Sunday
December 22nd

4th Sunday of Advent

1st Reading: Mi 5:1-4a:
But you, Bethlehem Ephrata, so small that you are hardly named among the clans of Judah; from you shall I raise the one who is to rule over Israel. For he comes forth from of old, from the ancient times. Yahweh, therefore, will abandon Israel until such time as she, who is to give birth, has given birth. Then the rest of his deported brothers will return to the people of Israel. He will stand, and shepherd his flock with the strength of Yahweh, in the glorious Name of Yahweh, his God. They will live safely, while he wins renown to the ends of the earth. He shall be peace. When the Assyrian invades our land and sets foot on our territory, we will raise against him not one, but seven shepherds; eight warlords.

2nd Reading: Heb 10:5-10:
This is why, on entering the world, Christ says: You did not desire sacrifice and offering; you were not pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings. Then I said: “Here I am. It was written of me in the scroll. I will do your will, O God.“ First he says: Sacrifice, offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire nor were you pleased with them — although they were required by the law. Then he says: Here I am to do your will. This is enough to nullify the first will and establish the new. Now, by this will of God, we are sanctified, once and for all, by the sacrifice of the body of Christ Jesus.

Gospel: Lk 1:39-45:
Mary then set out for a town in the hill country of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary‘s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and, giving a loud cry, said, “You are most blessed among women; and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you, who believed that the Lord‘s word would come true!“

Reflection:
The encounter of Mary and Elizabeth is the meeting of lives touched by grace in diverse ways: One, aging towards the end of earthly life and the other, in the refreshing teens of life; one, beyond the possibilities of giving life and the other, teeming with potential for life; and most importantly, one, on the side of doubting the truth of God‘s words and the other, capable of taking in God‘s word as a fish takes to the waters. But the beauty is that God‘s grace touches both – the one who believes and the one who doubts. Yet, as Elizabeth rightly observed, blessed is the one who believes in God‘s possibilities, for her joy would be double. Pray: Pray for God‘s will to be fulfilled in your life.

Monday
December 23rd

St. John of Kanty

1st Reading: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24:
Now I am sending my messenger ahead of me to clear the way; then suddenly the Lord for whom you long will enter the Sanctuary. The envoy of the Covenant which you so greatly desire already comes, says Yahweh of Hosts. Who can bear the day of his coming and remain standing when he appears? For he will be like fire in the foundry and like the lye used for bleaching. He will be as a refiner or a fuller. He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver.

So Yahweh will have priests who will present the offering as it should be. Then Yahweh will accept with pleasure the offering of Judah and Jerusalem, as in former days. I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the day of Yahweh comes, for it will be a great and terrible day. He will reconcile parents with their children, and the children with their parents, so that I may not have to curse this land when I come.

Gospel: Lk 1:57-66:
When the time came for Elizabeth, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the merciful Lord had done a wonderful thing for her and they rejoiced with her. When on the eighth day they came to attend the circumcision of the child, they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.”

They said to her, “But no one in your family has that name”; and they asked the father by means of signs for the name he wanted to give him. Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote on it, “His name is John,” and they were very surprised. Immediately Zechariah could speak again and his first words were in praise of God. A holy fear came on all in the neighborhood, and throughout the hill country of Judea the people talked about these events. All who heard of it pondered in their minds and wondered, “What will this child be?” For they understood that the hand of the Lord was with him.

Reflection:
Zechariah was a priest. Elizabeth belonged to the descendants of Aaron. Undoubtedly, John was a Levite, and his destiny should have been to practice the Jewish priesthood. However his vocation was another to be the last and greatest of the prophets, the forerunner of the Messiah. Today we read the narrative of his circumcision, and the imposition of his name, John, according to prophecies. John is from the tribe of Levi – priests -, and Jesus from Judah – kings – but both will act as prophets.

However, in the reading of Malachi the Messiah appears as purifying the priestly office: “He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and then they will make the offering to the Lord as it should be made”. Jesus is the Messiah, and the Church is the messianic People of God. May Jesus accomplish anew this “purification of the sons of Levi”, i.e. the priests of the New Covenant. May the Holy Spirit renew in them the strength of John the Baptist, to turn the hearts of the fathers towards their children and the hearts of the children towards their fathers, to prepare for the Lord a perfect people, with the support of consecrated persons and lay faithful in the Church and for the world.

Tuesday
December 24th

Christmas Eve

1st Reading: 2 S 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16:
When the king had settled in his palace and Yahweh had rid him of all his surrounding enemies, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I live in a house of cedar but the Ark of God is housed in a tent.” Nathan replied, “Do as it seems fit to you for Yahweh is with you.” But that very night, Yahweh’s word came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, this is what Yahweh says: Are you able to build a house for me to live in? I took you from the pasture, from tending the sheep, to make you commander of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went, cutting down all your enemies before you. Now I will make your name great as the name of the great ones on earth.

“I will provide a place for my people Israel and plant them that they may live there in peace. They shall no longer be harassed, nor shall wicked men oppress them as before. From the time when I appointed judges over my people Israel it is only to you that I have given rest from all your enemies. Yahweh also tells you that he will build you a house. When the time comes for you to rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your son after you, the one born of you and I will make his reign secure. I will be a father to him and he shall be my son. Your house and your reign shall last forever before me, and your throne shall be forever firm.”

Gospel: Lk 1:67-79:
Zechariah, filled with holy spirit, sang this canticle: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has come and redeemed his people. In the house of David his servant, he has raised up for us a victorious Savior; as he promised through his prophets of old, salvation from our enemies and from the hand of our foes. He has shown mercy to our fathers; and remembered his holy Covenant, the oath he swore to Abraham, our father, to deliver us from the enemy, that we might serve him fearlessly, as a holy and righteous people, all the days of our lives.

“And you, my child, shall be called prophet of the Most High, for you shall go before the Lord to prepare the way for him, and to enable his people to know of their salvation, when he comes to forgive their sins. This is the work of the mercy of our God, who comes from on high, as a rising sun, shining on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, and guiding our feet into the way of peace.”

Reflection:
The canticle of Zechariah is a complete hymn about the fidelity of God to his covenant and promises. The occasion was the birth of John, but the purpose is quite universal. The aim of this old priest’s thanksgiving is the entire History of Salvation and points first to the mission of the Messiah. Who is this “victorious Savior in the house of David?” He is Jesus. What are consequences of his presence in Israel? They are redemption, salvation from enemies and foes, holiness, security and righteousness. The merciful presence of the Savior is compared with a rising sun shining in darkness and guiding us into the way of peace.

That was the promise through the prophets of old, and this the realization in this messianic times. With Zechariah we can see the future of God’s action through his Christ, with a complete victory over the enemies. Of course, he includes the mission of John the child who comes to prepare the way for the Messiah, to know him and to grant the forgiveness of sins to his people. In this vigil of Christmas, the words of Zechariah can inspire us to understand and embrace the Child Jesus with adoration and gratitude asking for the complete realization of his mission among us all the days of our lives.

Wednesday
December 25th

Christmas Day

1st Reading Is 52:7-10:
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, “Your God is King!” Hark!  Your sentinels raise a cry, together they shout for joy, for they see directly, before their eyes, the Lord restoring Zion. Break out together in song, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the Lord comforts his people, he redeems Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God.

2nd Reading Heb 1:1-6:
Brothers and sisters: In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say: You are my son; this day I have begotten you? Or again: I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me? And again, when he leads the firstborn into the world, he says: Let all the angels of God worship him.

Gospel: Jn 1:1-18:
In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God; he was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him and without him nothing came to be. Whatever has come to be, found life in him, life which for human beings was also light. Light that shines in the darkness: light that darkness could not overcome. A man came, sent by God; his name was John. He came to bear witness, as a witness to introduce the Light so that all might believe through him.

He was not the Light but a witness to introduce the Light; for the Light was coming into the world, the true Light that enlightens everyone. He was in the world, and through him the world was made, the very world that did not know him. He came to his own, yet his own people did not receive him; but to all who received him, he empowers to become children of God, for they believe in his name. These are born, but not by seed, or carnal desire, nor by the will of man: they are born of God.

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us; and we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father: fullness of truth and loving-kindness. John bore witness to him openly, saying, “This is the one who comes after me, but he is already ahead of me, for he was before me.” From his fullness we have all received, favor upon favor. For God had given us the law through Moses, but Truth and Loving-kindness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God-the-only-Son made him known: the one, who is in and with the Father.

Reflection:
John’s Prologue is a canticle to the Word of God in his being and in all his successive functions: The Word is divine and eternal. The Word is creator. The Word enlightens all men. The Word came to his people and was not received. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, so he became visible and we have seen his glory as the only begotten Son of the Father full of grace and truth. And it is the faith in Jesus that made us children of God beyond blood, carnal desires and human will.

The incarnate Word is the summit of God’s gifts beyond Moses’ and John’s witnessing. Only Jesus is the fullness of grace and the total revelation of God, since he is his Son among us. When and how these “good news” can transform our reality today? Yes, we must spread them with love and perseverance, trusting in the grace of the Father who sent his Son and the Holy Spirit, and being attentive to the multifold signs of salvation that we recognize among us every day.

Thursday
December 26th

St. Stephen

1st Reading: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59:
Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.

When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Gospel: Mt 10:17-22:
Be on your guard with people, for they will hand you over to their courts, and they will flog you in their synagogues. You will be brought to trial before rulers and kings because of me, so that you may witness to them and the pagans. But when you are arrested, do not worry about what you are to say, or how you are to say it; when the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father, speaking through you. Brother will hand over his brother to death, and a father his child; children will turn against their parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever stands firm to the end will be saved.

Reflection:
In today‘s passage Jesus foretells what the disciples can look forward to. Jesus makes it clear that following him will result in families being broken up – father against child, children against parents. Alas, this prediction has been fulfilled all too often both in the past and in recent times. This is the price to pay for those whose lives are built on truth, love and peace. Those who prefer to live their faith in comfort and security would take Jesus‘ message as a personal matter without the imperative of social justice.

Jesus said that all those who wished to follow him would have to take up their cross and go after him. Some of us may find it strange to be talking about such painful things during the Christmas season. If we think like that, then it may indicate that we do not fully understand the nature and purpose of Jesus‘ birth. We tend to insulate the whole Christmas scene with romanticism and even a great deal of sentimentality but there was nothing sentimental about the Child being born in a poor social conditions, far from home, already ignored by the religious leadership of the day and whose only visitors were a group of poor and marginalized shepherds and some mysterious visitors from the East. They all indicate the direction of Jesus‘ life, ministry and mission.

Friday
December 27th

St. John

1st Reading: 1 Jn 1:1-4:
Beloved:
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life — for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us — what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.
 
Gospel: Jn 20:1a & 2-8:
Now, on the first day after the Sabbath, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning while it was still dark, and she saw that the stone blocking the tomb had been moved away. She ran to Peter, and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and she said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don‘t know where they have laid him.“ Peter then set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb.

They ran together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down and saw the linen cloths lying flat, but he did not enter. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered the tomb; he, too, saw the linen cloths lying flat. The napkin, which had been around his head, was not lying flat like the other linen cloths, but lay rolled up in its place. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in; he saw and believed.

Reflection:
Mary Magdalene comes running to Peter and John and tells them that someone has taken Jesus‘ body from the tomb. For having lost a friend and now losing the concrete body as symbol of everything a person has, it was heartbreaking. Have you ever experienced a time in your life when Jesus seems to have disappeared? These times can be very dark, frightening, and we may feel lost and alone. How do we respond to this “felt loss“ of Jesus‘ presence? In my life, when I experience the absence of Jesus, I usually come to understand that I am the one who has chosen another way not Jesus!

And even if this is not the case for you, are we willing to stand firm and wait for Jesus to come? Are we able to see, believe and trust that Jesus is with us? The other disciple whom Jesus loved had a more trusting posture; he saw and believed. In situations of fear and disbelief, the call is to be like the other disciple. His faith was greater than his fear. His hope was more intense than his despair. His love was faithful and not wavering.

Jesus‘ absence is neither the final word on his death nor the final story of a just man but God‘s affirmation of his enduring presence and love. God‘s love is the definitive story of a life that seemingly ended in failure. Death is not the final word but the victory of redemptive love. Jesus life and ministry are testaments of a faithful God who brought him to life and giving us the presence of Jesus through his spirit of love and mercy.

Saturday
December 28th

The Holy Innocents

1st Reading: 1 Jn 1:5 — 2:2
Beloved:
This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world. 

Gospel: Mt 2:13-18:
After the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon be looking for the child in order to kill him.“ Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. In this way, what the Lord had said through the prophet was fulfilled: I called my son out of Egypt.

When Herod found out that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was furious. He gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its neighborhood who were two years old or under. This was done according to what he had learned from the wise men about the time when the star appeared. In this way, what the prophet Jeremiah had said was fulfilled: A cry is heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation: Rachel weeps for her children. She refuses to be comforted, for they are no more.

Reflection:
This is a painful story to read just four days after Christmas. Matthew tells a story that is disturbing but ultimately more realistic. Such a grim account of wholesale massacre and night flights to safety would seem far-fetched were it not for similar atrocities and tragedies happening right now. How many families, for instance, are being dislocated in Syria even as we reflect on the gospel? And how many children are being starved to death around the world as we finish up or throw away holiday leftovers? And how many families are struggling with their own sorrows and righteous anger as some members become victims of extrajudicial killings?

The Christmas event celebrates Jesus as Emmanuel, as God so near to us, shares our lot and our life, and submitting himself to all our disappointments, fears, violence and even death. This story matters because it tells us the truth: the sometimes difficult truth of unjust and violent rulers and the indifference of many. But we keep hopeful in the truth that God is not looking at our sorrows and pain at a distance, but in Jesus, God‘s own self has joined our story and is working — even now, even here — to grant us new life that we may not just endure but flourish, experiencing joy and courage in our daily lives and sharing our hope with others.