An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - December 22, 2024
“He Shall Be Peace!”
In this fourth Sunday of Advent, the Church shifts our focus from the prophesies of the end times to the coming birth of our savior,
Jesus.
In our first reading (Micah 5:1-4), the prophet Micah proclaimed the role of Bethlehem, the ancient birthplace of King David, as the birthplace of the savior Messiah, who would restore the children of Israel from the scattered lands. The Prophet Micah writes, “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 … He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD, his God….”
In our Epistle reading (Hebrews 10:5-10), we hear of Jesus's suffering for the sins of the world, in contrast to the repeated and imperfect sacrifice of the priests under the old law. Jesus understood that the continual offering of blood sacrifices did not effect the forgiveness of their sins, so He, perceiving the will of the Father, offered His own body for the forgiveness of sins once, for all. The Hebrews author writes, “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.’“
In our Gospel reading (Luke 1:39-45), we hear of Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist. Elizabeth proclaimed the child in Mary's womb as "my Lord" as Elizabeth's own child in her womb "leaped for joy" at the sound of Mary's voice. “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?’”
And so we take heart - it won't be long now. Our Christ is near, and when He comes, He Shall Be Peace! May we take that peace into our hearts and may it rule our lives.
www.bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122224.cfm
An Introduction to the Sunday Readings - December 15, 2024
“Rejoice In The Lord Always… The Lord Is Near”
Today is the third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday. The word Gaudete is taken from today's entrance antiphon,“Gaudete
Domino semper” (Rejoice in the Lord always). It is a reminder that there is reason to be joyful—Christ is not far off.
In each of our first readings during Advent, we hear from a different Old Testament prophet, each proclaiming the coming of our Lord in majesty and bringing us salvation. In today’s first reading from the Prophet Zephaniah (Zep 3:14-18), we hear him proclaim to the people that there would come a day when the King of Israel, the Lord would be in their midst and renew them in his love. It would be a cause for great rejoicing.
In our Epistle reading (Philippians 4:4-7), we hear the passage on which today's Gaudete theme is based. St. Paul sums up its meaning succinctly: "Rejoice! . . . The Lord is near." Paul also reminds us that our joy can be especially found in the kindness (mercy) we show to one another.
In our Gospel reading (Luke 3:10-18), the people were asking John the Baptist, “What should we do?” To each group, John exhorted them to act with justice, virtue and mercy. Do not steal, do not covet, do not bear false witness. Feed the hungry and clothe the naked. He called them to change the way they were living. No matter what their station in life, they should treat everyone with justice, and care for those who have less. “The people were filled with expectation and were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all saying, ‘One mightier than I is coming . . . He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’”
And so, we wait for the coming of our Lord. And while we wait, we are called to change the way we live so that we may be prepared for His coming. Give alms to the poor, treat everyone with honesty and love.
It should be noted that our parish family is practicing these very values in the number of Advent related activities that we have. Thanksgiving baskets, Christmas Angel Project, CMA, food drives, and various ministries are all evidence that we hold these values near to our hearts. This is where we find our Lord; this is how He comes to us. We find such joy in giving. It is indeed a cause for rejoicing.
www.bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121524.cfm
An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - December 8, 2024
“Prepare The Way Of The Lord, Make Straight His Paths”
The readings for this Second Sunday of Advent fill us with hope for who is to come - the promised Messiah, the one who would gather in the lost souls of Israel in
a new exodus and return them to a heavenly Jerusalem. As John the Baptist proclaims, "Prepare ye the way".
Our first reading for this Sunday comes from the Prophet Baruch, the scribe to the great Prophet Jeremiah (Baruch 5:1-9). The situation in time is the most dire of circumstances, the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and exile to Babylon. The people of God felt as if their loving God would never love them again, a feeling that may be a reality for many people suffering in our own time. Baruch speaks with utter confidence as he heralds the day when the Lord will come in His glory, when the scattered people of Israel will be brought back to a new heavenly Jerusalem. He pictures Jerusalem as a mother waiting for her lost children to return, overjoyed at the reality of it.
In our Epistle reading (Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11), St. Paul instructs his readers how they should live as they wait for "the day of Christ", Christ’s triumphant return, when those faithful to Him would share in His glory. Paul writes, “And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ….”
In our Gospel reading (Luke 3:1-6), we hear Luke's introduction to John the Baptist. It was a time when Israel longed for the promised Messiah. Luke places the setting in history by naming the political and religious leaders of the day. He describes John's primary role as a call from God to prepare the way of the Lord. Luke borrows from Old Testament prophets like Isaiah and Baruch using the descriptive images of God coming in glory, filling the valleys and leveling the mountains.
As we continue our season of preparing for the coming of Jesus, we may be encouraged by the faith and confidence of our ancestors. We share Paul’s confidence that “the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” It was and is a hope that does not disappoint!
www.bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120824.cfm
An Introduction to the Sunday Scriptures - December 1, 2024
“The Days Are Coming, Says The Lord, When I Will Fulfill My Promise”
This is the first Sunday of our new liturgical year - a time of anticipation and a new fresh start in our relationship with the Lord. For the next four weeks, our readings will focus on three things - God's promise from ancient times for a Messiah, anticipation of God's promises kept at Christmas as God Himself comes to live among us, and God's promise of Jesus' second coming when our "redemption is at hand."
The words of the prophet Jeremiah in our first reading (JER 33:14-16), offered hope to the Jewish people in exile in Babylon. He prophesied God's promise of the restoration of Jerusalem and that an heir to the throne of David (“A Just Shoot”) would one day reign as king forever. If there is one thing the Jewish people knew, it was that God keeps His promises.
In our Epistle reading (Thessalonians 3:12 - 4:2), St. Paul gives us advice on how to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord. This advice holds true for both the first coming of Christ at Christmas and for His second coming at the end of time. This advice is perhaps something parents today could write in a Christmas letter to their own children — ”May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you.”
In our Gospel reading (Luke 21:25-28, 34-36), Jesus described a time of tribulation when the final judgement would come and Jesus would return. But for the faithful and vigilant ones, "stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand." In other words, the end times should not be a frightful time for the faithful, but a time to look forward to our redemption.
This Advent season is a time of looking to the past and looking to the future with the purpose of influencing our present. Just as Jesus comes into the world anew at Christmas, so too He comes anew into our hearts. This is a time of preparation for that glorious event.
www.bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120124.cfm
An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - November 24, 2024
“My Kingdom Does Not Belong To This World”
Next Sunday begins the season of Advent, which will help us prepare our hearts to receive our Lord and King at His birth. Our Church now turns our attention to a foremost reality of our faith - that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed Son of God. He is Lord of the universe but He is also Lord of our hearts, our minds, our lives, and our families.
In our first reading (Daniel 7:13-14), Daniel tells of a vision seeing a divine, heavenly being and yet human in appearance (“one like a Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven”). Even Old Testament writers interpreted this as the messianic figure. Jesus is often quoted in the Gospels as referring to Himself as “Son of Man”. Often, when He used this term, many believe He was talking about the end times. Many scholars believe that when He used this term, He had in mind this passage from Daniel, chapter 7.
In our Epistle reading from the Book of Revelation (RV 1:5-8), St. John wrote of the end times, the apocalypse, when he wrote, "he is coming amid the clouds", and that he has made us into "priests for his God and Father." As priests, we are called to teach, to witness, and to love, as our model Christ did for us.
In our Gospel reading (John 18:33-37), we hear a scene from the passion narrative of the Gospel of St. John, as Jesus was interrogated by Pilate. Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world." Jesus is not like any king the world would know. He is a servant king, one who reigns in love, not in violence, one who seeks the lost and rescues them.
On this Feast of Christ the King, we are reminded that Jesus is King of heaven and earth and His kingdom is eternal. Because of this, we are called to invite Jesus to reign as Lord and King of our hearts, our families, our avocations, our professions, our hopes and dreams - every aspect of our lives. To do less is to make Jesus a part-time king (with a small k). Jesus invites us to make Him the center of our lives.
www.bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112424.cfm
An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - December 25
“AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US”
Our readings for Christmas Mass at night draw a direct connection between what Isaiah prophesied more than 500
years before Christ was born and what took place that Christmas night when the prophesy was fulfilled in all its humble glory.
In our first reading (Isaiah 9:1-6), we hear the prophesy of Isaiah that is proclaimed every Christmas Eve night - God's own Son will come to deliver us. "For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David's throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.”
In our Epistle (Titus 2:11-14), St. Paul leads us to remember that Christ promised to come again and will deliver us from all lawlessness. Paul teaches us how to live while we await the return of Jesus our Savior. “The grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ.”
Our Gospel reading (Luke 2:1-14) is the account of Jesus' humble birth as Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to register for the census of the house of David. The first to bear witness were the lowly shepherds from the surrounding hillsides.
The birth of the Jesus the Messiah was not just something that happened a long time ago. It was an event foretold for centuries and awaited fervently by the people of Israel. From the moment of Jesus' birth to his tragic death and triumphant resurrection, he was the embodiment of humility, patience, and love. It is how he calls us to live "temperately, justly and devoutly in this age as we await the blessed hope."
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122523-night.cfm
Click 'Read more' for the reflection on the Christmas Day readings.