A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday & Weekday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 21, n. 4)
Advent Week 4: December 18-24, 2022
(The pastoral tool BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY & WEEKDAY LITURGY includes a prayerful study of the Sunday liturgy from various perspectives. For the Lectio Divina on the liturgy of the past week: December 11-17, 2022 please go to ARCHIVES Series 21 and click on “Advent Week 3”.
Below is a LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY - WEEKDAY LITURGY: December 18-24, 2022.)
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December 18, 2022: FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Sign of God’s Love”
BIBLE READINGS
Is 7:10-14 // Rom 1:1-7 // Mt 1:18-24
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Mt 1:18-24): “Jesus will be born of Mary, the betrothed of Joseph, a son of David.”
The liturgy of the Advent and Christmas season is marked by an exquisite “sign” of God’s love: the birth of a child, which is perhaps the most universal and enduring symbol of hope for the human race. A “sign” in the Old Testament and New Testament is usually some event assuring us of divine intervention. It is an indication of divine presence and a form of revelation. A “sign” is God’s propitious expression of benevolence and a promise of salvation for his people. It is a gift of love from our saving God to encourage us in moments of crisis. Indeed, a divine “sign” is a symbol of hope in weakness and an assurance of life and victory when assailed with threats of defeat and destruction.
The evangelist Matthew in today’s Gospel (Mt 1:18-24) sees the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in the birth of the Virgin Mary’s child, Jesus. The authors of the Days of the Lord, vol. 1, comment: “The sign that God gives is the birth of a child. It is a sign, because this birth is a promise of salvation. Moreover, he will bear the significant name Emmanuel, that is, God-with-us. The salvation announced to the people goes beyond the person of Hezekiah. The child, the sign of the salvation of God, will be no ordinary person, and he will come from David’s lineage: the Messiah himself. When Jesus appeared, born of a woman – a virgin whose name was Mary – to whom the angel of God said: You shall conceive and bear a son … The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father … and his reign will be without end (Lk 1:31-33), one will easily surmise that he must be the promised Messiah. Not merely one sign among many, but THE sign of God, in a way that none can imagine: God-with-us … The sign of his presence and initiative was given to us when he chose a young woman – a virgin – to give birth to the Savior. The very fragility of this sign – the birth of a child – is the most extraordinary, the most unexpected, and at the same time the most visible of the manifestations of the strength and love of the God who is faithful to his promises.”
God continues to surround us with “signs” of salvation and of his care and love. The following story, narrated by Sue Monk Kidd in an old issue of Guideposts magazine, illustrates how the appearance of a child in the languishing church community of Melba became a sign of the divine will to bring life and salvation to them.
In 1977, the Baptist Church in Melba, a rural American town, was about to close its doors forever. Over the years, churchgoing had dropped off alarmingly. Some hurts and misunderstandings had divided and shattered the congregation. All that remained was about a dozen people on the verge of giving up. That handful of people gathered in the church one Sunday to vote whether to continue services or close down for good. Their meeting was interrupted when a child appeared – a child of only seven years – who wanted to join the Sunday school and the church service.
Angela, for that was her name, returned the next Sunday, and the next and the next. That child became the reason for the Melba Baptist Church to go on. They struggled to live in order to nurture a young spirit from one Sunday to the next. Angela was their glimmer of hope. She was their future. The child’s appearance saved the congregation from extinction and sure death. The Melba Baptist Church has become renovated and increased in membership. As far as they are concerned, the little girl who came alone to the church that long-ago Sunday was sent by God.
B. First Reading (Is 7:10-14): “Behold the virgin shall conceive.”
It must have been some kind of midlife crisis for I had allowed the disappointments of those moments to discourage me and even erode my self-esteem. I felt so insignificant and it seemed that I had toiled in vain. I needed some kind of affirmation to confirm that my apostolic labor had meaning and value. I prayed to God to give me a “sign”. In his goodness God gifted me with a beautiful “sign”. One day in June 2001 Bishop Protacio Gungon of the Diocese of Antipolo in the Philippines informed me that I was going to receive an award. The Bishop nominated me for the papal award, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice in recognition for the service I had rendered to the Church and the Pope. Indeed, the conferral of the papal award on August 15, 2001 continues to be a “sign” to encourage me in difficulties as I serve the Lord and his people through the Eucharistic-Priestly-Liturgical apostolate.
The Old Testament reading (Is 7:10-14) contains a prophetic “sign” directed to King Ahaz, who is anxious and trembling as “the trees of the forest tremble in the wind” (Is 7:2), for the imminent siege of Jerusalem in 735 B.C. by the kings of Syria and Israel. Confronting his lack of trust in the Lord, the prophet Isaiah declares: “The Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel” (Is 7:14). With the sign of the conception and birth of a child, God wants to manifest to King Ahaz - who is piously hiding his intent to seek security through political allies - that the Lord Yahweh is in perfect control of human history and destiny.
Indeed, God is with us and intimately involved in our affairs. The “sign” announced by the prophet Isaiah invites Ahaz to trust in God alone – in the promise of the Covenant and the divine protection. In order to be saved from his enemies, Ahaz ought not to rely on the political and military interventions of the Assyrians. The conception and birth of a child by the young wife of King Ahaz is meant to be a powerful indication of Yahweh’s abiding presence and merciful intervention on behalf of his people. The weakling ruler, however, does not perceive the birth of his son Hezekiah as a “sign” of salvation and of God’s solicitude for the house of David. Trusting more in political security, Ahaz sends gold and silver to the King of Assyria and becomes his vassal, paving the way for the eventual destruction of the southern kingdom.
C. Second Reading (Rom 1:1-7): “Jesus Christ, descended from David, is the Son of God.”
The Second Reading (Rom 1:1-7) helps us consider two over-riding aspects of our Savior: his humanity and his divinity. Saint Paul asserts about Jesus: as to his humanity, Jesus was born a descendant of David; as to his divine holiness, he was shown with great power to be the Son of God by being raised from death. Through the mystery of incarnation, the Son of God became one with us – sharing the hopes and fears that we have in our imperfections. Through the paschal mystery of his passion, death and resurrection, the true nature of Jesus as “Son of God” was fully manifested. Indeed, Christmas and Easter are intimately woven as warp and woof of salvation history.
Saint Paul, a “slave of Christ Jesus” and set apart to proclaim the Good News, writes to the Christian community in Rome wishing them the very best: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul’s salutation is a beautiful Christmas prayer that we must invoke on one another, on our loved ones, on peoples of the earth and the entire creation. In this Christmas season and every day of our life, we must proclaim zealously like Saint Paul the Good News about Jesus, Son of God of the House of David. To welcome Jesus Lord in our life is to receive the Christmas gift of grace and peace that he brings from God the Father.
The following story illustrates fascinatingly the indomitable spirit of Christmas and the strength that God brings into our life through loving, thoughtful neighbors (cf. Christine Trollinger, “Christmas Angels” in Amazing Grace for the Catholic Heart, ed. Jeff Cavins, et. al. West Chester: Ascension Press, 2004, p.94-96). The celebration of Christmas is important for it enables us to renew our trust in Jesus, Son of God of the House of David. The joyful event of Christ’s birth is for us a tremendous experience of the Father’s faithful love and the divine Son’s saving life. True Christmas spirit pierces through the darkness of despair.
Mentally going over my Christmas list in 1988, I reassured myself that I had not forgotten anyone. Still, an unshakable feeling that something was forgotten haunted me. Of course, I knew why that “missing” feeling hung on despite all the gift-wrapped packages tucked away. I just did not know what to do about it.
You see, our family had been struggling with the devastation of cancer many months that year. My husband’s cancer had returned with vengeance and our three children had been diagnosed with the predisposition for this same hereditary cancer, one which had claimed my husband’s mother at the age of thirty-three. The outlook was bleak to say the least. We were still trying to cope with the on-going battle as well as the loss of my sister-in-law that October; she also died at age thirty-three.
As Christmas approached, we tried to keep things normal for the children. Our family tradition has always been a joyous family affair. We would lavish decorations on our tree and the outside of the house and bake Christmas goodies. Then we would invite all the neighbors in for the lighting ceremony and to enjoy cookies, hot chocolate, and Christmas carols.
This year, there was no real celebration; we were merely going through the motions. Gene was too ill to help with the outside lights so I went to the basement alone to retrieve them. He sorted the lights from the couch where he now spent most of his time recouping from the latest surgery. Our kids were also not in the Christmas spirit as they scattered to their bedrooms, silently dealing with the pain in their own way.
Feeling no joy, I set up the nativity scene in the front yard. It was merely tradition, with no hope of a better tomorrow. When all the lights and decorations were finished and the tree adorned, we all came to look at it but then turned away with heavy hearts. It looked as though Christmas would not come to our house that year; maybe it would never come again. We pronounced it good enough and retired to our rooms for the night. Silence shrouded our house and sleep brought little relief or sweet dreams.
The following morning we awoke to an icy white-out. A blizzard had blown through our area over the night and dumped nearly three feet of snow. A heavy white blanket covered all the outside decorations, leaving our little nativity scene buried below the ice-encrusted front yard. One by one we looked out to see that the storm had wiped out what little joy I had tried to create. The desolation of Christmas was now complete. Our weak attempts had proved futile against nature, both inside and outside our home.
We had no more energy for pretending. The nativity would stay buried. As we all moved toward our kitchen for a quiet breakfast, strange sounds drifted in from the other side of our living room picture window. The faintest jingle of laughter pierced the air. Each of us moved back toward the window, drawn like a magnet. We looked out into the front yard and saw a wondrous sight. There on their knees in the snow were three little angels. As we watched the scene unfold, more angels came to join them. They all wore mittens and giggled while they used their hands to dig the manger out of the snow. These particular angels looked very familiar though.
A little five-year-old named Megan had brought a baby blanket in which to wrap the Christ child. As Megan wrapped and hugged the baby, neighbors had come and joined the children. They came to sing to the Christ Child, to share their laughter and, most of all, their joy. They brought cookies, hot chocolate, Christmas carols, and laughter. What they especially brought us was the Christmas tradition our own hearts could not muster. They awakened our hope in the Christ child and gave us strength to face the New Year.
This special memory of Christmas, when God’s grace outshone darkness and despair, lives on in our hearts.
The following months and years were often difficult, but praise God, my dear husband and all our children are still alive and healthy. The cancer has been in remission now for thirteen years – a miracle according to doctors. My husband is, as far as we know, the longest survivor of this rare inherited cancer. Now, we consider each day a gift from the Christ child.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
Did you experience a crisis situation that prompted you to ask God for a “sign”? Does God send you a “sign” in response to your faith-filled yearning? What is the importance of a “sign” in our living relationship with God? Are we willing to be “signs” of God’s love and compassion in today’s world?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
God, our compassionate Father,
we thank you for the many signs of your enduring love.
Above all, we thank you for the gift of your beloved Son Jesus,
born of Mary
and fostered by Joseph of the house of David.
The Christ child was destined
to suffer and die obediently on the cross,
the font of saving life.
Teach us to perceive the intimate connection
between the Christmas mystery and Easter.
Loving God,
help us to celebrate the birth of Christ meaningfully.
Let us experience the joy and peace of this holy season.
Grant us the true Christmas spirit
and let your grace and peace be upon us all.
With the community of disciples
eager to celebrate the birth of Christ and his saving life,
we proclaim,
“Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus, our saving life!”
Loving God, we give you glory, honor and praise,
now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us” (Mt 1:23).
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
To help feel more intensely the spirit of Christmas and perceive more gratefully the sign of Christ Child, make an effort to spend some quiet moments of silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Let the “sign” of the Christ Child and the Christmas spirit of love, justice, and peace be shared with the people around you, especially the poor, the sick, and the suffering.
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December 19, 2022: MONDAY – ADVENT WEEKDAY (4)
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Consecrated One”
BIBLE READINGS
Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a // Lk 1:5-25
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 1:5-25): “The birth of John the Baptist is announced by Gabriel.”
(By Fr. Samuel Canilang, CMF, Director: Institute for Consecrated Life in Asia)
The elderly Elizabeth became pregnant. The all-powerful and empowering God makes the barren fertile. God’s loving and liberating Son makes the blind see, the mute speak, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the captive free, the hungry satisfied, the lowly exalted…. Elizabeth’s giving birth to John is part of the story of God’s salvation that culminates in the Incarnation. In Jesus, God is in our midst, making everything new and fruitful, bringing about justice, leading us all into the fullness of life and love.
The annunciation of John’s birth points to the annunciation of Jesus’ birth. While Zechariah doubted, Mary readily believed. Today, many of us do not seem to feel really part of the salvation story: the poor, the marginalized, the oppressed, the suffering, the sick … Like Mary, let us trust and put all our hopes in the Word. Let us be truly part of God’s story in believing, hoping, loving, and serving. Christ has never left us. The Holy Spirit is always among and in us. Advent awakens us into this reality. All we need to do, to be truly part of God’s story, is live in and according to this reality, that God – who makes the barren fertile – is Emmanuel.
B. First Reading (Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a): “The birth of Samson is announced by an angel.”
Our friends, Lynn and Restie, a young married couple residing in San Jose (CA-USA) were eagerly looking forward to raise their own family. Unfortunately, Lynn had a miscarriage. A medical problem made it difficult, or impossible, for her to have a baby. Lynn and Restie prayed to God and put their trust in him. Against all odds, Lynn conceived and gave birth to a beautiful girl. I was taking my turn for the Eucharistic Adoration when I heard some discreet footsteps. I turned around and saw Lynn and Restie, beaming joyfully and carrying their baby named Eliana. Lynn was just discharged from the maternity hospital. Before going home, the proud parents decided to pass by the Sisters’ convent and present their daughter to the Lord. Lynn and Restie put the baby, sleeping peacefully in a cradle basket, at the foot of the altar. We offered praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for the “miraculous” gift and humbly begged Jesus to bless and consecrate the child.
Today’s readings speak of the announcement of the birth of Samson and John the Baptist and their consecration to God from their mothers’ womb. Both the mother of Samson and the mother of the Baptist are barren. The birth of the child for each mother is an act of grace and presages a unique mission for each child. In the Old Testament reading (Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a), we hear that the boy, Samson, is destined for the deliverance of Israel from the power of the Philistines. The boy, John the Baptist, will bring many people of Israel back to God and, mighty like the prophet Elijah, he will prepare the way of the Lord. In view of their special saving mission, Samson and John the Baptist must live an ascetic life – never drinking wine or strong drink. Filled with the Holy Spirit, their consecration to God points to the totally “consecrated One”, Jesus Savior, whose works and words manifest him as the “Holy One of God”.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. Do we truly participate in salvation history, in which God the “Emmanuel” transforms, making the barren fertile and everything new and fruitful?
2. Are we receptive to the miraculous intervention of God in our daily life, and do we trust in his power to make the barren fruitful? What does being “consecrated” to God mean to us? How do we live out this “consecration”?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you are the “Root of Jesse’s stem”,
sign of God’s love for all his people.
In you the barren becomes fertile.
Everything is made new and fruitful.
Let us work with you in the blooming of the desert.
Help us to proclaim the Good News to the poor
and hasten the advent of your kingdom.
Maranatha! Come, O Christ the Lord!
***
O loving God,
we thank you for your miraculous intervention
in the lives of barren women
and your awesome power to make the barren fruitful.
We thank you for consecrating Samson and John the Baptist
in their mothers’ womb
and for their special role in salvation history.
Help us to value our own consecration
and let the Holy Spirit of Jesus,
the totally “consecrated One” fill our hearts.
Make us docile instruments of your saving will.
We bless and praise you, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the day. Please memorize it.
“Elizabeth was barren … Elizabeth conceived.” (Lk 1:7, 24) //“This boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb.” (Jgs 13:5)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
By your works of justice on behalf of the marginalized, be a part in the blooming of the desert and of making the barren fertile. // Make this Advent season a privileged occasion to practice mortification and sacrifices that will help you perceive the practical implications of being “consecrated” to God.
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December 20, 2022: TUESDAY – ADVENT WEEKDAY (4)
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Sign of Salvation”
BIBLE READINGS
Is 7:10-14 // Lk 1:26-38
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 1:26-38): “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son.”
(By Fr. Samuel Canilang, CMF, Director: Institute for Consecrated Life in Asia)
The Spirit of God was hovering over the cosmos at the time of creation. The Spirit of God overshadowed Mary at the conception of Jesus. The Spirit of God descended upon the Apostles at the birth of the Church. The Holy Spirit is creative, the source of all life - the mother of all. The Incarnation has transformed the cosmos. It is the birth of a new heaven and a new earth. The mission of the Son is to bring fullness of life to all: to humankind, to all created beings, to mother earth, to the universe.
The human being is Adam. The human being is earth. Indeed, the human and the earth are radically bound together. We live on the fruits of the earth. In turn the earth needs us to care for it, cultivate it, and make it fruitful. The season of Advent invites us to contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation. At the same time, it invites us to assume the mission of the Incarnate Son: to bring fullness of life to all. Like Mary, let us be handmaids of the Lord; servants of the Lord; co-workers of the Lord. Today, a very urgent task of all handmaids of the Lord is the care of our mother earth.
B. First Reading (Is 7:10-14): “Behold, the virgin shall be with a child.”
It must have been some kind of midlife crisis, for I had allowed the disappointments of those moments to discourage me and even erode my self-esteem. I felt so insignificant and it seemed that I had toiled in vain. I needed some kind of affirmation to confirm that my apostolic labor had meaning and value. I prayed to God to give me a “sign”. In his goodness God gifted me with a beautiful “sign”. One day in June 2001, Bishop Protacio Gungon of the Diocese of Antipolo, in the Philippines, informed me that I was going to receive an award. The Bishop nominated me for the papal award, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice in recognition for the service I had rendered to the Church and the Pope. On August 15, 2001, in a memorable diocesan celebration that acknowledged the contribution of a layman, a religious, and a clergyman, Mr. Guillermo Tolentino and I received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award while Fr. Arnel Lagarejos was elevated to the rank of “papal chaplain”, with the title of “Monsignor”. The conferral of the papal award was for me a “sign” that encourages me in difficulties as I endeavor to serve the Lord and his people through the Eucharistic-Priestly-Liturgical apostolate.
The liturgy of the Advent and Christmas seasons is marked by an exquisite “sign” of God’s love: the birth of a child, which is perhaps the most universal and enduring symbol of hope for the human race. A “sign” in the Old Testament and New Testament is usually some event assuring us of divine intervention. It is an indication of divine presence and a form of revelation. A “sign” is God’s propitious expression of benevolence and a promise of salvation for his people. It is a gift of love from our saving God to encourage us in moments of crisis. Indeed, a divine “sign” is a symbol of hope in weakness and an assurance of life and victory when assailed with threats of defeat and destruction.
The Old Testament reading (Is 7:10-14) contains a prophetic sign directed to King Ahaz, who was anxious and trembling as “the trees of the forest tremble in the wind” (Is 7:2), for the imminent siege of Jerusalem in 735 B.C. by the kings of Syria and Israel. Confronting his lack of trust in the Lord, the prophet Isaiah declared: “The Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel” (Is 7:14). With the sign of the conception and birth of a child, God wanted to manifest to King Ahaz, who was piously hiding his intent to seek security through political allies, that the Lord Yahweh was in perfect control of human history and destiny. Indeed, God is with us and intimately involved in our affairs. The “sign” announced by the prophet Isaiah was an invitation to Ahaz to trust in God alone – in the realization of the Covenant and his continual protection. The King ought not to rely on the political and military interventions of the Assyrians for salvation from his enemies. The conception and birth of a child by the young wife of King Ahaz was meant to be a powerful indication of Yahweh’s abiding presence and merciful intervention on behalf of his people. The weakling ruler, however, did not accept the birth of his son, Hezekiah, as a “sign” of salvation and of God’s solicitude for the house of David. Trusting more in political security, Ahaz sent gold and silver to the King of Assyria and became his vassal.
Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in the birth of the Virgin Mary’s child, Jesus. The authors of the Days of the Lord, vol. 1, comment: “The sign that God gives is the birth of a child. It is a sign, because this birth is a promise of salvation. Moreover, he will bear the significant name Emmanuel, that is, God-with-us. The salvation announced to the people goes beyond the person of Hezekiah. The child, the sign of the salvation of God, will be no ordinary person, and he will come from David’s lineage: the Messiah himself. When Jesus appeared, born of a woman – a virgin whose name was Mary – to whom the angel of God said: You shall conceive and bear a son … The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father … and his reign will be without end (Lk 1:31-33), one will easily surmise that he must be the promised Messiah. Not merely one sign among many, but THE sign of God.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. Do we imitate Mary in her openness to grace and in her total availability to share in the mission of the Son to bring fullness of life to all?
2. Have we ever experienced a crisis situation that prompted us to ask God for a “sign” that he was really there for us? Did God send us a “sign” in response to our faith-filled yearning?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you are the “Key of David”,
opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom.
Like Mary, we say “Fiat” to the Father’s saving will.
Make us share in your mission
to free prisoners from the darkness of sin
and to bring the fullness of life to all.
Maranatha! Come, O Christ the Lord!
***
Loving Father,
we welcome the birth of Jesus,
from the virginal womb of Mary,
as a sign of your saving presence in our midst,
a symbol of hope and a promise of salvation.
In the fragile “sign” of the Child Jesus,
born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem,
we embrace the presence,
the power and strength of your redeeming love.
In Jesus Savior
the joy of Christmas is complete.
We thank you, loving Father,
for the “sign” of the Christ Child
and the gift of Christmas.
You live and reign, forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the day. Please memorize it.
“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38) //“The Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” (Is 7:14)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Meditate on the beautiful Christmas “sign” of the Christ Child, born of Mary. Let the “sign” of the Christ Child and the Christmas spirit of love, justice, peace and the presence of God be shared with the people around you, especially the poor, the sick and the suffering.
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December 21, 2022: WEDNESDAY – ADVENT WEEKDAY (4); SAINT PETER CANISIUS, Priest, Doctor of the Church
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is in Our Midst”
BIBLE READINGS
Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a // Lk 1:39-45
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 1:39-45): “And how does this happen to me that the mother of the Lord should come to me?”
(By Fr. Samuel Canilang, CMF, Director: Institute for Consecrated Life in Asia)
Mary is “the most blessed among women”. She is blessed because she “believed that the Lord’s word would come true”. These words of Elizabeth correspond to those of Jesus himself: “My mother, my brothers and my sisters are those who receive the word of God and fulfill it.” Shema Israel… Listening (= hearing and obeying) is a central theme in the whole Judaeo-Christian Tradition. Listening to the Word is intrinsically linked to blessedness or holiness. Only God is Holy – the three times holy. Being blessed is sharing in the holiness of God.
The other biblical term used to refer to the sharing in God’s holiness is consecration. All of us – members of the Church – are consecrated by virtue of our baptism. We all share in the holiness of God. We are blessed. We live our consecration according to our form of life in the Church: as lay, as religious, as ordained. To live our consecration fundamentally involves discernment, meditation and responding to the word of God which comes to us through the Scripture, the Tradition, our contemporary experiences, the signs of the times, the needs of our neighbors. Advent is a special invitation for us to live and bear witness to our consecration to God in Christ.
B. First Reading (Sg 2:8-14): “Hark!My lover comes, springing across the mountains.” // Zep 3:14-18a: “The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst.”
Song of Song 2:8-14: This Old Testament reading depicts the deep longing of a young girl for the coming (the “advent”) of her beloved, who now bounces upon the hills like a gazelle or a young stag. Confined at home behind a wall, windows and lattices, she eagerly listens to her lover’s invitation for a springtime tryst. The profusion of flowers, the cooing of turtledoves, the blossoming of fig trees and the beauty of their romance evoke the joyful meeting of Mary and Elizabeth and the two illustrious babies within their wombs. The Song of Song’s portrayal of the tender love between the young lovers likewise points to the intimate union of the Savior with humankind through the mystery of the Lord’s incarnation.
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Zephaniah 3:14-18a: Zephaniah, who prophesied under King Josiah of Judah, is both the prophet of the “day of wrath” and the harbinger of the promise of salvation. His foreboding of doom (cf. Zep 1:15: “a day of wrath, that day, a day of distress and agony, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of cloud and darkness …”) merely underlines the consoling message that God is in our midst – to bring salvation out of a painful situation. The enigmatic prophet makes an ardent appeal to trust in the mighty Lord who is “in our midst”. He courageously invites a presently distressed people to rejoice in a situation in which joy seems utterly impossible. Zephaniah’s climactic message of hope reinforces the clarion call of the Church in this Advent season to rejoice always in the Lord. The indomitable joy of a believer and the faith community is founded on the conviction that our future is secured by God and promoted by human endeavor and response. Against the backdrop of Zephaniah’s ode to joy and the exceedingly familiar situations of pain and calamity in today’s world, we perceive better our mission to be instruments of joy and hope for others.
The following excerpt from a letter written in December 2013 by our friend, Sr. Jean Marie, CSFN, an American missionary in the Philippines, invites us to cling to God whose love is made incarnate and is “in our midst”.
Yes, since October 15 this country has had two major calamities. A 7.2 earthquake struck Bohol and Cebu about 8:15 a.m. that day and over 3,000 aftershocks are still going on. Our 5 Sisters there had to hold on to iron grills on the windows; otherwise, they would have been thrown over the second floor porch, where they were able to exit. Our school was damaged but the loss of 23 churches is even more devastating. (…)
Typhoon Yolanda, as called in the Philippines, struck a blow Nov. 8-9 leaving even more devastation. Thousands of lives were lost because of the water surge. It will take a long time plus lots of faith and courage for these families to rebuild their homes and lives.
Christmas is right around the corner. So, this newborn Baby Jesus is always a sign of and proof for hope that new life, especially our spiritual life will not die. Perhaps the Filipino people are being purified and strengthened in their faith and trust in the God who loves and cares. Lots of love is being poured out from all around the world. Businesses and institutions here are cancelling Christmas parties and donating the money. Is this not what Christmas is all about? Christmas is about love – the love of God for us and our love for one another.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
1. Do we realize how greatly blessed are we by God and that he has consecrated us to his saving will? How do we witness God’s blessing and how do we live out our consecration?
2. Do we welcome with joyful expectation the advent of Jesus, the font of joy, in our personal life and in the life of the Church? Do we resolve to commit ourselves to be a people of joy and to be promoters of joy in today’s anguished and distressed world?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you are the “Emmanuel”,
our King and giver of the Law.
In you we behold the holiness of God
and participate intimately in his life.
Help us to rejoice in the blessing you bring
and to live fully our consecration to your saving mission.
Maranatha! Come, O Christ the Lord!
***
(Cf. Alternative Opening Prayer of the Mass: Third Sunday of Advent)
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
ever faithful to your promises
and ever close to your Church:
the earth rejoices in hope of the Savior’s coming
and looks forward with longing
to his return at the end of time.
Prepare our hearts and remove the sadness
that hinders us from feeling the joy and hope
which his presence will bestow.
He is Lord forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the day. Please memorize it.
“Blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Lk 1:42b) //“The Lord, your God, is in your midst.” (Zep 3:17)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Let our blessing and consecration be made manifest in our acts of justice and charity for the people around us, especially those who have lost their jobs and/or homes and are feeling extremely vulnerable. // Offer your moral, spiritual and material help to the victims of natural and man-made calamities.
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December 22, 2022: THURSDAY – ADVENT WEEKDAY (4)
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Cause for Thanksgiving”
BIBLE READINGS
I Sm 1:24-28 // Lk 1:46-56
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
A. Gospel Reading (Lk 1:46-56): “The Mighty One has done great things for me.”
(Gospel Reflection by Fr. Samuel Canilang, CMF, Director: Institute for Consecrated Life in Asia)
The Magnificat reveals three significant traits of Mary: her historical memory, social consciousness, and covenantal perspective. In the depth of her heart, Mary remembers the origin and identity of her people: a people chosen, loved, formed, cared for, guided by God. Mary knows the consistent infidelity of her people vis-à-vis the uninterrupted fidelity of God. Far from being a plain housewife, indifferent to the situation outside her own household, Mary is profoundly aware of the plight, the struggles, and the dreams of her people. Now Mary understands everything from the perspective of the Covenant. Thus she bursts into song upon Gabriel’s annunciation of the birth of the Messiah. The Incarnation is the decisive and definitive fulfillment of God’s part of the Covenant: the salvation of all characterized by liberation, healing, justice, peace, and joy.
Advent is a time of repentance for our infidelity, renewal of our faith in the Covenant, renewal of our commitment to Christ and his mission of integral salvation, and thanksgiving for God’s constant fidelity.
B. First Reading (I Sm 1:24-28): “Hannah gives thanks for the birth of Samuel.”
Today’s Old Testament reading (I Sm 1:24-28) is especially meaningful for me. When my dad was sick with cancer, and was given at most three months to live, I bargained with God. I promised I would enter the convent if he healed him. My dad got well. When I was nineteen, God made me realize it was time to fulfill my vow. One night I received a telegram from my dad, who was helping his sister’s business in Mindanao, Philippines. The text was short, but it radically changed my life: “With my blessing, daughter.” Soon I was at the PDDM convent, accompanied by my mom, requesting admission. My mom said, “God gave her to us. We give her back to him.” Sr. Mary Gianfranca, an Italian sister who warmly welcomed us, told my mom: “Mrs. Tapang, she will be closer to you more than before!”
Against the backdrop of my personal experience, I find the account of Hannah’s consecration of Samuel very touching. The distraught Hannah, despised for her barrenness, bargains with God: if she is given a son, she will consecrate him to the Lord. God hears her request. She conceives and gives birth to a son, whom she names Samuel. After weaning her son, she brings him to the sanctuary in Shiloh and introduces him to the priest Eli as the divine answer to her prayer. Hannah told Eli of her resolve: the boy will belong to the Lord as long as he lives. God blesses Hannah with three more sons and two daughters to take the place of the one dedicated to him.
Hannah’s presentation of her child, Samuel, in the temple reminds us of Mary who would one day present her son, Jesus, in the temple. Moreover, Hannah’s song of praise for God’s marvels finds a counterpart in Mary’s “Magnificat”. Both canticles express joy at the birth of a special child and both praise the power and holiness of God and his saving will. The boy, Samuel, who is the cause of thanksgiving for Hannah, will grow up to be a great prophet who will speak the word of God to Israel. Hannah’s son is a figure of Jesus, the son of Mary, the cause of our salvation and thanksgiving. Surpassing Hannah’s son, Mary’s son is the word of God incarnate and the savior of all mankind.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
What does the consecration of the boy Samuel to the Lord mean to us? How do the song of Hannah and the song of Mary inspire me? Do we sing Mary’s Magnificat in the daily events of our life, deeply conscious of God’s presence and activity on our behalf, the responsibilities of our covenant relationship with him, and our social duties to promote the common good?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you are “King of all nations” and keystone of the Church.
We sing with Mary her Magnificat
and let the Spirit of God animate our daily lives.
We commit ourselves to the covenant
and the service of the most needy and vulnerable among us.
Maranatha! Come, O Christ the Lord!
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the day. Please memorize it.
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” (Lk 1:46-47a) // “As long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.” (I Sm 1:28)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray that our Marian devotion may deepen our covenant fidelity and social responsibility. Do something for indigent children and share with them the joy of Christmas. By your spiritual, moral, and material support, promote priestly and religious vocations in the Church and in the world today.
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December 23, 2022: FRIDAY – ADVENT WEEKDAY (4); SAINT JOHN OF KANTY, Priest
“JESUS SAVIOR: John the Baptist Is His Messenger of Hope”
BIBLE READINGS
Mal 3:1-4, 23-24 // Lk 1:57-66
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
Today’s Gospel (Lk 1:57-66) depicts the birth of John the Baptist, the precursor of the Messiah. The prophecy of Malachi (3:1-4, 23-24) sheds light on the Gospel portrait of John the Baptist. Malachi speaks of God’s promise to send his “messenger” to prepare the way before him and to send “the prophet Elijah” to bring fathers and children together again. As we contemplate God’s marvelous works, in this Advent-Christmas season, we perceive with gratitude that John the Baptist, born of Jesus’ kinsmen Elizabeth and Zechariah, is the “messenger” sent to prepare the way of the Lord. John is likewise the promised “Elijah” totally committed to God as his prophet of judgment and repentance. John the Baptist is a very powerful Advent figure. He preaches the Good News to the people and urges them to change their hearts. Through an ascetic lifestyle and fiery words of truth, he makes a critique of an evil status quo and calls people to conversion. Above all, he uplifts the hearts of the disheartened and the disappointed by proclaiming the advent of the longed for Messiah in their midst.
Like John the Baptist, we too are called to proclaim the saving advent of Jesus in our life. We too are called to be prophets of hope. In today’s fragmented world, Authors Anne Hendershott and Christopher White show how to carry this out (cf. Emily Stimpson in “Book Tells Good News Story of the Church” in Our Sunday Visitor, December 1, 2013, p. 19).
The end is near. In the wake of the clergy sex abuse scandals and Rome’s unchanging positions on the ordination of women, priestly celibacy, and traditional marriage, that was the fate many cultural commentators predicted for the Catholic Church. But in their new book, “Renewal: How a New Generation of Priests and Bishops is Revitalizing the Catholic Church” (Encounter Books, $25.99), Anne Hendershott and Christopher White unpack the sociological evidence that proves just the opposite. Recently, Our Sunday Visitor spoke about that evidence with Hendershott, professor of sociology and director of the Veritas Center for Ethics in Public Life at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Here’s what we learned.
Our Sunday Visitor: If the only knowledge someone had of the Catholic Church was what they saw reported on the evening news, what kind of Church would they see?
Anne Hendershott: Essentially, they would see a Church in decline. If all you’re doing is reading secular newspapers or news programs, you’ll get the idea of people deserting the Church, that priests are disgruntled, graying and unhappy and we’re not attracting new Catholics. (…)
Our Sunday Visitor: How does that picture contrast with the real picture?
Hendershott: Well, when I started to write the book, the plan was to write about the Catholic culture wars. That was the original title, “Beyond the Catholic Culture Wars”. At that point, I was buying into the secular media’s idea that the Church was in decline. I didn’t know how good the news about the Church actually was. Everything changed though, when I started writing. I knew intuitively that some dioceses were doing well and producing vocations. So, I thought I’d have a chapter that focused on that good news. The plan was to put it at the end of the book and close on a positive note.
But then my research assistant who was helping with the data, Christopher White, came to me and said, “This news is so good. I don’t know if you want to end the book with this.” I was blown away by what he showed me. It wasn’t just a few dioceses that were doing well. There was more good news than I could fit into just one chapter. So, I totally redid the plan for the book and made Christopher a coauthor.
Our Sunday Visitor: What is some of the good news you found?
Hendershott: Going in, I knew there would be some dioceses that had strong ordination numbers. But there were far more dioceses than I anticipated that fit into that category. Also, the picture of priests as unhappy, depressed alcoholics is just so false. There was a study done not too long ago that tells us 95 percent of priests find a great joy in their priesthood and most wouldn’t even think of leaving.
Our Sunday Visitor: What makes for happy priests and good priestly vocation numbers?
Hendershott: What we found was that the bishops are what makes the difference. Bishops who are involved with their seminarians, encouraging vocations, and living their priesthood – that matters. So does what bishops are saying and doing on specific cultural issues. Bishops who protested Notre Dame awarding an honorary degree to President Obama, those who were high profile in talking about the problem of pro-choice politicians, and those who signed the Manhattan Declaration, which defends the definition of marriage as one man and one woman – in all those cases, what you see is more vocations. The more orthodox the bishop, the more vocations he inspires. Archbishop (Elden) Curtiss said as much in the early 1990s. He wrote an article back then that said when dioceses are unambiguous about the priesthood, and there’s a minimum of dissent about the nature of it, you have more vocations. Our research found that to be true. (…)
Our Sunday Visitor: What other signs of renewal give the lie to the secular portrayal of the Catholic Church?
Hendershott: The growing involvement of faithful laity, the increase in the number of permanent deacons, and so many wonderful new organizations focused on the New Evangelization, such as FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) and Word on Fire Ministries. Then, there are the books being written by faithful Catholics and Catholic universities who are taking their Catholic identity seriously, as well as faithful women’s religious orders that are attracting vocations while dissident orders are dying out. There is so much good news.
Our Sunday Visitor: What else can the laity do to help encourage the renewal taking place within the Church?
Hendershott: Celebrate the good news. Pray for priests and honor them. Encourage your children and grandchildren to consider priestly and religious vocations. The more people realize the priesthood and consecrated life are wonderful callings, the more they will inspire their sons and daughters to consider it.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
Like John the Baptist are we ready to prepare the way of the Lord and prepare the hearts of the people of today for the advent of Jesus in their life? Are we messengers of the Lord and heralds of the Good News?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
your cousin, John, is the new Elijah sent by God
to be your precursor.
He is the messenger who prepares the way for you
and the prophet who points out your Advent in our midst..
Bless us and grant us the grace to imitate the precursor John.
Help us to bring close to you the people of Advent expectation.
You are our saving Lord, now and forever.
Amen.
***
Lord Jesus,
you are the “Radiant Dawn”,
splendor of eternal light,
sun of justice.
Bathed in your glorious light,
we walk in the path of life.
Guided by the “hand of the Lord”,
we spread Christmas joy to all.
Help us to prepare worthily for the celebration of your birth.
Maranatha! Come, O Christ the Lord!
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“The hand of the Lord was with him.” (Lk 1:66) // “Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare my way before me.” (Mal 3:1)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
By acts of self-giving and personal witnessing, let the people who are heart-broken and grieving experience the Advent of the saving Lord in their lives.
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December 24, 2022: SATURDAY – ADVENT WEEKDAY (4)
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is Born of the House of David”
BIBLE READINGS
2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-13, 14a-16 // Lk 1:67-79
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
Today’s Old Testament reading (2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16) presents King David at his best. In peace with all the nations about, he has the leisure to turn to internal matters, including the public worship of God. Appalled that he is living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent, King David plans to build a house for the Lord to dwell in. Nathan’s dream reveals God’s greater plan for David. God looks kindly on David’s thoughtfulness, but at the same time, puts his good intention in proper perspective. It is not David who will build a house for the Lord Almighty. It is God who will build a “house” – a dynasty for his servant David. In the context of our Advent-Christmas preparation, we perceive that God’s promise - I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his Kingdom firm – is fulfilled not by King Solomon, but by Jesus Christ.
Today’s Gospel reading (Lk 1:67-79) contains the beautiful canticle of Zechariah, the “Benedictus”. His hymn is a “prophecy” under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and delineates the meaning of the birth of his son, John. Zechariah sees, in the event of John’s birth, God’s fulfillment of the covenant promises to David. The priest Zechariah blesses God for “he has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David”. The “mighty Savior” of David’s lineage is Jesus. In him is God’s definitive salvation for all the people. Zechariah’s John will be called “the prophet of the Most High”. As the precursor of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist “will go before the Lord to prepare his way”
The following personal account illustrates a way of allowing Zechariah’s prophetic words to take effect in our daily life: “In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us” (cf. Ellen Siler, “Tidings of Comfort” in Country, December-January 2014, p. 53).
As Christmas 1983 drew near, I was a 19-year old new bride living hundreds of miles from my family and growing increasingly homesick. Buying our first meager decorations and trimming the tree Doug found us didn’t cheer me up the way I’d hoped.
Then one day, the mail brought a Christmas card – our very first. It was from an older couple, Mr. and Mrs. Cannon, dear friends who attended my church back home. The handwritten note inside read simply, “God bless you both on your first Christmas together. We love you. Eddie and Clarice Cannon.” Tears filled my eyes.
Now it’s 30 years later, and Mr. and Mrs. Cannon are in heaven. Yet every time I write my Christmas cards, I still feel the love that traveled so many miles when I was feeling homesick.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
Do we thank the Lord for the gift of the royal dynasty of David that brought forth Jesus Christ? Like Zechariah, do we hail the “dawn from on high” that breaks upon us – Jesus our Savior? What do we do to make the celebration of Christmas, the birth of our Savior, more meaningful and life-transforming?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
you are the mighty Savior,
born of the house of David.
We hail you as “Dayspring”.
We welcome you as the Sun of justice
and rejoice in the splendor of divine light.
Help us to live our life in holiness and service,
animated by the strength of the Holy Spirit.
Guide our feet into the way of peace.
Together with Zechariah,
whose son John is your precursor,
we bless the Lord, the God of Israel,
for in you we are set free.
You live and reign,
forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the day. Please memorize it.
“The dawn from on high shall break upon us.” (Lk 1:78b) // “Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever.” (2 Sm 7:16)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray that your family, relatives, and friends may have a grace-filled Christmas. By your acts of charity, let the Christmas joy flow to all, especially those who are distressed and burdened with many trials.
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December 24, 2022: SATURDAY – VIGIL OF THE NATIVITY OF the lord
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Savior Born for Us”
BIBLE READINGS
Mass at Night: Is 9:1-6 // Ti 2:11-14 // Lk 2:1-14
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
In the Christmas mystery, the Son of God became totally involved in our human lot. Jesus Savior thoroughly embraced our humanity, immersing himself in the human situation – experiencing the best of us and the worst of us. This is what God intended. He refused to be a mere spectator in human affairs. He wanted to participate, to be a part of it. This is the tremendous mystery of the Incarnation; this is the beautiful mystery of Christmas; this is the profound mystery of the Eucharist. They are all a definitive participation of Jesus Christ in our human affairs in a self-giving manner. Thus, in these moments, Jesus gives us a model of self-giving. He shows us the way to love.
The studies of my professor in Scripture, Fr. Herman Hendrickx, CICM, on the Infancy Narratives of Luke, can help us deepen our understanding of the Lord’s self-gift and total involvement in our human situation.
1) In chapter 2 of the Infancy Narrative, the evangelist Luke states that “there was no place for them in the inn”. There was no place for them in the inn because the inn is the place for strangers … for traveling strangers who stay only for the night. But Christ is not a stranger. He comes to his own. “The word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The inn is not a place for him to stay because he is not a stranger or distant from us. He belongs to us. His total involvement in our human destiny makes him really one with us. He could never be born in the inn, that is, outside of us. He has to be born in each one of us. He has to make his home in each of us.
2) Luke also mentions that Mary laid him in a “manger”. The manger is the place where animals are nourished. The manger is the place of sustenance … of nourishment. Jesus was laid in the manger because he is the symbol and reality of God’s support and sustenance of his people. The Son of God has to be born in Bethlehem, the “city of Bread” for he is the Bread of life – the Bread to be given, broken, and shared. Jesus in the manger points to the reality of being a “self-gift” in the Eucharistic Bread, the nourishment of his people.
3) Furthermore, Luke mentions that Jesus was wrapped in “swaddling clothes”, symbol of royalty. Rather than a sign of poverty and destitution, the swaddling clothes of Jesus indicate that he is a king. And in the biblical term, a king is the one who shepherds and cares for God’s people. And the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes becomes truly “king-shepherd” upon the tree of life – the Cross! It is there where he becomes truly KING-SHEPHERD in the fullest sense of the word – laying down his life for the sheep. On the Cross, Jesus King-Shepherd gathers all sheep into one flock to guide and lead them to the eternal home.
The Child Jesus laying in the manger, symbol of God’s sustenance and nourishment … the Lord Jesus who, on the night when he was given up, offered us the Eucharistic Bread and the Cup … the Lord Jesus, King-Shepherd, laying down his life for us on the Cross, the altar of sacrifice … HE IS STILL PRESENT IN OUR MIDST! He is the “Emmanuel”, the God-with-us Savior. Our celebration of Christmas and our participation in the Eucharist should transform us, like Jesus, into “self-gift”. Our celebration of the birth of Christ and our sharing in the Eucharistic feasting ought to make us – Christian disciples – capable of sharing the best of what we are … capable of sharing both our poverty and our riches, following the example of Jesus, the model of self-giving.
My former student in the seminary, G. Campese, writes: “Our expectations for something new, for a better humanity and human society, our joy and hope which come from the spirit of Christmas, will remain just a confused ideal and will return into a disillusion if we do not take seriously and clearly to ourselves the message of Christmas: in Jesus Christ the salvation from God becomes a reality; the kingdom is not yet fulfilled, but it is already here, and it needs our cooperation in service and self-giving.”
This remark reminds me of my favorite Christmas story that was narrated by Fr. Paul Bernier in his book, Bread Broken and Shared. How I wish that this Christmas story would be repeated and replicated over and over, certainly not just in story-telling, but in the daily miracles of life!
The film might have been entitled “Christmas Dinner in the Dump”. Being homemade, however, it was untitled. But it was about real people, and it was all about Christmas in the town dump. We were being told of the apostolic efforts of some Jesuits working in El Paso, Texas. It seems that across the border from El Paso lies Juarez. Juarez is much better known to Americans for its cheap goods, its gambling and the other amenities provided by Mexican border towns. Less well known is the town dump, which dozens of people call home. There they build their shanties, raise their families and compete with the rats for the food that is provided daily by the garbage pails of the nearby city.
One of the Jesuits working with a group of cursillistas had gotten the brilliant idea of expressing something of the joy and peace of Christ’s birthday by sharing Christmas dinner with the unfortunate people, the refuse of the society, living – existing would be a better word – across the border. It was considered to be a good idea, so two dozen or so people with their families prepared food and gifts and set off for the dump on Christmas afternoon. They were not prepared for what they saw. Instead of the dozens which they expected to find, there were hundreds. They were completely outnumbered by the wretched poor whose only hope of survival was vying with others to glean the leftovers and discarded items of the city.
The film captured that so graphically: a small group laden with food advancing amid the garbage and the rubble being met by an army of the hungry for whom the available food would hardly be enough for appetizers. But they continued on and bravely told the people of their love and concern, and offered apologies that they had not brought sufficient food so that they might all enjoy a good Christmas dinner together. However, they could at least share as much as would go around. So with songs, hymns, and good will the dinner was begun. They took the food, blessed it, and distributed it to the people. Did they eat! The film showed smiling faces and full plates. The film also showed, inexplicably, that horde of humanity completely satisfied – and plenty of food left over. Once again the disciples gathered what was left over after all had had their fill. Once again, the Lord wondrously fed the multitudes.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
Do we allow ourselves to be enthralled by the mystery of the Son “born for us” – God’s awesome self-gift to us?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
(cf. Alternative Opening Prayer, Mass at Midnight)
Lord our God,
with the birth of your Son,
your glory breaks on the world.
Through the night hours of the darkened earth
we, your people, watch for the coming of your promised Son.
As we wait,
give us a foretaste of the joy that you will grant us
when the fullness of his glory has filled the earth,
who lives and reigns with you forever and ever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the CONTEMPLATIO
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the day. Please memorize it.
“She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Lk 2:7)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
By your charity and goodness to people who are experiencing a bleak Christmas, translate the mystery of Christmas into a lived reality and into acts of self-giving.
***
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US