Bl. Andre Bessett

Sunday, 06 January 2008

Book of Isaiah 60,1-6.

Rise up in splendor! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; But upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: Your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses. Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, For the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you. Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; All from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.


Psalms 72(71),1-2.7-8.10-11.12-13.

Of Solomon.
O God, give your judgment to the king; your justice to the son of kings; That he may govern your people with justice, your oppressed with right judgment,
That abundance may flourish in his days, great bounty, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the earth.
May the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute, the kings of Arabia and Seba offer gifts.
May all kings bow before him, all nations serve him.
For he rescues the poor when they cry out, the oppressed who have no one to help.
He shows pity to the needy and the poor and saves the lives of the poor.


Letter to the Ephesians 3,2-3.5-6.

if, as I suppose, you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for your benefit, (namely, that) the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly earlier. which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 2,1-12.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage."When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage." After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

BE AN EPIPHANY

"Rise up in splendor! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you." –Isaiah 60:1

We, as the Church, exist to evangelize (On Evangelization, Pope Paul VI, 14). Therefore, this solemn celebration of the Epiphany proclaims the meaning of our lives; to take the gospel "even to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). This makes Epiphany the most important day of the Christmas season. "See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears His glory" (Is 60:2).

Therefore, "rise up in splendor!" (Is 60:1) Be a witness for Jesus. Spread the good news to the ends of the earth. "Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. Raise your eyes and look about" (Is 60:3-4). May your heart be moved with pity, for billions of people are "lying prostrate from exhaustion, like sheep without a shepherd" (Mt 9:36). "Beg the Harvest Master to send out laborers to gather His harvest" (Mt 9:38). By God's grace, answer your own prayer. Make your life an epiphany, a manifestation of Jesus' saving death and resurrection to the nations. "Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow" (Is 60:5). All nations shall come, "proclaiming the praises of the Lord" (Is 60:6). Happy Epiphany! Be an epiphany. Alleluia!

St. John N. Neumann

Saturday, 05 January 2008

First Letter of John 3,11-21.

For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: we should love one another, unlike Cain who belonged to the evil one and slaughtered his brother. Why did he slaughter him? Because his own works were evil, and those of his brother righteous. Do not be amazed, (then,) brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. Whoever does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. (Now) this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts before him in whatever our hearts condemn, for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything. Beloved, if (our) hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God


Psalms 100(99),1-2.3.4.5.

A psalm of thanksgiving. Shout joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
worship the LORD with cries of gladness; come before him with joyful song.
Know that the LORD is God, our maker to whom we belong, whosepeople we are, God's well-tended flock.
Enter the temple gates with praise, its courts with thanksgiving. Give thanks to God, bless his name;
good indeed is the LORD, Whose love endures forever, whose faithfulness lasts through every age.


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 1,43-51.

The next day he decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth." But Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him." Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this." And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

PROOF IS IN THE LOVE

"That we have passed from death to life we know because we love the brothers." –1 John 3:14

We Christians say that we are new people filled with the Spirit, but we all have a history of self-deception. How do we know that we have passed from death to life? We know that we are no longer "among the living dead" (1 Jn 3:14), but are alive in Christ because of our love for the brothers and sisters. We love them so much that by God's grace we will even lay down our lives for them (1 Jn 3:16). Our love for other Christians is so practical that we provide for their needs at our own expense (1 Jn 3:17).

This love for other Christians extends to our neighbors (see Mt 22:39) and even to our enemies (Mt 5:44). To love everyone this deeply under any circumstances is humanly impossible and truly divine. This proves that we have received a new nature (see Jn 3:3), become new creations (see Gal 6:15), and are disciples of Jesus (Jn 13:35).

Has this Christmas season been further proof that God Himself and eternal life abide in your hearts? (see 1 Jn 3:15) If not, repent and end the Christmas season loving with a divine love.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Friday, 04 January 2008

First Letter of John 3,7-10.

Children, let no one deceive you. The person who acts in righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. Whoever sins belongs to the devil, because the devil has sinned from the beginning. Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is begotten by God commits sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot sin because he is begotten by God. In this way, the children of God and the children of the devil are made plain; no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone who does not love his brother.


Psalms 98,1.7-8.9.

Sing a new song to the LORD, who has done marvelous deeds, Whose right hand and holy arm have won the victory.
Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and those who dwell there.
Let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout with them for joy,
Before the LORD who comes, who comes to govern the earth, To govern the world with justice and the peoples with fairness.


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 1,35-42.

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them,"Come, and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Kephas" (which is translated Peter).

DESTROYER

"It was to destroy the devil's works that the Son of God revealed Himself." –1 John 3:8

Jesus came to this earth "to destroy the devil's works" (1 Jn 3:8). Satan's works cannot stand next to those of God. Anything built on a foundation based on evil must first be overturned and destroyed. Therefore, Jesus' initial work must be that of a demolition crew. First, He needs to clear the building site of the existing structure if it is not founded on Him (see 1 Cor 3:10-11). Only then will He lay a new foundation and build His kingdom.

Jesus is zealous for His house (Jn 2:17). He is determined to build things the right way, and so He'll have to rip out and cut down an unstable foundation (see Lk 13:9). He clears the ground (Mt 3:10) completely and thoroughly. Jesus intends to build His kingdom, and nothing will stand that opposes His work.

If anything in your life is opposed to God's kingdom, you don't have to wait. You can do some of the clearing yourself to prepare the way of the Lord. Ask Jesus to show you what needs to "go" in your life. Then "clear Him a straight path" (Lk 3:4) so that Jesus can spend His time doing the building.

St. Genevieve

First Letter of John 2,29.3,1-6.

If you consider that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness is begotten by him.
See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure.
Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness.
You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
No one who remains in him sins; no one who sins has seen him or known him.


Psalms 98,1.3-4.5-6.

Sing a new song to the LORD, who has done marvelous deeds, Whose right hand and holy arm have won the victory.
Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth; break into song; sing praise.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout with joy to the King, the LORD.


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 1,29-34.

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, 'A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.' I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel." John testified further, saying, "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the holy Spirit.' Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God."

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross [Edith Stein] (1891-1942), Carmelite, martyr, co-Patroness of Europe
The marriage of the Lamb, 14/09/1940

"The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world"

In the book of Revelation the Apostle John wrote: “This is what I saw: before the throne… I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain,” (Rv 5,6). When the seer of Patmos had this vision, the unforgettable day on the Jordan when John the Baptist showed him the “Lamb of God” who “takes away the sins of the world” was still fresh in his memory…

But why did he choose the lamb as the preferred symbol? Why did he continue to reveal himself in this form on the eternal throne of glory? Because he was innocent as a lamb and meek as a lamb; and because he came in order to allow himself to be led as a lamb to the slaughter (Is 53:7). This, too, John had witnessed when the Lord permitted himself to be bound at the Mount of Olives and nailed to the cross at Golgotha. There on Golgotha the true sacrifice of reconciliation was accomplished. Thereby the old sacrifices lost their efficacy; and soon they ceased entirely, as did also the old priesthood when the temple was destroyed. John had witnessed all of this, so he was not surprised to see the Lamb on the throne…

Just as the Lamb had to be killed to be raised upon the throne of glory, so the path to glory leads through suffering and the cross for everyone chosen to attend the marriage supper of the Lamb. All who want to be married to the Lamb must allow themselves to be fastened to the cross with him. Everyone marked by the blood of the Lamb (cf Ex 12,7) is called to this, and that means all the baptized. But not everyone understands the call and follows it.

St. Gregory Nazianzen , St Basil the Great

First Letter of John 2,22-28.

Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist. No one who denies the Son has the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well. Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. I write you these things about those who would deceive you. As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him. And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming.


Psalms 98,1.2-3.3-4.

Sing a new song to the LORD, who has done marvelous deeds, Whose right hand and holy arm have won the victory.
The LORD has made his victory known; has revealed his triumph for the nations to see,
Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth; break into song; sing praise.


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 1,19-28.

And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites (to him) to ask him, "Who are you?" he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, "I am not the Messiah." So they asked him, "What are you then? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." So they said to him, "Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?" He said: "I am 'the voice of one crying out in the desert, "Make straight the way of the Lord,"' as Isaiah the prophet said." Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie." This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross [Edith Stein] (1891-1942), Carmelite, martyr, co-Patroness of Europe
The marriage of the Lamb, 14/09/1940

"The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world"

In the book of Revelation the Apostle John wrote: “This is what I saw: before the throne… I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain,” (Rv 5,6). When the seer of Patmos had this vision, the unforgettable day on the Jordan when John the Baptist showed him the “Lamb of God” who “takes away the sins of the world” was still fresh in his memory…

But why did he choose the lamb as the preferred symbol? Why did he continue to reveal himself in this form on the eternal throne of glory? Because he was innocent as a lamb and meek as a lamb; and because he came in order to allow himself to be led as a lamb to the slaughter (Is 53:7). This, too, John had witnessed when the Lord permitted himself to be bound at the Mount of Olives and nailed to the cross at Golgotha. There on Golgotha the true sacrifice of reconciliation was accomplished. Thereby the old sacrifices lost their efficacy; and soon they ceased entirely, as did also the old priesthood when the temple was destroyed. John had witnessed all of this, so he was not surprised to see the Lamb on the throne…

Just as the Lamb had to be killed to be raised upon the throne of glory, so the path to glory leads through suffering and the cross for everyone chosen to attend the marriage supper of the Lamb. All who want to be married to the Lamb must allow themselves to be fastened to the cross with him. Everyone marked by the blood of the Lamb (cf Ex 12,7) is called to this, and that means all the baptized. But not everyone understands the call and follows it.

My Daily Eucharist - Reflection for January 3, 2008

The references of St. Ignatius of Antioch (d. 107) to the Eucharist in the seven authentic letters he wrote while on his way to Rome to suffer martyrdom are sufficient to indicate that the Mystery of the Lord's Body and Blood was a most significant aspect in his thought and in his own spiritual life. In his letter to the Christians of Tralles, for example, he apparently compares the virtues of faith and love to the Eucharistic Mystery when he writes: "Therefore, arming yourselves with gentleness, renew yourselves in faith, which is the Flesh of the Lord, and in charity, which is the Blood of Jesus Christ. Hold nothing against your neighbor." His letter to the Romans is almost mystical in its Eucharistic allusions. He compares his own coming tortures to the process that the wheat must undergo. In facing death, Ignatius states that his only remaining desire is to encounter him who has made himself the food and drink of Christians. I am God's grain, and I am being ground by the teeth of wild beasts in order that I may be found [to be] pure bread for Christ. My [earthly] love has been crucified, and there is in me no fire of material love, but rather a living water, speaking in me and saying within me, "Come to the Father". I take no pleasure in corruptible food or in the delights of this life. I want the Bread of God, which is the Flesh of Jesus Christ, who is of the seed of David; and as drink I want his Blood, which is incorruptible love.

The Hidden Manna: A Theology Of The Eucharist
Fr. James T. O'Connor

"O HOLY NIGHT"

"If you consider the holiness that is His, you can be sure that everyone who acts in holiness has been begotten by Him." –1 John 2:29

One of the main purposes of the Christmas season is to grow in holiness – to become more like God, to take on God's character. This holy Christmas time begins a holy year in a holy life, which begins a holy eternal life. The Lord has created us to be holy as He is holy (see 1 Jn 3:3), to be "perfect in holiness" (1 Thes 5:23). We should "hunger and thirst for holiness" (Mt 5:6) and seek first God's way of holiness (Mt 6:33). We must strive "for that holiness without which no one can see the Lord" (Heb 12:14).

The Lord expects "perfect" holiness from us because He has given us the power to become holy. Because we have been begotten by Him through faith and baptism, we have a new nature by which we can live a holy life (1 Jn 2:29). Even if we fall into temptation and live according to our old sinful nature, we can repent and be washed clean in Jesus' blood.

Finally, the Father and the Son have given us the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, Who makes us holy. Because of new life in the waters of baptism, forgiveness through Jesus' blood shed on Calvary, and the indwelling of the Spirit, the Lord expects us to be holy as He is holy. Have a holy Christmas season.

PRAYER:	Father, may my desire for holiness be stronger than my desire for pleasure.
PROMISE:	"When you see the Spirit descend and rest on Someone, it is He Who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit." –Jn 1:33
PRAISE:	Frequent Confession and Holy Communion help Peter remain constantly open to the Holy Spirit.

St. Gregory Nazianzen, St Basil the Great

Wednesday of the First week of Christmas

Commentary of the day
Blessed Guerric of Igny : "The voice of one crying out in the desert"

Reading

1 Jn 2,22-28.
Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist. No one who denies the Son has the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well. Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. I write you these things about those who would deceive you. As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him. And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming.


Ps 98,1.2-3.3-4.
Sing a new song to the LORD, who has done marvelous deeds, Whose right hand and holy arm have won the victory.
The LORD has made his victory known; has revealed his triumph for the nations to see, Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth; break into song; sing praise.


Jn 1,19-28.
And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites (to him) to ask him, "Who are you?" he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, "I am not the Messiah." So they asked him, "What are you then? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." So they said to him, "Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?" He said: "I am 'the voice of one crying out in the desert, "Make straight the way of the Lord,"' as Isaiah the prophet said." Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie." This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Blessed Guerric of Igny (c.1080-1157), Cistercian abbot
4th Sermon for Advent (SC 166, p.134)

"The voice of one crying out in the desert"

Brethren, before anything else we ought to reflect on the grace of solitude, the blessedness of the desert, which from the beginning of this time of salvation, has deserved to be consecrated to the peacefulness of the saints. Indeed, the desert was made holy for us by the voice of John, he who cried out in the desert, who preached there and administered the baptism of repentance. Even before him, the greatest of the prophets had always made a friend of solitude as being something that assisted the Spirit. However, an incomparably greater grace of holiness became attached to this place when Jesus followed John there. Before preaching to the repentant in his turn, Jesus considered he ought to prepare a place in which to receive them; he went into the desert for forty days so as to consecrate a new life in this renewed location… and this, not so much for his own sake as for those who would dwell in the desert afterwards. So then, if you have decided on the desert, remain there and wait for him who will save you from your feebleness of spirit and the tempest… The Lord will satisfy there you who have followed him even more wonderfully than he satisfied the crowd who followed him into it (Lk 4,42) … At that very moment you imagine him to have long forsaken you, even then, mindful of his goodness, he will come to console you and will say: “I remember you, moved with pity for your youth and your first love, when you followed me in the desert,” (Jer 2,2). The Lord will turn your desert into a paradise of delights, while you will proclaim (like the prophet) that the glory of Lebanon has been given to him, the beauty of Carmel and Sharon (Is Is 35,2)… Then, from the fullness of your heart your hymn of praise will rise: “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his wondrous deeds to the children of men! He has satisfied the longing soul and filled the hungry soul with good things,” (Ps 107 [106],8).

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Mary, Mother of God

Commentary of the day
Saint Proclus of Constantinople : “When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman” (Gal 4,4)

Reading

Numb. 6,22-27.
The LORD said to Moses: "Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace! So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them."


Ps 67(66),2-3.5.6.8.
May God be gracious to us and bless us; may God's face shine upon us. Selah
So shall your rule be known upon the earth, your saving power among all the nations.
May the nations be glad and shout for joy; for you govern the peoples justly, you guide the nations upon the earth. Selah
May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us still; that the ends of the earth may revere our God.


Gal. 4,4-7.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption. As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.


Lk 2,16-21.
So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Saint Proclus of Constantinople (c.390-446), Bishop
Sermon no.1; PG 65,682

“When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman” (Gal 4,4)

Let all nature vibrate with joy and the whole human race exult, since women are themselves now honoured. Let all humanity dance in unison…: “where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more,” (Rom 5,20). The holy Mother of God has brought us together in this place; the Virgin Mary, purest treasure of virginity, the Second Adam’s spiritual paradise, place in which the two natures are united, place of exchange in which our salvation has been brought to pass, nuptial chamber in which Christ espoused our flesh. She is that spiritual bush which the fire of giving birth to a God did not burn, the bright cloud who bore him who is enthroned above the cherubim, the pure fleece that received celestial dew… Mary, handmaid and mother, virgin, heaven, the one bridge between God and man, loom of the incarnation on which the tunic of the union of natures was so skilfully woven, its weaver being the Holy Spirit. In his goodness, God did not disdain to be born of a woman, even though he who was to be formed by it was life in himself,. Yet if this mother had not remained a virgin, her childbearing would have had nothing extraordinary about it; then it would have been no more than a human being who was born. But since, after childbearing, she remained a virgin, how could it not point towards God and to an inexpressible mystery? He was born ineffably, without stain; he who, later on, would enter every closed door without hindrance and before whom Thomas would cry out as he beheld the union of two natures: “My Lord and my God,” (Jn 20,28). For love of us he who, by nature, could not suffer, was exposed to numberless sufferings. For Christ did not at all become God by degrees – absolutely not! But, being God, his mercy forced him to become man, as our faith teaches us. We do not preach a man become God but proclaim a God made flesh. To him was given as mother his own handmaid, to him who, by nature, was without mother and who became incarnate in time without a father.