Friday of Third Week of Advent
Lectionary: 196
Lectionary: 196
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.
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.
Responsorial PsalmPS 24:1-2, 3-4AB,
5-6
R. (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.
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.
GospelLK 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.
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: "Hail,
O favored one, the Lord is with you!"
How does
God reveal his favor to us? In the psalms we pray, "Lord, show me a sign
of your favor" (Psalm 86:17). In the Old Testament God performed many
signs and miracles to demonstrate his love and mercy for his people, such as
their deliverance from slavery in Egypt and the miraculous crossing of the Red
sea on dry land (Psalm 78:43-53). When Ahaz, king of Judah and heir to the
throne of David (735 B.C.) was surrounded by forces that threatened to destroy
him and his people, God offered him a sign to reassure him that God would not
abandon the promise he made to David and his descendants. King Ahaz, however,
had lost hope in God and refused to ask for a sign of favor. God, nonetheless,
gave a sign to assure his people that he would indeed give them a Savior who
would rule with peace and righteousness (Isaiah 7:11ff).
We see
the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy and the unfolding of God's plan of
redemption in the events leading up to the Incarnation, the birth of the
Messiah King. The new era of salvation begins with the miraculous conception of
Jesus in the womb of Mary. This child to be born is conceived by the gracious
action of the Holy Spirit upon Mary, who finds favor with God (Luke 1:28). As
Eve was the mother of all humanity doomed to sin, now Mary becomes the mother
of the new Adam who will father a new humanity by his grace (Romans 5:12-21).
This child to be conceived in her womb is the fulfillment of all God’s promises.
He will be “great” and “Son of the Most High” and “King” and his name shall be
called “Jesus” (Luke 1:31-32), which means “the Lord saves.” “He will save his
people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). The angel repeats to Mary, the daughter
of the house of David, the promise made to King David: "The Lord God will
give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of
Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end" (2 Samuel
7:12-16, Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 1:32-33).
How does
Mary respond to the word of God delivered by the angel Gabriel? She knows she
is hearing something beyond human capability. It will surely take a miracle
which surpasses all that God has done previously. Her question, “how shall this
be, since I have no husband” is not prompted by doubt or skepticism, but by
wonderment! She is a true hearer of the Word and she immediately responds with
faith and trust. Mary's prompt response of "yes" to the divine
message is a model of faith for all believers. Mary believed God's promises
even when they seemed impossible. She was full of grace because she trusted
that what God said was true and would be fulfilled. She was willing and eager
to do God's will, even if it seemed difficult or costly. Mary is the “mother of
God” because God becomes incarnate when he takes on flesh in her womb.
When we pray the Nicene Creed we state our confession of faith in this great
mystery: “For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the
power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made
man”. God gives us grace and he expects us to respond with the same
willingness, obedience, and heartfelt trust as Mary did. When God commands he
also gives the help, strength, and means to respond. We can either yield to his
grace or resist and go our own way. Do you believe in God's promises and do you
yield to his grace?
"Heavenly
Father, you offer us abundant grace, mercy, and forgiveness through your Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ. Help me to live a grace-filled life as Mary did by
believing in your promises and by giving you my unqualified 'yes' to your will
and plan for my life."
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Mary’s Fiat |
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Friday of the Third
Week of Advent
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Father Edward
McIlmail, LC
Luke 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.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, as I contemplate the example of Mary’s
simplicity and generosity, my heart burns within me. If only I could be as
docile as she was. In my desire to improve, I trust in your help and mercy.
As I begin this prayer, I humbly place myself in your presence. I come, Lord,
to do your will.
Petition: Grant me, Lord, a love for the example of
Our Lady.
1. A Personal Call: We notice the very human details of the
Annunciation. It happened in a specific place, to a specific person. So it is
with God’s plan. He doesn’t call us en masse. He calls each one of us
personally, because he loves each of us as a son or daughter. The Catholic
faith is a personal relationship with Our Lord. Do I ever feel the opposite?
Do I ever feel like just a number? That’s not how God intends my faith to be.
My vocation is personal. Do I respond likewise in a personal way to God?
2. Beyond All Hopes: God’s people had long awaited a Messiah.
Mary also would have looked forward to a Savior. Yet it likely would not have
occurred to her that she would ever be the mother of the
Redeemer. We too might wonder: When will God send someone to save the world
in our time? In fact, he tries to do just that ― through each one of us. Each
of us can be a saint; each of us can help save the world, with God’s grace.
Likewise, each of us is called to a great and unique vocation, whether
ordained, consecrated or lay. To what great mission is God calling me? Do I
realize that my life can be great, if lived with sufficient love?
3. Let It Be: Mary’s fiat ― “Let it be done to me” ― was
the response that brought joy to the angels in heaven. A 14- or 15-year-old,
by her openness to God’s plan, would help to change the course of history.
We, too, are called to say “yes” to God and to build little civilizations of
love. Each generation can contribute to building the Kingdom. Do I see the
young people in my life as potential apostles? Do I respect them as persons
called to great things? Do I see my friends in the same way?
Conversation with Christ: Lord, your great plan for sending your Son
into the world hinged on Mary’s “yes.” Let me learn from her openness; let me
say “yes” to what you ask.
Resolution: I will pray for a young person to have the
strength to follow a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life.
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, LUKE 1:26-38
(Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24)
KEY VERSE: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God" (v 30).
READING: After centuries of longing for the Messiah, the glorious announcement was made to a young woman who lived in Nazareth, an insignificant village in northern Israel. Her name was Mary (Hebrew: Miriam, the "exalted one"), As Mary pondered the joyful salutation to her, the angelic messenger urged her to have no fear as she had found favor with God. Mary's son would be conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. He would be the son of the Most High God, the Holy One, the everlasting King of all the earth who would rule eternally over the "house of Jacob" (v 33) fulfilling the promises made to King David (2 Sm 7:16). Jesus' name (Hebrew: Yeshua) implied his mission: he would be the Savior of all people. Mary responded with faithful submission to the will of God. She was an example of those whom Jesus declared blessed because of purity of heart and desire to do what God required (Mt 5:3-10).
REFLECTING: What meaning do the names given to Jesus in the annunciation have for you?
PRAYING: Mary of Nazareth, help me to obey God's will in all the decisions of my life.
(Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24)
KEY VERSE: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God" (v 30).
READING: After centuries of longing for the Messiah, the glorious announcement was made to a young woman who lived in Nazareth, an insignificant village in northern Israel. Her name was Mary (Hebrew: Miriam, the "exalted one"), As Mary pondered the joyful salutation to her, the angelic messenger urged her to have no fear as she had found favor with God. Mary's son would be conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. He would be the son of the Most High God, the Holy One, the everlasting King of all the earth who would rule eternally over the "house of Jacob" (v 33) fulfilling the promises made to King David (2 Sm 7:16). Jesus' name (Hebrew: Yeshua) implied his mission: he would be the Savior of all people. Mary responded with faithful submission to the will of God. She was an example of those whom Jesus declared blessed because of purity of heart and desire to do what God required (Mt 5:3-10).
REFLECTING: What meaning do the names given to Jesus in the annunciation have for you?
PRAYING: Mary of Nazareth, help me to obey God's will in all the decisions of my life.
O KEY OF DAVID
O Clavis David: "O Key of David, O Royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom" (Isaiah 9:6; 22:22).
O Clavis David: "O Key of David, O Royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom" (Isaiah 9:6; 22:22).
Friday, December
20, 2013
St. Dominic of Silos
(c. 1000-1073)
St. Dominic of Silos
(c. 1000-1073)
It’s not the founder of the Dominicans we honor today, but there’s
a poignant story that connects both Dominics.
Our saint
today, Dominic of Silos, was born in Spain around the year 1000 into a peasant
family. As a young boy he spent time in the fields, where he welcomed the
solitude. He became a Benedictine priest and served in numerous leadership
positions. Following a dispute with the king over property, Dominic and two
other monks were exiled. They established a new monastery in what at first
seemed an unpromising location. Under Dominic’s leadership, however, it became
one of the most famous houses in Spain. Many healings were reported there.
About 100
years after Dominic’s death, a young woman made a pilgrimage to his tomb. There
Dominic of Silos appeared to her and assured her that she would bear another
son. The woman was Joan of Aza, and the son she bore grew up to be the
"other" Dominic—the one who founded the Dominicans.
For many
years thereafter, the staff used by St. Dominic of Silos was brought to the
royal palace whenever a queen of Spain was in labor. That practice ended in
1931.
LECTIO DIVINA:
LUKE 1: 26-38
Lectio:
Friday, December
20, 2013
1)
Opening prayer
God of
the poor and the humble,
we thank you today for choosing Mary
as the Virgin Mother of Jesus, your Son.
Her faith and willing service
opened the way to your new world.
Dispose us to seek your will
and to cooperate with your plans,
that we too, like Mary,
may give to the world its Saviour,
Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord.
we thank you today for choosing Mary
as the Virgin Mother of Jesus, your Son.
Her faith and willing service
opened the way to your new world.
Dispose us to seek your will
and to cooperate with your plans,
that we too, like Mary,
may give to the world its Saviour,
Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord.
2)
Gospel Reading – Luke 1, 26-38
In the
sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called
Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David;
and the virgin's name was Mary.
He went in and said to her, 'Rejoice, you who enjoy God's favour! The Lord is with you.' She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour. Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.'
Mary said to the angel, 'But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?' The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. And I tell you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.'
Mary said, 'You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.' And the angel left her.
He went in and said to her, 'Rejoice, you who enjoy God's favour! The Lord is with you.' She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour. Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.'
Mary said to the angel, 'But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?' The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. And I tell you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.'
Mary said, 'You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.' And the angel left her.
3)
Reflection
• The
visit of the Angel to Mary reminds us of the visit of God to different women of
the Old Testament: Sarah, mother of Isaac (Gen 18, 9-15), Anne, mother of
Samuel (1 Sam 1, 9-18), the mother of Samson (Jg 13, 2-5). To all of them was
announced the birth of a son with an important mission in the realization of
God’s plan.
• The account begins with the expression “in the sixth month”. It is the sixth month of the pregnancy of Elizabeth. The concrete need of Elizabeth, a woman advanced in age who is expecting her first son with the risk of delivery, this is the background of all this episode. Elizabeth is mentioned at the beginning (Lk 1, 26) and at the end of the visit of the angel (Lk 1, 36.39).
• The angel says: “Rejoice, you who enjoy God’s favour, the Lord is with you”!. Similar words were said also to Moses (Ex 3, 12), to Jeremiah (Jer 1, 8), to Gideon (Jg 6, 12) and to other persons with an important mission in God’s plan. Mary is surprised at the greeting and tries to understand the significance of those words. She is realistic. She wants to understand. She does not accept just any inspiration.
• The angel answers: “Do not be afraid!” Just as it happened in the visit of the angel to Zechariah, here also the first greeting of God is always: “Do not be afraid!”. Immediately the angel recalls the promises of the past which will be fulfilled thanks to the son who will be born and who has to receive the name of Jesus. He will be called the Son of the Most High and in him will be realized the Kingdom of God. This is the explanation of the angel in such a way that Mary is not afraid.
• Mary is aware of, knows the mission which she is about to receive, but she continues to be realistic. She does not allow herself to be drawn by the greatness of the offer, and observes her condition. She analyses the offer according to certain criteria which she has available. Humanly speaking, it was not possible: “But how can this come about, I have no knowledge of man?”
• The angel explains that the Holy Spirit, present in God’s Word since the Creation (Genesis 1, 2), is capable to realize things which seem impossible. This is why, the Holy One who will be born from Mary will be called Son of God. The miracle repeats itself up until today. When the Word of God is accepted by the poor, something new happens, thanks to the force of the Holy Spirit! Something new and surprising such as a son is born of a virgin or a son is born to a woman of advanced age, like Elizabeth, of whom all said that she was barren, that she could not have children! And the angel adds: “See, your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God”.
• The response of the angel clarifies everything for Mary, and she surrenders: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word”. Mary uses for herself the title of Servant, Handmaid of the Lord. This title of Isaiah, which represents the mission of the people not as a privilege, but rather as a service to the other people (Is 42, 1-9; 49, 3-6). Later Jesus will define his mission as a service: “I have not come to be served, but to serve!” (Mt 20, 28). He learnt this from his Mother!
• The account begins with the expression “in the sixth month”. It is the sixth month of the pregnancy of Elizabeth. The concrete need of Elizabeth, a woman advanced in age who is expecting her first son with the risk of delivery, this is the background of all this episode. Elizabeth is mentioned at the beginning (Lk 1, 26) and at the end of the visit of the angel (Lk 1, 36.39).
• The angel says: “Rejoice, you who enjoy God’s favour, the Lord is with you”!. Similar words were said also to Moses (Ex 3, 12), to Jeremiah (Jer 1, 8), to Gideon (Jg 6, 12) and to other persons with an important mission in God’s plan. Mary is surprised at the greeting and tries to understand the significance of those words. She is realistic. She wants to understand. She does not accept just any inspiration.
• The angel answers: “Do not be afraid!” Just as it happened in the visit of the angel to Zechariah, here also the first greeting of God is always: “Do not be afraid!”. Immediately the angel recalls the promises of the past which will be fulfilled thanks to the son who will be born and who has to receive the name of Jesus. He will be called the Son of the Most High and in him will be realized the Kingdom of God. This is the explanation of the angel in such a way that Mary is not afraid.
• Mary is aware of, knows the mission which she is about to receive, but she continues to be realistic. She does not allow herself to be drawn by the greatness of the offer, and observes her condition. She analyses the offer according to certain criteria which she has available. Humanly speaking, it was not possible: “But how can this come about, I have no knowledge of man?”
• The angel explains that the Holy Spirit, present in God’s Word since the Creation (Genesis 1, 2), is capable to realize things which seem impossible. This is why, the Holy One who will be born from Mary will be called Son of God. The miracle repeats itself up until today. When the Word of God is accepted by the poor, something new happens, thanks to the force of the Holy Spirit! Something new and surprising such as a son is born of a virgin or a son is born to a woman of advanced age, like Elizabeth, of whom all said that she was barren, that she could not have children! And the angel adds: “See, your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God”.
• The response of the angel clarifies everything for Mary, and she surrenders: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word”. Mary uses for herself the title of Servant, Handmaid of the Lord. This title of Isaiah, which represents the mission of the people not as a privilege, but rather as a service to the other people (Is 42, 1-9; 49, 3-6). Later Jesus will define his mission as a service: “I have not come to be served, but to serve!” (Mt 20, 28). He learnt this from his Mother!
4)
Reflection
• What
struck you the most in the visit of the Angel Gabriel to Mary?
• Jesus praises his Mother when he says: “Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it” (Lk 11, 28). How does Mary relate to the Word of God during the visit of the Angel?
• Jesus praises his Mother when he says: “Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it” (Lk 11, 28). How does Mary relate to the Word of God during the visit of the Angel?
5)
Concluding Prayer
To
Yahweh belong the earth and all it contains,
the world and all who live there;
it is he who laid its foundations on the seas,
on the flowing waters fixed it firm. (Ps 24,1-2)
the world and all who live there;
it is he who laid its foundations on the seas,
on the flowing waters fixed it firm. (Ps 24,1-2)
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