Tuesday of the First Week of Advent
Lectionary: 176
Lectionary: 176
On that day,
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
A Spirit of counsel and of strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
But he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.
On that day,
The root of Jesse,
set up as a signal for the nations,
The Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious.
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
A Spirit of counsel and of strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
But he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.
On that day,
The root of Jesse,
set up as a signal for the nations,
The Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious.
Responsorial Psalm PS 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
R. (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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, our Lord shall come with power;
he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, our Lord shall come with power;
he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 10:21-24
Jesus rejoiced in
the Holy Spirit and said,
“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows who the Son is except the Father,
and who the Father is except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
Turning to the disciples in private he said,
“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
For I say to you,
many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,
but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows who the Son is except the Father,
and who the Father is except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
Turning to the disciples in private he said,
“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
For I say to you,
many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,
but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
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Meditation: "Blessed are the eyes which see what
you see!"
How
does God bring his kingdom to us? Jesus remarked that many prophets and kings
before him longed to see and understand God's plan for establishing his
kingdom. When King David’s throne was overthrown and vacant for centuries, God
promised, nonetheless, to raise up a new king from the stump of Jesse, the
father of David. This messianic king would rule forever because the Spirit of
God would rest upon him and remain with him (Isaiah 11:1).
Isaiah prophesied that
the Messiah would be equipped with the gifts of the Spirit - with wisdom,
understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord (Isaiah
11:2 - for an explanation of the gifts see this helpful article). This
king would establish the kingdom of God, not by force of human will and
military power, but by offering his life as the atoning sacrifice for the sin
of the world. Through his death on the cross, Jesus, the true Messiah King,
would defeat Satan, overcome death, and win pardon and reconciliation for
sinners. God's plan of redemption included not only the Jewish people but all
the nations of the earth as well. Through his death and resurrection Jesus
makes us citizens of heaven and friends of God. The Lord Jesus wants us to live
in joyful hope and confident expectation that he will come again to fully
establish his kingdom of righteousness and peace.
What does Jesus'
prayer (Luke 10:21-22) tell us about God and about ourselves? First, it tells
us that God is both Father and Lord of earth as well as heaven. He is both
Creator and Author of all that he has made, the first origin of everything and
transcendent authority, and at the same time, goodness and loving care for all
his children. All fatherhood and motherhood are derived from him (Ephesians
3:14-15). Jesus' prayer also contains a warning that pride can keep us from the
love and knowledge of God.
Pride closes the mind
to God's truth and wisdom for our lives. Jesus contrasts pride with child-like
simplicity and humility. The simple of heart are like "babes" in the
sense that they see purely without pretense and acknowledge their dependence
and trust in God who is the source of all wisdom and strength. They seek one
thing - the "summum bonum" or "greatest good" which is God
himself. Simplicity of heart is wedded with humility, the queen of virtues,
because humility inclines the heart towards grace and truth. Just as pride is
the root of every sin and evil we can conceive, so humility is the only soil in
which the grace of God can take root. It alone takes the right attitude before
God and allows him as God to do all. "God opposes the proud, but gives
grace to the humble" (Prov. 3:34, James 4:6). The grace of Christ-like
humility inclines us towards God and disposes us to receive God's wisdom,
grace, and help. Nothing can give us greater joy than the knowledge that we are
God's beloved and that our names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20). Do you seek
God's wisdom and grace with humility and trust?
Jesus makes a claim
which no one would have dared to make: He is the perfect revelation of God. Our
knowledge of God is not simply limited to knowing something about God - who he
is and what he is like. We can know God personally and be united with him in a
relationship of love, trust, and friendship. Jesus makes it possible for each
of us to personally know God as our Father. To see Jesus is to see what God is
like. In Jesus we see the perfect love of God - a God who cares intensely and
who yearns over men and women, loving them to the point of laying down his life
for them upon the cross. Do you pray to your Father in heaven with joy and
confidence in his love and care for you?
"Lord Jesus, give
me the child-like simplicity and purity of faith to gaze upon your face with
joy and confidence in your all-merciful love. Remove every doubt, fear, and
proud thought which would hinder me from receiving your word with trust and
humble submission."
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God’s Ways |
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December 2, 2014.
Tuesday of the First Week of Advent
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Luke 10: 21-24
Jesus rejoiced in
the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and
earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the
learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been
your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No
one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the
Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Turning to the
disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,
but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
Introductory
Prayer: Christ, I believe that
you can put my talents to good use. I hope that you will allow me to come to
know you better each day. I love you and trust that you are guiding me
through life. Not only are you guiding me in my life; you are also letting
others be edified by my example.
Petition: Lord, help me to trust in you through every
circumstance of life.
1. God Reveals
Himself to the Childlike: We long
to know Christ better. How we yearn to understand a little more about God and
his infinite love! Our small intellects can barely lay hold of any notion or
attribute of the Divine Persons. Even if we were to study long hours, we
would come to the conclusion that our learning is nothing. True knowledge of
Christ and of God doesn’t come by learning from books. True knowledge of
Christ and of God is revealed to those who learn to quiet their souls in
prayer. We need to imitate the resourceful little child who falls on the
ground and then runs to his mother to be scooped up in a loving embrace. If
we can remember our littleness on one hand and God’s pure, loving benevolence
on the other, we’ll permit—even delight in—his wiping away from our faces the
blood and tears caused by our sins. Only when we surrender ourselves into
God’s forgiving, tender hands can we say that we know him.
2. God Chooses
the Childlike: Christ singles out
each one of us for a particular mission in life. We might think of the many
people around us––educated, wise, learned people––who would surely be better
suited for the calling at hand, who could do a far better job than we could.
However, Christ isn’t looking always for the cleverest person, the one with
the quickest wit, or the one with the best education. Many times he
scrutinizes the corners of the globe for the soul that is innocent, open to
his plan, and willing to carry it out. Simplicity and humility are the key
words when it comes to being chosen by God to participate more actively in
his plan of redemption.
3. The Childlike
Can Entrust the Bigger Picture to God: How many prophets and kings longed for the time of
Christ, when the work of salvation would be fulfilled! During their time of
waiting they left us an example of constancy and dedication to the things of
God, despite never seeing many of the things promised them. They played an
active role in leading and guiding the people of their time, but they didn’t
see the fulfillment of all God’s entire design. God asks us to be like them,
planting the seeds of redemption that may not sprout for years. We, like the
prophets, aren’t always given the grace to see the entire picture. That is
part of being childlike: trusting that God our Father knows what he is doing.
Cardinal John Henry Newman prayed in his famous poem, The Pillar of
the Cloud:
“Keep thou my
feet: I do not ask to see
the distant scene – one step enough for me”.
Do I entrust the big
picture of my life to God my Father, or do I try to yank the “video control”
from his loving hands?
Conversation with
Christ: Christ, I don’t ask for
great understanding or knowledge. Help me to accept with the simplicity and
trust of a child all that you want to do in me. I don’t ask for great insight
into the depths of your divine attributes. I just want to grow in friendship
with you, and I know that means I need an unshakeable confidence in your
infinite love for me. I want to allow you to love me and direct me according
to your good will.
Resolution: I will open my heart more widely to God’s plan for my
life.
By Father Jon Budke,
LC
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Tuesday 2 December 2014
Isaiah 11:1-10. Justice
shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever—Ps 71(72):1-2, 7-8,
12-13, 17. Luke 10:21-24.
‘Blessed are the eyes that
see what you see.’
We think about the
apostles, the ones Jesus refers to as ‘childlike’ in today’s gospel reading.
One was a political activist, another a jaded tax collector, others tough
fishermen. This was no naive group. Yet these worldly-wise men had learned to
trust God in the same way as children instinctively trust their parents.
As we begin Advent, let us
come with spiritual trust and openness and tell our heavenly Father about our
struggles, our worries and our sins—even the ones we are not ready to let go of
yet. God can handle it. Most important, let us tell God that we love him as
children love their parents. Then, when Christmas comes, we won’t just be
remembering the incarnation of God’s Son as a historical event but as the
greatest gift the Father has given to us.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
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Welcome In
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In Advent we cry out, “Come, O come Emmanuel! Come, visit us and
bring your peace to hearts filled with the cares and troubles of our lives. Let
us become a holding place for you as we begin this blessed season.”
December
2
Blessed Rafal Chylinski
(1694-1741)
Blessed Rafal Chylinski
(1694-1741)
Born near
Buk in the Poznan region of Poland, Melchior showed early signs of religious
devotion; family members nicknamed him "the little monk." After
completing his studies at the Jesuit college in Poznan, Melchior joined the
cavalry and was promoted to officer rank within three years.
In 1715,
against the urgings of his military comrades, Melchior joined the Conventual
Franciscans in Krakow. Receiving the name Rafal, he was ordained two years
later. After pastoral assignments in nine cities, he came to Lagiewniki
(central Poland), where he spent the last 13 years of his life, except for 20
months ministering to flood and epidemic victims in Warsaw. In all these
places, Rafal was known for his simple and candid sermons, for his generosity,
as well as his ministry in the confessional. People of all levels of society
were drawn to the self-sacrificing way he lived out his religious profession
and priestly ministry.
Rafal
played the harp, lute, and mandolin to accompany liturgical hymns. In
Lagiewniki he distributed food, supplies, and clothing to the poor. After his
death, the Conventual church in that city became a place of pilgrimage for
people throughout Poland. He was beatified in Warsaw in 1991.
Comment:
The sermons preached by Rafal were powerfully reinforced by the living sermon of his life. The Sacrament of Reconciliation can help us bring our daily choices into harmony with our words about Jesus’ influence in our life.
The sermons preached by Rafal were powerfully reinforced by the living sermon of his life. The Sacrament of Reconciliation can help us bring our daily choices into harmony with our words about Jesus’ influence in our life.
Quote:
During the beatification homily, Pope John Paul II said, "May Blessed Rafal remind us that every one of us, even though we are sinners, has been called to love and to holiness" (L'Osservatore Romano, 1991, vol. 25, number 19).
During the beatification homily, Pope John Paul II said, "May Blessed Rafal remind us that every one of us, even though we are sinners, has been called to love and to holiness" (L'Osservatore Romano, 1991, vol. 25, number 19).
LECTIO DIVNA:
LUKE 10,21-24
Lectio:
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
1st Week of Advent
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God,
you never give up on people.
Again and again you want to make
a new beginning with us.
You showed us in Jesus your Son
the kind of people you want us to be.
As your Spirit rested on him,
pour out on us the same Spirit,
that we may see our mission in life
with your wisdom and insight
and that we may have the strength
to live as we believe and hope.
Grant us this through Christ our Lord.
Lord our God,
you never give up on people.
Again and again you want to make
a new beginning with us.
You showed us in Jesus your Son
the kind of people you want us to be.
As your Spirit rested on him,
pour out on us the same Spirit,
that we may see our mission in life
with your wisdom and insight
and that we may have the strength
to live as we believe and hope.
Grant us this through Christ our Lord.
2) Gospel Reading - Luke 10, 21-24
Just at this time, filled with joy by the Holy Spirit, he said, 'I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to little children. Yes, Father, for that is what it has pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.'
Then turning to his disciples he spoke to them by themselves, 'Blessed are the eyes that see what you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.'
Just at this time, filled with joy by the Holy Spirit, he said, 'I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to little children. Yes, Father, for that is what it has pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.'
Then turning to his disciples he spoke to them by themselves, 'Blessed are the eyes that see what you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.'
3) Reflection
Today’s text reveals the depth of the Heart of Jesus, the reason for his joy. The disciples had gone on the mission, and when they return, they share with Jesus the joy of their missionary experience (Lk 10, 17, 21)
• The reason for the joy of Jesus is the joy of the friends. In listening to their experience and in perceiving their joy, Jesus also feels a profound joy. The reason for Jesus’ joy is the well-being of others.
• It is not a superficial joy. It comes from the Holy Spirit. The reason for the joy is that the disciples – men and women – have experienced something of Jesus during their missionary experience.
• Jesus calls them “ little children”. Who are the “little children”? They are the seventy-two disciples (Lk 10, 1) who return from the mission: father and mother of a family, boys and girls, married and single, old and young. They are not doctors. They are simple persons, without much science, much study, but they understand the things of God better than doctors.
• “Yes, Father, for that is what it has pleased you to do!” A very serious phrase. It pleases the Father that the doctors and the wise do not understand the things of the Kingdom and that, instead the little ones understand them. Therefore, if the great want to understand the things of the Kingdom, they should become the disciples of the little ones!
• Jesus looks at them and says: “Blessed are you!” And why are they happy? Because they are seeing things which the prophets would have liked to see, but did not see. And what will they see? They will be able to perceive the action of the Kingdom in the common things of life: to cure the sick, to console the afflicted, to expel the evil from life.
Today’s text reveals the depth of the Heart of Jesus, the reason for his joy. The disciples had gone on the mission, and when they return, they share with Jesus the joy of their missionary experience (Lk 10, 17, 21)
• The reason for the joy of Jesus is the joy of the friends. In listening to their experience and in perceiving their joy, Jesus also feels a profound joy. The reason for Jesus’ joy is the well-being of others.
• It is not a superficial joy. It comes from the Holy Spirit. The reason for the joy is that the disciples – men and women – have experienced something of Jesus during their missionary experience.
• Jesus calls them “ little children”. Who are the “little children”? They are the seventy-two disciples (Lk 10, 1) who return from the mission: father and mother of a family, boys and girls, married and single, old and young. They are not doctors. They are simple persons, without much science, much study, but they understand the things of God better than doctors.
• “Yes, Father, for that is what it has pleased you to do!” A very serious phrase. It pleases the Father that the doctors and the wise do not understand the things of the Kingdom and that, instead the little ones understand them. Therefore, if the great want to understand the things of the Kingdom, they should become the disciples of the little ones!
• Jesus looks at them and says: “Blessed are you!” And why are they happy? Because they are seeing things which the prophets would have liked to see, but did not see. And what will they see? They will be able to perceive the action of the Kingdom in the common things of life: to cure the sick, to console the afflicted, to expel the evil from life.
4) Personal questions
• I take the place of the people: Do I consider myself as belonging to the group of the little ones or to that of the doctors?
• I take the place of Jesus: Which is the basis of my joy? Superficial or profound?
• I take the place of the people: Do I consider myself as belonging to the group of the little ones or to that of the doctors?
• I take the place of Jesus: Which is the basis of my joy? Superficial or profound?
5) Concluding Prayer
“I give you praise, Father,
for although you have hidden these things from the wise
you have revealed them to the childlike." (cf. Lc 10,21)
“I give you praise, Father,
for although you have hidden these things from the wise
you have revealed them to the childlike." (cf. Lc 10,21)
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