Friday of the First Week of Advent
Lectionary: 179
Lectionary: 179
Thus says the Lord
GOD:
But a very little while,
and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard,
and the orchard be regarded as a forest!
On that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book;
And out of gloom and darkness,
the eyes of the blind shall see.
The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD,
and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant will be no more
and the arrogant will have gone;
All who are alert to do evil will be cut off,
those whose mere word condemns a man,
Who ensnare his defender at the gate,
and leave the just man with an empty claim.
Therefore thus says the LORD,
the God of the house of Jacob,
who redeemed Abraham:
Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of,
nor shall his face grow pale.
When his children see
the work of my hands in his midst,
They shall keep my name holy;
they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob,
and be in awe of the God of Israel.
Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding,
and those who find fault shall receive instruction.
But a very little while,
and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard,
and the orchard be regarded as a forest!
On that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book;
And out of gloom and darkness,
the eyes of the blind shall see.
The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD,
and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant will be no more
and the arrogant will have gone;
All who are alert to do evil will be cut off,
those whose mere word condemns a man,
Who ensnare his defender at the gate,
and leave the just man with an empty claim.
Therefore thus says the LORD,
the God of the house of Jacob,
who redeemed Abraham:
Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of,
nor shall his face grow pale.
When his children see
the work of my hands in his midst,
They shall keep my name holy;
they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob,
and be in awe of the God of Israel.
Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding,
and those who find fault shall receive instruction.
Responsorial PsalmPS 27:1, 4, 13-14
R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
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.
GospelMT 9:27-31
As Jesus passed by,
two blind men followed him, crying out,
“Son of David, have pity on us!”
When he entered the house,
the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them,
“Do you believe that I can do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they said to him.
Then he touched their eyes and said,
“Let it be done for you according to your faith.”
And their eyes were opened.
Jesus warned them sternly,
“See that no one knows about this.”
But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.
“Son of David, have pity on us!”
When he entered the house,
the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them,
“Do you believe that I can do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they said to him.
Then he touched their eyes and said,
“Let it be done for you according to your faith.”
And their eyes were opened.
Jesus warned them sternly,
“See that no one knows about this.”
But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.
Meditation:
"Do you believe?"
Are there any blind-spots in your life that keep you from
recognizing God's power and mercy? When two blind men heard that Jesus was
passing their way, they followed him and begged for his mercy. The word mercy literally
means "sorrowful at heart". But mercy is something more than
compassion, or heartfelt sorrow at another person's misfortune. Compassion
empathizes with the sufferer. But mercy goes further; it removes suffering. A
merciful person shares in another person's misfortune and suffering as if it
were their own.
God shows mercy to those who recognize their need for his
forgiveness and healing
When two blind men approached Jesus, he questioned their earnestness. "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" Jesus put them to the test, not to rebuff them, but to strengthen their faith and trust in God's mercy. He touched their eyes, both to identify with their affliction and to awaken faith in them. Their faith grew as they responded to his word with confident hope. Jesus restored their sight - both physically and spiritually to the reality of God's kingdom. Faith opens the way for us to see the power of God’s kingdom and to experience his healing presence in our lives.
When two blind men approached Jesus, he questioned their earnestness. "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" Jesus put them to the test, not to rebuff them, but to strengthen their faith and trust in God's mercy. He touched their eyes, both to identify with their affliction and to awaken faith in them. Their faith grew as they responded to his word with confident hope. Jesus restored their sight - both physically and spiritually to the reality of God's kingdom. Faith opens the way for us to see the power of God’s kingdom and to experience his healing presence in our lives.
In Jesus we see the fulness of God's mercy and the power of his
kingdom - power to save from death and destruction, to forgive sins and lift
the burden of guilt, and to heal infirmities and release the oppressed. Jesus
never refused to bring God's mercy to those who earnestly sought it. How can we
seek and obtain God's mercy? God gives mercy to the lowly in heart - to those
who recognize their need for God and for his forgiveness and healing power.
God transforms those who put their hope and trust in him
God wants to change and transform our lives to set us free to live as his sons and daughters and citizens of his kingdom. Faith is key to this transformation. How can we grow in faith? Faith is a gift freely given by God to help us know God personally, to understand his truth, and to live in the power of his love. For faith to be effective it must be linked with trust and obedience - an active submission to God and a willingness to do whatever he commands. The Lord Jesus wants us to live in the confident expectation that he will fulfill his promises to us and bring us into the fulness of his kingdom - a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Do you know the peace and joy of God's kingdom?
God wants to change and transform our lives to set us free to live as his sons and daughters and citizens of his kingdom. Faith is key to this transformation. How can we grow in faith? Faith is a gift freely given by God to help us know God personally, to understand his truth, and to live in the power of his love. For faith to be effective it must be linked with trust and obedience - an active submission to God and a willingness to do whatever he commands. The Lord Jesus wants us to live in the confident expectation that he will fulfill his promises to us and bring us into the fulness of his kingdom - a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Do you know the peace and joy of God's kingdom?
"Lord Jesus, help me to draw near to you with faith and
trust in your saving power and mercy. Free me from doubt and unbelief that I
may approach you confidently and pray boldly with expectant faith. Let your
kingdom come and may your will be done in me."
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, MATTHEW 9:27-31
Advent Weekday
(Isaiah 29:17-24; Psalm 27)
Advent Weekday
(Isaiah 29:17-24; Psalm 27)
KEY VERSE: "Let it be done for you according to your faith" (v 29).
TO KNOW: The prophet Isaiah reviled Jerusalem for their blindness to God's revelation (29:9-11). In the gospels, the faith of those who were physically blind is contrasted with those who were spiritually blind to God's revelation in Jesus. In this incident, two blind men cried out to Jesus for healing, calling him by the Messianic title "Son of David." Jesus asked, "Do you believe that I can do this?" (v 28). The blind men responded with belief in his healing power. Jesus cured them, and then warned them not to tell others as they might misunderstand his mission as mere "wonder-working." In their enthusiasm, the men could not restrain themselves from speaking to others of this astounding miracle.
TO LOVE: Does the business of Advent make me blind to Jesus' presence in my life?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, give me the faith to call to you when I am in need.
Optional Memorial of John of Damascus, priest
and doctor of the Church
John of Damascus was highly educated in the classical fields. He defended the use of icons and images in churches through a series of letters opposing the anti-icon decrees of Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople. He wrote "The Fountain of Wisdom," the first real compendium of Christian theology, along with other works defending the orthodox faith, He also wrote commentaries on St. Paul, poetry, hymns, and adapted choral music for use in the liturgy. John was such an excellent speaker that he was known as Chrysorrhoas (literally the "golden-stream" or "the golden speaker"). John of Damascus was the last of the Greek Fathers of the Church. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1890 by Pope Leo XIII.
Friday 4 December 2015
Isaiah
29:17-24. The Lord is my light and my salvation—Ps 26(27):1, 4, 13-14. Matthew
9:27-31.
Think of
a modern city.
Soaring
concrete and glass buildings, faster cars, mind-numbing traffic and
ever-anxious people, submerged in the idea of glamour and mobility, hurrying
and wondering.
And then,
a new baby is born into our midst and unsurpassed joy and wonder fills our
hearts. God’s love is here shining out to us, transforming all our doubts.
Every visitor is touched and renewed by the infinite gift of this newborn.
Undoubtedly our eyes are ‘touched’ and our hearts are opened. We cannot wait to
spread this joy.
This
month is a time of ‘memory of the heart,’ where we are deeply grateful for the
blessings of the year. Each of your fingers can register a person or a special
moment where God’s grace radiated out and your life was LIFE again.
And with
the two blind men we can call out, ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation.’
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
Open Our Ears
|
Mary, woman of listening, open our ears; grant us to know how to
listen to the word of your Son Jesus among the thousands of words of this
world; grant that we may listen to the reality in which we live, to every
person we encounter, especially those who are poor, in need, in hardship. –Pope
Francis
December
4
St. John Damascene
(676?-749)
St. John Damascene
(676?-749)
John spent most of his life in the monastery of St. Sabas, near
Jerusalem, and all of his life under Muslim rule, indeed, protected by it. He
was born in Damascus, received a classical and theological education, and
followed his father in a government position under the Arabs. After a few years
he resigned and went to the monastery of St. Sabas.
He is famous in three areas. First, he is known for his writings
against the iconoclasts, who opposed the veneration of images. Paradoxically,
it was the Eastern Christian emperor Leo who forbade the practice, and it was
because John lived in Muslim territory that his enemies could not silence him.
Second, he is famous for his treatise, Exposition of the Orthodox Faith,
a summary of the Greek Fathers (of which he became the last). It is said that
this book is for Eastern schools what the Summa of
Aquinas became for the West. Thirdly, he is known as a poet, one of the
two greatest of the Eastern Church, the other being Romanus the Melodist. His
devotion to the Blessed Mother and his sermons on her feasts are well known.
Comment:
John defended the Church’s understanding of the veneration of images and explained the faith of the Church in several other controversies. For over 30 years he combined a life of prayer with these defenses and his other writings. His holiness expressed itself in putting his literary and preaching talents at the service of the Lord.
John defended the Church’s understanding of the veneration of images and explained the faith of the Church in several other controversies. For over 30 years he combined a life of prayer with these defenses and his other writings. His holiness expressed itself in putting his literary and preaching talents at the service of the Lord.
Quote:
“The saints must be honored as friends of Christ and children and heirs of God, as John the theologian and evangelist says: ‘But as many as received him, he gave them the power to be made the sons of God....’ Let us carefully observe the manner of life of all the apostles, martyrs, ascetics and just men who announced the coming of the Lord. And let us emulate their faith, charity, hope, zeal, life, patience under suffering, and perseverance unto death, so that we may also share their crowns of glory” (Exposition of the Orthodox Faith).
“The saints must be honored as friends of Christ and children and heirs of God, as John the theologian and evangelist says: ‘But as many as received him, he gave them the power to be made the sons of God....’ Let us carefully observe the manner of life of all the apostles, martyrs, ascetics and just men who announced the coming of the Lord. And let us emulate their faith, charity, hope, zeal, life, patience under suffering, and perseverance unto death, so that we may also share their crowns of glory” (Exposition of the Orthodox Faith).
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 9,27-31
Lectio:
Friday, December
4, 2015
1st Week of Advent
1)
Opening prayer
Lord God, Father of all,
in your Son Jesus Christ
you invite everyone and all to know and love you
and to live in your unending peace.
Keep alive in us the zeal
to bring the light of your truth
and the riches of your life and love to all,
without any distinction
of race, language or culture.
May everyone on earth come to know you
as the merciful Father of all
through our brother and Saviour,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 9, 27-31
As Jesus went on his way two blind men followed him shouting, 'Take pity on us, son of David.' And when Jesus reached the house the blind men came up to him and he said to them, 'Do you believe I can do this?' They said, 'Lord, we do.' Then he touched their eyes saying, 'According to your faith, let it be done to you.' And their sight returned. Then Jesus sternly warned them, 'Take care that no one learns about this.' But when they had gone away, they talked about him all over the countryside.
3) Reflection
Once again, today’s Gospel places before us the encounter of Jesus with human misery. Jesus does not withdraw, he does not hide. He accepts the persons and in accepting them, full of tenderness, he reveals God’s love.
• Two blind men follow Jesus and cry out to him: “Son of David, have pity on us!”. Jesus did not like very much the title of Son of David. He criticizes the teaching of the Scribes who said that the Messiah should be the Son of David: “David himself calls him Lord: How then can he be his son?” (Mk 12, 37).
• Reaching home, Jesus asks the blind men: “Do you believe that I can do this?” And they answer: “Yes, Lord!” It is one thing to have the true doctrine in the head, and a very different thing to have the correct faith in the heart. The doctrine of the two blind men was not too right, because they called Jesus Son of David. But Jesus does not care to be called like this, what is important to him is to have a correct faith.
• He touches the eyes and says: “May it be done to you according to your faith!” Immediately the eyes were opened. In spite of the fact that they did not possess a correct doctrine, the two blind men had a correct faith. Today many persons are more concerned about a correct doctrine than of a correct faith.
• It is good not to forget a small detail of hospitality. Jesus reaches the house and the two blind men also enter into the house, as if this was the most natural thing in the world. They feel at ease in Jesus’ house And today? A Religious Sister said: “Today the situation of the world is such that I feel mistrustful even toward the poor!” The situation has changed very much from then until now!
• Jesus asks not to diffuse the miracle. But the prohibition was not respected very much. Both of them went out and spread the Good News. To proclaim the Gospel, that is, the Good News, means to share with others the good which God does in our life.
4) Personal questions
• Do I have in my life some Good News from God to share with others?
• On which point do I insist more: on a correct doctrine or on a correct faith?
5) Concluding Prayer
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?
The Lord is my life's refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (Ps 27)
Lord God, Father of all,
in your Son Jesus Christ
you invite everyone and all to know and love you
and to live in your unending peace.
Keep alive in us the zeal
to bring the light of your truth
and the riches of your life and love to all,
without any distinction
of race, language or culture.
May everyone on earth come to know you
as the merciful Father of all
through our brother and Saviour,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 9, 27-31
As Jesus went on his way two blind men followed him shouting, 'Take pity on us, son of David.' And when Jesus reached the house the blind men came up to him and he said to them, 'Do you believe I can do this?' They said, 'Lord, we do.' Then he touched their eyes saying, 'According to your faith, let it be done to you.' And their sight returned. Then Jesus sternly warned them, 'Take care that no one learns about this.' But when they had gone away, they talked about him all over the countryside.
3) Reflection
Once again, today’s Gospel places before us the encounter of Jesus with human misery. Jesus does not withdraw, he does not hide. He accepts the persons and in accepting them, full of tenderness, he reveals God’s love.
• Two blind men follow Jesus and cry out to him: “Son of David, have pity on us!”. Jesus did not like very much the title of Son of David. He criticizes the teaching of the Scribes who said that the Messiah should be the Son of David: “David himself calls him Lord: How then can he be his son?” (Mk 12, 37).
• Reaching home, Jesus asks the blind men: “Do you believe that I can do this?” And they answer: “Yes, Lord!” It is one thing to have the true doctrine in the head, and a very different thing to have the correct faith in the heart. The doctrine of the two blind men was not too right, because they called Jesus Son of David. But Jesus does not care to be called like this, what is important to him is to have a correct faith.
• He touches the eyes and says: “May it be done to you according to your faith!” Immediately the eyes were opened. In spite of the fact that they did not possess a correct doctrine, the two blind men had a correct faith. Today many persons are more concerned about a correct doctrine than of a correct faith.
• It is good not to forget a small detail of hospitality. Jesus reaches the house and the two blind men also enter into the house, as if this was the most natural thing in the world. They feel at ease in Jesus’ house And today? A Religious Sister said: “Today the situation of the world is such that I feel mistrustful even toward the poor!” The situation has changed very much from then until now!
• Jesus asks not to diffuse the miracle. But the prohibition was not respected very much. Both of them went out and spread the Good News. To proclaim the Gospel, that is, the Good News, means to share with others the good which God does in our life.
4) Personal questions
• Do I have in my life some Good News from God to share with others?
• On which point do I insist more: on a correct doctrine or on a correct faith?
5) Concluding Prayer
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?
The Lord is my life's refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (Ps 27)
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