Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Lectionary: 194
Lectionary: 194
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.
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.
Responsorial Psalm PS 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19
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.
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.
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.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O Leader of the House of Israel,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O Leader of the House of Israel,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT 1:18-25
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 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.
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: "He
will save his people from their sins"
Do you hold on to the
promises of God at all times, especially when you are faced with uncertainty or
adversity? The prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah spoke words of hope in a hopeless
situation for Israel. The Davidic dynasty was corrupt and unfit for a Messianic
King. Apostates like King Ahaz (2 Kings 16) and weaklings like Zedekiah
(Jeremiah 38) occupied the throne of David. How could God be faithful to his
promise to raise up a righteous King who would rule forever over the house of
David? The prophets trusted that God could somehow “raise up a righteous shoot”
from the stump of Jesse (Isaiah 2:11). Like the prophets we are called
“in hope to believe against hope” (Romans 4:18) that God can and will fulfill
all his promises.
Mary was found
to be with child of the Holy Spirit
Mary had to face an enormous challenge to her faith and trust in God and to the faith of her family and Joseph, the man she chose to marry. She was asked to assume a burden of tremendous responsibility. It had never been heard of before that a child could be born without a natural father. Mary was asked to accept this miraculous exception to the laws of nature. That required faith and trust in God and in his promises. Second, Mary was not yet married. Pregnancy outside of wedlock was not tolerated in those days. Mary was only espoused to Joseph, and such an engagement had to last for a whole year. She was asked to assume a great risk. She could have been rejected by Joseph, by her family, by all her own people. Mary knew that Joseph and her family would not understand without revelation from God. She nonetheless believed and trusted in God's promises.
Mary had to face an enormous challenge to her faith and trust in God and to the faith of her family and Joseph, the man she chose to marry. She was asked to assume a burden of tremendous responsibility. It had never been heard of before that a child could be born without a natural father. Mary was asked to accept this miraculous exception to the laws of nature. That required faith and trust in God and in his promises. Second, Mary was not yet married. Pregnancy outside of wedlock was not tolerated in those days. Mary was only espoused to Joseph, and such an engagement had to last for a whole year. She was asked to assume a great risk. She could have been rejected by Joseph, by her family, by all her own people. Mary knew that Joseph and her family would not understand without revelation from God. She nonetheless believed and trusted in God's promises.
Joseph believed
the angel's message "that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit"
Joseph, a just and God-fearing man, did not wish to embarrass or punish his espoused wife, Mary when he discovered that she was pregnant. To all appearances she had broken their solemn pledge to be faithful and chaste to one another. Joseph, no doubt took this troubling matter to God in prayer. He was not hasty to judge or to react with hurt and anger. God rewarded him not only with guidance and consolation, but with the divine assurance that he had indeed called Joseph to be the husband of Mary and to assume a mission that would require the utmost faith, confidence, and trust in Almighty God. Joseph believed in the divine message to take Mary as his wife and to accept the child in her womb as the promised Messiah.
Joseph, a just and God-fearing man, did not wish to embarrass or punish his espoused wife, Mary when he discovered that she was pregnant. To all appearances she had broken their solemn pledge to be faithful and chaste to one another. Joseph, no doubt took this troubling matter to God in prayer. He was not hasty to judge or to react with hurt and anger. God rewarded him not only with guidance and consolation, but with the divine assurance that he had indeed called Joseph to be the husband of Mary and to assume a mission that would require the utmost faith, confidence, and trust in Almighty God. Joseph believed in the divine message to take Mary as his wife and to accept the child in her womb as the promised Messiah.
A model of faith
for us
Like Mary, Joseph is a model of faith for us. He is a faithful witness and servant of God's unfolding plan of redemption. Are you ready to believe in the promises of God, even when faced with perplexing circumstances and what seems like insurmountable problems? God has not left us alone, but has brought us his only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us celebrate Christmas, the feast of the Incarnation, with joyful hearts and let us renew our faith and hope in God and in his redeeming work.
Like Mary, Joseph is a model of faith for us. He is a faithful witness and servant of God's unfolding plan of redemption. Are you ready to believe in the promises of God, even when faced with perplexing circumstances and what seems like insurmountable problems? God has not left us alone, but has brought us his only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us celebrate Christmas, the feast of the Incarnation, with joyful hearts and let us renew our faith and hope in God and in his redeeming work.
"Lord Jesus, you
came to save us from sin and the power of death. May I always rejoice in your
salvation and trust in your divine plan for my life."
 Just Joseph |
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December 18,
2014. Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
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Matthew 1:18-25
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 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.
Introductory
Prayer: Lord, I come before you
humbly. As one who has frequently fallen into sin, I am aware of my weakness.
Your great love, though, assures me that your grace can keep me on the path
to holiness.
Petition: Lord, let me better imitate St. Joseph in the way I
deal with the people around me.
1. No
Gloating: Joseph was taken aback
to learn that Mary was expecting a baby. Here was a woman he always knew to
be beyond reproach. Legally he could have denounced her publicly. Yet he
didn’t. He was ready to let the whole matter drop quietly, as if to give Mary
the benefit of the doubt. What a great virtue this is: to think the best of
others! It reflects a heart of peace and calm. How many friendships have
ended ― indeed, how many wars have started ― because people assumed the worst
of someone else. Have I ever judged the motives of someone else, only to
learn later that things were not as they first appeared? To whom should I be
giving the benefit of the doubt?
2. Angelic
Explanation: Notice that the
angel appears to Joseph only after he decides to do the charitable thing and
send Mary away quietly. So it often goes in the spiritual life: God reveals
more of his plan to us only if we respond to a crisis with charity. It is as
if Jesus says, “Treat others well and you will begin to understand me
better.” In a crisis, is charity my first response?
3. Jesus’
Portal: This Gospel passage could
be called a second Annunciation. At the first Annunciation, Mary said
"yes" to the angel. Now, Joseph’s "yes" was needed in
order to ensure that Jesus would have the appearance of an earthly father
(and a reputable lineage). Jesus often wants to come back into the world, so
to speak, to touch lives: through a work of charity, a word of kindness ― or
even a new baby. He counts on our help though. What help could Jesus be
asking of me so as to carry out his plans? Could I be thwarting his plans
because of laziness, stubbornness, or selfishness? Is he asking me to
cooperate with someone? With a loved one? A classmate? A co-worker?
Conversation with
Christ: You wonderfully invite me
to help you in your mission to save souls, Lord. You respect my freedom, and
you want me to respond out of love. Let me appreciate that truth fully, and
let me be generous with you.
Resolution: I will agree to one request (big or small) today to
help someone.
By Father Edward
McIlmail, LC
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, ADVENT WEEKDAY,
MATTHEW 1:18-25
ANTIPHON: O SACRED LORD
(Jeremiah 23:5-8; Psalm 72)
ANTIPHON: O SACRED LORD
(Jeremiah 23:5-8; Psalm 72)
KEY VERSE: "She is to have a son and you are to name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins" (v 21).
READING: Luke's nativity narration was told from Mary's perspective, whereas Matthew's point of view was Joseph, to whom she was betrothed. Betrothal was a solemn commitment that lasted a full year, and could only be terminated by divorce. Joseph was a righteous man who faithfully observed the Mosaic law, but when he discovered that Mary was with child, he was unwilling to publicly charge her with adultery as the penalty was death (Dt 22:20-24). In a dream, Joseph was told not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife because the child had been conceived through the Holy Spirit. With the Spirit's guidance there was nothing to fear. Joseph was instructed to name the child "Jesus" (Hebrew, Yeshua) meaning "Yahweh saves." In Jesus, God would save the people from their sins. Through Joseph's family line, Jesus bears the royal title "Son of David." Jesus is also "Emmanuel" ("God is with us," Matt 1:23; Is 7:14), the incarnate "Son of God" who would dwell among the people for eternity.
REFLECTING: Do I seek the Spirit's guidance when I have difficult decisions to make?
PRAYING: St. Joseph, help me to follow your example of humble obedience.
Today's O Antiphon is "O Adonai" (O Sacred LORD). Adonai was the Hebrew word that the Jews used instead of the four-lettered word for God's name (YHWH), which they held to be too sacred to pronounce aloud. Christ is Lord of Creation. He is also Lord of the Covenant he made on Mount Sinai with the People He chose.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty, and awe.
Thursday 18 December 2014
Jeremiah 23:5-8. Justice
shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever—Ps 71(72):1-2,
12-13, 18-19. Matthew 1:18-24.
Next week is Christmas Day.
These are the final days of
preparation for the great feast of the Nativity. Usually our minds turn to the
family celebrations that are approaching, or the various end-of-year
get-togethers, or the never-ending routine of Christmas parties. But today we pause
with Matthew’s account of the annunciation to Joseph.
Joseph, the man of dreams,
hears the words that fulfil a long-awaited promised: ‘God-is-with-us!’ This is
the great proclamation of the Christmas season. God is not some abstract idea,
or distant deity, but the One who is with us. As Joseph believed the promise
that he heard in his dream, may we hear the promise that is spoken to us in the
Word of God.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
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Ready to Celebrate
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God of love, as I come to the end of this Advent season, my heart
is ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus. I join with Mary in saying, “Here am
I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Nothing
is impossible with you, O God.
December
18
Blessed Anthony Grassi
(1592-1671)
Blessed Anthony Grassi
(1592-1671)
Anthony’s father died when his son was only 10 years old, but the
young lad inherited his father’s devotion to Our Lady of Loreto. As a schoolboy
he frequented the local church of the Oratorian Fathers, joining the religious
order when he was 17.
Already a
fine student, he soon gained a reputation in his religious community as a
"walking dictionary" who quickly grasped Scripture and theology. For
some time he was tormented by scruples, but they reportedly left him at the very
hour he celebrated his first Mass. From that day, serenity penetrated his very
being.
In 1621,
at age 29, Anthony was struck by lightning while praying in the church of the
Holy House at Loreto. He was carried paralyzed from the church, expecting to
die. When he recovered in a few days he realized that he had been cured of
acute indigestion. His scorched clothes were donated to the Loreto church as an
offering of thanks for his new gift of life.
More
important, Anthony now felt that his life belonged entirely to God. Each year
thereafter he made a pilgrimage to Loreto to express his thanks.
He also
began hearing confessions, and came to be regarded as an outstanding confessor.
Simple and direct, he listened carefully to penitents, said a few words and gave
a penance and absolution, frequently drawing on his gift of reading
consciences.
In 1635
he was elected superior of the Fermo Oratory. He was so well regarded that he
was reelected every three years until his death. He was a quiet person and a
gentle superior who did not know how to be severe. At the same time he kept the
Oratorian constitutions literally, encouraging the community to do likewise.
He
refused social or civic commitments and instead would go out day or night to
visit the sick or dying or anyone else needing his services. As he grew older,
he had a God-given awareness of the future, a gift which he frequently used to
warn or to console.
But age
brought its challenges as well. He suffered the humility of having to give up
his physical faculties one by one. First was his preaching, necessitated after
he lost his teeth. Then he could no longer hear confessions. Finally, after a
fall, he was confined to his room. The archbishop himself came each day to give
him holy Communion. One of Anthony’s final acts was to reconcile two fiercely
quarreling brothers.
Comment:
Nothing provides a better reason for reassessing a life than a brush with death. Anthony’s life already seemed to be on track when he was struck by lightning; he was a brilliant priest blessed, at last, with serenity. But his experience softened him. He became a loving counselor and a wise mediator. The same might be said of us if we put our hearts to it. We needn’t wait to be struck by lightning.
Nothing provides a better reason for reassessing a life than a brush with death. Anthony’s life already seemed to be on track when he was struck by lightning; he was a brilliant priest blessed, at last, with serenity. But his experience softened him. He became a loving counselor and a wise mediator. The same might be said of us if we put our hearts to it. We needn’t wait to be struck by lightning.
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 1,18-24
Lectio:
Thursday, December 18, 2014
3rd Week of Advent
1) Opening prayer
Lord, faithful God,
in Jesus you have given us someone
taken from our human flesh and blood,
a man, yet your Son,
through whom you want to restore
integrity and fidelity among us.
Help us to give with him,
to you and also to one another,"
the proper and adequate response
of faithful, serving love,
which you expect from your people.
Be our God for ever
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
in Jesus you have given us someone
taken from our human flesh and blood,
a man, yet your Son,
through whom you want to restore
integrity and fidelity among us.
Help us to give with him,
to you and also to one another,"
the proper and adequate response
of faithful, serving love,
which you expect from your people.
Be our God for ever
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
2) Gospel Reading – Matthew 1, 18-24
This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was
betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be
with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being an upright man
and wanting to spare her disgrace, decided to divorce her informally. He had
made up his mind to do this when suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to him
in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home
as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She
will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who
is to save his people from their sins.'
Now all this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through
the prophet: Look! the virgin is with child and will give birth to a son whom
they will call Immanuel, a name which means 'God-is-with-us'.
When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told
him to do: he took his wife to his home.
3) Reflection
• In Luke’s Gospel the story of the infancy of Jesus (chapters 1
and 2 of Luke) is centred around the person of Mary. Here in the Gospel of
Matthew the infancy of Jesus (chapters 1 and 2 of Matthew)is centred around the
person of Joseph, the promised spouse of Mary. Joseph was of the descent of
David. Through him Jesus belongs to the race of David. Thus in Jesus, are
fulfilled the promises made by God to David and to his descendants.
• As we have seen in yesterday’s Gospel, in the four women,
companions of Mary, in the genealogy of Jesus, there was something abnormal
which did not correspond to the norms of the Law: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and
Bathsheba. Today’s Gospel shows us that Mary was also somewhat abnormal,
contrary to the Laws of that time. In the eyes of the people of Nazareth she
appeared being pregnant before living with Joseph. Neither the people nor the
future husband knew the origin of this pregnancy. If Joseph had been just
according to the justice of the Scribes and the Pharisees, he should have
denounced Mary, and the penalty which she would have suffered would have been
death, stoning her.
• Joseph was just, yes, but his justice was different. Already
beforehand he practiced what Jesus would teach later on: “If your uprightness
does not surpass that of the Scribes and Pharisees you will never get into the
Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 5, 20). This is why, Joseph not understanding the facts
and not wanting to repudiate Mary, decided to leave her in secret.
• In the Bible, the discovery of the call of God in the facts of
life, takes place in different ways. For example, through the meditation of the
facts (Lk 2, 10.51), through the meditation of the Bible (Acts 15, 15-19; 17,
2-3), through the angels (the word angel means messenger), who helped to discover
the significance of the facts (Mt 28, 5-7). Joseph succeeded in perceiving the
significance of what was taking place in Mary by means of a dream. In his sleep
an angel uses the Bible to clarify the origin of Mary’s pregnancy. It came from
the action of the Spirit of God.
• When everything was clear for Mary, she says: “Behold the
handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word!” When
everything was clear for Joseph, he takes Mary as his spouse and they went to
live together. Thanks to the justice of Joseph, Mary was not put to death, was
not stoned and Jesus continued to live in her womb.
4) Personal questions
• In the eyes of the Scribes, the Justice of Joseph would be a
disobedience. Is there a message for us in this?
• How do you discover the call of the Word of God in the facts
of your life?
5) Concluding Prayer
For God rescues the needy who calls to him,
and the poor who has no one to help.
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the needy from death. (Ps 72,12-13)
and the poor who has no one to help.
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the needy from death. (Ps 72,12-13)
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