Thursday of the Second Week of Advent
Lectionary: 184
Lectionary: 184
I am the LORD, your God,
who grasp your right hand;
It is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I will help you.”
Fear not, O worm Jacob,
O maggot Israel;
I will help you, says the LORD;
your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
I will make of you a threshing sledge,
sharp, new, and double-edged,
To thresh the mountains and crush them,
to make the hills like chaff.
When you winnow them, the wind shall carry them off
and the storm shall scatter them.
But you shall rejoice in the LORD,
and glory in the Holy One of Israel.
The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain,
their tongues are parched with thirst.
I, the LORD, will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
I will open up rivers on the bare heights,
and fountains in the broad valleys;
I will turn the desert into a marshland,
and the dry ground into springs of water.
I will plant in the desert the cedar,
acacia, myrtle, and olive;
I will set in the wasteland the cypress,
together with the plane tree and the pine,
That all may see and know,
observe and understand,
That the hand of the LORD has done this,
the Holy One of Israel has created it.
who grasp your right hand;
It is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I will help you.”
Fear not, O worm Jacob,
O maggot Israel;
I will help you, says the LORD;
your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
I will make of you a threshing sledge,
sharp, new, and double-edged,
To thresh the mountains and crush them,
to make the hills like chaff.
When you winnow them, the wind shall carry them off
and the storm shall scatter them.
But you shall rejoice in the LORD,
and glory in the Holy One of Israel.
The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain,
their tongues are parched with thirst.
I, the LORD, will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
I will open up rivers on the bare heights,
and fountains in the broad valleys;
I will turn the desert into a marshland,
and the dry ground into springs of water.
I will plant in the desert the cedar,
acacia, myrtle, and olive;
I will set in the wasteland the cypress,
together with the plane tree and the pine,
That all may see and know,
observe and understand,
That the hand of the LORD has done this,
the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Responsorial PsalmPS 145:1 AND 9, 10-11, 12-13AB
R. (8) The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger,
and of great kindness.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.
Let them make known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.
Let them make known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.
AlleluiaSEE IS
45:8
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let the clouds rain down the Just One,
and the earth bring forth a Savior.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let the clouds rain down the Just One,
and the earth bring forth a Savior.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT
11:11-15
Jesus said to the crowds:
“Amen, I say to you,
among those born of women
there has been none greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
From the days of John the Baptist until now,
the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence,
and the violent are taking it by force.
All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John.
And if you are willing to accept it,
he is Elijah, the one who is to come.
Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
“Amen, I say to you,
among those born of women
there has been none greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
From the days of John the Baptist until now,
the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence,
and the violent are taking it by force.
All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John.
And if you are willing to accept it,
he is Elijah, the one who is to come.
Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
Meditation: "He is Elijah who is to come"
Who is the greatest in the kingdom of God? Jesus praised John
the Baptist as the greatest person born. Who can top that as a compliment? But
in the same breath Jesus says that the least in the kingdom of God is even
greater than John! That sounds like a contradiction, right? Unless you
understand that what Jesus was about to accomplish for our sake would supersede
all that the prophets had done and foreseen.
"Your Redeemer is the Holy One of
Israel"
The prophet Isaiah proclaimed to the forsaken and dispersed people of Israel some 700 years before the birth of Christ that "your Redeemer - the Holy One of Israel" would come to restore his people and to make all things new (Isaiah 41:14ff). When the Messiah and Redeemer of Israel did appear John the Baptist announced his arrival. He fulfilled the essential task of all the prophets - to be fingers pointing to Jesus Christ, God's Anointed Son and Messiah. John proclaimed Jesus' mission at the Jordan River when he exclaimed, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (John 1:29). John saw from a distance what Jesus would accomplish through his death on the cross - our redemption from bondage to sin and death and our adoption as sons and daughters of God and citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
The prophet Isaiah proclaimed to the forsaken and dispersed people of Israel some 700 years before the birth of Christ that "your Redeemer - the Holy One of Israel" would come to restore his people and to make all things new (Isaiah 41:14ff). When the Messiah and Redeemer of Israel did appear John the Baptist announced his arrival. He fulfilled the essential task of all the prophets - to be fingers pointing to Jesus Christ, God's Anointed Son and Messiah. John proclaimed Jesus' mission at the Jordan River when he exclaimed, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (John 1:29). John saw from a distance what Jesus would accomplish through his death on the cross - our redemption from bondage to sin and death and our adoption as sons and daughters of God and citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
The spirit of Elijah is sent in advance
through John's words
John the Baptist bridges the Old and New Testaments. He is the last of the Old Testament prophets who point the way to the Messiah. He is the first of the New Testament witnesses and martyrs. He is the herald who prepares the way for Jesus the Messiah. Jesus confirms that John has fulfilled the promise that Elijah would return to herald the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5). Jesus declares that John is nothing less that the great herald whose privilege it was to announce the coming of the Redeemer - the Holy One of Israel.
John the Baptist bridges the Old and New Testaments. He is the last of the Old Testament prophets who point the way to the Messiah. He is the first of the New Testament witnesses and martyrs. He is the herald who prepares the way for Jesus the Messiah. Jesus confirms that John has fulfilled the promise that Elijah would return to herald the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5). Jesus declares that John is nothing less that the great herald whose privilege it was to announce the coming of the Redeemer - the Holy One of Israel.
Jesus equates the coming of the kingdom of heaven with violence
(Matthew 11:12). John himself suffered violence for announcing that the kingdom
of God was near. He was thrown into prison and then beheaded. Since John's
martyrdom to the present times the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and
persecution at the hands of violent men. The blood of the martyrs throughout
the ages bear witness to this fact. The martyrs witness to the truth - the
truth and love of Jesus Christ who shed his blood to redeem us from slavery to
sin and Satan and the fear of death. The Lord Jesus gives us the power of his
Holy Spirit to overcome fear with faith, despair with hope, and every form of
hatred, violence, jealousy, and prejudice with love and charity towards all -
even those who seek to destroy and kill.
We proclaim the joy of the Gospel of Christ
even in the midst of suffering and violence
God may call some of us to be martyrs for our faith in Jesus Christ. But for most of us our call is to be dry martyrs who bear testimony to the joy of the Gospel in the midst of daily challenges, contradictions, temptations and adversities which come our way as we follow the Lord Jesus. What attracts others to the Gospel of Jesus Christ? When they see Christians loving their enemies, being joyful in suffering, patient in adversity, pardoning injuries, and showing comfort and compassion to the hopeless and the helpless. Jesus tells us that we do not need to fear our adversaries. He will fill us with the power of his Holy Spirit and give us sufficient grace, strength, and wisdom to face any trial and to answer any challenge to our faith. Are you eager to witness to the joy and freedom of the Gospel?
God may call some of us to be martyrs for our faith in Jesus Christ. But for most of us our call is to be dry martyrs who bear testimony to the joy of the Gospel in the midst of daily challenges, contradictions, temptations and adversities which come our way as we follow the Lord Jesus. What attracts others to the Gospel of Jesus Christ? When they see Christians loving their enemies, being joyful in suffering, patient in adversity, pardoning injuries, and showing comfort and compassion to the hopeless and the helpless. Jesus tells us that we do not need to fear our adversaries. He will fill us with the power of his Holy Spirit and give us sufficient grace, strength, and wisdom to face any trial and to answer any challenge to our faith. Are you eager to witness to the joy and freedom of the Gospel?
"Lord Jesus, by your cross you have redeemed the world.
Fill me with joy and confidence and make me a bold witness of your saving truth
that others may know the joy and freedom of the Gospel of your kingdom of peace
and righteousness."
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, MATTHEW 11:11-15
Advent Weekday
(Isaiah 41:13-20; Psalm 145)
Advent Weekday
(Isaiah 41:13-20; Psalm 145)
KEY VERSE: "Among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist" (v 11).
TO KNOW: Jesus praised his cousin John the Baptist, the herald of God's reign. John, who had been imprisoned by Herod Antipas, had come in the tradition of Elijah the great prophet who suffered because of his righteous commitment to God's covenant. Jesus' acknowledged John's privileged place in God's saving plan, but noted that John belonged to the old order, which was passing away. While John stood at the threshold of God's kingdom, the humblest member of the new era would be greater than John. Like Jesus, John would lose his life for proclaiming the truth. Throughout the ages, the reign of God was assaulted by those who rejected the prophetic voice. Even greater violence would be done by those who opposed Jesus and tried to prevent his followers from entering the reign of God.
TO LOVE: Lord Jesus, I pray for all who suffer for the sake of the gospel.
TO SERVE: Am I willing to proclaim the gospel no matter what the cost?
Thursday 10 December 2015
Isaiah
41:13-20. The Lord is kind and merciful; slow to anger, and rich in
compassion—Ps 144(145):1, 9-13. Matthew 11:11-15.
‘Do not
fear, I will help you’ (Isaiah 41:13).
The
Israelites felt fearful and discouraged during their exile in Babylon. The Lord
spoke words of consolation and promise to them; ‘Do not fear, I will help you’.
He assured them that his help would be so great that when they finally returned
to their homeland, his deliverance would be so visible that everyone would ‘see
and know...that the hand of the Lord has done this’ (Is. 41:20).
Jesus
wants to make each of us too into visible signs of his power to restore, to
heal and to transform.
Let us
put our trust in Jesus mercy - not just for our own good but for the sake of
everybody around us. Let our lives point others to Jesus Christ, the healer and
redeemer of our souls.
Jesus,
pour your Spirit into my heart to renew and transform me. Make me into a sign
of your love and power to those around me who long to know you.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
Power of Three
|
As we prepare for Christmas we are asked to reflect on the three
comings of Christ: his birth in Bethlehem, his coming at the end of time, and
his coming in the present time through the gift of Holy Communion, the Body and
Blood of Christ. In each of these comings we prepare to receive our royal guest
with a blameless heart.
December
10
Blessed Adolph Kolping
(1813-1865)
Blessed Adolph Kolping
(1813-1865)
The rise of the factory system in 19th-century Germany brought
many single men into cities where they faced new challenges to their faith.
Father Adolph Kolping began a ministry to them, hoping that they would not be
lost to the Catholic faith, as was happening to workers elsewhere in
industrialized Europe.
Born in the village of Kerpen, Adolph became a shoemaker at an
early age because of his family’s economic situation. Ordained in 1845, he
ministered to young workers in Cologne, establishing a choir, which by 1849 had
grown into the Young Workmen’s Society. A branch of this began in St. Louis,
Missouri, in 1856. Nine years later there were over 400 Gesellenvereine (workman’s
societies) around the world. Today this group has over 450,000 members in 54
countries across the globe.
More commonly called the Kolping Society, it emphasizes the
sanctification of family life and the dignity of labor. Father Kolping worked
to improve conditions for workers and greatly assisted those in need. He and
St. John Bosco in Turin had similar interests in working with young men in big
cities. He told his followers, “The needs of the times will teach you what to
do. Father Kolping once said, “The first thing that a person finds in life and
the last to which he holds out his hand, and the most precious that he
possesses, even if he does not realize it, is family life.”
He and Blessed John Duns Scotus are buried in Cologne’s
Minoritenkirche, originally served by the Conventual Franciscans. The Kolping
Society’s international headquarters are across from this church.
Kolping members journeyed to Rome from Europe, America, Africa,
Asia and Oceania for Father Kolping’s beatification in 1991, the 100th
anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s revolutionary encyclical Rerum Novarum (On
the Social Order). Father Kolping’s personal witness and apostolate helped
prepare for that encyclical.
Comment:
Some people thought that Father Kolping was wasting his time and talents on young working men in industrialized cities. In some countries, the Catholic Church was seen by many workers as the ally of owners and the enemy of workers. Men like Adolph Kolping showed that was not true.
Some people thought that Father Kolping was wasting his time and talents on young working men in industrialized cities. In some countries, the Catholic Church was seen by many workers as the ally of owners and the enemy of workers. Men like Adolph Kolping showed that was not true.
Quote:
“Adolph Kolping gathered skilled workers and factory laborers together. Thus he overcame their isolation and defeatism. A faith society gave them the strength to go out into their everyday lives as Christ’s witnesses before God and the world. To come together, to become strengthened in the assembly, and thus to scatter again is and still remains our duty today. We are not Christians for ourselves alone, but always for others too” (Pope John Paul II, beatification homily).
“Adolph Kolping gathered skilled workers and factory laborers together. Thus he overcame their isolation and defeatism. A faith society gave them the strength to go out into their everyday lives as Christ’s witnesses before God and the world. To come together, to become strengthened in the assembly, and thus to scatter again is and still remains our duty today. We are not Christians for ourselves alone, but always for others too” (Pope John Paul II, beatification homily).
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 11,11-15
Lectio:
Thursday,
December 10, 2015
2nd Week of Advent
1)
Opening prayer
Lord our God,
you do not abandon those who rely on you.
Take us by the hand when we are afraid,
help us when we call out to you,
for we experience that we are powerless
to establish your kingdom of justice and love.
Send your Son again among us today
to be our Lord and Saviour
now and for ever.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 11, 11-15
'In truth I tell you, of all the children born to women, there has never been anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. Since John the Baptist came, up to this present time, the kingdom of Heaven has been subjected to violence and the violent are taking it by storm.
Because it was towards John that all the prophecies of the prophets and of the Law were leading; and he, if you will believe me, is the Elijah who was to return. Anyone who has ears should listen!
3) Reflection
• In today’s Gospel, Jesus, gives an opinion on John the Baptist. Compared with the persons of the Old Testament, there is no one greater than John. John is the greatest of all: greater than Jeremiah, greater than Abraham, greater than Isaiah! But, compared with the New Testament, John is inferior to all. The smallest in the Kingdom is greater than John! How can we understand this qualification, apparently contradictory, that Jesus makes of John?
• A short time before, John had sent to ask Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to expect someone else?” (Mt 11, 3). John seemed to have some doubt concerning Jesus. Jesus, in fact, did not correspond to the idea that he, John, had of the Messiah, a severe Judge who had to come to carry out the judgment of condemnation and of anger (Mt 3, 7). He was to cut the trees from their roots (Mt 3, 10), was to clear his threshing floor and throw the dry stick into the fire (Mt 3, 12). But Jesus, instead of being a severe judge, is the friend of all, “meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11, 29), he receives the sinners and eats with them (Mt 2, 16).
• Jesus responds to John by quoting the Prophet Isaiah: “Go back and tell John what you hear and see; the blind see again, and the lame walk, those suffering from virulent skin diseases are cleaned, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life and the good news is proclaimed to the poor, and blessed is anyone who does not find me a cause of falling!” (Mt 11, 5-6; cf. Is 33, 5-6; 29, 18). A hard response. Jesus asks John to analyze the Scripture better in order to be able to change the erroneous vision that he had of the Messiah.
• John was great! The greatest of all! And the smallest in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than John. John is the greatest, because he was the last echo of the Old Testament. It was John who, because of his fidelity, was finally able to indicate the Messiah to the people: “Behold, here is the Lamb of God!” (Jn 1, 36), and the long history begun with Abraham attains its objective. But John was not capable to understand by himself the importance of the Kingdom of God in Jesus. He had a doubt: “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to expect someone else?” The ancient history alone, does not communicate sufficient light to the person to understand all the novelty of the Good News of God which Jesus brings to us. The New was not in the Old. Saint Augustine said: “Novum in Vetere latet, Vetus in Novo patet”, which means: “The New is already hidden in the Old. But the Old reveals only its full meaning in the New”. The one who is with Jesus and lives with him receives from him a light which gives new eyes to discover a more profound meaning in the Old. And which is this novelty?
• Jesus offers a key: “The Law and all the Prophets, in fact, have prophesized up to John. And if you would accept it, he is that Elijah who has to come. He who has ears, let him hear!” Jesus does not explain, but says: “He who has ears, let him hear” Elijah had to come to prepare the coming of the Messiah and to reconstruct the community: “To reconcile parents to their children and children to their parents” (Mal 3, 24). John announced the Messiah and sought to reconstruct the community (Lk 1, 17). But the most profound mystery escaped him, that of the life of the community. Only Jesus communicated it, announcing that God is Father and, therefore, we are all brothers and sisters. This announcement bears within a new force which makes us capable to overcome divergence and to create community.
• These are the violent who succeed to conquer the Kingdom. The Kingdom is not a doctrine, but a new way of living like brothers and sisters, beginning from the announcement which Jesus makes: God is Father of all.
4) Personal questions
• The Kingdom is of those who use violence on themselves, that is, it belongs to those who like Jesus have the courage to create community. You also?
• Jesus helped John to understand better the facts by means of the Bible. Does the Bible help me to understand better the events of my life?
5) Concluding Prayer
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
The Lord is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works. (Ps 145)
Lord our God,
you do not abandon those who rely on you.
Take us by the hand when we are afraid,
help us when we call out to you,
for we experience that we are powerless
to establish your kingdom of justice and love.
Send your Son again among us today
to be our Lord and Saviour
now and for ever.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 11, 11-15
'In truth I tell you, of all the children born to women, there has never been anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. Since John the Baptist came, up to this present time, the kingdom of Heaven has been subjected to violence and the violent are taking it by storm.
Because it was towards John that all the prophecies of the prophets and of the Law were leading; and he, if you will believe me, is the Elijah who was to return. Anyone who has ears should listen!
3) Reflection
• In today’s Gospel, Jesus, gives an opinion on John the Baptist. Compared with the persons of the Old Testament, there is no one greater than John. John is the greatest of all: greater than Jeremiah, greater than Abraham, greater than Isaiah! But, compared with the New Testament, John is inferior to all. The smallest in the Kingdom is greater than John! How can we understand this qualification, apparently contradictory, that Jesus makes of John?
• A short time before, John had sent to ask Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to expect someone else?” (Mt 11, 3). John seemed to have some doubt concerning Jesus. Jesus, in fact, did not correspond to the idea that he, John, had of the Messiah, a severe Judge who had to come to carry out the judgment of condemnation and of anger (Mt 3, 7). He was to cut the trees from their roots (Mt 3, 10), was to clear his threshing floor and throw the dry stick into the fire (Mt 3, 12). But Jesus, instead of being a severe judge, is the friend of all, “meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11, 29), he receives the sinners and eats with them (Mt 2, 16).
• Jesus responds to John by quoting the Prophet Isaiah: “Go back and tell John what you hear and see; the blind see again, and the lame walk, those suffering from virulent skin diseases are cleaned, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life and the good news is proclaimed to the poor, and blessed is anyone who does not find me a cause of falling!” (Mt 11, 5-6; cf. Is 33, 5-6; 29, 18). A hard response. Jesus asks John to analyze the Scripture better in order to be able to change the erroneous vision that he had of the Messiah.
• John was great! The greatest of all! And the smallest in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than John. John is the greatest, because he was the last echo of the Old Testament. It was John who, because of his fidelity, was finally able to indicate the Messiah to the people: “Behold, here is the Lamb of God!” (Jn 1, 36), and the long history begun with Abraham attains its objective. But John was not capable to understand by himself the importance of the Kingdom of God in Jesus. He had a doubt: “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to expect someone else?” The ancient history alone, does not communicate sufficient light to the person to understand all the novelty of the Good News of God which Jesus brings to us. The New was not in the Old. Saint Augustine said: “Novum in Vetere latet, Vetus in Novo patet”, which means: “The New is already hidden in the Old. But the Old reveals only its full meaning in the New”. The one who is with Jesus and lives with him receives from him a light which gives new eyes to discover a more profound meaning in the Old. And which is this novelty?
• Jesus offers a key: “The Law and all the Prophets, in fact, have prophesized up to John. And if you would accept it, he is that Elijah who has to come. He who has ears, let him hear!” Jesus does not explain, but says: “He who has ears, let him hear” Elijah had to come to prepare the coming of the Messiah and to reconstruct the community: “To reconcile parents to their children and children to their parents” (Mal 3, 24). John announced the Messiah and sought to reconstruct the community (Lk 1, 17). But the most profound mystery escaped him, that of the life of the community. Only Jesus communicated it, announcing that God is Father and, therefore, we are all brothers and sisters. This announcement bears within a new force which makes us capable to overcome divergence and to create community.
• These are the violent who succeed to conquer the Kingdom. The Kingdom is not a doctrine, but a new way of living like brothers and sisters, beginning from the announcement which Jesus makes: God is Father of all.
4) Personal questions
• The Kingdom is of those who use violence on themselves, that is, it belongs to those who like Jesus have the courage to create community. You also?
• Jesus helped John to understand better the facts by means of the Bible. Does the Bible help me to understand better the events of my life?
5) Concluding Prayer
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
The Lord is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works. (Ps 145)
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