The Birth of John the Baptist MALACHI 3:1-4, 23-24; PSALM 25; LUKE 1:57-66 God does the impossible to fulfill His purpose: Zachariah and Elizabeth, parents of John, were both from the priestly family of Aaron and were advanced in years. Elizabeth was barren but had a miraculous birth. Beloved, delay in childbearing should not lead […]
Monthly Archives: December 2023
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Hannah and Mary 1 Samuel 1:24–28; Psalm 1 Samuel 2:1, 4–8; Luke 1:46–56 Hannah was barren and had implored the Lord in earnest and fervent prayers to give her a child. Eventually, the Lord blessed her with a son, and after she had weaned the infant Samuel, she brought the child to the temple at […]
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SONGS 2:8–14; PSALM 32; LUKE 1:39–45 Agents of God’s Love We currently live in a world where everything is handled by “agents”; there are agents for cars, landed properties, visas, and the like. You are called to be agent of God’s love, care, and healing. In keeping with this concept, the first reading describes the […]
20
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MARY’S “YES.” Isaiah 7:10–14; Psalm 24; Luke 1:26-38 Nine months before Jesus was born, the angel Gabriel was sent to the Virgin Mary to announce the conception of the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary said “yes” to God and accepted this assignment, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah in […]
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God of Wonders JUDGES 13:2-7, 24-25; PSALM 71; LUKE 1:5-25 “There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren, having borne no children. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, ‘Although you are barren, having borne […]
18
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AUTHORITY Numbers 24:2–7, 15–17; Psalm 25; Matthew 21:23–27 The readings present us with the issue of authority. In the first reading, Balaam sees leadership emanating from Israel, a “star from Jacob,” which refers to David but points to the expected Messianic ruler in the person of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel, the chief priests and […]
17
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Rejoice: Contentment and Hope Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11; Psalm-Luke 1:46-50, 53-54; 1 Thess. 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28 The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word for “rejoice.” This Sunday is so named because “rejoice” is the first word of today’s Entrance Antiphon curled from Philippians 4:4-5. “Rejoice in the Lord […]
16
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Elijah and John Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11; Psalm 80; Matthew 17:10-13 The first reading speaks of Elijah. It tells us of all he did and makes us understand that the prophet Elijah will come again. Correspondingly, Jesus remarked in the Gospel, “Elijah has come already, and they did not recognize him.” Two persons are inferred from […]
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Isaiah 48:17–19; Psalm 1; Matthew 11:16–19 Human wants are insatiable. Jesus says, “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: “‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ (Matt. 11:16–17). Jesus […]
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“THE KINGDOM OF GOD SUFFERS VIOLENCE” ISAIAH 41:13-20; PSALM 144; MATTHEW 11:11-15 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matt. 11:12). This is a straight-forward verse, but it comes as a puzzle. How can God’s kingdom suffer, and what […]