Saint John Damascene, priest, Doctor
Biographical Information about Saint John Damascene[1]
Readings for Tuesday of the First Week of Advent[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Biographical Information about Saint John Damascene[1]
Readings for Tuesday of the First Week of Advent[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Isaiah 11:1-10
The Prophet Isaiah refers to a “shoot from the stump of Jesse.” Jesse was the father of King David. The stump refers to the line of David being cut back during the Babylonian Exile. The prophet here sees the return of the messianic King, predicting that the messiah will come from King David’s line and will ultimately bring great peace to the faithful.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Psalm 72 is one of the Royal Psalms. In this selection we hear an echo of the justice and peace of the King’s rule that is reiterated in Isaiah’s prophecy above.
Gospel Luke 10:21-24
Earlier in this chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel, Jesus sent out the seventy (two). Just prior to this selection, they returned and reported great success in doing what the Lord asked of them. We are given in today’s passage his prayer of thanks to the Father The Lord gives thanks that God has seen fit to reveal his identity and pass on his power to these disciples of his. It is reiterated that the Kingdom of God shall be revealed to the childlike (see also Luke 8:10) and turning to his disciples, he tells them that the victory they are witnessing is the Good News hoped for by prophets and kings throughout history.
Reflection:
As we hear the words of St. Luke today, how the Lord Jesus is caught up In the Holy Spirit and begins to pray, thanking God for His aid in Jesus’ mission, we can’t help but remember a story written over a hundred of years ago named Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, the great science fiction epic by Jules Vern. At one point in the story the infamous Captain Nemo was asked if he intended to share his great scientific discoveries with the rest of the world and he informed his prisoner/narrator, Professor Aronnax, that he would never do that because the world was not ready for so great a power. This story is recalled because Jesus rejoices for the opposite reason.
While the great knowledge and power of the mythical antagonist in the novel needs to be kept secret, the great knowledge and power of the Lord must be spread so that all might have access to it and find hope as a result. This Advent season as we look forward with hope to the Lord’s coming, we are reminded that this anticipation and hope are not shared by all of those we meet. Incredible as it seems to us, many of our colleagues, friends and acquaintances think of this season only for the presents they must buy and the orgy of commercialism that infuses the economy of the country with great strength because of all the money that is spent.
The Lord rejoices today because God’s word has reached so many others. He thanks his Father that their ears have been opened by the words and works of his followers. This is the legacy we have been handed. As we prepare ourselves to celebrate the Nativity of the Lord, we recall that we too are asked to joyfully make know the reason for the season (Cliché but appropriate). Children get it very easily but they must hear it first. Adults need to overcome their cynicism and adopt a childlike attitude that recalls the Christmas proclamation “Joy to the World!”
We hear St. Luke relay the story once more of how the Lord was ecstatic over the success of the seventy two in proclaiming the Good News. Now it is our turn. We must not through our actions seem to be like Captain Nemo keeping the great promise to ourselves. We are called to share that glorious message and in sharing the joy of that announcement, it is returned to us and we move closer to the promised peace of Christ.
Pax
[1] Icon of St. John Damascene is attributed to Nemeh Naser Homsi, date UNKNOWN
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
Reading 1 Isaiah 11:1-10
The Prophet Isaiah refers to a “shoot from the stump of Jesse.” Jesse was the father of King David. The stump refers to the line of David being cut back during the Babylonian Exile. The prophet here sees the return of the messianic King, predicting that the messiah will come from King David’s line and will ultimately bring great peace to the faithful.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Psalm 72 is one of the Royal Psalms. In this selection we hear an echo of the justice and peace of the King’s rule that is reiterated in Isaiah’s prophecy above.
Gospel Luke 10:21-24
Earlier in this chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel, Jesus sent out the seventy (two). Just prior to this selection, they returned and reported great success in doing what the Lord asked of them. We are given in today’s passage his prayer of thanks to the Father The Lord gives thanks that God has seen fit to reveal his identity and pass on his power to these disciples of his. It is reiterated that the Kingdom of God shall be revealed to the childlike (see also Luke 8:10) and turning to his disciples, he tells them that the victory they are witnessing is the Good News hoped for by prophets and kings throughout history.
Reflection:
As we hear the words of St. Luke today, how the Lord Jesus is caught up In the Holy Spirit and begins to pray, thanking God for His aid in Jesus’ mission, we can’t help but remember a story written over a hundred of years ago named Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, the great science fiction epic by Jules Vern. At one point in the story the infamous Captain Nemo was asked if he intended to share his great scientific discoveries with the rest of the world and he informed his prisoner/narrator, Professor Aronnax, that he would never do that because the world was not ready for so great a power. This story is recalled because Jesus rejoices for the opposite reason.
While the great knowledge and power of the mythical antagonist in the novel needs to be kept secret, the great knowledge and power of the Lord must be spread so that all might have access to it and find hope as a result. This Advent season as we look forward with hope to the Lord’s coming, we are reminded that this anticipation and hope are not shared by all of those we meet. Incredible as it seems to us, many of our colleagues, friends and acquaintances think of this season only for the presents they must buy and the orgy of commercialism that infuses the economy of the country with great strength because of all the money that is spent.
The Lord rejoices today because God’s word has reached so many others. He thanks his Father that their ears have been opened by the words and works of his followers. This is the legacy we have been handed. As we prepare ourselves to celebrate the Nativity of the Lord, we recall that we too are asked to joyfully make know the reason for the season (Cliché but appropriate). Children get it very easily but they must hear it first. Adults need to overcome their cynicism and adopt a childlike attitude that recalls the Christmas proclamation “Joy to the World!”
We hear St. Luke relay the story once more of how the Lord was ecstatic over the success of the seventy two in proclaiming the Good News. Now it is our turn. We must not through our actions seem to be like Captain Nemo keeping the great promise to ourselves. We are called to share that glorious message and in sharing the joy of that announcement, it is returned to us and we move closer to the promised peace of Christ.
Pax
[1] Icon of St. John Damascene is attributed to Nemeh Naser Homsi, date UNKNOWN
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
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