23-DEC-'24, Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Lectionary: 199

Reading 1

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24

Thus says the Lord GOD:

Lo, I am sending my messenger

to prepare the way before me;

And suddenly there will come to the temple

the LORD whom you seek,

And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.

Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.

But who will endure the day of his coming?

And who can stand when he appears?

For he is like the refiner's fire,

or like the fuller's lye.

He will sit refining and purifying silver,

and he will purify the sons of Levi,

Refining them like gold or like silver

that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.

Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem

will please the LORD,

as in the days of old, as in years gone by.

Lo, I will send you

Elijah, the prophet,

Before the day of the LORD comes,

the great and terrible day,

To turn the hearts of the fathers to their children,

and the hearts of the children to their fathers,

Lest I come and strike

the land with doom.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14

R. (see Luke 21:28) Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;

teach me your paths,

Guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my savior.

R. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.

Good and upright is the LORD;

thus he shows sinners the way.

He guides the humble to justice,

he teaches the humble his way.

R. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.

All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy

toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,

and his covenant, for their instruction.

R. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:

come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 1:57-66

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child

she gave birth to a son.

Her neighbors and relatives heard

that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,

and they rejoiced with her.

When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,

they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,

but his mother said in reply,

"No. He will be called John."

But they answered her,

"There is no one among your relatives who has this name."

So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.

He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name,"

and all were amazed.

Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,

and he spoke blessing God.

Then fear came upon all their neighbors,

and all these matters were discussed

throughout the hill country of Judea.

All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,

"What, then, will this child be?

For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”

Reflection 1

Catholic Daily Reflections 

Zechariah’s Victory

Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Luke 1:64

This line reveals the happy conclusion to Zechariah’s initial failure to believe in what God revealed to him. Recall that nine months earlier, as Zechariah was fulfilling his priestly duty of offering sacrifice within the Holy of Holies in the Temple, he received a visit from the glorious Archangel Gabriel, who stands before God. Gabriel revealed to Zechariah the good news that his wife would conceive in her old age and that this child would be the one to prepare the people of Israel for the coming Messiah. What an incredible privilege that would have been! But Zechariah disbelieved. And as a result, the Archangel struck him mute for the nine months of his wife’s pregnancy.

The punishments of the Lord are always gifts of His grace. Zechariah was not punished out of spite, or for punitive reasons. Instead, this punishment was more like a penance. He was given the humbling penance of losing his ability to speak for nine months for a good reason. It appears as if God knew that Zechariah needed nine months to silently reflect upon what the Archangel had said. He needed nine months to ponder his wife’s miraculous pregnancy. And he needed nine months to ponder who this child would be. And those nine months produced the desired effect of a full conversion of heart.

After the child was born, it was expected that this firstborn son would be named after the father, Zechariah. But the Archangel had told Zechariah that the child was to be named John. Therefore, on the eighth day, the day of his son’s circumcision when he was presented to the Lord, Zechariah wrote on a tablet that the baby’s name was John. This was an act of faith and a sign that he had fully turned from disbelief to belief. And it was this act of faith that undid his prior doubt.

Every one of our lives will be marked by failures to believe on the deepest level of faith. For that reason, Zechariah is a model for us of how we are to deal with our failures. We deal with them by allowing the consequences of past failures to change us for the good. We learn from our mistakes and move forward with new resolutions. This is what Zechariah did, and this is what we must do if we wish to learn from his good example.

Reflect, today, upon any sin you have committed that has had painful consequences in your life. As you ponder that sin, the real question is where you go from here. Do you allow that past sin, or lack of faith, to dominate and control your life? Or do you use your past failures to make new resolutions and decisions for the future so as to learn from your mistakes? It takes courage, humility and strength to imitate the example of Zechariah. Seek to bring these virtues into your life this day.

Reflection 2

One Bread, One Body 

ZECHARIAH’S SCHOOL OF SILENCE

“At that moment his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God.” —Luke 1:64

St. Zechariah the priest had spent long years serving the Lord in the Temple. However, he failed his test when the archangel Gabriel appeared to him and announced the good news of answered prayer (Lk 1:13ff). Zechariah thus entered the school of listening to the Lord, a school of silence. To ensure that Zechariah would be attentive to his lessons, the archangel Gabriel removed his ability to speak (Lk 1:20, 62).

Zechariah’s first three months of school were elementary school. During his wife’s first trimester, Zechariah could not yet see the baby growing, but had to learn to cultivate faith. Months four through six of Zechariah’s school of silence were high school level lessons. He still couldn’t speak, but he could see his wife’s womb gradually stretching, and he too was stretched. Like his son in St. Elizabeth’s womb, Zechariah’s faith was growing.

For the final three months of Zechariah’s school of silence, the Blessed Virgin Mary arrived to teach the graduate school courses: listening, wisdom, trust, and obedience (Lk 1:56). Zechariah passed his final exam with highest honors by obeying the command of God to name his son John (Lk 1:13, 63). He regained his speech. Zechariah’s commencement address, his Benedictus, was a prophecy that has been repeated by the Church in Morning Prayer for centuries (Lk 1:68-79).

Zechariah’s silent schooling was forced because his faith in God was weak. It need not be that way with us. Come to God in silence each day and actively listen for His voice (see Lam 3:26).

Prayer: Father, make me a docile student in Your school of silence so that many might learn of Your love through me.

Promise: “The friendship of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and His covenant, for their instruction.” —Ps 25:14

Praise: “O Emmanuel, King and Lawgiver, Desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.”

Reflection 3

The Servants of the Word 

What Then Will This Child Be?

Are you surprised to see the relatives of Zechariah and Elizabeth disagreeing over what to name their newborn child? Don't we do the same thing? This child, however has been named from above! And Elizabeth is firm in her faith and determined to see that God be glorified through this child. The name John means "the Lord is gracious." In the birth of John the Baptist and in the birth of Jesus the Messiah we see the grace and favor of God breaking forth into a world broken by sin, corruption, and death - a world lost without hope.

The Old Testament prophets foretold the return of the prophet Elijah (Malachi 3:1, and 4:5) who would announce the coming of the Messiah - the Savior and Ruler of the earth. John the Baptist fulfills the role of Elijah (Matthew 11:13-14). His miraculous birth shows the mercy and favor of God in preparing his people for the coming of its Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

When God acts to save us he graciously fills us with his Holy Spirit and makes our faith come "alive" to his promises. When we respond to his word with trust the Lord fills us with the joy of the Holy Spirit and renews our hope and gratitude for the mercy and gift of new life and salvation he gives us through Jesus Christ. Do you make your life an offering of thanksgiving to God, along with your family and all that you have and hope to accomplish? God wants to fill us with the joy of his saving presence all the days of our lives, from birth through death. Renew the offering of your life to God and give him thanks for his mercy and favor towards you.

Prayers

Lord, I know I lack faith in my life. I fail to believe all that You speak to me. As a result, I often fail to put Your words into action. Dear Lord, when I suffer as a result of my weakness, help me to know that this and all suffering can result in giving glory to You if I renew my faith. Help me, like Zechariah, to return to You always, and use me as an instrument of Your manifest glory. Jesus, I trust in You.

Lord Jesus, you are gracious and forgiving towards us. Renew in me the gift of faith that I may believe your promises and obey your word.

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

Reflection 357: The Promptings of Grace

When someone is troubled, you may shy away from them. It’s easy to think that engaging them will impose a heavy burden on your time and energy. But if the Lord is the one directing your conversation, He can do amazing things in a short while. Sure, there are times when love demands many hours of care, but often times a few words, a listening ear, or a gentle smile will do more for a person in need than you could ever imagine (See Diary #1736).

Reflect upon the fact that God is able to accomplish amazing things with very little effort on your part. All it takes is a willing response to the gentle promptings of His Heart so as to speak a kind word, listen to a burdened heart, or offer a work of charity. If it’s done as a result of the promptings of the Holy Spirit, it will be amazingly simple, delightful and well worth the effort. Ponder how well you listen to the daily inspirations of the Holy Spirit and seek to act the next time you are moved to do so.

Lord, I pray that I will always be ready and willing to act as an instrument of Your Mercy. Please inspire me, dear Lord, to act on the promptings that You send me, and help me to express Your love to others in the simplest of ways. Jesus, I trust in You.

22-DEC-'24, Fourth Sunday of Advent

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Lectionary: 12

Reading I

Micah 5:1-4a

    Thus says the LORD:

    You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah

        too small to be among the clans of Judah,

    from you shall come forth for me

        one who is to be ruler in Israel;

    whose origin is from of old,

        from ancient times.

    Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time

        when she who is to give birth has borne,

    and the rest of his kindred shall return

        to the children of Israel.

    He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock

        by the strength of the LORD,

        in the majestic name of the LORD, his God;

    and they shall remain, for now his greatness

        shall reach to the ends of the earth;

        he shall be peace.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19.

R. (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

O shepherd of Israel, hearken,

    from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.

Rouse your power,

    and come to save us.

R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Once again, O LORD of hosts,

    look down from heaven, and see;

take care of this vine,

    and protect what your right hand has planted

the son of man whom you yourself made strong.

R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

May your help be with the man of your right hand,

    with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.

Then we will no more withdraw from you;

    give us new life, and we will call upon your name.

R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Reading II

Hebrews 10:5-10

Brothers and sisters:

When Christ came into the world, he said:

    “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,

        but a body you prepared for me;

    in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight.

    Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll,

    behold, I come to do your will, O God.’“

First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings,

holocausts and sin offerings, 

you neither desired nor delighted in.”

These are offered according to the law.

Then he says, :Behold, I come to do your will.”

He takes away the first to establish the second.

By this “will,” we have been consecrated 

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Alleluia

Luke 1:38

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.

May it be done to me according to your word.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 1:39-45

Mary set out

and traveled to the hill country in haste

to a town of Judah, 

where she entered the house of Zechariah

and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,

the infant leaped in her womb, 

and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, 

cried out in a loud voice and said, 

“Blessed are you among women, 

and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

And how does this happen to me, 

that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, 

the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

Blessed are you who believed

that what was spoken to you by the Lord

would be fulfilled.”

Reflection 1

Catholic Daily Reflections 

Wonder and Awe

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Luke 1:42–43

Elizabeth expressed a beautiful humility in this statement. The Blessed Virgin Mary had just made a long journey to be with Elizabeth in her final months of pregnancy. As soon as our Blessed Mother greeted Elizabeth, Elizabeth’s child, Saint John the Baptist, leaped for joy in her womb. Elizabeth acknowledges this and then humbly expresses the fact that she is exceptionally blessed to have Mary, the mother of her Lord, come to visit her.

There are many things worth pondering in this visitation of our Blessed Mother. But try to focus upon the humble wonder and awe expressed by Elizabeth. “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Elizabeth was clearly grateful for Mary’s visit. But it appears that her reaction went even beyond gratitude. She was given the gift of wonder and awe. She clearly knew she was incredibly blessed by the fact that both the Mother of God and her Lord Himself were now in her presence in her home.

This gift of wonder and awe that Elizabeth experienced is one of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. It’s a gift that enters a humble heart, enabling it to first see its unworthiness of a special grace given. But then this humble soul receives the special grace and responds with an overwhelming amazement. Thus, not only is gratitude present, but there is also this holy amazement that results in praise of God.

In our own lives, there are so many incredible graces we have received from God. But too often we fail to see them for what they are. We fail to see the incredible graces God has given us and, thus, fail to experience the amazement that should result from God’s gifts.

As you look at your own life, what graces has God given to you? Do you see them? Are you grateful for them? And, if so, are you able to go even beyond gratitude so as to experience a holy wonder and awe of God’s goodness and blessings in your life? Though it might be difficult to arrive at this level of amazement, it is a true gift that we must all strive to obtain and experience every day of our lives.

Reflect, today, upon this holy gift of the Holy Spirit that Elizabeth experienced. Place yourself at the scene. Try to see the experience within her heart. Try to feel how she felt. Try to sense the praise that resulted. And try to open yourself more fully to receive this same gift of the Holy Spirit in your life. The Lord comes to you constantly by grace, especially every time you receive Him in Holy Communion. For that reason, we must all strive to live a holy wonder and awe every day of our lives.

Reflection 2

One Bread, One Body 

JESUS, PEACE ON EARTH

“He shall be peace.” —Micah 5:4

The angels heralding Jesus’ birth proclaimed “Peace on earth” as Peace Incarnate entered the world (Lk 2:14). In doing His Father’s will (Heb 10:7), Jesus, the Ruler, brings peace to His people (Mi 5:1, 4). Jesus our Peace (Eph 2:14) comes to bring peace. When He appeared to His apostles on the evening of His Resurrection, Jesus’ first words were, “Peace be with you” (Jn 20:19).

How ironic and sad that Peace should be hunted down by the government as an Infant (Mt 2:16) and forced to flee as a Refugee to a foreign land (Mt 2:13ff). Finally, Peace was persecuted, brutalized, and crucified. Jesus is still hunted down and crucified by present-day governments. For example, Jesus was ejected from the American public schools. Decades later, some high schools hire armed guards to try to keep the peace. How many acts of violence have been committed in the public schools since Peace was thrown out? Jesus laments to all who reject Him: “If only you had known the path of peace this day; but you have completely lost it from view!” (Lk 19:42)

Do we really want peace on earth? Would we rather have worldly peace, which is often merely the temporary cessation of war, or true “shalom” peace, which overturns (see Jn 2:14ff) the world’s systems, cultures, societies, and lifestyles? True world peace can be achieved only by opening our lives, homes, social structures, schools, institutions, and governments to Jesus, Who is Peace (Eph 2:14).

Prayer: Jesus, “Prince of Peace” (Is 9:5), let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me receiving You as Lord of my life.

Promise: “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” —Heb 10:10

Praise: “O King of all the nations, the only Joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature You fashioned from the dust.”

Reflection 3

Shared from Daily Liturgy

Mary makes a surprise visit to Elizabeth who never ceased to thank the merciful Lord for his grace upon her and her family. She was able to recognize the Son of God from afar since she was “righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.” In front of the Son of God and His Mother, she must have felt so unworthy as later we hear her son say “the one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals.” The humility and the courage to consider the other one, though according to the worldly standards lower than me, is the example Elizabeth set before us. Like Mary all those who come to us carry Jesus with them. Only those who are righteous and blameless before God could recognize the indwelling presence of God in the other.           

Prayers

My most glorious Lord, You grace me beyond imagination. Too often, I fail to experience the gratitude and the wonder and awe that should result. Please help me to first see the countless blessings of Your grace and presence in my life. And as I see them, please fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I, too, may continually sing Your worthy praises. Jesus, I trust in You.

Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me joy in seeking you more earnestly. Increase my faith in all your promises, my hope in the joy of heaven, and my love for You as my All.

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

Reflection 356: The Beating of Your Heart

When there is excitement in your life, your heart begins to beat faster. This is a natural reaction. For that reason, it is good to ponder whether your heart ever beats for God? Do you allow yourself to become caught up in a holy awe of the presence of God? Do you become excited about the mission that God has given you? And, if so, do you ever find that your heart beats faster as you ponder the great mysteries of His love and Mercy? Your whole being must react to the majesty and splendor of our glorious God (See Diary #1728).

Try this simple examination today. Ponder the last time that you truly became excited over God and His holy Will. Was your excitement something that affected you so much that even your heart began to beat faster? Though this may not be an infallible sign of the presence of God in your life, it may reveal much more than you realize.

Lord, I desire that my heart beat for You every day. May I experience the joy and excitement of Your perfect glory and desire with my mind, spirit and even body, the fulfillment of Your Will. I love You, dear Lord. May my heart beat for You with great intensity and love. Jesus, I trust in You.

21-DEC-'24, Saturday of the Third Week of Advent

Saturday of the Third Week of Advent

Lectionary: 197

Reading 1

Song of Songs 2:8-14

Hark! my lover–here he comes

springing across the mountains,

leaping across the hills.

My lover is like a gazelle

or a young stag.

Here he stands behind our wall,

gazing through the windows,

peering through the lattices.

My lover speaks; he says to me,

"Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one,

and come!

"For see, the winter is past,

the rains are over and gone.

The flowers appear on the earth,

the time of pruning the vines has come,

and the song of the dove is heard in our land.

The fig tree puts forth its figs,

and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.

Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,

and come!

"O my dove in the clefts of the rock,

in the secret recesses of the cliff,

Let me see you,

let me hear your voice,

For your voice is sweet,

and you are lovely."

Or

Zephaniah 3:14-18a

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!

Sing joyfully, O Israel!

Be glad and exult with all your heart,

O daughter Jerusalem!

The LORD has removed the judgment against you,

he has turned away your enemies;

The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,

you have no further misfortune to fear.

On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:

Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!

The LORD, your God, is in your midst,

a mighty savior;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

and renew you in his love,

He will sing joyfully because of you,

as one sings at festivals.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21

R. (1a; 3a) Exult, you just, in the Lord! 

Sing to him a new song.

Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;

with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.

Sing to him a new song;

pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.

R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

But the plan of the LORD stands forever;

the design of his heart, through all generations.

Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,

the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.

R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

Our soul waits for the LORD,

who is our help and our shield,

For in him our hearts rejoice;

in his holy name we trust.

R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:

come to save us, Lord our God!

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 1:39-45

Mary set out in those days

and traveled to the hill country in haste

to a town of Judah,

where she entered the house of Zechariah

and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,

the infant leaped in her womb,

and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,

cried out in a loud voice and said,

"Most blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

And how does this happen to me,

that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,

the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

Blessed are you who believed

that what was spoken to you by the Lord

would be fulfilled.”

Reflection 1

Catholic Daily Reflections 

Bringing Christ to Others

Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. Luke 1:39–40

We are presented today with the glorious story of the Visitation. When Mary was about two months pregnant, she traveled to be with her cousin Elizabeth who was to give birth within a month. Though much could be said about this as an act of familial love given from Mary to Elizabeth, the central focus immediately becomes the precious Child within the womb of Mary.

Imagine the scene. Mary had just traveled about 100 miles. She was most likely exhausted. As she finally arrived, she would have been relieved and joyful at the completion of her journey. But Elizabeth says something quite inspiring at that moment, which elevates the joy of all present, including the joy of Mother Mary. Elizabeth says, “For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy” (Luke 1:44). Again, imagine the scene. It was this tiny child within Elizabeth’s womb, John the Baptist, who immediately perceived the presence of the Lord and leaped for joy. And it was Elizabeth who immediately perceived the joy in her child living within her womb. As Elizabeth expressed this to Mary, who was already joyful at completing her journey, Mary was suddenly all the more overjoyed at the realization that she had brought to Elizabeth and John the Savior of the World living within her womb.

This story should teach us much about what is most important in life. Yes, it’s important to reach out in love to others. It’s important to care for our relatives and friends when they need us the most. It’s important to be sacrificial with our time and energies for the good of others, because through these acts of humble service, we certainly share the love of God. But most importantly, we must bring Christ Jesus Himself to others. Elizabeth was not filled with joy first and foremost because Mary was there to help her in her pregnancy. Rather, she was overjoyed primarily because Mary brought her Jesus, her Lord, living within her womb.

Though we do not bring Christ in the same way as our Blessed Mother did, we nonetheless must make this our central mission in life. First, we must foster a love and devotion to our Lord so deep that He truly dwells within us. Then, we must bring Him who dwells within us to others. This is unquestionably the greatest act of charity we will ever be able to offer to another.

Reflect, today, not only upon your mission to invite your Lord to dwell within you as our Blessed Mother did but also upon your Christian duty to then bring Him who dwells within you to others. Do others encounter Christ living within you with joy? Do they sense His presence in your life and respond with gratitude? Regardless of their response, commit yourself to this holy calling of bringing Christ to others as an act of the deepest love.

Reflection 2

One Bread, One Body 

SALUTATIONS AND VISITATIONS

“Hark! my lover — here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills.” —Song of Songs 2:8

At the very beginning of her pregnancy, the Blessed Virgin Mary visited St. Elizabeth. “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice: ‘Blest are you among women and blest is the Fruit of your womb. But who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?’ ” (Lk 1:41-43) Both St. Elizabeth and St. John responded to Jesus’ presence and Mary’s visitation with praise in the Holy Spirit.

At the very end of Mary’s pregnancy, she and St. Joseph visited an inn to find a place to have their Baby. The innkeeper responded to Jesus’ presence and the holy family’s plight with rejection (Lk 2:7). His inn and his heart had no room for God-made-man.

The Lord continues to visit His people. He continues to be accepted by some and rejected by others. “He was in the world, and through Him the world was made, yet the world did not know Who He was. To His own He came, yet His own did not accept Him. Any who did accept Him He empowered to become children of God” (Jn 1:10-12). If we can be like Elizabeth and John in accepting Jesus, we can be like Mary in giving Him to the world.

Prayer: Jesus, may I become so sensitive to Your presence that even a greeting or a word would stir up the Holy Spirit in me. Give me the Holy Spirit of Christmas.

Promise: “Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty Savior.” —Zep 3:16-17

Praise: “O Radiant Dawn, Splendor of eternal light, Sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.”

Reflection 3

Shared from Daily Liturgy

In today’s Gospel passage we witness the meeting of two grace-filled women, Mary and Elizabeth. Mary, the young pregnant woman goes to her cousin Elizabeth about whom she came to know from the angel that she also was pregnant in her old age. The purpose of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth might have been twofold: to render help, understanding her mind and to share her life, including the “Good News” and all that has happened in her because of it. They celebrated each other’s good news, praising and appreciating. Strengthened by the words of Elizabeth, Mary turns to the Lord and sings a hymn of praise from her heart. Do people feel free to come to me to share their life and am I able to raise their hearts to God?    

Prayers

Lord, please do dwell within me. Come and transform me by Your holy presence. As You do come to me, help me to then become a missionary of Your divine presence by bringing You to others so that they may encounter the joy of Your presence. Make me a pure instrument, dear Lord, and use me to inspire all whom I encounter every day. Jesus, I trust in You.

Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me joy in seeking you more earnestly. Increase my faith in all your promises, my hope in the joy of heaven, and my love for You as my All.

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

Reflection 355: Idle Talk, a Sign of an Idle Soul

Some people are very good at talking about others. They offer continual opinions and judgments of them and speak freely, as if they have everything figured out. Do not be like one of these people. Those who have their minds and tongues occupied with the activities of others have little time to look into their own souls so as to discover who they are (See Diary #1717).

Do you struggle with idle talk? In other words, do you speak regularly and freely about others, issuing opinions and judgments upon them while, at the same time, fail to honestly evaluate your own soul? If you do this it may be hard to admit it. But if this is you, admit it here and now. Tell our Lord you are aware of this struggle and seek His Mercy as your help. He will help you, but only if you are honest with your struggle.

Lord, please free me from the idle chatter and judgments I tend to place upon others. Help me, instead, to become truly recollected and aware of my own life and sin. Help me to also see the abundance of Your Mercy which I must rely upon and offer to others. My Lord, I repent of my sin, please come to my help. Jesus, I trust in You.

20- DEC-'24, Friday of the Third Week of Advent

Friday of the Third Week of Advent

Lectionary: 196

Reading 1

Isaiah 7:10-14

The LORD spoke to Ahaz:

Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;

let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!

But Ahaz answered,

"I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!"

Then Isaiah said:

Listen, O house of David!

Is it not enough for you to weary men,

must you also weary my God?

Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:

the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and shall name him Emmanuel.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

R. (see 7c and 10b) Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.

The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;

the world and those who dwell in it.

For he founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the rivers.

R. Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.

Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?

or who may stand in his holy place?

He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,

who desires not what is vain.

R. Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.

He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,

a reward from God his savior.

Such is the race that seeks for him,

that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.

R. Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

O Key of David,

opening the gates of God's eternal Kingdom:

come and free the prisoners of darkness!

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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.

Reflection 1

Catholic Daily Reflections 

Running to the Will of God

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.” Luke 1:35

Try to set aside all that you know about Jesus and simply ponder these words of the Archangel Gabriel as if you were to hear them as our Blessed Mother did for the very first time. She was told she would have a child, even though she had not had relations with a man. She was told that this pregnancy would happen by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. And she was told that her Child would be the Son of God. What was Mary to think about these amazing revelations given to her by this most glorious Archangel?

The ordinary person would most likely conclude that this was some sort of hallucination and that what they were seeing and hearing was the result of some temporary psychological disorder. Perhaps she was dreaming? Or perhaps it was something she unknowingly ingested that has led to this experience?

But our Blessed Mother was no ordinary person, and she had no ordinary mind. Her mind was perfectly sharp on account of her immaculate nature. And her mind was continually “full of grace,” as Gabriel said in his greeting to her. She knew God’s voice, and she knew that this Archangel was speaking to her a message from on high. As a result, she listened, accepted, believed and consented.

We can also conclude that Mary did even more than merely consent. The love she had for God and His will would have been so strong that she would have been filled with an immediate and burning desire to fulfill this command of the Archangel. She would have been filled with a holy desire to do all she could to bring about this miraculous calling she had received. And this calling would have immediately become the central purpose of her life.

Though none of us has been given the unique and glorious vocation that was given to our Blessed Mother, we are all most certainly given a mission by God. Sometimes we listen and consider it. Sometimes we choose to embrace it. But the ideal is that we imitate our Blessed Mother and run to it. We must not only be open. We must not only submit. We must also allow every desire within our soul, every passion we have and every longing within us to work toward the accomplishment of God’s will.

What is it that God is calling you to do in life? What is your purpose? What is your mission? If you struggle in answering these questions, then perhaps start by praying for the deep and all-consuming holy desire to accomplish that which God has chosen for you. If all you desire is the fulfillment of the will of God, then when God reveals His will to you, you will more easily and more quickly be able to accomplish it.

Reflect, today, upon the unique mission that God has given to you. Whatever He has called you to do with your life is a calling given only to you. Do not run from it. Do not reluctantly accept it. Instead, run to it with your whole being and allow God to do great things through you.

Reflection 2

By Fr. Martin Hogan

Two days ago the gospel was Matthew’s account of the annunciation to Joseph. This morning we have just heard Luke’s account of the annunciation to Mary. The reading concludes with Mary’s total response to what God seemed to be asking of her, ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me’. She has been greatly graced and she responds generously, with her whole life, to the grace she has received. In Luke’s gospel, Mary is not simply the mother of Jesus, she is the perfect disciple of Jesus. Like him, she gives herself over to God’s purpose for her life. This morning’s gospel reading and opening chapters of Luke’s gospel suggest that she struggled to discern and come to terms with God’s purpose for her life. She was deeply disturbed by the words of Gabriel and had many questions; at the birth of Jesus she would puzzle over the words of the shepherds. When Jesus was twelve years old she would puzzle over his words to herself and Joseph. She pondered over all these words in order to understand them, so as to discern what God was asking of her. We are all trying to be disciples after the example of Mary. Like her we struggle at times to know what that means for us in the here and now; we try to give ourselves over to what God is asking of us as generously as Mary did, even in the midst of our many questions. She shows us that it is possible to be faithful without fully understanding what God is about in our own lives and in the lives of others. As we take the path of discipleship Mary took, to look to her to help us, we ask her to pray for us, sinners, now and also at the hour of our death.

Reflection 3

Shared from Daily Liturgy

Presented with the seeming impossibility of conceiving a child by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary did not stumble in her faith or try to run away from the angel Gabriel. To let this impossible thing happen through her, she relied on God and not on her intellect and rationality. Her “yes” is the foundation of Christianity. Sometimes we fail to realize that our ‘yes’ has so much power to change history and the capacity to make things different. Of course, “yes” is a responsibility. The Biblical heroes and heroines said their “yes” and the salvation history completed through them. If any of them had said “no,” history would have been different. This is also the case with those world leaders and saintly people who made a positive difference through their “yes.”         

Prayers 

Most holy Lord, I know that You have a perfect plan for my life. I know that You have given me a mission that has not been given to anyone else. Please flood my soul with a holy desire to fully accomplish Your will and to do so with the most fervent commitment and strength. I, too, am a servant of You, O Lord; may it be done to me according to Your will. Mother Mary, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You.

Heavenly Father, you offer us abundant grace, mercy, and forgiveness through your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Help me to live a grace-filled life as Mary did by believing in your promises and by giving you my unqualified 'yes' to your will and plan for my life.

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

Reflection 354: Untying the Web of Sin

When a person begins to lie, and forms a habit of this sort, they will eventually become entangled in a web of lies. One lie leads to another and pretty soon they do not know how to break free of this web. This is where you must offer mercy. It’s very easy to be harsh toward someone who has clearly led themselves down the wrong path. It’s easy to point the finger and rub in their sin. But the Lord wants you to look at this person with love and help untangle them from the web they have woven. This is done by being clear and direct about their errors, but also without judgment or harshness. If they perceive you to be offering the truth with mercy, they may just accept your invitation to undo that which they have done. This principle applies to many types of sins (See Diary #1712).

Reflect upon anyone in your life who appears to be tangled in a web of sin and cannot get out. Let your heart grow in mercy for this person, refraining from all judgment. Love them, seek to bring them the humbling truth and do so gently but clearly so that they can be set free.

Lord, sin binds us and causes much distress in life. Give me the grace of a merciful heart so that I can be an instrument of freedom to those caught in a life of sin. Give me the grace, dear Lord, to love them with Your perfect Heart of Mercy. Jesus, I trust in You.

19-DEC-'24, Thursday of the Third Week of Advent

Thursday of the Third Week of Advent

Lectionary: 195

Reading 1

Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a

There was a certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites,

whose name was Manoah.

His wife was barren and had borne no children.

An angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her,

"Though you are barren and have had no children,

yet you will conceive and bear a son.

Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink

and to eat nothing unclean.

As for the son you will conceive and bear,

no razor shall touch his head,

for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb.

It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel

from the power of the Philistines."

The woman went and told her husband,

"A man of God came to me;

he had the appearance of an angel of God, terrible indeed.

I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name.

But he said to me,

'You will be with child and will bear a son.

So take neither wine nor strong drink, and eat nothing unclean.

For the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb,

until the day of his death.'"

The woman bore a son and named him Samson.

The boy grew up and the LORD blessed him;

the Spirit of the LORD stirred him.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17

R. (see 8) My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

Be my rock of refuge,

a stronghold to give me safety,

for you are my rock and my fortress.

O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.

R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

For you are my hope, O LORD;

my trust, O God, from my youth.

On you I depend from birth;

from my mother's womb you are my strength.

R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

I will treat of the mighty works of the LORD;

O God, I will tell of your singular justice.

O God, you have taught me from my youth,

and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.

R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

O Root of Jesse's stem,

sign of God's love for all his people:

come to save us without delay!

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 1:5-25

In the days of Herod, King of Judea,

there was a priest named Zechariah

of the priestly division of Abijah;

his wife was from the daughters of Aaron,

and her name was Elizabeth.

Both were righteous in the eyes of God,

observing all the commandments

and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.

But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren

and both were advanced in years.

Once when he was serving as priest

in his division's turn before God,

according to the practice of the priestly service,

he was chosen by lot

to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.

Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside

at the hour of the incense offering,

the angel of the Lord appeared to him,

standing at the right of the altar of incense.

Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.

But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah,

because your prayer has been heard.

Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,

and you shall name him John.

And you will have joy and gladness,

and many will rejoice at his birth,

for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.

He will drink neither wine nor strong drink.

He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb,

and he will turn many of the children of Israel

to the Lord their God.

He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah

to turn the hearts of fathers toward children

and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,

to prepare a people fit for the Lord."

Then Zechariah said to the angel,

"How shall I know this?

For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."

And the angel said to him in reply,

"I am Gabriel, who stand before God.

I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.

But now you will be speechless and unable to talk

until the day these things take place,

because you did not believe my words,

which will be fulfilled at their proper time."

Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah

and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary.

But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them,

and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary.

He was gesturing to them but remained mute.

Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home.

After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived,

and she went into seclusion for five months, saying,

"So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit

to take away my disgrace before others.”

Reflection 1

Catholic Daily Reflections 

Faith or Doubt?

“I am Gabriel, who stand before God.  I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.  But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”  Luke 1:19–20

Imagine if the Archangel Gabriel appeared to you. What would that have been like? This particular Archangel stands before the incomprehensible beauty and splendor of the Most Holy Trinity and brings forth messages of the greatest importance. Gabriel is God’s most notable messenger. Take a moment to ponder what such a glorious apparition would have been like.

In the passage above, this glorious Archangel appears to Zechariah as he is fulfilling his priestly duty to burn incense before the Lord within the Holy of Holies. As Zechariah enters the sanctuary while all the people remain outside praying, he suddenly has a vision of the Archangel telling him that his wife Elizabeth will have a child, even though she is advanced in years. But even though Zechariah hears this message from Gabriel, the Archangel who stands before God, he doubts what he is being told.

Would you have believed the Archangel Gabriel if you were Zechariah? Or would you have doubted? Though there may not be a way to know the answer to that question, it’s helpful to ponder the humble truth that you very well may have doubted. It takes true humility to admit that possibility. Like Zechariah, we are all weak and sinful. We lack the perfect faith that our Blessed Mother had. And if you can humbly admit this, then you are in a great position to overcome the weakness of faith you struggle with. Zechariah suffered much for his lack of faith, but that suffering led to a renewal of faith when he named his child John in obedience to the Archangel.

Reflect, today, upon how well you listen to all that God says to you. Do you listen, believe and obey? Or do you question and doubt God’s voice. Know that God speaks to you each and every day. Admit the ways that you lack perfect faith and allow that act of humble acknowledgment to strengthen you where you need help the most.

Reflection 2

One Bread, One Body 

forgotten prayer?

“Do not be frightened, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.” —Luke 1:13

St. Luke’s Gospel text gives us several clues to Zechariah’s background. Sts. Zechariah and Elizabeth were advanced in age. Elizabeth was past the age of bearing children (Lk 1:18, 36). Apparently, some years before, Zechariah had prayed for children; hence, the angel says: “Your prayer has been heard” (Lk 1:13). Zechariah’s startled and skeptical reaction indicates that he probably had forgotten about this prayer and perhaps hadn’t prayed for a child in quite a few years.

Sometimes we Christians assume that prayer has a kind of spiritual statute of limitations; that if God hasn’t answered our prayers in what seems to us a “reasonable” amount of time, then He has forgotten our prayer and therefore the prayer no longer is valid. However, the angel tells Zechariah, “Your prayer has been heard” (Lk 1:13). The angel assured Zechariah that his words will “come true in due season” (Lk 1:20).

Have you prayed for something for a time, then stopped praying because it seemed to you that God wasn’t listening? Put aside all skepticism and doubt. Lift up your prayer again to the Lord. “Silence...in the presence of the Lord!” (Zec 2:17) Be still and know that He is God (see Ps 46:10, RSV-CE).

Prayer:  Pray to the Father a seemingly unanswered prayer which you haven’t prayed in years.

Promise:  “In these days the Lord is acting on my behalf.” —Lk 1:25

Praise:  “O Flower of Jesse’s stem, You have been raised up as a Sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in Your presence; the nations bow down in worship before You. Come, let nothing keep You from coming to our aid.”

Reflection 3

Shared from Daily Liturgy

From the presence of God, the messenger, Gabriel, has come to Zachariah to inform that his silent prayers are heard by the Lord. God was preparing the couple to make them channels to fulfil his plan because both of them were righteous and blameless before God. However, they were disgraceful before people since they were advanced in age of having had no children. If they were graceful according to human standards, parenting children in a natural way, then the glory of God could not have been revealed through them. Sometimes what we consider as blessings may not be the way God acts through us. Whatever God entrusts us with, belongs to Him as in the case with John the Baptist who was predestined to prepare the way of the Lord.   

Prayers

Lord, I know I lack the depth of perfect faith that I so deeply desire to have. I know that You speak to me day and night, and I fail to listen and obey. As I humble myself before You and confess my weakness of faith, strengthen me to respond more fully each day to all that You say to me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Lord Jesus, you bring hope and restoration to your people. Restore and strengthen Christian family life today. Help me to love and serve my family. May your love rule in all my relationships and remove any barriers to peace and harmony.

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

Reflection 353: A Hymn of Glory

Music is a discovery and expression of the natural laws of God’s creation, relying upon the order and rhythm found in its natural design.  Some music uses the natural order of things to glorify earthly realities.  Some forms of music even express sin and disorder.  But the greatest form of music is that which beautifully and clearly articulates the high order, harmony and symmetry of the life of God.  Our lives become like a hymn of glory, offered to God, when we act in perfect harmony with the Will of God.  The “music” of your soul must become a hymn of this glory (See Diary #1708).

Reflect upon the idea of your life being like a hymn.  What does the “hymn of your life” sound like?  Is it ordered, beautiful and reflective of the inner life of God?  Or does your life better express disorder and interior dysfunction?  Be honest and ponder the “music” that comes forth from your life.  Allow the Master Musician to take hold of you so as to bring forth a hymn worthy of His glory.

Lord, may my life become a hymn of worship, rising up to Your glorious throne of grace, echoing forth the lovely melody of Your inner life.  Take hold of me, dear Lord, and use me as Your instrument of Mercy and Grace in this world.  Jesus, I trust in You.