A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday and Weekday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 13, n. 2)
2nd Sunday of Advent – Advent Weekday 2: Dec. 7-13, 2014***
(N.B. The pastoral tool BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY includes a prayerful study of the Sunday liturgy of Year B from three perspectives. For reflections on the Sunday liturgy based on the Gospel reading, please scroll up to the “ARCHIVES” above and open Series 1. For reflections based on the Old Testament reading, open Series 4. For reflections based on the Second Reading, open Series 7. Please go to Series 10 - Series 13 for the back issues of the Weekday Lectio. For the Lectio Divina on the liturgy of the past week: November 30-December 6, 2014, please go to ARCHIVES Series 13 and click on “1st Sunday of Advent – Advent Weekday 1”.
Below is a LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY - WEEKDAY LITURGY: December 7-13, 2014.)
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December 7, 2014: SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
“JESUS SAVIOR: Like John the Baptist, We Prepare for His Coming”
BIBLE READINGS
Is 40:1-5, 9-11 // II Pt 3:8-14 // Mk 1:1-8
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
In November 2002, the second grade students from St. Anthony of Padua Parish School visited our convent in Fresno and entertained the Sisters with a special All Saints presentation. Thirty-five youngsters dressed as saints presented a brief biography of the various personages they represented. After the delightful program, we served the miniature "saints" some hot chocolate and cookies. I greeted a young "St. John the Baptist" dressed in a violet tunic and light colored headgear and enthused: "John the Baptist, congratulations! You're very important! You tell people about Christ. You prepare the way of the Lord." The little “John the Baptist” nodded with delight, his eyes sparkling.
In today’s Gospel reading (Mk 1:1-8), the figure of John the Baptist carries out a very important ministry, the ministry of a precursor. As a voice crying out in the wilderness, he heralds the coming of the mighty one who is to come. His task is to focus the yearning of the people on the coming Messiah. John the Baptist, in the Gospel of Mark, is depicted as "clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist." His clothing is reminiscent of the prophet Elijah (cf. II Kgs 1:8). In this way, the evangelist Mark is presenting him as the new Elijah, the precursor who would pave the way for the coming of the Messiah.
John the Baptist is a very important figure that accompanies the Church's preparation for the coming of Christ. As we continue on our spiritual journey in the Advent season, the prophetic exhortation of the one who cries out in the wilderness resounds anew in the depths of our heart: "Prepare the way of the Lord."
Indeed, "Prepare the way of the Lord" is the living Word of God addressed to us today through the precursor John's prophetic cry. What does it mean for us? According to A. Tessarolo: "The message of God's Word coming to us today is twofold: to convert ourselves first to the Lord who comes and then, to dedicate ourselves to the missionary task of witnessing. In the first place, the committed task of preparing the Lord's way within us: in our hearts, in our lives. Before thinking of converting others, we should first be converted to the Lord, seek him in our prayer, serve him in our brothers and sisters, and follow him in the eventful scandal of the cross." The Advent programmatic cry "Prepare the way of the Lord" is therefore a call to personal conversion as well as a vocation to proclaim the message of consolation.
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Today’s Old Testament reading (Is 40:1-5, 9-11) is a beautiful message of hope and consolation. It is taken from a section of the book of Isaiah (chapters 40-55), called the Second Isaiah or Deutero-Isaiah. Also known as the Book of Consolation, it was written by an unknown author approximately 150 years after the first 39 chapters, which carry the message of the historical prophet Isaiah himself. The Book of Consolation was composed when the Exile in Babylon is about to end and the people of Israel would be allowed by King Darius of Persia to return to their beloved Jerusalem. To capture the joy and excitement of the moment, the Second Isaiah writer tries to rekindle the messianic vision and to relive the ecstatic experience of the first Exodus.
The Second Isaiah writer speaks of “Jerusalem, herald of glad tidings” (Is 40:9). Jerusalem here does not refer to a place, which at the time is actually in shambles, but to the chosen people in Exile. Having been purified in the crucible of suffering as a captive nation in Babylon, the “Jerusalem, herald of glad tidings” refers to the people of Israel, who are enjoined to prepare the way of the Lord and tread it with converted and renewed hearts. The author of the Book of Consolation has introduced us to one of the richest expressions of the Bible: “the way of the Lord” (Is 40:3). The “way” is a manner of life for the people of Israel.
The prophetic ministry of John the Baptist is to announce “the way of the Lord”. Jesus declares himself to be “the Way”, and Christian disciples are therefore those who follow “the Way”. “To prepare the way of the Lord” entails total conversion and utmost receptivity to the redeeming presence of the compassionate God. It involves an intimate and loving relationship with him. It means to tread joyfully on the paths of justice, goodness and love.
In this Advent season, we are being called to prepare the way of the Lord and to make straight his paths. The following Advent reflection of Elma, our former PDDM novice in the Philippines, is insightful.
William Simpson has always been someone who likes to explore out of the way places, having lived and worked on three continents and traveled through four. He arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in late July 1998 to work as a marketing consultant for that country’s Industrial Development Fund. With a PhD in biochemistry, an MBA and experience in the pharmaceutical industry, he has been contracted to assess the potential viability of pharmaceutical and other chemical manufacturers in the Saudi kingdom.
For Westerners, life in Saudi Arabia can be extremely comfortable. The majority lives in large, walled compounds with air-conditioned housing, sports facilities and pools. He could have afforded to live in one of the housing compounds, but he chose to rent a house in northern Riyadh.
As it turned out, it was just a few kilometers from the prison where, two years later, he would be interrogated and tortured. He was accused of setting off three car bombs. He has been given clemency, but was not pardoned. He is still considered a convicted murderer. What he now sees as achievement has been markedly changed. He looks at the desperate manner in which people try to climb on top of one another and realize what a waste it is. He has no wish to move back to that way of life.
John’s urgent warning: prepare for the Lord’s coming at Christmas, but prepare also for his return on the last day. “Let not our preoccupation with the present task hinder us from going to meet your Son, but give us an understanding heart that will prepare us to welcome him and enter into his life” (Opening Prayer). Preparing for the Lord’s coming is preparing a new world, new earth. Conversion is a turning to God, leaving everything else and advancing toward God.
According to his promise, we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (Second Reading). Each of us, however, must do his part and make continual progress in true understanding and in that clarity of mind that enables us “to approve what is excellent”. At a time when the world is being renewed, and one civilization is coming to an end and another, it seems, is beginning, we are well aware that it is no simple matter to discern what is really important as we live our lives. And yet it is absolutely necessary that we advance upright and without stumbling toward the Day of Christ.
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In the Second Reading (II Pet 3:8-14), the apostle directs the attention of the pilgrim Advent people to “new heavens and a new earth”. Our destiny is the “new creation” where righteousness resides, but not for those who have set themselves in this world’s corruption. They have erroneously conceived that this passing world is all and everything. Hence, they expect nothing further from God and do not put their trust in him.
Aelred Rosser comments: “The author of this letter is energetically appealing to logic. Peter is asking, ‘Since the world as we know it is going to come to an end, and since we do not know when this will happen’, is it not obvious that we should live in readiness and with devout attention? (…) The second coming is the final phase of the one great divine intervention, which is Jesus Christ. Are you growing impatient for the new heaven and the new earth? The writer tells us we can hasten the coming of this glorious event by leading holy lives. The Jews have a saying that if Israel lived God’s law perfectly for just one day, the kingdom would be restored … We Christians can hasten the second coming of Christ by leading holy lives … Or impatience with ourselves can be a very healthy motivation toward holiness. We become weary and intolerant of weakness and sin only when we forget that in eternity, the will of God to save the world has already been fulfilled and has always been fulfilled.”
The following article, “Five Important Lessons in Life”, circulated through the Internet, gives an idea on how to promote and hasten the advent of the kingdom of God.
First Important Lesson: “Cleaning Lady”
During my second month of college, our
professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed
through the questions until I read the last one: "What is the first name of
the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had
seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her
50's, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last
question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last
question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely", said the
professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are
significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is
smile and say "hello." I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her
name was Dorothy.
Second Important Lesson: “Pickup in the Rain”
One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away... God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Nat King Cole
Third Important Lesson: “Always Remember Those Who Serve”
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.
Fourth Important Lesson: “The Obstacle in Our Path”
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the King's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand! Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.
Fifth Important Lesson: “Giving When It Counts”
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away". Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood to save her.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
1. How does the prophecy of Isaiah impact us? How do we respond to words of hope spoken on our behalf?
2. How do we respond to John the Baptist’s cry: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight his paths”?
3. How do we prepare ourselves for “new heavens and the new earth” and how do we hasten the definitive advent of the kingdom of God?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Loving Father,
we thank you for the refreshing season of Advent
with its promise of fresh beginnings and newness.
We gratefully welcome your message of hope and consolation,
of peace and reconciliation.
We thank you too for heralds of good news
and all the prophets who prepare the way
for the coming of your Son Jesus Christ, our Savior.
We yearn for salvation
and dream visions of “new heavens and a new earth”.
These are fulfilled in Christ Jesus
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Help us to live holy lives
that we may hasten the advent of your glorious kingdom,
especially in troubled hearts,
in today’s fragmented world and unjust society,
and in convulsed creation that needs integration.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever.
Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“Prepare the way of the Lord!” (Is 40:3; Mk 1:3) // “We await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (II Pt 3:13)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
Spend some quiet moments contemplating the miracle of “newness” and thanking God for the gift of “new beginnings” in your personal life. By your acts of justice, charity and compassion to the poor and needy, let the people around you experience our promised destiny of “new heavens and a new earth”. That we may work more efficaciously for the advent of the heavenly kingdom make an effort to spend some quiet time in Eucharistic Adoration.
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December 8, 2014: MONDAY – THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BVM
“JESUS SAVIOR: His Mother Mary Was Conceived without Sin”
BIBLE READINGS
Gn 3:9-15, 20 // Eph 1:3-6, 11-12 // Lk 1:26-38
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
Mary accompanies us with her maternal and sanctifying presence in this season of grace and messianic waiting. But our Advent with Mary is marked with a “sign” – her Immaculate Conception, the sign that the coming Messiah, fruit of her virginal womb, is conqueror of evil. Mary most holy was kept sinless from the first moment of her conception, sharing beforehand in the salvation her Son Christ would bring by his death and resurrection. Indeed, Mary’s Immaculate Conception is a “sign” that in Christ, God’s love prevails and that in him, we are saved and redeemed from the power of sin.
Our Founder, Blessed James Alberione, remarks: “The dogma of Mary’s Immaculate Conception was defined on December 8, 1854 by Pope Pius IX, surrounded by hundreds of bishops and an impressive crowd of believers. Mary is the first and marvelous fruit of redemption. (…) Why these privileges? Why the supreme and most abounding grace of her Immaculate Conception? All these are due to the foreseen merits of her Son, the future Messiah. Mary is the first and marvelous fruit of Christ’s redemption. His passion and death bore beforehand its most abundant fruit in Mary who would accompany him in his death and resurrection … God’s gift of Mary’s Immaculate Conception is marvelous and unique. The Church defined this exceptional privilege as a dogma of faith to proclaim to the world the marvels God wrought in Mary when her soul came forth from the Father’s creative hands.”
On this blessed day, we celebrate the first moment of Mary’s existence – her conception in the womb of her mother, St. Anne, as a wonderful springtime of grace. As we celebrate the marvelous work God has wrought in her life, we inevitably remember her important role in salvation history as giving life to the true life-giver. Conceived sinless in her mother’s womb, Mary’s “YES” to the loving plan of God for her cooperation in sending the Messiah to free the world from its sins is a cause for rejoicing. Mary’s openness to grace overcame the hopeless struggle of Genesis. Her assent to be the Mother of God made it possible for the riches of God’s grace to flow upon us abundantly.
The following beautiful story circulated on the Internet illustrates how Mary continues to be active in salvation history.
A little six-year-old Protestant boy had often heard his Catholic companions reciting the prayer “Hail Mary”. He liked it so much that he copied it, memorized it, and would recite it every day. “Look, Mommy, what a beautiful prayer”, he said to his mother one day. “Never again say it”, answered the mother. “It is a superstitious prayer of Catholics who adore idols and think Mary is a goddess. After all, she is a woman like any other. Come on, take this Bible and read it. It contains everything that we are bound to do and have to do.”
From that day on the little boy discontinued his daily “Hail Mary” and gave himself more time to reading the Bible instead. One day, while reading the Gospel, he came across the passage about the annunciation of the Angel to Our Lady. Full of joy, the little boy ran to his mother and said: “Mommy, I have found the ‘Hail Mary’ in the Bible which says: ‘Hail full of grace; the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women.’ Why do you call it a superstitious prayer?” On another occasion he found that beautiful salutation of St. Elizabeth to the Virgin Mary and the wonderful canticle Magnificat in which Mary foretold that “the generations would call her blessed”.
He said no more about it to his mother but started to recite the “Hail Mary” every day as before. He felt pleasure in addressing these charming words to the Mother of Jesus, our Savior.
One day, when he was fourteen, he heard a discussion on Our Lady among the members of his family. Every one said that Mary was a common woman like any other woman. The boy, after listening to their erroneous reasoning could not bear it any longer and, full of indignation, he interrupted them saying: “Mary is not like any other children of Adam, stained with sin. No! The angel called her FULL OF GRACE AND BLESSED AMONG WOMEN. Mary is the Mother of Jesus Christ and consequently Mother of God. There is no higher dignity to which a creature can be raised. The Gospel says that the generations will proclaim her blessed and you are trying to despise her and look down on her. Your spirit is not the spirit of the Gospel or of the Bible which you proclaim to be the foundation of the Christian religion.”
So deep was the impression which the boy’s talk had made that his mother many a time cried out sorrowfully: “Oh, my God! I fear that this son of mine will one day join the Catholic religion, the religion of the Popes!” And indeed, not very long afterwards, having made a serious study of both Protestantism and Catholicism, the boy found the latter to be the only true religion and embraced it and became one of its most ardent apostles.
Sometime after his conversion, he met his married sister who rebuked him and said indignantly: “You little know how much I love my children. Should any one of them desire to become a Catholic, I would sooner pierce his heart with a dagger than allow him to embrace the religion of the Popes!” Her anger and temper were as furious as those of St. Paul before his conversion. However, she would change her ways, just as St. Paul did on his way to Damascus. It so happened that one of her sons fell dangerously ill and the doctors gave up hope of recovery. Her brother then approached her and spoke to her affectionately, saying: “My dear sister, you naturally wish to have your child cured. Very well, then, do what I ask you to do. Follow me; let us pray one ‘Hail Mary’ and promise God that if your son recovers his health, you would seriously study the Catholic doctrine, and should you come to the conclusion that Catholicism is the only true religion, you would embrace it no matter what the sacrifices may be.”
His sister was somewhat reluctant at the beginning, but as she wished for her son’s recovery, she accepted her brother’s proposal and recited the “Hail Mary” together with him. The next day her son was completely cured. The mother fulfilled her promise and she studied the Catholic doctrine. After long preparation she received Baptism together with her whole family, thanking the brother for being an apostle to her.
This story was related during a sermon by the Rev. Fr. Tuckwell. “Brethren”, he went on and said, “The boy who became a Catholic and converted his sister to Catholicism dedicated his whole life to the service of God. He is the priest who is speaking to you now! What I am I owe to Our Lady. You, too, my dear brethren, be entirely dedicated also to Our Lady and never let a day pass without saying the beautiful prayer, ‘Hail Mary’ and your Rosary. Ask her to enlighten the minds of Protestants who are separated from the true Church of Christ founded on the Rock (Peter) and ‘against whom the gates of hell shall not prevail’.”
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
Do we believe that Mary’s Immaculate Conception is a sign that in Christ, God’s love prevails and that in him, we are saved and redeemed from the powers of sin? How do we express this belief in our personal life?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Father most holy,
you have given us the Blessed Virgin Mary
as a radiant “sign” in our pilgrimage of faith
as Church on earth.
Through her loving intercession,
strengthen our faith and inspire our hope
so that nothing can ever sway us
from the path that leads to eternal life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
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.
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers.” (Gen 3:15)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Support the movement to protect and promote every person’s right to life and especially the right to life of the unborn. In your acts of charity and in the challenges of daily living, manifest the life-giving “Yes” of Mary.
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December 9, 2014: TUESDAY – ADVENT WEEKDAY (2); ST. JUAN DIEGO CUAUHTLATOATZIN
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Comes to Show the Way”
BIBLE READINGS
Is 40:1-11 // Mt 18:12-14
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
Today’s Old Testament reading (Is 40:1-11) is a beautiful prophetic message of hope and consolation. It introduces us to one of the richest expressions of the Bible: “the way of the Lord”. The “way” is a manner of life for the people of Israel. The prophetic ministry of John the Baptist is to announce “the way of the Lord”. Jesus declares himself to be “the Way”, and Christian disciples are therefore those who follow “the Way”. “To prepare the way of the Lord” entails total conversion and utmost receptivity to the redeeming presence of the compassionate God. It involves an intimate and loving relationship with him that would lead us to act with justice, goodness and love. Indeed, anyone who is willing to respond totally and devotedly to the prophetic cry, “Prepare the way of the Lord”, will experience a display of divine glory and feel the advent of the consoling God, who is both a powerful ruler and a gentle shepherd, gathering the lambs and holding them closely to himself.
Today’s Gospel reading (Mt 18:12-14) underlines God’s compassionate stance to the “little ones” who go astray and “lose the way”. Through his Son Jesus Christ, the loving God is totally committed to the rescue of his people. Like a shepherd who searches out those sheep that stray, God wants that none of the “little ones” would be eternally damned or perennially perish. Today the responsibility of seeking the lost devolves on Christian disciples, the followers of “the Way”.
The following inspiring story narrated by Donald Driver, fourteen NFL seasons and a winner of “Dancing with the Stars”, illustrates the concern of one who cares for the “lost sheep” (cf. “Meeting Miss Johnson” in GUIDEPOSTS, November 2013, p. 52-55).
It was a shiny little Cadillac with leather seats. The kind the guys at the chop shop paid 500 bucks for. The streets of Houston’s Fifth Ward were empty. I wrapped my fist in a T-shirt and punched through the back window. In a flash I was in. I pulled out my screwdriver, jimmied the steering wheel and popped the ignition, just like my older brother had taught me. The engine roared to life. Then I heard sirens. I pushed the pedal to the floor. Red and blue lights flashed in my rear-view mirror. I’ve got to get off this road, I thought, or I’m going to juvie for sure. I was 12 years old. (…)
Trouble really started when we moved to a man named J.R. Mom trusted him to watch us while she was at work, and he did. What Mom didn’t know was that J.R. and his buddies were dealing drugs. My older brother Moses and I served as look-outs. We knew it was wrong, but the money was too good - $100 a night. We broke it into smaller bills, and regularly slipped some into Mom’s purse. “Shoot, well, I guess I do have money for the light bill”, Mom would say, finding an extra twenty in her wallet. The way I saw it, we were helping the family.
Then Moses discovered he could bring in even more cash by stealing cars. I was just tall enough to reach the pedals. Before long, I got good at playing two different characters. Quickie the son who went to school and get good grades, and then Quickie the kid who dealt drugs and stole cars. I practiced giving the same smile, hug and kiss for my mom when I came home, no matter what I’d done on the streets. She never suspected a thing.
Now, though, I was about to get caught. The sirens got closer. I turned into a back alley, my best chance to lose the cops. I was almost free. Suddenly, up ahead, a car backed out of a driveway. I slammed on the brakes. Too late. The Caddy T-boned the other car. Through the shattered windshield, I saw a little old lady sitting stunned in the driver’s seat. I jumped out. Thoughts flashed through my brain. Gotta get away! I had a head start on the cops, but … What if she’s hurt? You can’t just run away. I stopped. I turned back to see if the old lady was okay. I hadn’t forgotten everything I learned in Sunday school.
The woman looked angry, but unhurt. “Go sit on my porch right now”, she said. It was the tone of voice no kid could disobey. I walked over to her ranch-style house and sat in her porch swing. The cops arrived and began to question the old woman. She’s going to turn me in! I thought. “The man who did this ran that way”, she said, pointing down the alley. “Who is that on your swing?” one of the officers asked. “Oh, that’s my grandson”, she said. The cops gave me a wary look, but got back to their patrol car and drove off. The woman marched toward me, “You!” she shouted. “Come inside!”
She led me into the kitchen. “Sit”, she said. I sat, dazed. Why hadn’t she turned me in? She pushed some cookies in front of me. I took a bite but my stomach was doing flip-flops. She sat down and looked me square in the eye. “Why did you do this, young man?” she finally asked. “You could be doing so much more with your life. This is not the way God wants you to be living.” “This is how we survive in this neighborhood”, I said.
“It’s not how you get out of it”, she said, and pushed the cookies closer. “My name’s Evelyn Johnson.” She lived alone, she told me. She’d never married, never had kids. But she gave me the talking of my life, like I was her own kin. I didn’t listen to her every word – I kept eyeing that door, wanting to run. But I stayed. She could always call the cops, after all. “You’ve been given an opportunity”, she said. “Don’t waste it. There aren’t any second chances in this neighborhood and don’t kid yourself.”
I went back to Miss Johnson’s a few days later, trying to make amends for damaging her car. I picked up groceries, helped around the house. I went again the next week, and I kept going back. “How are your grades?” she’d ask. “Did you win the game?” Why does she want to know? I wondered. But I liked that she cared. Sure, my mom cared, a lot, but she worked so much. Miss Johnson always had the time.
At 14, I went to live with my grandparents. I spent more time studying. Miss Johnson had told me good grades were the key to a better life. Football, basketball, baseball and track kept me busy too. I want to change, I prayed. I want to make Miss Johnson and my family proud. One night, I said to Moses, “I’m going to go to college, like Grandpa always tells us. I’m going to make something of myself.” (…)
I’m convinced God put Miss Johnson in my path for a reason. I turned down the alley to evade responsibility. Little did I know I’d find a way to a better life than I could ever have imagined.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
How does the prophecy of Isaiah impact us? How do we respond to words of hope spoken on our behalf? Do we allow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to lead us on the way that leads to life?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Loving Father,
may nothing hinder us from receiving Christ with joy
for he is our true and living Way.
Open our hearts
that we may prepare a welcoming path for him.
May we allow ourselves to be led by him
in the ways of eternal life
for he is the Good Shepherd who feeds his flock
and tenderly gathers the lambs and carries them in his bosom.
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.
“It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.” (Mt 18:14)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray that in this Advent season we may truly open ourselves to the compassionate Good Shepherd who comes to save us. Endeavor to prepare “the way of the Lord” by carrying out concrete works of charity for the needy in your community. Fasting in this season of Advent in view of helping the poor is highly recommended.
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December 10, 2014: WEDNESDAY – ADVENT WEEKDAY (2)
“JESUS SAVIOR: His Advent Renews Our Strength”
BIBLE READINGS
Is 40:25-31 // Mt 11:28-30
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
Today’s Old Testament reading (Is 40:25-31) contains the poignant reproach that God addresses to the Israelites exiled in Babylon. The exiles doubt God’s love for them. Feeling abandoned, they complain that the Lord does not know their troubles and does not care if they suffer injustice. The prophet Isaiah responds to their despair by assuring them that the all-powerful God truly cares for them. The everlasting God, who never grows tired or weary, strengthens those who are weak and tired. Those who trust in the Lord for help find their strength renewed. Indeed, the Creator God is the source of renewed power for those who are attentive to the divine will.
In today’s Gospel reading (Mt 11:28-30), Jesus addresses a poignant invitation to the weary and heavily burdened: “Come to me, all of you …” He assures them that they would find rest if only they submit themselves to the gentle yoke of God’s saving will. Indeed, those who welcome the “meek and humble” Jesus experience the immense peace and serenity of the Kingdom of heaven. Those who imitate his heart that is totally given to God find comfort and salvation. The Advent of the saving Lord Jesus renews our strength. As we keep our hope and faith in him, we soar as with eagles’ wings.
The devastation brought by the super-typhoon Haiyan to the Filipino people in 2013 is tragic, but it also underlines that “faith in the almighty God gives strength to the fainting” (cf. Michelle Martin, “Faith Sustains Filipinos after Typhoon Haiyan” in Our Sunday Visitor, December 1, 2013, p. 5).
Even before Typhoon Haiyan made its first landfall in the Philippines on Nov. 8, the prayers started going up to heaven. Prayers came from the Philippines, of course, but also from Filipinos in the United States and around the world. (…)
Indeed, Haiyan – known locally as Yolanda – broke all kinds of storm records. When it surged through the Philippines, it was 370 miles wide with sustained winds of 195 mph and gusts of 235 mph. It brought 27 inches of rain and a storm surge of 17 feet at Tacloban, the biggest city in the hard-hit central Philippines. The death toll was still fluctuating as reports from outlying areas came in, but on Nov. 14, the United Nations was reporting 4,200 dead and more than 3 million displaced. (…)
Meanwhile, people in the Philippines were gathering to pray for the dead and to give thanks to God for their survival. It is what they have done over the centuries after all kinds of disasters. While Typhoon Haiyan might be unprecedented in its scope, it is one of the many disasters the archipelago nation has endured. “In times of crisis like this, after a typhoon or an earthquake, people say, “Thank God we survived”, said Stephanie Savillo of Chicago. “They don’t blame God for the misfortune. They don’t blame God for the typhoon.”
Father Leoncio Santiago, a priest originally from the Philippines who is now a chaplain at Hines VA Hospital in Illinois, said that hope is a defining characteristic of Filipino faith. “When push comes to shove, it is our faith that sustains us”, he said. “Otherwise, we would be hopeless in the face of destruction. The Filipinos have always been very resilient.”
For example, Father Santiago’s home island of Bohol suffered severe damage from an earthquake in October, damage from which it will take years to recover. The church in his hometown, built by Spaniards in the 18th century, was flattened. The only thing left standing was the statue of Mary. “The focus of the people was not the destroyed church, but the surviving statue”, Father Santiago said. “You look up to your faith to give you hope. We will not be able to carry on if we don’t have hope.”
The Philippines are a primarily Catholic country, with thousands of people attending weekday as well as Sunday Masses and crowded prayer services and novena services, according to Filipinos living in the United States. They address the Blessed Virgin as “Mama Mary”, Savillo said, and understand that she will take care of them because she is their mother. “When I went there, I went to church on a Wednesday, and I was like, ‘What is going on?’” she said. “Is there some big festival I don’t know about?” It was a regular novena service for Santo Nino, the Holy Child, a very popular devotion in the island nation.
In the week after the typhoon, Savillo had been in contact with her niece, who lives two islands north of the primary area of destruction. Before the typhoon hit, she said, her niece and her niece’s neighbors were all praying that God would spare them. After the storm passed, “she sent an email again, saying God is good.”
Now Filipinos from the areas that were not affected are trying to take boats and get to friends and loved one whose homes were destroyed. Organized relief efforts took time to get off the ground because, in the affected areas, roads, airports, communications services and other infrastructure was also in ruins.
Teresita Nuval, the director of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office for Asian Catholics, shared an email from a Chicago-area woman whose family lives in Guiuan, the first area of the Philippines hit by the storm. The woman wrote of watching footage on the Internet.
“I could hear screams and cries for help as I watched the videos. The hardest part was getting word if my family survived the ordeal. I was not sure if any of our people and my family could have survived in the lashings of Yolanda”, she wrote. “I did not fall sleep from Thursday through Monday trying to get a word that all of them are safe. Unfortunately, just as Haiyan made its landfall, Guiuan was isolated and unreachable … All Sunday and Monday, I was crying because they haven’t located my immediate family. It was dreadful not knowing what had happened to them … I resigned my family’s fate to God’s intervention at the end of Day 4. Monday … Prayers are more powerful than any typhoons! As soon as I woke up on Tuesday, the message that I have been waiting for in the last four most difficult days of my life was inbox. My mom, my sister-in-law and her daughter, and my sister and her family had been found ALIVE.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
Do we despair and curse God in moments of intense suffering and severe trials, or do we trust in his loving care? How do we respond to Christ’s invitation to rest in him? Do we allow his advent in our life to give peace to our troubled hearts?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Lord Jesus,
we are troubled – loss of a job, financial strain,
sickness, death of loved ones, global insecurity, etc.
We experience the devastation of wars and natural calamities.
Help us to trust in the almighty Father
and strengthen our hope.
Teach us to make you the center of our life.
We entrust to you all our cares.
Grant us the peace that the world can never give.
Maranatha! Come, O Christ the Lord!
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.
“They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” (Is 40:31)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Pray for those who are heavily burdened that they may have the inner strength and consolation they need. Please do not forget the victims of the Typhoon Haiyan as they continue on the long road to recovery. Do what you can to alleviate the pain and sufferings of the people around you by your charitable deeds and by sharing with them the bread of the Word.
***
December 11, 2014: THURSDAY – ADVENT WEEKDAY (2); SAINT DAMASUS I, pope
“JESUS SAVIOR: He Is the Lord God’s Redeeming Hand”
BIBLE READINGS
Is 41:13-20 // Mt 11:11-15
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
Today’s Isaiah text (41:13-20) presents the Lord God as grasping his people Israel with his “right hand”. Israel is the Lord God’s chosen Servant no matter how despised the people were. In their Exile in Babylon, they were considered as despicable as a worm or maggot, but the Lord God assures them: “Fear not, I will help you.” The Lord God is their Redeemer who binds himself to them with a bond of tenderness and obligation. The Lord God’s plan of salvation for the afflicted and the needy is expressed in images of exquisite beauty: the barren desert gushing with water, the growth of cedar, acacia, olive, and pine trees in the wasteland. God’s intervention on behalf of the exiles is a “new creation” that all may see and know … that all may observe and understand. Against this backdrop, we see the figure of John the Baptist as an instrument of salvation, and Jesus Christ as the personification of God’s redeeming hand for us all.
The following story, “Daddy’s Hand”, circulated on the Internet, gives insight into the saving character of “the hand of the Lord”.
When I was six years old we lived in Oklahoma City in a neighborhood where we always kept the doors locked and bolted at night. To get out the backdoor, Daddy had a special key that opened the dead bolt from the inside.
One night I was awakened suddenly by the sound of thunder, lightning and a torrential downpour. I rushed down the hall toward my parents’ room, but was stopped by billowing smoke and flames coming from the living room. Our house had been struck by lightning. I had to get out, but how? I couldn’t reach the front door because of the flames, and the backdoor was locked.
On the verge of panic, I was relieved when in the darkness I felt Daddy’s warm hand leading me down the hall and out of the backdoor to our backyard. As I stood in the pouring rain, his hand let me go of mine and he was gone. Frightened, I turned back to the house. There was Mom calling my name, “Macy! Macy!” “Out here”, I said. She ran out to me, and together we went around to the front, where we found Daddy with Kent, the baby, and my three-year-old sister, Amy.
“You’re safe, Macy”, he said, sighing with relief. Daddy told me that he had tried to get to me, but couldn’t cross the flames. He had not guided me down the hall. He had not unlocked the dead bolt on the backdoor.
That was twelve years ago, and all these years I’ve never forgotten the warmth of the Hand that led me then, and leads me now, through the dark.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
Do I trust in the help of our redeeming God and welcome his exhortation: “Fear not, I will help you”? Do I allow myself to be led by “the hand of the Lord”?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Loving Father,
you bind yourself to us with a bond of tenderness.
You assure us: “Fear not, I will help you.”
We entrust ourselves to you.
Lead us by your right hand
and let your saving hand bring forth
the miracle of a barren desert gushing with water
and filled with flourishing trees.
We thank and praise you for Jesus,
the personification of your redeeming hand.
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.
“I am the Lord, your God, who grasp your right hand.” (Is 41:13)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
Study the Catechism of the Catholic Church and enable the people around you to appreciate the meaning of our Catholic faith. Be instruments of “the hand of the Lord” in leading people to the light of truth.
***
December 12, 2014: FRIDAY – OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE (USA)
“JESUS SAVIOR: The Woman Clothed with the Sun Foretells His Final Advent”
BIBLE READINGS
Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-61, 10ab // Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
Today’s First Reading from the Book of Revelation (11:19a; 12:1-61, 10ab) depicts a “great sign in the sky” – a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. The image of a woman in childbirth is used to describe creative acts that involve time and sacrifice in order to be brought to full maturity. The heavenly vision of the woman in labor in the Book of Revelation evokes the painful and challenging process of the birth of Christ in the hearts of the faithful, as well as Mary’s vital role in the birthing of the Church. Moreover, the vision of “the woman clothed with the sun” foretells the final and victorious conflict and the glorious Advent of Jesus Savior at the end time.
The authors of the Days of the Lord, vol. 7, remark: “Because of her role in relationship to her Son, the faithful, and the community, Mary is the image of the Church that is still giving faithful birth to believers, and which is already in glory in heaven with God … The joy of the Virgin of Bethlehem is inseparable from the pain of the mother who watched her Son die on the cross at Calvary. She followed a path that led to the paschal climax quite similar to that of her Son.”
Today in the countries of the Americas, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe which recalls the apparitions of Mary at the hill of Tepeyac from December 9-12, 1531, to Juan Diego, a native convert. The image of an expectant mother, “clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” was miraculously impressed in the cloak of Juan Diego. The following account is from a report by Don Antonio Valeriano, a Native American author of the 16th Century.
At daybreak one Saturday morning in 1531, on the very first days of the month of December, an Indian named Juan Diego was going from the village where he lived to Tlatelolco in order to take part in divine worship and listen to God’s commandments. When he came near the hill Tepeyac, dawn had already come, and Juan Diego heard someone calling him from the very top of the hill: “Juanito, Juan Dieguito”.
He went up the hill and caught sight of a lady of unearthly grandeur whose clothing was as radiant as the sun. She said to him in words both gentle and courteous: “Juanito, the humblest of my children, know and understand that I am the ever virgin Mary, Mother of the true God through whom all things live. It is my ardent desire that a church be erected here so that in it I can show and bestow my love, compassion, help, and protection to all who inhabit this land and to those others who love me, that they might call upon and confide in me. Go to the Bishop of Mexico to make known to him what I greatly desire. Go and put all your efforts into this.”
When Juan Diego arrived in the presence of the Bishop Fray Juan de Zumarraga, a Franciscan, the latter did not seem to believe Juan Diego and answered: “Come another time, and I will listen at leisure.”
Juan Diego returned to the hilltop where the Heavenly Lady was waiting and he said to her: “My Lady, my maiden, I presented your message to the Bishop, but it seemed that he did not think it was true. For this reason I beg you to entrust your message to someone more illustrious who might convey it in order that they might believe it, for I am only an insignificant man.”
She answered: “Humblest of my sons, I ask that tomorrow you again go to see the Bishop and tell him that I, the ever virgin holy Mary, Mother of God, am the one who personally sent you.”
But on the following day, Sunday, the Bishop again did not believe Juan Diego and told him that some sign was necessary so that he could believe that it was the Heavenly Lady herself who sent him. And then he dismissed Juan Diego.
On Monday Juan Diego did not return. His uncle, Juan Bernardino, became very ill, and at night asked Juan to go to Tlatelolco at daybreak to call a priest to hear his confession.
Juan Diego set out on Tuesday, but he went around the hill and passed on the other side, toward the east, so as to arrive quickly in Mexico City to avoid being detained by the Heavenly Lady. But she came out to meet him on that side of the hill and said to him: “Listen and understand, my humblest son. There is nothing to frighten and distress you. Do not let your heart be troubled, and let nothing upset you. Is it not I, your Mother, who is here? Are you not under my protection? Are you not, fortunately, in my care? Do not let you uncle’s illness distress you. It is certain that he has already been cured. Go up to the hilltop, my son, where you will find flowers of various kinds. Cut them, and bring them into my presence.”
When Juan Diego reached the peak, he was astonished that so many Castilian roses had burst forth at a time when the frost was severe. He carried the roses in the folds of his tilma (mantle) to the Heavenly Lady. She said to him: “My son, this is the proof and the sign which you will bring to the Bishop so that he will see my will in it. You are my ambassador, very worthy of trust.”
Juan Diego set out on his way, now content and sure of succeeding. On arriving in the Bishop’s presence, he told him: “My lord, I did what you asked. The Heavenly Lady complied with your request and fulfilled it. She sent me to the hilltop to cut some Castilian roses and told me to bring them to you in person. And this I am doing, so that you can see in them the sign you seek in order to carry out her will. Here they are; receive them.”
He immediately opened up his white mantle, and as all the different Castilian roses scattered to the ground, there was drawn on the cloak and suddenly appeared the precious image of the ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, in the same manner as it is today and is kept in her shrine of Tepeyac.
The whole city was stirred and came to see and admire her venerable image and to offer prayers to her; and following the command which the same Heavenly Lady gave to Juan Bernardino when she restored him to health, they called her by the name she herself had used: “the ever virgin holy Mary of Guadalupe”.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
How does the sign of “a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet and wearing a crown of twelve stars” affect you? What message can you glean from the image of a woman in labor to give birth to a child? What Marian image do you find most significant?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
(Pope John Paul II’s Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe)
O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of the true God and Mother of the Church!
You, who from this place revealed your clemency and your pity
to all those who ask for your protection:
hear the prayer that we address to you with filial trust,
and present it to your Son Jesus, our sole Redeemer.
Mother of Mercy, Teacher of hidden and silent sacrifice,
to you, who come to meet us sinners,
we dedicate on this day, all our being and all our love.
We also dedicate to you
our life, our work, our joys, our infirmities, and our sorrows.
Grant peace, justice and prosperity to our peoples;
for we entrust to your care all that we have and all that we are,
our Lady and Mother.
We wish to be entirely yours
and to walk with you along the way
of complete faithfulness to Jesus Christ in His Church:
hold us always with your loving hand.
Virgin of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas,
we pray to you for all the bishops,
that they may lead the faithful
along paths of intense Christian life,
of love and humble service of God and souls.
Contemplate this immense harvest,
and intercede with the Lord
that He may instill a hunger for holiness in the whole People of God,
and grant abundant vocations of priests and religious,
strong in faith and zealous dispensers of God’s mysteries.
Grant to our homes
the grace of loving and respecting life in its beginnings,
with the same love with which you conceived in your womb
the life of the Son of God.
Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Fair Love,
protect our families, so that they may always be united,
and bless the upbringing of our children.
Our hope, look upon us with compassion,
teach us to go continually to Jesus
and, if we fall, help us to rise again, to return to Him,
by means of the confession of our faults and sins
in the Sacrament of Penance, which gives peace to the soul.
We beg you to grant us a great love for all the holy Sacraments,
which are, as it were, the signs that your Son left on earth.
Thus, Most Holy Mother,
with the peace of God in our conscience,
with our hearts free from evil and hatred,
we will be able to bring to all true joy and true peace,
which comes to us from your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit,
lives and reigns 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.
“A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Rv 12:1)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
By our acts of charity and sacrifice for the poor and vulnerable, let us participate with Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, in the ongoing mystery of the “birthing of the Church”.
***
December 13, 2014: SATURDAY – SAINT LUCY, virgin, martyr
“JESUS SAVIOR: His Advent Is Prepared by John the Baptist, the New Elijah’”
BIBLE READINGS
Sir 48:1-4, 9-11 // Mt 17:9a, 10-13
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS: A Pastoral Tool for the LECTIO
Jesus identifies John the Baptist as the “Elijah” who must come first before the advent of the Messiah. Today’s Old Testament reading from the Book of Sirach (48:1-4, 9-11) helps us understand and appreciate better the figure of John the Baptist as the “Elijah” who prepares the way of the Lord. Elijah was an Old Testament fiery prophet, whose words blazed like a torch, calling abusive authorities in Israel to accountability. He spoke in the name of the Lord and manifested its power by keeping the rain from coming and bringing forth famine in the land. At the end of his ministry, Elijah was taken up to heaven in a fiery whirlwind, a chariot drawn by fiery horses. But at the designated time, he is destined to return to carry out a mission of conversion and reconciliation. To his disciples who posed the question, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus affirms that Elijah has come indeed in the person of John the Baptist.
The prophetic witnessing of Elijah and John the Baptist continues to live on in our world today as the following account shows (cf. Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, Testimony of Hope, Boston: Pauline Books and Media, 2000, p. 114-115).
“I saw my father go up to Heaven.” A small book by this title won the UNESCO prize. In it the author, a Russian who lives in Paris, describes the life of his father with moving words. His father was an Orthodox priest, a pious and passionate pastor who made countless sacrifices in the midst of persecution. One day during the war he was arrested because he was wearing a pair of shoes that one of his sons, a soldier, had given him. He was condemned to death because the law forbade civilians to wear military shoes. This was of course merely a pretext to conceal the real motive for his condemnation: his religious activity.
The whole village was convened around the pastor in an open field. The captain declared the sentence, and the priest’s response was to kneel down and pray. All the people knelt with him and prayed aloud. “Fire”, commanded the captain. But the soldiers stood motionless. “Fire”, he cried again. No one fired. Finally, defeated, the captain could do nothing other than to allow the priest to return on horseback to his home with his people.
Some months later, while on a pastoral journey, this Orthodox priest “vanished”. No one ever heard any more about him, but everyone understood his fate. His people said that he had gone to heaven on his horse.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART: A Pastoral Tool for the MEDITATIO
Do we imitate the spirit of Elijah and John the Baptist in being totally at the service of God’s prophetic word and in preparing the people for the day of the Lord? Do we ask the Lord for the grace of prophetic witnessing?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD: A Pastoral Tool for the ORATIO
Father,
we thank you for the fiery zeal of Elijah and John the Baptist
in calling forth people to conversion.
Help us to imitate their courage in speaking your word.
Make us respond fully to our prophetic vocation
and be blessed with the Elijah experience
of being brought to heaven in a “chariot of fire”.
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.
“Like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah whose words were as a flaming furnace.” (Sir 48:1)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION: A Pastoral Tool for the ACTIO
By your words and actions, endeavor to make a courageous prophetic witnessing in today’s increasingly hostile and secularized world in the spirit of Elijah and John the Baptist.
***
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