Monday of the Third Week of Advent
Readings for Monday of the 3rd Week of Advent
Commentary:
Reading 1 Jer 23:5-8
In this passage the Prophet Jeremiah predicts the coming of the Messiah who will rule with justice. The last two verses of this passage were probably written during the exile, looking forward to the return to the land. This return had taken place at the time of Jesus.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Our psalm today is a prayer that the civil leader may rule with the justice of God. In doing so compassion will be shown to the poor and wealth of the kingdom will be shared with the poor. In the final strophe we conclude with praise for a God who while unseen, makes his presence known through his creation.
Gospel Mt 1:18-25
The beginning of St. Matthew’s story of the nativity of Jesus is the passage we are given today. Specifically we see Joseph being told by the angel that he should bring Mary into his home as wife and the paternity of the child is the Holy Spirit. He is also told the name the child Emmanuel. The story ends with Joseph accepting the role and the command of the angel.
Reflection:
The rose candle has been lit and we rejoice, knowing we are in the final week of preparation for the Nativity of the Lord – his birthday celebration. We are given scripture that predicts his first coming and a piece of the actual tale as provided by St. Matthew.
The story of Joseph’s call is instructive (That’s what it was, an angel coming and calling him to foster the child of the Holy Spirit). We know that historically Joseph was, at the time of Mary’s conception and obvious pregnancy, restricted from her. They were still living apart and we also know from other places in scripture that she had been away to see her cousin, Elizabeth. Joseph must have thought she was pregnant with another man’s child. Yet he listened to his dream – it must have been very vivid – and accepted that it was God’s voice and will that he was hearing.
He went further accepting the mother as his wife and the child as his own heir, giving him a name and fulfilling his destiny and God’s will. Knowing, as we do, that God did not create a race of slaves, we can appreciate that Joseph made this choice out of faith and his own free will. That makes him a hero of our Advent story, right up there with John the Baptist and Mary.
Today we continue to make those final preparations for the Child to come and the celebration that accompanies the Christ Event. Let us today follow Joseph’s example and remember especially to listen carefully for the voice of God as he calls us. Know that the call can come in many forms and from many sources. Part of our preparation is to sharpen our hearing so when the Lord calls, we will hear and like Joseph accept that which the Lord God places before us.
Pax
Readings for Monday of the 3rd Week of Advent
Commentary:
Reading 1 Jer 23:5-8
In this passage the Prophet Jeremiah predicts the coming of the Messiah who will rule with justice. The last two verses of this passage were probably written during the exile, looking forward to the return to the land. This return had taken place at the time of Jesus.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Our psalm today is a prayer that the civil leader may rule with the justice of God. In doing so compassion will be shown to the poor and wealth of the kingdom will be shared with the poor. In the final strophe we conclude with praise for a God who while unseen, makes his presence known through his creation.
Gospel Mt 1:18-25
The beginning of St. Matthew’s story of the nativity of Jesus is the passage we are given today. Specifically we see Joseph being told by the angel that he should bring Mary into his home as wife and the paternity of the child is the Holy Spirit. He is also told the name the child Emmanuel. The story ends with Joseph accepting the role and the command of the angel.
Reflection:
The rose candle has been lit and we rejoice, knowing we are in the final week of preparation for the Nativity of the Lord – his birthday celebration. We are given scripture that predicts his first coming and a piece of the actual tale as provided by St. Matthew.
The story of Joseph’s call is instructive (That’s what it was, an angel coming and calling him to foster the child of the Holy Spirit). We know that historically Joseph was, at the time of Mary’s conception and obvious pregnancy, restricted from her. They were still living apart and we also know from other places in scripture that she had been away to see her cousin, Elizabeth. Joseph must have thought she was pregnant with another man’s child. Yet he listened to his dream – it must have been very vivid – and accepted that it was God’s voice and will that he was hearing.
He went further accepting the mother as his wife and the child as his own heir, giving him a name and fulfilling his destiny and God’s will. Knowing, as we do, that God did not create a race of slaves, we can appreciate that Joseph made this choice out of faith and his own free will. That makes him a hero of our Advent story, right up there with John the Baptist and Mary.
Today we continue to make those final preparations for the Child to come and the celebration that accompanies the Christ Event. Let us today follow Joseph’s example and remember especially to listen carefully for the voice of God as he calls us. Know that the call can come in many forms and from many sources. Part of our preparation is to sharpen our hearing so when the Lord calls, we will hear and like Joseph accept that which the Lord God places before us.
Pax
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