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
PsalmPS 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.
GospelLK 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."
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).
The Messiah King is anointed with divine wisdom and
gifts of the Spirit
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.
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.
The Lord opposes the proud but gives wisdom and
understanding to the humble
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.
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" (Proverbs 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?
Through Christ we can personally know the Father and
be united with him
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?
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."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: The Seven Gifts of the
Spirit, by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.
"So, then,
the Holy Spirit is the river, and the abundant river, which according to the
Hebrews flowed from Jesus in the lands, as we have received it prophesied by
the mouth of Isaiah (Isaiah 66:12). This is the great river that flows always
and never fails. And not only a river, but also one of copious stream and
overflowing greatness, as also David said: 'The stream of the river makes glad
the city of God' (Psalm 46:4). For neither is that city, the heavenly
Jerusalem, watered by the channel of any earthly river, but that Holy Spirit,
proceeding from the fount of life, by a short draught of whom we are satiated,
seems to flow more abundantly among those celestial thrones, dominions and
powers, angels and archangels, rushing in the full course of the seven virtues
of the Spirit. For if a river rising above its banks overflows, how much more
does the Spirit, rising above every creature, when he touches the low-lying
fields of our minds, as it were, make glad that heavenly nature of the
creatures with the larger fertility of his sanctification.
"And let it not trouble you that either here it is said 'rivers' (John 7:38) or elsewhere 'seven Spirits,' (Revelation 5:6) for by the sanctification of these seven gifts of the Spirit, as Isaiah said, is signified the fullness of all virtue; the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and godliness, and the Spirit of the fear of God. One, then is the river, but many the channels of the gifts of the Spirit. This river, then, goes forth from the fount of life." (excerpt from ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 1.16)
"And let it not trouble you that either here it is said 'rivers' (John 7:38) or elsewhere 'seven Spirits,' (Revelation 5:6) for by the sanctification of these seven gifts of the Spirit, as Isaiah said, is signified the fullness of all virtue; the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and godliness, and the Spirit of the fear of God. One, then is the river, but many the channels of the gifts of the Spirit. This river, then, goes forth from the fount of life." (excerpt from ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 1.16)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, LUKE 10:21-24
Advent Weekday
(Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72)
Advent Weekday
(Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72)
KEY VERSE: "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see" (v. 23).
TO KNOW: Jesus sent out seventy-two of his disciples to proclaim the gospel and heal the sick. When they returned from their mission, he was overjoyed to hear of God's power at work in them. Through their proclamation of God's kingdom, they witnessed the collapse of Satan's reign. The unique relationship of the Trinity is seen in this passage: Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and gave praise to the Father. Jesus thanked the Father for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to his disciples who followed him like little children. The "wise and learned" had no understanding of these heavenly things. The Father conferred this knowledge upon the Son, and he in turn revealed it to those whom he chose. Jesus reminded his disciples of their great privilege in witnessing things that the prophets and kings longed to see and hear.
TO LOVE: In what ways will I share the gospel with others this Advent?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to proclaim your kingdom with joy.
Optional Memorial of Saint John of
Damascene, priest and doctor of the Church
John Damascene also known as John of Damascus, was highly educated in the classical fields. 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 Saint Paul, poetry, hymns, and adapted choral music for use in the liturgy. Through a series of letters opposing the anti-icon decrees of Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople, John defended the use of icons and images in churches. His eloquent defense of images has deservedly procured him the title of "The Doctor of Christian Art." 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.
NOTE: What is an icon?
Icons have been called "windows to Heaven." Icons bring us into the presence of the divine through a material image. The iconographer fasts and prays before working. The iconographer 'writes' down a text using images rather than words. Every image and color means something in an icon. For instance, blue is the color of divinity. Red the color of blood and flesh. Wings mean the willingness to quickly obey God's word. Like Christ coming into the world in flesh (being fully human and fully divine), the icon portrays a divine reality within a temporal context. The icon draws us toward the reality of heaven and teaches us to pray that we may become more like Christ, more like the saint whom one contemplates in the image of the icon. We too are icons. We are human beings made in the image and likeness of God and have the greatest dignity and are to be highly respected, loved, and made more like Christ. [https://www.beliefnet.com]
Tuesday 4
December 2018
St John Damascene.
Isaiah 11:1-10. Psalm 71(72):1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17. Luke 10:21-24.
Isaiah 11:1-10. Psalm 71(72):1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17. Luke 10:21-24.
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for
ever – Psalm 71(72):1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17.
‘Filled with joy by the Holy Spirit.’
‘Filled with joy by the Holy Spirit.’
So often the encounter with God comes when we are at our most
vulnerable and humble. This is the state of children. They trust in their
parents not due to their wisdom and cleverness but due to their experience of
their parent’s love. This Advent is an opportunity to let God love us. No
amount of learning and wisdom can substitute for the experience of God’s love.
The gospel today invites us to check how receptive we are to
Jesus’ message. Does our intellect and worldly wisdom prevent us from embracing
faith, from dedicating ourselves to attend to God’s presence? Advent is a
wonderful season to set aside time for reverence and quiet.
Saint John Damascene
Saint of the Day for December 4
(c. 676 -749)
 |
| Saint John Damaskinos | unknown |
Saint John Damascene’s Story
John spent most of his life in the Monastery of Saint 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 Saint 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.
Third, 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.
Reflection
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.
LECTIO DIVNA: LUKE 10:21-24
Lectio Divina:
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
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.
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 the joy of 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.'
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 and the reason for His joy. The
disciples had gone on a mission, and when they return, they share with Jesus
the joy of their experience (Lk 10: 17, 21)
• Jesus’ joy comes from seeing the joy of His friends. Listening to their experience , Jesus feels profound joy.
• It is not a superficial joy. It comes from the Holy Spirit. The disciples have shared in Jesus’ mission during their own 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. They are not doctors. They are simple people without education , but they understand the things of God better than the doctors.
• “Yes, Father, for that is what it has pleased You to do!” This is a very serious phrase. It pleases the Father that the little ones understand them. Therefore, if the great of the world 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 see the Kingdom in the common things of life such as curing the sick, consoling the afflicted, and expeling evil.
• Jesus’ joy comes from seeing the joy of His friends. Listening to their experience , Jesus feels profound joy.
• It is not a superficial joy. It comes from the Holy Spirit. The disciples have shared in Jesus’ mission during their own 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. They are not doctors. They are simple people without education , but they understand the things of God better than the doctors.
• “Yes, Father, for that is what it has pleased You to do!” This is a very serious phrase. It pleases the Father that the little ones understand them. Therefore, if the great of the world 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 see the Kingdom in the common things of life such as curing the sick, consoling the afflicted, and expeling evil.
4) Personal questions
•
If I take the place of the people: Do I consider myself as belonging to
the little ones or the doctors?
• If I take the place of Jesus: What is the basis of my joy, superficial or profound?
• If I take the place of Jesus: What is the basis of my joy, superficial or profound?
•
Does being a “little one” versus a doctor imply ignorance is good, or does it
question where we place our trust - in our knowledge or in God?
•
Do I pray to God as a father with spontaneous prayer as Jesus did here, or is
my prayer formal and rigid?
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)
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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