Friday of the Third Week of Advent
Lectionary: 197
Lectionary: 197
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."
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.
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.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21
R. (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.
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."
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."
www.usccb.org
Meditation: Joyful Anticipation of the Messiah
Do you recognize the indwelling
presence of the Lord Jesus in your life? Blessed are you if you see and
recognize the Lord with the "eyes of faith". The word
"blessed" [makarios in
Greek] literally means "happiness" or "beatitude". It
describes a kind of joy which is serene and untouchable, self-contained, and
independent from chance and changing circumstances of life. There is a certain
paradox for those "blessed" by the Lord. Mary was given the
"blessedness" of being the mother of the Son of God. That blessedness
also would become a sword which pierced her heart as her Son died upon the
cross. Anselm, a great teacher and Archbishop of Canterbury (1033-1109), spoke
these words in a homily: "Without God's Son nothing could exist; without
Mary's son, nothing could be redeemed." To be chosen by God is an
awesome privilege and responsibility. Mary received both a crown of joy and a
cross of sorrow. Her joy was not diminished by her sorrow because it was fueled
by her faith, hope, and trust in God and his promises. Jesus promised his
disciples that "no one will take your joy from you" (John 16:22). The
Lord gives us a supernatural joy which enables us to bear any sorrow or pain
and which neither life nor death can take away. Do you know the joy of a life
given over to God in faith and trust?What is the significance of Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth before the birth of Jesus? When Elizabeth greeted Mary and recognized the Messiah in Mary's womb they were filled with the Holy Spirit and with a joyful anticipation of the fulfilment of God's promise to give a Savior. What a marvelous wonder for God to fill not only Elizabeth's heart with his Holy Spirit but the child in her womb as well. John the Baptist, even before the birth of the Messiah, pointed to his coming and leapt for joy in the womb of his mother as the Holy Spirit revealed to him the presence of the King to be born. The Holy Spirit is God's gift to us to enable us to know and experience the indwelling presence of God and the power of his kingdom. The Holy Spirit is the way in which God reigns within each of us. Do you live in the joy and knowledge of God's indwelling presence with you through his Holy Spirit?
"Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me joy in seeking you more closely. Increase my faith in all your promises, my hope in the joys of heaven, and my love for You as my All."
www.dailyscripture.net
 A Journey of Faith and Love |
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Friday of the Third Week of Advent
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Father Matthew Kaderabek, LC
Luke 1:39-45
During those days
Mary set out 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."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, help me to
settle my mind and my heart. I know that you are present in this prayer. I
want to turn aside all distractions. Increase my faith in your action in my
life. You are leading me to yourself. Help me to place myself more fully in
your hands. Increase my faith so that I will do anything and suffer anything
for you. Use me as an instrument of your grace in the lives of those I meet
today.
Petition: Lord, help me to follow Mary’s example of
faith and love and bring you to others this Christmas.
1. Mary, Our Advent Model: Mary is truly the
model of how we should be living Advent in preparing for Christ’s arrival.
God the Father prepared her from the first moment of her conception to be the
worthy mother of his Son. Like a faithful daughter of Israel, she had prayed
throughout her youth for the coming of the Messiah. When she was a young
lady, she discovered that she was part of God’s answer to that prayer, but in
a way that would have far exceeded any Hebrew maiden’s prayers: not only
would the Messiah be her son, but her son would also be God. Her “fiat”, her
wholehearted “yes!” to the Archangel Gabriel, launched the proximate
preparation for the birth of Jesus the Messiah. Let us enter into Mary’s
response of faith, which is a guide for us along our own pilgrimage of faith.
Let us listen to the beat of Mary’s contemplative heart, so that our
Christmas may be as fruitful as that first Christmas.
2. Someone Who Loves Takes Notice of the Details: No sooner had the
Archangel left Mary in Nazareth after announcing her important role in God’s
incredible plan of salvation than Mary herself made plans to depart. She went
with haste to help her elderly kinswoman Elizabeth who was pregnant for the
first time. Gabriel had not instructed Mary to go to Elizabeth’s aid, nor did
he suggest it. Mary’s great love was sufficient to cause her to spring into
action and embark upon the long sixty-mile journey to Elizabeth’s hometown
outside Jerusalem. In undertaking this challenging and
potentially dangerous journey, Mary showed — as she did at the wedding feast
in Cana — that someone who loves takes notice of the details. She
showed that someone who loves does whatever possible to lend a helping hand,
even at the cost of considerable sacrifice. We can imagine that this was
Mary’s attitude from her earliest childhood.
3. Be A Missionary — Bring Christ! By going to
Elizabeth’s aid, Mary — carrying the tiny Jesus in her womb — became the
first missionary, the first bearer of the Good News that would change all of
human history. Mary was able to bring incredible joy to both Elizabeth and
John the Baptist in her womb precisely because she was bringing Christ. And
Mary was able to burst out with her beautiful Magnificat for the very same
reason. To bring joy to others this Christmas, we really have to bring them
Christ. He is the greatest gift we could ever bring to someone we love — all
the material goods in the world fall flat in comparison. Without sharing
Jesus, we are not giving our loved ones anything that is truly lasting. Bring
Christ and you bring everything.
Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, it is
clear that your mother wants me to learn from her example. She inspires me to
bring you to others this Christmas season. I know plenty of people who
desperately need you in their lives, who need your forgiveness, who hunger
for your love and presence, perhaps without even knowing it. I know that my
loving relationship with you is never meant to be kept to myself; it is a
gift meant to be shared. Your mother’s example shows me the way to live
Advent well and explicitly challenges me to be a missionary by bringing you
to the world.
Resolution: I will share my faith this Christmas season
with a friend or relative in need.
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www.regnumchristi.com
FRIDAY,
DECEMBER 21
Advent Weekday
LUKE 1:39-45
(Songs 2:8-14; Psalm 33)
KEY VERSE: "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled" (v 45).
READING: Mary was God's obedient servant who willingly responded to the Divine call to bear the Savior of the world. When the angel Gabriel declared that Mary's aged kindwoman Elizabeth was about to give birth, she quickly traveled the four day journey to Ain Karim in the hill country of Judah. Upon hearing Mary's greeting, the babe leaped for joy within Elizabeth's womb recalling David's dance when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem (2 Sm 6:14). Elizabeth expressed her unworthiness at being visited by the mother of her Lord. Her words echoed David's humility, "How can the ark of the Lord come to me?" (2 Sm 6:9). Mary was the Arc of the New Covenant bearing her divine son Jesus in her womb. Elizabeth proclaimed Mary to be blessed for believing that God's promises to her would be fulfilled.
REFLECTING: How can I imitate Mary's example of faithful service?
PRAYING: Mary, my mother, help me to respond to God's call with faith and trust as you did.
O
RADIANT DAWN
O Oriens: "O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death." See Isaiah 9:1-2
O Oriens: "O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death." See Isaiah 9:1-2
Optional Memorial of Peter Canisius, priest and
doctor of the Church
Peter Canisius became a Jesuit after attending a retreat conducted by Blessed Peter Faber. He traveled and worked with St. Ignatius of Loyola. While at prayer he received a vision of the Sacred Heart, and ever after offered his work to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Peter Canisius led the Counter Reformation in German lands. His catechism went through 200 editions during his life, and was translated into 12 languages. Ordained in 1546, Peter Canisius founded colleges, and was a preacher, writer and teacher. He addressed the Council of Trent on the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. He was proclaimed Doctor of the Church in 1925 by Pope Pius XI.
www.daily-word-of-life.com
Cry out with joy in the Lord, you holy ones; sing a new song to
him
Today’s readings lead us into the time of rejoicing as we prepare for the birth day of our lord and saviour. Mary’s visit to Elizabeth and their joyful greetings are a prelude to the Magnificat, the inspiring praise of God’s mercy and love for his people.
The poetic love song of the Song of Songs and the psalm promise that God’s hand is on all who hope in his steadfast love. We can pause from our busy preparations to reflect more deeply on God’s abiding love for all. Our response to this is to spread that love to those around us. What we have received overflows to the poor, the lonely and neglected as well as those nearest and dearest to us through our hospitality and inclusion of others in our celebrations.
www.churchresources.info
December 21
St. Peter Canisius
(1521-1597)
St. Peter Canisius
(1521-1597)
The energetic life of Peter Canisius
should demolish any stereotypes we may have of the life of a saint as dull or
routine. Peter lived his 76 years at a pace which must be considered heroic,
even in our time of rapid change. A man blessed with many talents, Peter is an
excellent example of the scriptural man who develops his talents for the sake
of the Lord’s work.
He was one of
the most important figures in the Catholic Reformation in Germany. His was such
a key role that he has often been called the “second apostle of Germany” in
that his life parallels the earlier work of Boniface (June 5).
Although Peter
once accused himself of idleness in his youth, he could not have been idle too
long, for at the age of 19 he received a master’s degree from the university at
Cologne. Soon afterwards he met Peter Faber, the first disciple of Ignatius
Loyola, who influenced Peter so much that he joined the recently formed Society
of Jesus.
At this early age
Peter had already taken up a practice he continued throughout his life—a
process of study, reflection, prayer and writing. After his ordination in 1546,
he became widely known for his editions of the writings of St. Cyril of
Alexandria and St. Leo the Great. Besides this reflective literary bent, Peter
had a zeal for the apostolate. He could often be found visiting the sick or
prisoners, even when his assigned duties in other areas were more than enough
to keep most people fully occupied.
In 1547 Peter attended
several sessions of the Council of Trent, whose decrees he was later assigned
to implement. After a brief teaching assignment at the Jesuit college at
Messina, Peter was entrusted with the mission to Germany—from that point on his
life’s work. He taught in several universities and was instrumental in
establishing many colleges and seminaries. He wrote a catechism that explained
the Catholic faith in a way which common people could understand—a great need
of that age.
Renowned as a
popular preacher, Peter packed churches with those eager to hear his eloquent
proclamation of the gospel. He had great diplomatic ability, often serving as a
reconciler between disputing factions. In his letters (filling eight volumes)
one finds words of wisdom and counsel to people in all walks of life. At times
he wrote unprecedented letters of criticism to leaders of the Church—yet always
in the context of a loving, sympathetic concern.
At 70 Peter
suffered a paralytic seizure, but he continued to preach and write with the aid
of a secretary until his death in his hometown (Nijmegen, Netherlands) on
December 21, 1597.
Comment:
Peter’s untiring efforts are an apt example for those involved in the renewal of the Church or the growth of moral consciousness in business or government. He is regarded as one of the creators of the Catholic press, and can easily be a model for the Christian author or journalist. Teachers can see in his life a passion for the transmission of truth. Whether we have much to give, as Peter Canisius did, or whether we have only a little to give, as did the poor widow in the Gospel (see Luke 21:1–4), the important thing is to give our all. It is in this way that Peter is so exemplary for Christians in an age of rapid change when we are called to be in the world but not of the world.
Peter’s untiring efforts are an apt example for those involved in the renewal of the Church or the growth of moral consciousness in business or government. He is regarded as one of the creators of the Catholic press, and can easily be a model for the Christian author or journalist. Teachers can see in his life a passion for the transmission of truth. Whether we have much to give, as Peter Canisius did, or whether we have only a little to give, as did the poor widow in the Gospel (see Luke 21:1–4), the important thing is to give our all. It is in this way that Peter is so exemplary for Christians in an age of rapid change when we are called to be in the world but not of the world.
Quote:
When asked if he felt overworked, Peter replied, "If you have too much to do, with God's help you will find time to do it all."
When asked if he felt overworked, Peter replied, "If you have too much to do, with God's help you will find time to do it all."
Patron
Saint of:
Germany
Germany
www.americancatholic.org
LECTIO: LUKE 1:39-45
Lectio:
Friday,
December 21, 2012
1) Opening prayer
God, we tend to lose ourselves
in the bustle and stir of the day,
in our work and our petty worries.
Give us the freshness of heart
to look for the things that matter,
those that make our lives deeply human
and at the same time open us
to your world and to your values.
Make us long to encounter you with joy,
that we may discover again the quality
of gratuitous giving, of respect,
and of carefree, self-forgetting love,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
in the bustle and stir of the day,
in our work and our petty worries.
Give us the freshness of heart
to look for the things that matter,
those that make our lives deeply human
and at the same time open us
to your world and to your values.
Make us long to encounter you with joy,
that we may discover again the quality
of gratuitous giving, of respect,
and of carefree, self-forgetting love,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
2) Gospel Reading –
Luke 1, 39-45
Mary set out at that time and went as quickly
as she could into the hill country to a town in Judah.
She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.'
She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.'
3) Reflection
• Luke stresses the readiness of Mary in
serving, in being a handmaid. The Angel speaks about
the pregnancy of Elizabeth and immediately, Mary rises and sets out as quickly
as she could to go and help her. From Nazareth to the house of Elizabeth there
were more than 100 km, the minimum, four days of travelling!, There were no
buses, no trains. Mary begins to serve and fulfils her
mission in behalf of the people of God.
• Elizabeth represents the Old Testament which was about to end. Mary represents the New Testament. The Old Testament accepts the New one with gratitude and trust, recognizing in it God’s gratuitous gift which is going to be realized and is going to complete the expectation of people. In the encounter of the two women is manifested the gift of the Spirit. The child leapt with joy in Elizabeth’s womb. This is the reading of the faith which Elizabeth makes of the things of life.
• The Good News of God reveals his presence in the most common things of human life: two house wives who visit each other to mutually help one another. Visit, joy, pregnancy, children, mutual help, house, family: Luke wants us and the community to perceive precisely this and that we discover in this God’s presence.
• Elizabeth says to Mary: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Up until today, these words form part of the best known Psalm and most prayed in the whole world, “The Hail Mary”.
• “And blessed is she who has believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled”. This is the praise of Elizabeth to Mary and the message of Luke for the community: to believe in the Word of God, because the Word of God has the force to fulfil all that which it tells us. It is a creative Word. It generates new life in the womb of the Virgin, in the womb of people who accept it with faith.
• Mary and Elizabeth already knew one another. But in this encounter, they discover, one in one another, a mystery which they had not known as yet, and which fills them with great joy. Today also, we meet persons who surprise us because of the wisdom they possess and the witness of faith that they give. Has something similar happened to you already? Have you met persons who have surprised you? What prevents us from discovering and from living the joy of God’s presence in our life?
• The attitude of Mary before the Word expresses the ideal which Luke wants to communicate to the Community: do not close yourselves in self, but get out of self, be attentive to the concrete needs of persons and try to help others as far as possible according to their need.
• Elizabeth represents the Old Testament which was about to end. Mary represents the New Testament. The Old Testament accepts the New one with gratitude and trust, recognizing in it God’s gratuitous gift which is going to be realized and is going to complete the expectation of people. In the encounter of the two women is manifested the gift of the Spirit. The child leapt with joy in Elizabeth’s womb. This is the reading of the faith which Elizabeth makes of the things of life.
• The Good News of God reveals his presence in the most common things of human life: two house wives who visit each other to mutually help one another. Visit, joy, pregnancy, children, mutual help, house, family: Luke wants us and the community to perceive precisely this and that we discover in this God’s presence.
• Elizabeth says to Mary: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Up until today, these words form part of the best known Psalm and most prayed in the whole world, “The Hail Mary”.
• “And blessed is she who has believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled”. This is the praise of Elizabeth to Mary and the message of Luke for the community: to believe in the Word of God, because the Word of God has the force to fulfil all that which it tells us. It is a creative Word. It generates new life in the womb of the Virgin, in the womb of people who accept it with faith.
• Mary and Elizabeth already knew one another. But in this encounter, they discover, one in one another, a mystery which they had not known as yet, and which fills them with great joy. Today also, we meet persons who surprise us because of the wisdom they possess and the witness of faith that they give. Has something similar happened to you already? Have you met persons who have surprised you? What prevents us from discovering and from living the joy of God’s presence in our life?
• The attitude of Mary before the Word expresses the ideal which Luke wants to communicate to the Community: do not close yourselves in self, but get out of self, be attentive to the concrete needs of persons and try to help others as far as possible according to their need.
4) Personal
questions
• Placing myself in the place of Mary and
Elizabeth: am I capable to perceive and experience the presence of God in the
most simple and common things in the life of every day?
• The praise of Elizabeth to Mary: “You have believed!” Her husband had difficulty to believe what the angel was telling him. And I?
• The praise of Elizabeth to Mary: “You have believed!” Her husband had difficulty to believe what the angel was telling him. And I?
5) Concluding Prayer
We are waiting for Yahweh;
he is our help and our shield,
for in him our heart rejoices,
in his holy name we trust. (Ps 33,20-21)
he is our help and our shield,
for in him our heart rejoices,
in his holy name we trust. (Ps 33,20-21)
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