2:16)? Does he like being a killjoy?

Not at all. Just a few verses before these warnings, John gives a litany of all the blessings that are ours because of Christmas: Our sins are forgiven. We can know “him who is from the beginning.” We can even know victory over the evil one?(1 John 2:12-14). Surely there is much to rejoice over!

John gives us this warning because he knows how tricky life in the world can be. He knows that the Christian life is a matter of ongoing change and transformation. None of us really “arrives” at perfect holiness. It’s a journey filled with joy and fear, an adventure that has its triumphs and defeats.

Brothers and sisters, God has so much that he wants to give us. And the devil has so much that he wants to tempt us with. So no matter how far we’ve come, there is always more awaiting us: More grace and love from the throne of God. Greater transformation into the image of Christ. More healing of our past and more hope for our future. And there will never be an end to the obstacles, the challenges, and the temptations to rest on our laurels and stop seeking after the Lord.

So as the Octave of Christmas winds down, take time to rejoice in the marvelous gifts God has given you. But begin also to make a plan for growth in the coming year. And always remember: Jesus is with you no matter what!

“Lord, protect me from the snares of this world. Help me remember today who you are and all that you have done in me. Jesus, I want to know you even more!”

29 Dec 2010, The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Reading 1
1 Jn 2:3-11

Beloved:
The way we may be sure that we know Jesus
is to keep his commandments.
Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:
whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked.

Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you
but an old commandment that you had from the beginning.
The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
And yet I do write a new commandment to you,
which holds true in him and among you,
for the darkness is passing away,
and the true light is already shining.
Whoever says he is in the light,
yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light,
and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.
Whoever hates his brother is in darkness;
he walks in darkness
and does not know where he is going
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6
Responsorial PsalmR. (11a)

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
The LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty go before him;
praise and grandeur are in his sanctuary.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Gospel
Lk 2:22-35

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
(and you yourself a sword will pierce)
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Meditation: Luke 2:22-35

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace.” (Luke 2:29)


What an amazing prayer Simeon makes! He declares that he is now ready to die in peace because he has finally seen the “salvation” he had been waiting for all his life.

But what exactly has Simeon seen? A peasant couple bringing their son to the Temple to offer him to God. A man and a woman doing just as the law prescribed, something that countless other parents had done before them and that countless others will do after them. Such an unpretentious beginning, but somehow Simeon was able to see in this little family the fullness of salvation!

Do you know that you have been privileged to see so much more of God’s salvation than Simeon ever did? You have eyewitness accounts of the life and death and resurrection of this baby, this son of Mary and Joseph, this Son of God. You know the story of how his gospel and his kingdom spread throughout the world, transforming every culture it touched. You are a beneficiary of the church’s perseverance through the centuries. You have the guarantee of Jesus’ presence in the sacraments and of his life-giving word in the Scriptures. Simeon may have been privileged to see Jesus and hold him in his arms, but we have so much more—how can we not rejoice?

There is even more: Besides these general historical truths, every one of us can recite a litany of what God has done for us personally. He brought us into being. He has led and protected us throughout our lives. He has invited us to be his friends. He has joined himself to us in baptism, filling us with his divine, eternal life.

What could be a better or more appropriate response to all these privileges than heartfelt, exuberant praise? How can we help but praise and worship the Lord for all that we have seen and experienced? How can we help but honor and exalt him for all that we know to be true—and even more for all that we know is yet to be?

“Jesus, all praise and glory belongs to your holy name! I am so blessed to have seen your salvation. I am so honored to have received your redemption. I want to sing aloud about your marvelous deeds! Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever!”

28 Dec 2010, Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs

Reading 1
1 Jn 1:5—2:2

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.
If we say, “We have fellowship with him,”
while we continue to walk in darkness,
we lie and do not act in truth.
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.
If we say, “We are without sin,”
we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just
and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.
If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar,
and his word is not in us.

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.
He is expiation for our sins,
and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.

Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8
Responsorial PsalmR. (7)

Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.
Had not the LORD been with us—
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive,
When their fury was inflamed against us.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept the raging waters.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.

Gospel
Mt 2:13-18

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.

Meditation: Matthew 2:13-18

The Holy Innocents


Rachel weeping for her children. (Matthew 2:18)

What a hard life Rachel had! Both she and her sister, Leah, were married to Jacob, and while Leah gave Jacob many sons, Rachel just couldn’t get pregnant. One day, in her distress, Rachel cried out to Jacob: “Give me children or I shall die!” (Genesis 30:1). Jacob, too, was frustrated because he knew that only God could give life. But God answered Rachel’s prayer. She named her first child Joseph, which means, “May the Lord add another son” (30:24). God heard that prayer as well and gave her another child years later. However, it was a complicated labor, and Rachel ended up dying in childbirth. Before she passed, however, she named the baby Benoni, which means “Son of my sorrow.” But Jacob—who loved Rachel deeply—called him Benjamin, “Son of my right hand” (35:18).

For centuries, Rachel’s tomb was honored by the people of Israel. Her sad story touched them, and they held a special place for her in their hearts. In fact, when the prophet Jeremiah saw the Babylonian soldiers marching the children of Israel—descendants of Rachel—into exile, he said it was like he was feeling Rachel’s anguish all over again (Jeremiah 31:15).

In today’s Gospel, King Herod’s order to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem reminds Matthew of Jeremiah’s prophecy. In the death of these helpless, innocent children, Matthew sees Rachel weeping over her children once more. He sees mothers grieving their horrible loss.

Rachel continues to weep today, this time over the millions of children who are victims of abortions. Who could not be moved by this assault on innocent lives? But even as we mourn with Rachel, we must have hope. We must believe that God will have the final word and that it will be a word of triumph. We need to pray for an end to abortion. We need to work for an end to abortion. But we also need to remember God’s words to Jeremiah: “Wipe the tears from your eyes… . There is hope for your future… . Your sons will return” (Jeremiah 31:16,17). God will turn this horrible situation around. He is the Lord of Life and he will have the victory!

“Father, teach us how to build a culture of life on the earth. May every child be loved and welcomed into life!”

27 Dec 2010, Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist

Reading 1
1 Jn 1:1-4

Beloved:
What was from the beginning,
what we have heard,
what we have seen with our eyes,
what we looked upon
and touched with our hands
concerns the Word of lifeB
for the life was made visible;
we have seen it and testify to it
and proclaim to you the eternal life
that was with the Father and was made visible to usB
what we have seen and heard
we proclaim now to you,
so that you too may have fellowship with us;
for our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.

Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12
Responsorial PsalmR. (12)

Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Clouds and darkness are around him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

Gospel
Jn 20:1a and 2-8

On the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we do not know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.

Meditation: 1 John 1:1-4

St. John


What we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you. (1 John 1:3)

If there was a job that listed one of the requirements as “spent a lot of time with Jesus,” John would certainly qualify for it. He was present at the Transfiguration and at Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane. He sat right beside him at the Last Supper, and he was the only disciple who stood with Mary at the crucifixion. Instead of calling himself “the one whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23), John could just as truthfully have named himself “the one who loved Jesus”!

It was this closeness to Jesus that gives John’s words so much weight. Imagine what might have happened if John had simply heard about Jesus secondhand, then decided to start preaching the gospel. He would have failed miserably! However, like his fellow apostle, Simon Peter, John was not telling “cleverly devised myths” (2 Peter 1:16). His words had the ring of truth because he had been so personally connected with Truth Incarnate.

But the gospel doesn’t end with John’s testimony. Because of the Holy Spirit, each and every one of us can experience Jesus deeply. And that can happen in a powerful way as we read and ponder Scripture. That’s because the word of God is more than just words. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, it is “living and effective,” filled with the potential to bring us face-to-face with Jesus (Hebrews 4:12). And because of this, Scripture has the power to make stories like the Transfiguration, Gethsemane, and Calvary come alive for us and change our hearts.

If you want to delve deeper into Scripture, consider John as a starting point. His Gospel gives special insights into Jesus’ divinity and mission—and into how Jesus can work in our lives. Maybe you can take the next couple of weeks and follow John as he journeys with the Lord. Read one chapter each day. But read slowly and prayerfully. Give the Spirit the chance to speak to your heart. Let him reveal Jesus to you in a new way. Who knows? Maybe you will become like John, telling other people about how you have come to know the Lord!

“Holy Spirit, open my heart to the word of God! As I read and pray through Scripture, help me reflect the goodness and mercy of Jesus.”

26 Dec 2010, The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reading 1
Sir 3:2-6, 12-14

God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.
Whoever honors his father atones for sins,
and preserves himself from them.
When he prays, he is heard;
he stores up riches who reveres his mother.
Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,
and, when he prays, is heard.
Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;
he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.

My son, take care of your father when he is old;
grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;
revile him not all the days of his life;
kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
firmly planted against the debt of your sins
—a house raised in justice to you.

Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
Responsorial PsalmR. (cf. 1)

Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.

Reading 2
Col 3:12-21

Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Wives, be subordinate to your husbands,
as is proper in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives,
and avoid any bitterness toward them.
Children, obey your parents in everything,
for this is pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, do not provoke your children,
so they may not become discouraged.

or

Col 3:12-17

Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Gospel
Mt 2:13-15, 19-23

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 had died, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream
to Joseph in Egypt and said,
“Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel,
for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”
He rose, took the child and his mother,
and went to the land of Israel.
But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea
in place of his father Herod,
he was afraid to go back there.
And because he had been warned in a dream,
he departed for the region of Galilee.
He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth,
so that what had been spoken through the prophets
might be fulfilled,
He shall be called a Nazorean.

Meditation: Sirach 3:2-6,12-14

The Holy Family


He who honors his father atones for sins; he stores up riches who reveres his mother. (Sirach 3:3-4)

Promises like these might make us uncomfortable. What if our parents live far away? What if our own children occupy all of our time? What if our parents have died? Will God’s blessings be withheld from us?

Of course not! God’s love is like a waterfall constantly flowing. So why does Sirach connect God’s blessings to our family relationships? If we continue with the image of the waterfall, we can see that to receive the blessings that are constantly flowing, we need to be under that waterfall. We need to move away from unrepented sins or unresolved family issues and place ourselves squarely under that heavenly torrent.

The church teaches that the Christian family is the first school of faith. It is the first place where children can practice the art of giving and receiving love. So it’s only natural that family relationships are central to a healthy and full relationship with God!

It’s not so much that we earn God’s blessings by treating our parents well. Rather, as we learn a respectful, self-sacrificing attitude—especially toward our parents—we become more open to being in a right relationship with God. Whether we are children relating to parents, parents to children, or brothers and sisters, our family relationships reveal a lot about our disposition toward God.

On this day when we honor Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, let’s vow to live with one another in love. Let’s make it a point to never let our sins or failings overshadow our concern for each other (1 Peter 4:8). Let’s remember that God is with our family to help us and guide us. So as you take time to reflect at the end of the year, consider the advice that St. Paul gave to families so long ago. Let’s clothe ourselves with patience. Let’s bear with one another. Let’s love each other (Colossians 3:12-14).

“Heavenly Father, help me to bring your love into my family. I don’t want to stand outside the flow of your grace!”



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

(Sirach 3:2-6,12-14; Psalm 128:1-5; Colossians 3:12-21; Matthew 2:13-15,19-23)


1. In the first reading, the book of Sirach teaches us of our responsibilities to our parents, with special focus on our fathers, and the rewards that go along with honoring them. As a son or daughter, how do you stack up against these responsibilities? If your father is still alive, what steps can you take to honor him?

2. In what way has your relationship with your earthly father helped or hindered your relationship with your Heavenly Father, and your experience of his great love for you? If it has hindered your relationship, what steps can you take to change this?

3. The responsorial psalm tells of the blessings for those who “fear” the Lord? What does “fear of the Lord” mean in your life? What are the positive and negative sides of this fear?

4. The second reading presents the authentic atmosphere of a Christian family where kindness, love, mutual understanding, forgiveness, prayer, thanksgiving and joy in the Holy Spirit should be present. Which of these elements is the Lord asking you to bring more deeply into your home environment?

5. St. Paul also reminds us that forgiveness is a gift we have received from the Lord, and “that as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.” This means we must give this gift to others. To whom is the Lord asking you to give the gift of forgiveness to?

6. In the Gospel Joseph is the model of Godly obedience, ever ready to follow the Lord’s instructions wherever they might lead him. How open are you to changing your plans if the Lord asks? How do you discern the Lord’s will in your life?

7. The meditation presents us with these challenging words: “Whether we are children relating to parents, parents to children, or brothers and sisters, our family relationships reveal a lot about our disposition toward God.” What do you think these words mean? What steps can you take to restore family relationships that have been damaged over the years?

8. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point for praying that you would bring the Lord’s love into your family.

25 Dec 2010, The Nativity of the Lord Christmas

Reading 1
Is 62:1-5

For Zion’s sake I will not be silent,
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
until her vindication shines forth like the dawn
and her victory like a burning torch.

Nations shall behold your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
you shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of the LORD.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD,
a royal diadem held by your God.
No more shall people call you “Forsaken,”
or your land “Desolate,”
but you shall be called “My Delight,”
and your land “Espoused.”
For the LORD delights in you
and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin,
your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
so shall your God rejoice in you.

Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29
Responsorial PsalmR. (2a)

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
He shall say of me, “You are my father,
my God, the rock, my savior.”
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Reading 2
Acts 13:16-17, 22-25

When Paul reached Antioch in Pisidia and entered the synagogue,
he stood up, motioned with his hand, and said,
“Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing, listen.
The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors
and exalted the people during their sojourn in the
land of Egypt.
With uplifted arm he led them out of it.
Then he removed Saul and raised up David as king;
of him he testified,
‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.’
From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’”

Gospel
Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ,
the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham became the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah,
whose mother was Tamar.
Perez became the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab.
Amminadab became the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz,
whose mother was Rahab.
Boaz became the father of Obed,
whose mother was Ruth.
Obed became the father of Jesse,
Jesse the father of David the king.

David became the father of Solomon,
whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.
Solomon became the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asaph.
Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,
Joram the father of Uzziah.
Uzziah became the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amos,
Amos the father of Josiah.
Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers
at the time of the Babylonian exile.

After the Babylonian exile,
Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel the father of Abiud.
Abiud became the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
Azor the father of Zadok.
Zadok became the father of Achim,
Achim the father of Eliud,
Eliud the father of Eleazar.
Eleazar became the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Thus the total number of generations
from Abraham to David
is fourteen generations;
from David to the Babylonian exile,
fourteen generations;
from the Babylonian exile to the Christ,
fourteen generations.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.

or

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.

Meditation: John 1:1-18

The Nativity of the Lord

The Nativity of the Lord


We have seen his glory. (John 1:14)

With these words, St. John gives us his own testimony. “I have seen him,” he seems to say. “I have talked with him. I have touched him. I know him. And I can tell you confidently that he is the Messiah, the Son of God.”

For three years, John saw amazing miracles. He heard Jesus speak. He saw him living out what he preached. In Jesus he saw what it could be like to live in union with Almighty God. And all of this changed John’s life dramatically.

Why did God take on our flesh anyway? Why did Jesus become a baby and go through the whole process of growing into a man—into someone like us in all things but sin? John tells us that Jesus came into the world so that everyone who believed in him could become nothing less than “children of God” (John 1:12). We needed to believe, but we could only believe if he became one of us and rescued us from the sin that was hindering our belief.

“We have seen his glory,” John says (John 1:14). This “seeing” goes much deeper than a simple observation of fact. For John, “seeing” Jesus’ glory meant experiencing it personally. It meant sharing in that glory. It meant being changed by that glory—to the point that John became more and more like Jesus. This is what it means to become a child of God, and it is the greatest Christmas present that Jesus could ever give to us.

So as you celebrate Christmas today, know that Jesus wants you to experience his glory just as powerfully as John did. He wants to touch your heart and renew your mind. He wants to give you power over sin and fill you with his grace. He wants to make you into a new creation!

“All praise to you, Jesus, for coming into the world and showering us with your grace! Lord, I want to see your glory today. Come, holy Son of God, and fill my heart!”

24 Dec 2010, Friday of the Fourth Week of Advent Mass in the Morning

Reading 1
2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

When King David was settled in his palace,
and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,
he said to Nathan the prophet,
“Here I am living in a house of cedar,
while the ark of God dwells in a tent!”
Nathan answered the king,
“Go, do whatever you have in mind,
for the LORD is with you.”
But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
“Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD:
Should you build me a house to dwell in?

“‘It was I who took you from the pasture
and from the care of the flock
to be commander of my people Israel.
I have been with you wherever you went,
and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.
And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
I will fix a place for my people Israel;
I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place
without further disturbance.
Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,
since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.
I will give you rest from all your enemies.
The LORD also reveals to you
that he will establish a house for you.
And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his Kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.’”

Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29
Responsorial PsalmR. (2)

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.”
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the rock, my savior.’
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.”
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Gospel
Lk 1:67-79

Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
for he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hand of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Meditation: Luke 1:67-79

“He has visited his people and set them free.” (Luke 1:68)


Think back to your childhood, to the last long, hot school day before summer holidays started. Recall the anticipation and excitement you felt—relief; release; stepping out of the close, dim classroom into the wide-open sunshine. Every day was filled with possibility and potential.

Christmas Eve can hold the same eager expectancy for you now—but in a quiet, awe-filled sense. It is a day of anticipation, of hope, and of reflection. A day to stop what we’re doing and try to spend as much time as possible pondering the light and hope that entered the world when Jesus was born.

Jesus came to bring us salvation. He came to set us free from sin and to bring us back into our Father’s embrace. He came to bring us a salvation that far surpassed the forgiveness of our sins—as wonderful as that is! He came to bring us light in our darkness: the hope of a new life here on earth and the promise of heaven after our days are done. Jesus’ birth was heralded by a star so bright that wise men from hundreds of miles away followed it until they found Jesus. This is the same light that is shining on us today.

Salvation has to do with life overcoming death. It is a full life, not just cringing existence scrabbling bleakly among the rubble of fear and guilt. This life is marked by freedom from enemies like bitterness, resentment, and past hurts. It is a life free from self-love and self-centeredness. All this is yours because in his compassion, God has made his light to shine on you. And that is the light of Christ, who was born on Christmas Day.

In Jesus—even in the infant sleeping in the manger—all the fullness of God is pleased to dwell. He came so that we can have life, and “have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Sit quietly today and think about that. Jesus came to bring you God’s life. Christmas is tomorrow. The darkness is about to fade. Ask God to shine his light on you so that you can rejoice with all the angels and saints.

“Jesus, thank you for setting me free and shining your light into my life. Teach me how to have it to the full.”

23 Dec 2010, Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Reading 1
Mal 3:1-4, 23-24

Thus says the Lord GOD:
Lo, I am sending my messenger
to prepare the way before me;
And suddenly there will come to the temple
the LORD whom you seek,
And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.
Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
But who will endure the day of his coming?
And who can stand when he appears?
For he is like the refiner’s fire,
or like the fuller’s lye.
He will sit refining and purifying silver,
and he will purify the sons of Levi,
Refining them like gold or like silver
that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.
Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem
will please the LORD,
as in the days of old, as in years gone by.

Lo, I will send you
Elijah, the prophet,
Before the day of the LORD comes,
the great and terrible day,
To turn the hearts of the fathers to their children,
and the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike
the land with doom.

Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14
Responsorial PsalmR. (see Luke 21:28)

Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.
R. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.

Gospel
Lk 1:57-66

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
“No. He will be called John.”
But they answered her,
“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.”
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
“What, then, will this child be?
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”

Meditation: Malachi 3:1-4,23-24

“Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me.” (Malachi 3:1)


Amanda was going off to college. It was her first time away from home, and she was worried. Her older brother, Jim, was married with a family of his own. But he started writing letters to Amanda every week. Those letters not only got Amanda through her homesickness but as they wrote back and forth, Jim was able to share about his own life and his faith in God. He answered her questions and sent her gospel music and devotional books. By the end of her first year of college, Amanda experienced a personal conversion and began a brand new era in her Catholic faith.

Jim’s name could just as well have been “John.” He was acting just like John the Baptist, preparing the way for Jesus to enter his sister’s life. In reality, each of us has had at least one John the Baptist in our lives. Surely, there was someone whose words or actions prepared the soil of our hearts or sowed the seed of the Word. Maybe it was the teacher who prepared us for our First Holy Communion, helping us understand Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist. It could have been a friend who loved us even when we felt unlovable. Maybe it was something as simple as our parents’ devotion to the rosary or faithful Mass attendance. Let’s thank the Lord for each person he put into our lives to draw us closer to him!

But even beyond this, we can look for opportunities to be like John the Baptist for others, too! It’s certain that there are people in our lives with whom we can share the gospel. Our children or grandchildren will benefit from our faithful example and loving words. Friends may be helped along their way to Jesus by our witness to gospel values. Even people we don’t know can reap the benefit of our patience or generosity!

In gratitude for those faithful people who helped us open our lives to the Lord, let’s be like John the Baptist ourselves. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us see opportunities to be a prophetic voice turning children’s hearts back to their heavenly Father!

“Lord Jesus, I want to do all I can to help people prepare the way for you in their hearts. Give me the strength to be a faithful witness to your gospel so that I can behold with joy your entrance into the lives of my loved ones!”

22 Dec 2010, Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Reading 1
1 Sm 1:24-28

In those days,
Hannah brought Samuel with her,
along with a three-year-old bull,
an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine,
and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh.
After the boy’s father had sacrificed the young bull,
Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said:
“Pardon, my lord!
As you live, my lord,
I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;
as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.”
She left Samuel there.

1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd
Responsorial PsalmR. (see 1a)

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“My heart exults in the LORD,
my horn is exalted in my God.
I have swallowed up my enemies;
I rejoice in my victory.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“The bows of the mighty are broken,
while the tottering gird on strength.
The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry batten on spoil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“The LORD puts to death and gives life;
he casts down to the nether world;
he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich,
he humbles, he also exalts.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“He raises the needy from the dust;
from the dung heap he lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

Gospel
Lk 1:46-56

Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months
and then returned to her home.

Meditation: 1 Samuel 1:24-28

“He shall be dedicated to the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1:28)


At last, God has answered Hannah’s prayer and given her the son she longed for. The shame of her barrenness is wiped away, and now she offers her son back to the God who gave him to her. In a sense, Hannah gives God her first and best: her firstfruits rather than her leftovers. But God can never be outdone in generosity. He rewards Hannah with three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:21).

In the Canon of the Mass, we pray: “From the many gifts you have given us, we offer to you, God of glory and majesty, this holy and perfect sacrifice: the bread of life and the cup of eternal salvation.” Like Hannah, we are offering back to God the greatest gift he could ever give us. We are offering the firstfruits of our life in the Spirit.

So just what might a gift of our “firstfruits” look like? It may be parents rejoicing at their only son’s vocation to the priesthood even though it means no grandchildren to carry on the family name. It may mean setting aside our tithe at the beginning of the month instead of waiting to see what’s left over at the end. It may mean setting aside time for prayer when we are most alert rather than waiting until we have accomplished everything else on our list.

It may mean taking bread out of the oven and bringing the first loaf to a shut-in neighbor before it has time to cool. It may mean inviting the stranger who comes to the door asking for money to come in and share a meal instead.

The next time you go to Mass, be sure to bring your “best” to the Lord: your full attention, your love, and, yes, even your concerns. Offer these things to him during the Offertory, and picture him receiving them with open arms and a warm smile. Then, know that you will receive even more blessings back at communion!

“Lord, through your goodness we have this gift to offer. Receive us and be pleased with the sacrifice we offer you with humble and contrite hearts. Accept this sacrifice for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of all the church.”

21 Dec 2010, Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Reading 1
Sg 2:8-14

Hark! my lover–here he comes
springing across the mountains,
leaping across the hills.
My lover is like a gazelle
or a young stag.
Here he stands behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattices.
My lover speaks; he says to me,
“Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one,
and come!
“For see, the winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the dove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.
Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,
and come!

“O my dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the secret recesses of the cliff,
Let me see you,
let me hear your voice,
For your voice is sweet,
and you are lovely.”

or

Zep 3:14-18a

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you,
he has turned away your enemies;
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.

Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21
Responsorial PsalmR. (1a; 3a)

Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
Sing to him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.
R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust.
R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

Gospel
Lk 1:39-45

Mary set out in those days
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”

Meditation: Luke 1:39-45

“Blessed are you who believed.” (Luke 1:45)


Mary was joyful—but probably also a bit apprehensive—about the news that God had chosen her to bear his Son. So when the angel Gabriel told her that her cousin Elizabeth was also expecting, Mary “set out and traveled to the hill country in haste” (Luke 1:39).

How Mary’s heart must have leapt at the sound of her cousin’s voice! Here was someone who knew what was happening to her and who could rejoice with her, despite the difficulties ahead. It must have been just what Mary needed, which is perhaps why she hurried to see Elizabeth. During the months that followed, the two women enjoyed sisterly companionship and mutual support as they celebrated the great things that God was doing in their lives.

How important it is that we support and affirm one another in the same way! Especially in those times when we start to doubt our own value or our ability to do the work to which God has called us, the right words from a trusted companion can make all the difference. Mary and Elizabeth show us how much we can help each other simply by our reassuring presence. By listening attentively and by offering words of encouragement, we can help each other embrace the road that God has marked out for us with energy, enthusiasm, and hope—no matter how daunting it may seem at times.

Today’s Gospel reading is a call to value the brotherhood and sisterhood that God has given us. It’s a call for husbands and wives to see the treasure that they are to each other. It’s a call for parents to enjoy their children and for neighbors to reach out to each other. It’s a call to join ourselves in solidarity with the poor and needy. Every day, God gives us so many opportunities to meet Jesus in each other, so many opportunities for our hearts to leap for joy at the sight of each other.

Just as Mary had the honor of bearing Jesus in her womb, we have the honor of bearing Jesus in our hearts. In these last few days before Christmas, let’s open our eyes to see Jesus in each other so that his light can shine on all of us!

“Jesus, you are the light that shines in the darkness. Make me into that light, shining for others who need your support and love.”

20 Dec 2010, Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Reading 1
Is 7:10-14

The LORD spoke to Ahaz:
Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God;
let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered,
“I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!”
Then Isaiah said:
Listen, O house of David!
Is it not enough for you to weary men,
must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:
the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel.

Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
Responsorial PsalmR. (see 7c and 10b)

Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.

Gospel
Lk 1:26-38

In the sixth month,
the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”

But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.

Meditation: Luke 1:26-38

“May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)


Mary, how could you have known that your simple “yes” would mean so much to the world? You gave us all a new lease on life. By welcoming Jesus into your womb, you enabled our salvation to draw near. God could forgive our sins and make us whole again—all because you said “yes”!

How did you do it? What immense love must have been in your heart—love for God and love for his people! More than any other person, you could sense God’s love as it showered down from heaven, and you wanted nothing more than to return that love as fully as possible.

I can just picture you rising every morning, eager to see what wonders God had in store for you that day. I can just imagine how much you looked forward to hearing his voice in your heart and to finding new ways to glorify him. That “yes” that you said at the Annunciation was one in a long line of “yeses,” and I am so grateful that you lived so faithful a life!

O Mary, conceived without sin, teach me how to say “yes” as you did! Teach me how to trust God and how to allow things in my life that may seem strange and different at first. Teach me how to stop and listen for that whisper of the Spirit asking me to make choices for God and not myself. Pray that I would have the courage to stand in faith on God’s promises, just as you did every day of your life.

Mary, you told the stewards at the wedding feast at Cana, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). This was no new revelation for you but a reflection of the way you lived every day. Pray that I would have the same open, trusting, and obedient heart. Pray that I will listen to Jesus and do what he says, so that like you I can become a channel of his grace and blessing to the world around me.

Thank you, Mary, for being strong and so humble! Thank you for being our Mother!

“Hail, Mary, full of grace! Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death!”

19 Dec 2010, Fourth Sunday of Advent

Reading 1
Is 7:10-14

The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;
let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered,
“I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!”
Then Isaiah said:
Listen, O house of David!
Is it not enough for you to weary people,
must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:
the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel.

Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6.
Responsorial PsalmR.
(7c and 10b)

Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.

Reading 2
Rom 1:1-7

Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus,
called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God,
which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
the gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh,
but established as Son of God in power
according to the Spirit of holiness
through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him we have received the grace of apostleship,
to bring about the obedience of faith,
for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles,
among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;
to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel
Mt 1:18-24

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.

Meditation: Matthew 1:18-24

“They shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” (Matthew 1:23)


Whenever you’re sad, lonely, or afraid, how heartening it is to have someone say, “I’m with you,” especially when their actions back up their words!

More than seven hundred years before Jesus’ birth, a frightened ruler received just such a message—and it came from the best source imaginable. Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, God himself told King Ahaz that he would save Jerusalem from an enemy army. He even confirmed this word with a sign: “The virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

Isaiah’s word to Ahaz referred to a specific young woman—perhaps a new wife of the king’s—and her providential pregnancy. But as today’s Gospel shows, that prophecy had unsuspected depths of meaning. Inspired by the Spirit, Matthew declares that Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of that promise. As God’s own Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, he is not just a sign of God’s presence—he is “Emmanuel.” He is “God is with us’” (Matthew 1:23).

This is the ultimate “I’m with you” statement! It tells us that through the incarnation, the all-powerful God came to rescue what was lost. It tells us that out of boundless love, he sent his only Son to share our lot and save us from sin and death. Surely Jesus is God-with-us!

Take it to heart as God’s message to you today. If you’re singing a happy song, he’s with you in your joy. If you’re feeling stressed, Jesus offers you his peace. If you’re hurting, he reminds you: “I am with you always”—in his word, in the Eucharist, in all of daily life (Matthew 28:20). If you feel inadequate for some task—raising a child, resolving a conflict, breaking a habit, finding work—turn to Jesus. Never, ever forget that God is with you!

“Jesus, I believe that you are ‘God with us.’ Help me to become more open to your presence and your will. I want to be with you always, just as you are with me.”



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Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

(Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24:1-6; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-24)


1. In the first reading, Ahaz’ weak response to the Lord speaking to him reminds us that we too can take for granted the wonderful revelation of God’s love for us that we have in the coming of Jesus in the Incarnation. How would you describe your own response to this revelation?

2. Isaiah’s prophecy also reminds us of the role of the Blessed Virgin in the events that have transformed our lives. In what way can her example of faith inspire your own?

3. In the responsorial psalm, we are reminded that the “One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean” will receive a blessing from the Lord. We know that it is only Jesus’ sinlessness and clean heart, and his death on the cross for our sins, that allows us to be blessed by God. What steps can you and your family take during this Advent Season to reinforce the fact that the birth of our Savior was required for his subsequent work of salvation on the Cross?

4. St. Paul tells us in the second reading that we are the “beloved of God.” Do you believe this? Why or why not? Share a time in the past when you have experienced God’s love in a real way?

5. The time has come at last for the prophecies to be fulfilled. In the Gospel, Joseph is presented with a monumental problem: his betrothed is with child. How do your own reactions to the unexpected mirror or contrast with Joseph’s quiet reflection and action?

6. “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid,” the angel says to Joseph. Do you have fears regarding what God is asking in your life? What are they? How do you deal with them?

7. The Lord Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. Knowing that this message is true, how well do you apply the following words that end the meditation? “Take it to heart as God’s message to you today. If you’re singing a happy song, he’s with you in your joy. If you’re feeling stressed, Jesus offers you his peace. If you’re hurting, he reminds you: ‘I am with you always’—in his word, in the Eucharist, in all of daily life (Matthew 28:20). If you feel inadequate for some task—raising a child, resolving a conflict, breaking a habit, finding work—turn to Jesus. Never, ever forget that God is with you!”

8. If you are in a small group, take some time at the end of your meeting to pray for one another that each of you would have a greater experience of Jesus’ presence in your life. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point. In addition, during Advent, your prayers for your family should also ask God to prepare their hearts and open them so that they can receive the gift of his love this Christmas.

18 Dec 2010, Saturday of the Third Week of Advent

Reading 1

Jer 23:5-8

Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David;
As king he shall reign and govern wisely,
he shall do what is just and right in the land.
In his days Judah shall be saved,
Israel shall dwell in security.
This is the name they give him:
“The LORD our justice.”

Therefore, the days will come, says the LORD,
when they shall no longer say, “As the LORD lives,
who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt”;
but rather, "As the LORD lives,
who brought the descendants of the house of Israel
up from the land of the north”–
and from all the lands to which I banished them;
they shall again live on their own land.

Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19Responsorial PsalmRR. (see 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds.
And blessed forever be his glorious name;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Mt 1:18-25GospelThis is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,

which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.

Meditation: Jeremiah 23:5-8

“They shall no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.’” (Jeremiah 23:7)


The Israelites loved to recall their history. Every Jew in Jeremiah’s time knew about how God had rescued their ancestors from slavery and brought them into the Promised Land. They all took great pride in their national heroes—people like David and Solomon and Moses and Elijah. In fact, their Temple worship was built around the telling and retelling of these stories.

If this sounds so good, then why did Jeremiah say that the people would no longer hearken back to their history to proclaim God’s mighty deeds? Did God really want them to forget the past?

Not at all. He wanted, rather, to give them hope for the future. Just as God had rescued their forebears from Egypt centuries earlier, even so would he rescue them from Babylon, the “land of the north” that had become their place of exile and humiliation (Jeremiah 23:8).

What a hope-filled message! God wasn’t done working with his chosen people. He hadn’t left them with nothing more than their wistful memories of the past. He still wanted to protect them, teach them, and guide them.

Like the Israelites, we can look at the past and think: “If only I could go back there!” If only we could go back to the time before the sexual revolution or to the time when everybody went to church and held a reverence for God. But the problem with this kind of thinking is that it leads us to live in the past instead of finding out what challenges and adventures God has for us today.

God is just as powerful today as he was yesterday. He hasn’t abandoned us. He wants to bless us each and every day. So open your heart to the Lord today. Ask him to fill you and your family with the grace to help you do more than just survive today. Remember, too, that God wants you to give his blessing away to everyone you meet. So see if you can bless at least ten people today—and every day until Christmas. This is the best gift we could possibly give!

“Lord, I believe that you are the living God. Come to me today, Jesus, and show me your power!”

17 Dec 2010, Friday of the Third Week of Advent

Reading 1
Gn 49:2, 8-10

Jacob called his sons and said to them:
“Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob,
listen to Israel, your father.

“You, Judah, shall your brothers praise
–your hand on the neck of your enemies;
the sons of your father shall bow down to you.
Judah, like a lion’s whelp,
you have grown up on prey, my son.
He crouches like a lion recumbent,
the king of beasts–who would dare rouse him?
The scepter shall never depart from Judah,
or the mace from between his legs,
While tribute is brought to him,
and he receives the people’s homage.”

Ps 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17
Responsorial PsalmR. (see 7)

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
The mountains shall yield peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the poor.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Gospel
Mt 1:1-17

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ,
the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham became the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah,
whose mother was Tamar.
Perez became the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab.
Amminadab became the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz,
whose mother was Rahab.
Boaz became the father of Obed,
whose mother was Ruth.
Obed became the father of Jesse,
Jesse the father of David the king.

David became the father of Solomon,
whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.
Solomon became the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asaph.
Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,
Joram the father of Uzziah.
Uzziah became the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amos,
Amos the father of Josiah.
Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers
at the time of the Babylonian exile.

After the Babylonian exile,
Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel the father of Abiud.
Abiud became the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
Azor the father of Zadok.
Zadok became the father of Achim,
Achim the father of Eliud,
Eliud the father of Eleazar.
Eleazar became the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Thus the total number of generations
from Abraham to David
is fourteen generations;
from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations;
from the Babylonian exile to the Christ,
fourteen generations.

Meditation: Matthew 1:1-17

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ.” (Matthew 1:1)


Because this passage is a genealogy, it’s easy to gloss over it so that we can get on to the “good stuff.” However, a closer look reveals that Matthew wasn’t just recounting Jesus’ earthly lineage; he was heralding a dramatic break with the past, even as he showed Jesus to be in the line of Abraham and David.

At first glance, we might say that Matthew wrote a genealogy much like the other Jewish genealogies of his time. He rooted Jesus in the heritage of his people and highlighted his continuity with all the great figures of Israel.

But a closer look shows that Matthew also broke with that tradition. Rather than just following the fathers, he mentioned four mothers as well: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. And what’s more, these women’s personal histories did not always reflect the Jewish ideal of womanhood—just like many of the men. One woman was reputed to be a prostitute; another became pregnant by a ruse she played on her father-in-law; at least three were foreigners; and one was either a victim of lust or a consenting partner to adultery and conspiracy.

Matthew included these women as a way to take his readers by surprise. He wanted to show that in Christ God has radically departed from human expectations and brought about something new and different.

During this time of Advent preparation, take some time to ponder how God may be trying to take you beyond your expectations. He may want to do something miraculous in your family as you come to him in prayer. He may want to help you look at your non-Catholic brothers and sisters in a new and more generous light. He may want to open your eyes to see his face in the poor and the outcast.

Christmas is only eight days away, but it’s not too late to get ready. Ask God to give you a new perspective on the extraordinary situations in your life. Expect him to show himself not just when you pray and attend Mass but all throughout your day. Let your “spiritual genealogy” become just as surprising as Jesus’ physical genealogy!

“Jesus, you are the author and perfecter of my faith. My life rests in you alone.”

16 Dec 2010, Thursday of the Third Week of Advent

Reading 1
Is 54:1-10

Raise a glad cry, you barren one who did not bear,
Break forth in jubilant song, you who were not in labor,
For more numerous are the children of the deserted wife
than the children of her who has a husband,
says the LORD.
Enlarge the space for your tent,
spread out your tent cloths unsparingly;
lengthen your ropes and make firm your stakes.
For you shall spread abroad to the right and to the left;
your descendants shall dispossess the nations
and shall people the desolate cities.

Fear not, you shall not be put to shame;
you need not blush, for you shall not be disgraced.
The shame of your youth you shall forget,
the reproach of your widowhood no longer remember.
For he who has become your husband is your Maker;
his name is the LORD of hosts;
Your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,
called God of all the earth.
The LORD calls you back,
like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,
A wife married in youth and then cast off,
says your God.
For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with great tenderness I will take you back.
In an outburst of wrath, for a moment
I hid my face from you;
But with enduring love I take pity on you,
says the LORD, your redeemer.

This is for me like the days of Noah,
when I swore that the waters of Noah
should never again deluge the earth;
So I have sworn not to be angry with you,
or to rebuke you.
Though the mountains leave their place
and the hills be shaken,
My love shall never leave you
nor my covenant of peace be shaken,
says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

Ps 30:2 and 4, 5-6, 11-12a and 13b Responsorial Psalm
R. (2a)

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O LORD, you brought me up from the nether world;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
“Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.”
You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

Gospel
Lk 7:24-30

When the messengers of John the Baptist had left,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John.
“What did you go out to the desert to see B a reed swayed by the wind?
Then what did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in fine garments?
Those who dress luxuriously and live sumptuously
are found in royal palaces.
Then what did you go out to see?
A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom Scripture says:

Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
he will prepare your way before you.

I tell you,
among those born of women, no one is greater than John;
yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.”
(All the people who listened, including the tax collectors,
who were baptized with the baptism of John,
acknowledged the righteousness of God;
but the Pharisees and scholars of the law,
who were not baptized by him,
rejected the plan of God for themselves.)

Meditation: Luke 7:24-30

“What did you go out to the desert to see?” (Luke 7:24)

With these words, Jesus confronted the religious leaders who had been speaking ill of John the Baptist. Evidently, his asceticism had turned them off. But these same leaders were grumbling that Jesus spent time eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners. It seems that nothing these two men of God did was good enough. One was super-spiritual, while the other seemed to be too wild.

These religious leaders set such stringent standards of what godliness was supposed to look like that they sternly condemned anything that fell outside of their narrow boundaries. They had their expectations set, leaving no room for the freedom of the Holy Spirit.

This passage can lead us to ask one very important question: How rigid am I? And we can answer that question by examining our spiritual lives: Am I enjoying the freedom that John and Jesus knew—the freedom to live as Jesus is leading me? The freedom to respond to his Spirit in line with my own personality and with the way I sense he is calling me to? Remember: Some are called to contemplation, others to exuberance. Some are called to pour out their lives for the poor, and others to work for change in society. Some have a special devotion to the rosary, and others to charismatic prayer. The only really important question is whether each person is loving Jesus, keeping his commands, and trying to build the kingdom of God.

Like Jesus and John, the saints exhibited distinct personality traits suited to their calling: Philip Neri was jovial and easily attracted followers to Christ, while Jerome, a brilliant but abrasive man, was better suited to the more isolated work of a scholar. Francis Xavier’s passion and ambition carried him around the world as a missionary, while the cloistered Thérèse of Lisieux’s childlike spirit enabled her to understand and communicate the Father’s love. Teresa of Ávila, strong-willed and witty, was a reformer and prolific writer, while Padre Pio used his listening and intuitive skills as a gifted confessor.

So let’s try our best to love and serve God and others. Let’s try to find out what God is calling us to do.

“Father, I rejoice in the freedom I have as your child. I trust you and will follow you wherever you lead!”

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

15 Dec 2010, Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent

Reading 1
Is 45:6c-8, 18, 21c-25

I am the LORD, there is no other;
I form the light, and create the darkness,
I make well-being and create woe;
I, the LORD, do all these things.
Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above,
like gentle rain let the skies drop it down.
Let the earth open and salvation bud forth;
let justice also spring up!
I, the LORD, have created this.

For thus says the LORD,
The creator of the heavens,
who is God,
The designer and maker of the earth
who established it,
Not creating it to be a waste,
but designing it be lived in:
I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Who announced this from the beginning
and foretold it from of old?
Was it not I, the LORD,
besides whom there is no other God?
There is no just and saving God but me.

Turn to me and be safe,
all you ends of the earth,
for I am God; there is no other!
By myself I swear,
uttering my just decree
and my unalterable word:
To me every knee shall bend;
by me every tongue shall swear,
Saying, “Only in the LORD
are just deeds and power.
Before him in shame shall come
all who vent their anger against him.
In the LORD shall be the vindication and the glory
of all the descendants of Israel.”

Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14 Responsorial Psalm
R. (Isaiah 45:8)

Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD –for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.

Gospel
Lk 7:18b-23

At that time,
John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask,
“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”
When the men came to the Lord, they said,
“John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask,
‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’”
At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits;
he also granted sight to many who were blind.
And Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

Meditation: Luke 7:18-23

“Are you the one who is to come?” (Luke 7:19)

Nothing could compare to the excitement generated by the miracles, signs, and wonders breaking out in Israel during the time of Jesus’ public ministry! So much was happening that John the Baptist sent two of his disciples to Jesus to find out if this was “it.” How full of anticipation and excitement these two disciples must have felt as they sought out Jesus to see for themselves everything that he was doing!

In a similar way, Advent is a special time when we can heighten our own sense of excitement and anticipation of Jesus’ coming again in glory. But beyond the hope of a future salvation, we can also become more excited over the promise of his coming into our hearts each and every time we approach him in prayer or at Mass.

Imagine how much fuller our experience of his gospel would be if, every time we came to Jesus, we asked questions like: What do you want to do in my life today, Jesus? How will you answer my prayers? What new insights will you grant me today? How will I experience your love, glory, or mercy this time? Questions like these may make us sound greedy, but only if we lose sense of how needy we are.

Today is as good as any day to look for this heightened sense of anticipation and excitement about your relationship with the Lord. Seek him eagerly today. Ask him to show you the hidden ways in which he is acting in your life and in the lives of those you love. Over and over again, the Gospels tell us how pleased Jesus is when people approach him with a lively and expectant faith. Trust him. He is always good and merciful. Let him know how much you enjoy his company and the wonders he is working in you and around you. Don’t be afraid to look for—and expect—more! Jesus is exceedingly generous and he has an infinite store of grace and blessings set aside specifically for you!

“Lord, I come to you with joy and excitement today. How will you reveal your wonders in my life today? I surrender to you. Come and do whatever you want to do to deepen my faith in you!”

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]