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Doctrinal Information about the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
Readings for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception[1][2]Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Genesis 3:9-15, 20
The LORD God then called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?”
He answered, “I heard you in the garden;
but I was afraid, because I was naked,
so I hid myself.”
Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked?
You have eaten, then,
from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!”
The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me
she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.”
The LORD God then asked the woman,
“Why did you do such a thing?”
The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.”
Then the LORD God said to the serpent:
“Because you have done this, you shall be banned
from all the animals
and from all the wild creatures;
on your belly shall you crawl,
and dirt shall you eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel.”
The man called his wife Eve,
because she became the mother of all the living.
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Commentary on Gn 3:9-15, 20
We find Adam and Eve confronted by God after having eaten from the Tree of Wisdom the fruit of which was forbidden to them. Adam blames Eve, and Eve blames the serpent. Thus the identity of the serpent is now synonymous with the Devil. This passage, because of that linkage can now be classified as the first prediction of the Messianic struggle with evil and ultimate victory.
Contained here is the scriptural evidence of Original Sin. The story is also called “The Fall” as God’s human creation (personified in Adam and Eve) falls from grace and is condemned to suffer the struggle to regain the blessed state throughout history. Mankind has said no to God.
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Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
R. (1) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
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Commentary on Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
A song of victory that is attributed to the Lord and one of awe for the deeds he has done on behalf of his people. Given to us on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception we can relate the victory to the unblemished creation of the Blessed Mother.
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Reading II: Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.
In him we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.
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Commentary on Eph 1:3-6, 11-12
Paul speaks to the Ephesians about their adoption by God as His sons and daughters. He relates in typical Pauline fashion the omnipotence and timelessness of God’s knowledge and actions. The emphasis in this selection is “Chosen”. We were chosen (“…to be holy and without blemish before him.”) to accomplish His will just as he chose the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the unblemished vessel of our Savior Jesus Christ.
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Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
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Commentary on Lk 1:26-38
We are given here the story of Mary being told she had been chosen and accepting the great privilege of baring the Savior of the World. This “announcement is parallel to the Zechariah’s news about John the Baptist, and is also delivered by the Angel Gabriel. This passage clearly identifies Jesus as Son of David and Son of God thus linking it with the messianic predictions from the Old Testament. Also very important in this story is Mary’s incredulous response; “’How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?’" This establishes her virgin status and is a declaration of the Spirit’s role in the conception.
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Reflection:
The Candle of Love now joins the Candle of Hope giving light to the darkness!
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3: 16) We recognize that this passage is not selected for today (and we don’t like it when homilists deliver a sermon rather than a homily.[5]). However, in this Advent season, as we wait in breathless anticipation for the celebration of the Lord’s nativity, the event that started the chain of events leading to our salvation needs theological grounding. St. John, quoting Jesus, provides the context.
On this day we recall in St. Luke’s Gospel, the first evidence of God’s plan for the new revelation being put into action. It actually begins many years before that incarnating event that takes place in Bethlehem, in the manger. The angel of the Lord comes to Mary, a young lady looking forward to marriage and a prosperous life with Joseph. With God’s love for the world demonstrated in his own sacrifice, the Most High entrusts himself to us in Mary’s womb.
We see in grand strokes how God prepares the world for his revelation. Millennium before this event takes place it is predicted by the Prophets. God, who sees time in a way we cannot understand, will have prepared the vessel in which he must reside. It must be free of sin, even that sin that had been passed down since the fall of man from grace. That logical beginning is why the fall is also mentioned in scripture today. If sin had not entered the world, if mankind had not succumbed to the temptation of the evil one and fallen from grace, God would not have needed to see that grace restored. The need for him to so violently express his love that he would send his only Son in to the world would not have existed.
But the fall from grace did occur. Mankind, given free will as the Father created them in his own image, chose disobedience rather than the idyllic life in complete harmony with the Creator. From that time forward, all of mankind was afflicted by that nature. Only one birth was miraculously free from the stain of sin. God so loved the world that he gave his Son. But perfect love must be delivered from perfect love and there must be not hint of the fallen nature of mankind associated with it.
To accomplish this immaculate and spotless womb, God graced Sts. Joachim and Anne, Mary’s parents, with a child, born free of original sin; a vessel with only one purpose, the production of the Son of God. We celebrate that singular gift of grace today and ask the Blessed Mother, filled with grace, to pray for us, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Pax [1] ALTRE[2] The picture used today is “Gabriel from the Annunciation” by Filippino Lippi, 1483-84
[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
[5] Sermon is a talk given usually with a moral premise using scripture quotes to support it. A homily is talk delivered reflecting upon scripture previously provided.
Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent[1][2]Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,
her guilt is expiated;
indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD
double for all her sins.
A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;
the rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Go up on to a high mountain,
Zion, herald of glad tidings;
cry out at the top of your voice,
Jerusalem, herald of good news!
Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by his strong arm;
here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
in his arms he gathers the lambs,
carrying them in his bosom,
and leading the ewes with care.
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Commentary on Is 40:1-5, 9-11
In this passage from Isaiah we are given first the prophetic vision of John the Baptist; “A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!” The prophecy then announces the coming of the Messiah and what a blessing he will be to the people.
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Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14
R. (8) Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD—for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and prepare the way of his steps.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
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Commentary on Ps 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14
Psalm 85 is a communal lament that focuses on the woes of the nation. These strophes reflect the joy of salvation at the restoration of the land following the destruction of the temple and the Diaspora. Those faithful to God see the reward; a land restored, justice returned, and the salvation of God. Placed in the context of the Advent season we find the theme of preparation for a time of peace throughout, a clear tie to the herald of the Messiah, echoing Isaiah’s oracle.
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Reading II: 2 Peter 3:8-14
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved,
that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years
and a thousand years like one day.
The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,”
but he is patient with you,
not wishing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,
and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar
and the elements will be dissolved by fire,
and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.
Since everything is to be dissolved in this way,
what sort of persons ought (you) to be,
conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion,
waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God,
because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames
and the elements melted by fire.
But according to his promise
we await new heavens and a new earth
in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, since you await these things,
be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.
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Commentary on 2 Pt 3:8-14
The author begins this passage cautioning the people not to think the Lord has not done what he promised in returning. St. Peter reminds them that God’s time is different than man’s perception “…a thousand years like one day”. He continues, reaffirming the Parousia (the second coming and the apocalypse). Because they understand that the day is coming (at a time they do not expect) and they will be called to account for their actions. Addressing their actions he tell them they must be “conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion”.
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Gospel: Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ (the Son of God).
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.”
John the Baptist appeared in the desert
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
People of the whole Judean countryside
and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.
John was clothed in camel’s hair,
with a leather belt around his waist.
He fed on locusts and wild honey.
And this is what he proclaimed:
“One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
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Commentary on Mk 1:1-8
This introduction and beginning of St. Mark’s Gospel contains several important elements. First, Mark begins announcing Jesus as the Christ – the Son of God. He follows this immediately by linking Jesus’ story to the Hebrew Scriptures describing John the Baptist’s role as fulfilling the oracle of Isaiah 40:3 above (he actually includes other OT references from Malachi 3:1; and Exodus 23:20;).
The description of Baptist recalls the Prophet Elijah (2 Kings 1:8) further establishing St. John’s role as prophet and establishing the conditions necessary for the appearance of the Messiah (it was explicit in Hebrew tradition that the appearance of the Messiah must be preceded by the second coming of Elijah (cf Malachi 3:23-24)).
The passage closes with St. John the Baptist announcing the coming of the Messiah who will transform the people through, not simply repentance, but by placing a new spirit within them (cf. Ezekiel 36: 24-28).
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Reflection:
The Candle of Love now joins the Candle of Hope giving light to the darkness!
The themes of Advent are well represented in Sacred Scripture this day. We begin with the prophetic vision of the Prophet Isaiah who sees the coming of salvation heralded by one who must appear to him to be Elijah returning, but who is in fact, St. John the Baptist.
The glory of God will be revealed as his path is prepared. We understand the metaphor being used. Not only must the event be announced, but the spirit of those who will receive the gift must be readied. Preparing a path for the Lord means that the “will” must be ready to accept the spirit of holiness that God will impart.
St. Mark introduces us to the herald of Christ, St. John the Baptist. We have known about him from before his birth. He greeted Holy Mary when Jesus was in her womb by leaping for joy. Now, fully grown he takes up his mission, calling for a return to God’s law and reign. Eccentrically he comes out of the wilderness reminiscent of Elijah and basically hijacks the Jewish rite of ritual purification (The Pharisees used this ritual out of Ezekiel’s prophetic book to symbolize that they had turned from sin. Later, in Jesus public ministry, the Lord changes water intended for this use into wine at the Wedding Feast at Cana).
St. John calls for conversion of heart and “repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” We note that St. John clarifies that there is one coming after him who will forgive those sins. His baptism is symbolic, the Lord’s is efficacious – it does what it signifies.
For the Baptist, the time is at hand. For us, we see both Isaiah’s oracle and St. John’s prediction as ancient history. We know this story well. Yet there is a future tense to the events unfolding. St. Peter’s letter, written decades after Christ died and fulfilled his promise to rise, reminds us that, in addition to looking forward to the celebration of Jesus’ first coming, we are also preparing for “we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” as our brothers and sisters in faith have done for millennia.
Today as we mark the lighting of the second candle, the Candle of Love, we see God’s gracious plan of salvation marked out in steps that span thousands of years. His love for us is so boundless that his time flows, as his love, with unimaginable depths. We praise him this day, in gratitude for the hope we share and the love we receive.
Pax [1] ALTRE[2] The picture used today is “St. John the Baptist” by Francesco Solimena, c. 1700
[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
Saint Nicholas, Bishop
Memorial of St. Nicholas (Memorial Bench)
Readings for Saturday of the First Week of Advent[1][2]Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26
O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem,
no more will you weep;
He will be gracious to you when you cry out,
as soon as he hears he will answer you.
The Lord will give you the bread you need
and the water for which you thirst.
No longer will your Teacher hide himself,
but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,
While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears:
“This is the way; walk in it,”
when you would turn to the right or to the left.
He will give rain for the seed
that you sow in the ground,
And the wheat that the soil produces
will be rich and abundant.
On that day your flock will be given pasture
and the lamb will graze in spacious meadows;
The oxen and the asses that till the ground
will eat silage tossed to them
with shovel and pitchfork.
Upon every high mountain and lofty hill
there will be streams of running water.
On the day of the great slaughter,
when the towers fall,
The light of the moon will be like that of the sun
and the light of the sun will be seven times greater
like the light of seven days.
On the day the LORD binds up the wounds of his people,
he will heal the bruises left by his blows.
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Commentary on Is 30:19-21, 23-26
This reading from Isaiah is one that gives hope to those who are without hope. God, says the Prophet hears the cry of his faithful and provides for them. The tone here, using the word "Teacher" links this passage to the Gospels where 65 times Jesus assumes that title and admits to that role (Jn 13:13).
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Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. (see Isaiah 30:18d) Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
Praise the LORD, for he is good;
sing praise to our God, for he is gracious;
it is fitting to praise him.
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;
the dispersed of Israel he gathers.
R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He tells the number of the stars;
he calls each by name.
R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
Great is our LORD and mighty in power:
to his wisdom there is no limit.
The LORD sustains the lowly;
the wicked he casts to the ground.
R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
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Commentary on Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
This hymn of praise anticipates the coming of the Messiah who restores what is lost and, again, gives hope to the poor, upon whom he lavishes special blessings; "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
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Gospel: Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”
Then he summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
“Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”
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Commentary on Mt 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8
This selection emphasizes Jesus early struggle to accomplish what he came to do by himself. We sense the humanness as he says; "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;" In the full text of the scripture St. Matthew names the 12 (Matthew 10:2-4) and then Jesus sends them, first to the Hebrew people, most of whom as we now know, rejected him.
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Reflection:
The Candle of Hope still burns!
Today the hope represented by the first bright candle on the Advent Wreath is defined, not just by Jesus who calls us to join in his labors, but by the Prophet Isaiah who explicitly predicts his coming. “No more will you weep” he tells us. “The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst. No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher”.
Indeed this has come to pass and we have hope. The Lord gave us the new manna – truly bread from heaven that feeds us and strengthens us in ways miraculous to the world. We are no longer wandering alone in the world but united in our common bond of the bread he gives us. We are inducted into that unity by the water of Baptism, quenching the thirst of our soul and making us one with him and with each other, adopted children sharing a birth right that points us to God’s Kingdom.
And seeing him in word and spirit, he teaches us. We know him by his example and we hear him through his word captured for us by the authors of sacred scripture. He is not the invisible God of ancient times – to be feared and hidden – his name unmentionable. He has made himself clear to us – a divine revelation that expresses God’s true nature; the essence of love that sustains our hope in all things.
We pause today and consider those without hope. Those who believe that life begins organically with no divine spark – like any animal, to live out that life, finite and without purpose, are indeed hopeless. When the earthly shell they wear fails – they face the dark night of death without hope or light. In the finality of that thought they must despair for all the future holds for them is decay.
We, therefore, rejoice in the Lord of Life who shows us through his own resurrection that life on earth is the smallest part of our spiritual journey. It is a time of anticipation and preparation as we look forward to a holy life sharing the joys of God’s Kingdom. It is our hope that transforms us in the present and hope is contagious. That is the message of the great “sower”, the one whose harvest Jesus calls us to assist with when he says “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.”
As we rejoice once more this day and thank God of the gift of hope, let us pray for those who stare into the darkness with fear and despair, may they come to see the light of salvation and receive the bread of life for the one who is love.
Pax
[1] ALTRE[2] The picture used today is “The Harvest of the World” by Jacobello Alberegno, 1360-90
[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
Readings for Friday of the First Week of Advent[1][2]Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Isaiah 29:17-24
But a very little while,
and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard,
and the orchard be regarded as a forest!
On that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book;
And out of gloom and darkness,
the eyes of the blind shall see.
The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD,
and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant will be no more
and the arrogant will have gone;
All who are alert to do evil will be cut off,
those whose mere word condemns a man,
Who ensnare his defender at the gate,
and leave the just man with an empty claim.
Therefore thus says the LORD,
the God of the house of Jacob,
who redeemed Abraham:
Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of,
nor shall his face grow pale.
When his children see
the work of my hands in his midst,
They shall keep my name holy;
they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob,
and be in awe of the God of Israel.
Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding,
and those who find fault shall receive instruction.
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Commentary on Is 29:17-24
This selection from Isaiah is probably a proverb of redemption. We see the language of messianic hope as the oracle sees a time when unjust rulers will be cast down and those who perjure themselves making false accusations (“…those whose mere word condemns a man”) will be discredited. God who redeemed Abraham (by converting him from idol worship) will save all of the faithful through the messiah.
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Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
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Commentary on Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14
Psalm 27 is a hymn of praise with two distinct parts. This passage captures the two major themes of the song, hope in God’s mercy and complete trust in his goodness.
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Gospel: Matthew 9:27-31
And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed (him), crying out,
“Son of David, have pity on us!”
When he entered the house,
the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them,
“Do you believe that I can do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they said to him.
Then he touched their eyes and said,
“Let it be done for you according to your faith.”
And their eyes were opened.
Jesus warned them sternly,
“See that no one knows about this.”
But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.
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Commentary on Mt 9:27-31
The two blind men in this selection from St. Matthew’s Gospel address Jesus with his messianic title “Son of David”. The Lord proceeds to respond to that title fulfilling a major part of the predictive prophecies about the Messiah by causing the blind to see. This event is seen as fulfilling the oracle of Isaiah just proclaimed in the first reading (“And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.” Isaiah 29:18).
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Reflection:
The Candle of Hope still burns!
We are filled with hope because in our faith – we know Christ will open our eyes that we might see God’s Glory. It shines like a beacon as the Nativity of Christ draws near, it is our everlasting hope that we will meet him when he comes again, with all the saints in the Heavenly Kingdom.
The very strong link between the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the redemption that flows from the Messiah and Matthew’s Gospel seeing that prophecy fulfilled leads us to recall part of the celebration that started each of us on the path of faith. In our Baptismal ceremony there is a prayer called the Ephphatha. Ephphatha is from the Aramaic and it means “be open” or “open”. In sacred scripture it is the word spoken by Christ when he cured the deaf mute along the Sea of Galilee (see Mark 7:31 ff).
The prayer used as the celebrant touches the ears and mouth of the person during the Baptismal rite bearing that name is:
“The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the dumb speak. May he soon touch your ears to receive his word, and your mouth to proclaim his faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father. Amen”
This little rite does not deal with the blind regaining their sight but it is another part of the messianic prophecy. It too deals with a person’s ability to perceive the world and understand what is taking place. These cures become a metaphor for our entire faith journey. How can we see the wonders of the Lord if our eyes are blind to the works of his hand? How can we hear the choirs of angels singing loud hosannas if our ears are closed to the Word of God? Even if we see and hear the wonders of God’s power and glory, how can we tell others if we are mute?
The blind can see, the deaf can hear, and the mute sing the praises of God. These events do not necessarily deal with the cure of physical defects but spiritual handicaps. And the spiritual handicaps are not limited to a few, but are common, even among those who call themselves Christian.
Today, as hope once more streams from the word of God, we pray for ourselves, that the Lord will open our eyes that we might see more clearly; our ears, that we might hear his voice; and our lips that we might praise him with each utterance we make.
Pax [1] ALTRE[2] The picture used today is “Healing Two Blind Men” by Alexandre Bida, 1875
[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
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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
Priest
Wednesday of the First Week of Advent
Biographical Information about St. Francis Xavier
Readings for Wednesday of the First Week of Advent[1][2]Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Isaiah 25:6-10a
On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
A feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
The web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.
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Commentary on Is 25:6-10a
Isaiah continues today with a vision of the Messiah’s victory. It is a victory that unites the nations and peoples and leads the whole world to salvation. The feast of celebration is described with rich foods and choice wines.
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Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
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Commentary on Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
We are given the 23rd Psalm, one of the most quoted and recited peace of Holy Scripture in the Bible, certainly in the Old Testament. It is at once a profession of faith in God and statement of trust in the reward prepared for the faithful.
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Gospel: Matthew 15:29-37
Moving on from there (Tyre and Sidon)
Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee,
went up on the mountain, and sat down there.
Great crowds came to him,
having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute,
and many others.
They placed them at his feet, and he cured them.
The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking,
the deformed made whole,
the lame walking,
and the blind able to see,
and they glorified the God of Israel.
Jesus summoned his disciples and said,
“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
for they have been with me now for three days
and have nothing to eat.
I do not want to send them away hungry,
for fear they may collapse on the way.”
The disciples said to him,
“Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place
to satisfy such a crowd?”
Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.”
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then he took the seven loaves and the fish,
gave thanks, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full.
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Commentary on Mt 15:29-37
We hear St. Matthew’s story of the Loaves and Fishes in this passage coupled with a little different reason for gathering. In Matthew’s story Jesus is curing the blind and the lame in other Gospels he is addressing the crowds.
The story demonstrates the saving mission of Christ and how he fulfills the Prophet’s description of his mission and grace.
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Reflection:
The Candle of Hope still burns!
“On that day…”, Isaiah says this numerous times referring to the coming of the Messiah. It is followed by the visions of signs and wonders – the hope for the world that the Messiah brings. Today he envisions the great feast in celebration of God’s rich mercy. For us, looking back on his words from these millennia in the future, we see clearly the reference to the Eucharistic celebration, re-creating the mystery of how God gave himself as a perpetual sacrifice to the world.
Foreshadowing that sacrifice, St. Matthew tells one of the great miracle stories. Jesus, motivated by compassion and love for the people who had gathered to hear him, passes around the seven loaves and the fish. St. Matthew’s story does not give us numbers (those are supplied in the earlier account (Matthew 14:13-21)), but the crowd we know is huge. Jesus has been healing and making whole those in need and his following has continued to swell. Seven loaves of bread are not going to feed this group under normal circumstances.
But the miracle happens. It is documented by all four Gospel authors (it is the only one that is). Isaiah predicts this feast, Jesus fulfills Isaiah’s promise, and later in the upper room the night before his passion, he gives us the everlasting gift of his body and blood in the form of the Eucharist. Many of the faithful do not believe this. They do not believe that Jesus fed the multitudes with just those few loaves, they do not believe that, in the consecration of the Eucharist the substance, the very essence of the bread and wine become the glorified body of Christ. In those who reject that gift – hope is diminished.
Our task and obligation is to help those we encounter make that leap of faith. We recognize that if sacred scripture is not enough to convince them that miracles do happen; that Jesus, whom we profess to be the omnipotent Son of the Creator of all that is, has healed the sick, made whole those who were deformed, and now feeds the multitudes with seven loaves; if they cannot believe scripture on this point, we will not convince them with our words.
What then does the Lord ask of us? If those we encounter cannot make the leap of faith, we at least can show them the benefits in their own lives of accepting the commandments of Christ. Faith is a rich gift of the Father and all are not endowed with the same depth of faith. Today we pray our actions will invite others to follow the Lord and have hope. Today we ask the Father of miracles to enliven our hearts so that through us – His glory may be seen and the faithless might believe and hope in Him.
Pax[1] ALTRE[2] The picture used today is “Miracle of the Loaves” by Alxeandre Bida, 1875
[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
Readings for Tuesday of the First Week of Advent[1][2]Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Isaiah 11:1-10
But 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.
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Commentary on Is 11:1-10
Isaiah predicts that the line of David will produce the Messiah with the first verse; “stump of Jesse”, Kind David’s father. He follows to list for the first time in scripture the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit[4] (note also, the reference to fullness, in Hebrew numerology the number “7” is the perfect number.). In the Septuagint and the Vulgate the word "piety" is coupled with “fear of the Lord”.
He follows the description of the gifts of the Holy Spirit with a list of the just and compassionate characteristics of the messianic rule and then a picture of universal peace under the messiah’s rule.
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Responsorial Psalm:[5] Psalm 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.
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Commentary on Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
This Royal Psalm extols the virtuous characteristics of justice and compassion we heard in the reading from Isaiah. Listed again in David’s literature, the pattern of today’s scripture is pointing to the rule of Jesus, of the line of David, Jesse’s stump, the messiah and king of the age to come.
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Gospel: Luke 10:21-24
At that very moment he (Jesus) rejoiced (in) the holy Spirit and
“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.”
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Commentary on Lk 10:21-24
Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit because his disciples have understood his role of Messiah in the kingdom. He restates his relationship as Son of God (“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.") The inference here is that we must approach that faith with “childlike” faith and trust in order to achieve that level of understanding.
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Reflection:
The Candle of Hope still burns!
The scripture today reveals the role of “Messiah” that will result from the Nativity we anticipate in this, our Advent Season. We see Isaiah predict his lineage once more, the Lord comes from the line of David, whose kingdom ended in 971 BC. He is the Stump of Jesse’s Tree, Jesse being the father of King David. Isaiah gives us today the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit that created in Christ the perfect king and gifts to which we aspire.
In our Gospel, the Lord speaks through St. Luke telling us that; “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.” He has revealed himself to us through his Father’s will that sends him. In childlike faith we are called to accept him; to receive him. This is the lampstand that holds up the candle of hope in our Advent Wreath.
We pause to consider what God has done for us in Christ to bring us such hope. Through all the generations of the faithful who have gone before us we were called to be God’s adopted children. In our Baptism that adoption was accomplished and our birth-right secured. As the baptismal bath cleansed us, the Holy Spirit was infused, changing us forever, giving us those seven gifts (which we all had to memorize at our Confirmation where we were “Sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”).
Those gifts; wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord open our hearts to hear God’s word and our minds to accept his message – good tidings to all mankind (reiterated in Isaiah – “The root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious.”).
Today once more we give thanks to God for all of his gifts to us; but most especially for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We ask for strength to act as God’s adopted children are expected. We especially ask that hope in the Lord be given to the hopeless, those who do not understand the love of Christ and the salvation he offers must indeed feel hopeless in the shadow of death undefeated.
Pax
[1] ALTRE[2] The picture used today is “The Holy Spirit” by Corrado Giaquinto, 1750s
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana
[4] From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1831 “The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. They belong in their fullness to Christ, Son of David. They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations.
“Let your good spirit lead me on a level path."( Ps 143:10)
"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God . . . If children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.”( Rom 8:14,17.)
[5] Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved
Readings for Monday of the First Week of Advent[1][2]Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Isaiah 2:1-5
This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,
saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come,
The mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
That he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.”
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
One nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the LORD!
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Commentary on Is 2:1-5
Isaiah speaks of his vision of the messianic kingdom to come where Judah and Israel are united and peace abounds in the entire kingdom. The symbolism of the mountain of the Lord – or “High Place” is an ancient reference to the place close to where God dwells. The “highest mountain” meaning that all other beliefs become subservient to the One God. He sees the unity of all the nations under one God and one Messiah. In the final verse the prophet implores the faithful of the house of Jacob (the Israelites) to fulfill his vision quickly.
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Responsorial Psalm:[4] Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my relatives and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you!"
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
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Commentary on Ps 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9
Supporting Isaiah’s vision of the messianic kingdom, this psalm of praise points also to Jerusalem as the center and source the Law. It also adds David as the dynasty of this unified kingdom with the Lord our God providing the source of peace.
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Gospel: Matthew 8:5-11
When he (Jesus) entered Capernaum,
a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,
“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”
He said to him, “I will come and cure him.”
The centurion said in reply,
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word and my servant will be healed.
For I too am a man subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes;
and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes;
and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
“Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”
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Commentary on Mt 8:5-11
This story of the Centurion is shortened by a couple verses to focus our attention on the authority of Jesus and the role faith can play in accessing that authority. The Centurion’s description of his own understanding of authority translates to his faith that Jesus can command all things without needing to move. In the longer version, Jesus also condemns the Jewish people for their lack of faith and heals the Centurions servant as requested.
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Reflection:
The first candle of the Advent Wreath has been lit. (The first one is traditionally purple and signifies hope.) In this week we hear Isaiah the great prophet who has a vision of the kingdom that will come. He sees the beacon of truth that is the Messiah shining out so that all peoples in the world will see the love of God and the promise of eternal salvation.
We feel in the vision of Isaiah his own yearning and hope for the unity and peace of that time. It is the reason he came – to point to God’s unifying love and call all those he could reach to come and rejoice in the divine revelation of God’s mercy. But not everyone will share his vision. Not everyone, even those in seats of authority will understand the message. He will find this out later and will have his own share in the suffering of the one whose coming he predicts.
Jesus, in the story of the Centurion’s Servant, recognizes the power of faith, founded on hope. The centurion recognizes in Christ the authority over life (and death). He calls upon him as a soldier, confident that Christ orders will be obeyed. In him, however, Christ sees the underlying virtue of faith. Faith that God’s love will be given when asked, even to one who is not of “the chosen people”. That is why Jesus is amazed. He sees one who has already traveled far down the path to salvation, without even understanding the crushing weight of the Law and the Prophets that serve as his foundation and to which he come fulfilling.
The message for us becomes clear as we see the virtue of the Centurion who is filled with hope because of his faith. Our challenge this Advent Season is to reach out for the same faithful response. When we begin to worry that this season will be tarnished by an economy that seems determined to spoil things – have hope. Christ did not come so we could demonstrate the power of wealth to create happiness. He came so that we might understand that there is more to the season than things. The centurion did not come to Jesus because, in doing so he would somehow heap accolades upon himself. He came humbly asking for intercession.
Our prayer for this day is that the hope symbolized by our first candle will fill us with peace and from that radiant warmth; others might be comforted as well. We pray especially for those who are struggling even to eat and stay warm. May our generosity and that of our brothers and sisters in Christ demonstrate what hope in the Lord can do.
Pax [1] ALTRE[2] The picture used today is “Healing the Centurion’s Servant” by Alexandre Bida, c. 1875
[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
