Saint John Damascene, Priest, Doctor
Biographical Information about St. John Damascene[1]
Readings for Thursday of the First Week of Advent[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Isaiah 26:1-6
On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah:
“A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you.”
Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Is 26:1-6
Isaiah, today, continues his prophetic vision of the victory of the Messiah to come. The passage today describes first the New Jerusalem which is the heavenly kingdom and the entrance of the faithful. The second part of the reading we hear echoed in the Blessed Mother’s Canticle in the Gospel of Luke (“he casts down the mighty from their thrones and lifts up the lowly”). This is another image of the Lord’s justice and care for the poor.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a
R. (26a) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD’s;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a
This is a hymn of praise for the faithful who would rather place their trust in God than in the strength of people of earthly kingdoms. We hear once more of the triumphant entry into God’s heavenly kingdom, linking the image to the reading from Isaiah and the Advent Season.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 7:21, 24-27
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 7:21, 24-27
This passage of St. Matthew’s Gospel speaks to a topic that has caused great tension in Christian ranks. The question has been asked; are we justified (or saved) by our faith in Jesus alone or are we justified by our actions? The Lord himself answers that question in this passage as he says; “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”
Matthew goes on with the story of the person who builds their house (analogy for faith demonstrated through actions) upon a rock that withstands a storm as opposed to the person who only gives lip service (does not act upon them) who is like the person who builds their house upon sand. That person collapses and is completely ruined.
There is a strong link back to the passage we have from Isaiah; “Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock.” Referring to the foundation of faith, an image Jesus uses many times.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homily:
The Candle of Hope still burns!
The Gospel of St. Matthew gives us a vivid picture of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. In addition, as much as we would want to be all inclusive in our hope for all people, that they might be with us in the Heavenly Jerusalem about which the Prophet Isaiah so eloquently speaks in his oracle, the Lord tells us that some whose actions belie their professed faith will fall to utter destruction.
We are told that the promised heavenly home is reserved for “the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” It is not enough to say with our lips “‘Lord, Lord,’”. Professing our faith is not enough. To satisfy the call to the Advent promise, our actions must follow our words – doing the will of the Father.
There, of course, is the great challenge. It is not only that we must do the will of God, but we have to figure out what God’s will is for us. In this question we are given the gift of hope. The Lord made it easy for us because he sent his Son to show us what obeying God’s will means. Not only do we have Christ’s example but we have his instructions that makes our path clear.
If we do just one thing – follow just one guiding principle – we will automatically do God’s will and follow all the commandments in the Bible. Can you think of what that one thing is? It’s such a simple idea. Jesus told us the greatest commandment was to first love God, and then love one another. Just that one thing – Love God, love one another.
Volumes have been written and more words than can be counted have been spoken about what it means to follow the Great Commandment. It is frequently difficult but always the right thing to do. God wants only the best of things for his adopted children. He wants our hearts to be free from torment and anxiety. He wants our relationships to be free from hate or envy. In short he needs us to see others as His son does; with the affection of a brother and the guiding help of a Father. He calls us to serve each other, because that is what people who love do; that is what his Son does.
Today we take the lesson of the two houses; one built on rock, the other on sand, to heart. Our hope is in God who guides us and who sent his Son that we might have a clear example; he is our rock. We wait in joyful anticipation as we do our best to do the will of the Father.
Pax
Biographical Information about St. John Damascene[1]
Readings for Thursday of the First Week of Advent[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Isaiah 26:1-6
On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah:
“A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you.”
Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Is 26:1-6
Isaiah, today, continues his prophetic vision of the victory of the Messiah to come. The passage today describes first the New Jerusalem which is the heavenly kingdom and the entrance of the faithful. The second part of the reading we hear echoed in the Blessed Mother’s Canticle in the Gospel of Luke (“he casts down the mighty from their thrones and lifts up the lowly”). This is another image of the Lord’s justice and care for the poor.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a
R. (26a) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD’s;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a
This is a hymn of praise for the faithful who would rather place their trust in God than in the strength of people of earthly kingdoms. We hear once more of the triumphant entry into God’s heavenly kingdom, linking the image to the reading from Isaiah and the Advent Season.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 7:21, 24-27
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 7:21, 24-27
This passage of St. Matthew’s Gospel speaks to a topic that has caused great tension in Christian ranks. The question has been asked; are we justified (or saved) by our faith in Jesus alone or are we justified by our actions? The Lord himself answers that question in this passage as he says; “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”
Matthew goes on with the story of the person who builds their house (analogy for faith demonstrated through actions) upon a rock that withstands a storm as opposed to the person who only gives lip service (does not act upon them) who is like the person who builds their house upon sand. That person collapses and is completely ruined.
There is a strong link back to the passage we have from Isaiah; “Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock.” Referring to the foundation of faith, an image Jesus uses many times.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homily:
The Candle of Hope still burns!
The Gospel of St. Matthew gives us a vivid picture of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. In addition, as much as we would want to be all inclusive in our hope for all people, that they might be with us in the Heavenly Jerusalem about which the Prophet Isaiah so eloquently speaks in his oracle, the Lord tells us that some whose actions belie their professed faith will fall to utter destruction.
We are told that the promised heavenly home is reserved for “the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” It is not enough to say with our lips “‘Lord, Lord,’”. Professing our faith is not enough. To satisfy the call to the Advent promise, our actions must follow our words – doing the will of the Father.
There, of course, is the great challenge. It is not only that we must do the will of God, but we have to figure out what God’s will is for us. In this question we are given the gift of hope. The Lord made it easy for us because he sent his Son to show us what obeying God’s will means. Not only do we have Christ’s example but we have his instructions that makes our path clear.
If we do just one thing – follow just one guiding principle – we will automatically do God’s will and follow all the commandments in the Bible. Can you think of what that one thing is? It’s such a simple idea. Jesus told us the greatest commandment was to first love God, and then love one another. Just that one thing – Love God, love one another.
Volumes have been written and more words than can be counted have been spoken about what it means to follow the Great Commandment. It is frequently difficult but always the right thing to do. God wants only the best of things for his adopted children. He wants our hearts to be free from torment and anxiety. He wants our relationships to be free from hate or envy. In short he needs us to see others as His son does; with the affection of a brother and the guiding help of a Father. He calls us to serve each other, because that is what people who love do; that is what his Son does.
Today we take the lesson of the two houses; one built on rock, the other on sand, to heart. Our hope is in God who guides us and who sent his Son that we might have a clear example; he is our rock. We wait in joyful anticipation as we do our best to do the will of the Father.
Pax
[1] The icon used today is “Saint John Damascene” by Ne'meh Naser Homsi, 1800s
[2] ALTRE
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana
[4] Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved
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