Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent

(Isaiah 40:1-11; Matthew 18:12-14)

Today’s first reading is taken from the marvelous introduction to the second part of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.  It tells of mysterious voices speaking out at a heavenly council meeting.  Rather than considering these voices to be those of minor gods or of angels, they may be taken as responses of the Word of God to the Father.  The Word, whom we know to be Jesus Christ, will urge the people to reform so that the world may come to know God’s love and justice. 

The gospel shows a shepherd striving to bring back a stray sheep.  The shepherd, of course, is Jesus gathering his whole flock together, even those who have left it aside.  They will become a holy nation performing works of justice that bring others to know the goodness of the Lord.

We are Jesus’ flock.  This is a spiritual truth which we sometimes forget as we become absorbed in material considerations.  Now is the time to let God’s righteousness be known through our care of one another and of all creation.

Monday, December 9, 2024

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Genesis 3:9-15.20; Ephesians 1:3-6.11-12; Luke 1:26-38)

Today’s celebration extends beyond veneration of our Blessed Mother for her sinlessness.  It recapitulates the drama of redemption by telling of primordial human sin and the coming of humanity’s Savior.

As God predicted in naming “the tree of knowledge of good and evil,” Adam becomes aware of his sin when he eats its forbidden fruit.  Nudity aptly symbolizes sin because it universally provokes desires that often lead to lustful acts.  

Sin might have completely dominated human existence if God had not intervened.  He sent His Son to strike at the head of sin’s promotor, the serpent in the reading.  Mary not only gives birth to Jesus; she is also his first beneficiary.  At her conception, she received the grace of Christ’s salvation even before the salvific events take place. 

Mary’s sinlessness is demonstrated by her responses to the angel telling he of God’s plan.  She wisely questions how conception could take place without sinning since she is a virgin.  Assured that it will be the work of the Holy Spirit, she unhesitatingly submits to the divine initiative. 

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception conveniently falls during Advent.  It gives added material for contemplation.  God’s Son has come as one like us.  Although innocent of any sin, he willingly endured the worst of human suffering in our place.  His sacrifice enables us to resist evil and to merit salvation.

Sunday, December 8, 2024

Second Sunday of Advent

(Baruch 5:1-9; Philippians 1:4-6.8-11; Luke 3:1-6)

We have arrived at a new liturgical year. This means that we hear a different gospel at Sunday Mass. In 2024 we have read from the Gospel according to St. Mark on most Sundays. In 2025 we will read from the Gospel according to St. Luke. Today's gospel reading can serve as an introduction to Luke. It contains some of his outstanding characteristics.

The first verse of the reading synchronizes the story of John the Baptist with that of the world. This technique of Luke shows that John was not a mythical person like King Arthur of Great Britain but really lived. The narrative of Jesus' birth begins with similar words: “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus…” Luke assures us that following Jesus Christ is based on historical facts, not imaginary ideas.

Another characteristic of Luke indicated by the synchronization with world history is the reverence for Judaism. He mentions two high priests, Annas and Caiaphas. Luke will tell how Jesus enters the Temple three times and will call it “my Father’s house.” In the Acts of the Apostles, also written by Luke, the community of the apostles will participate in Temple prayers. For St. Luke, Israel does not completely reject Jesus but respects him, at least in part.

The reading continues, “…the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.” Luke greatly emphasizes the word of God as the seed of faith. Prophets like John and Jesus receive the word of God and pass it on to others so that people may know God’s will. Another characteristic of Luke is the great narrative of Jesus’ birth suggested here by mentioning that John is “son of Zechariah.”

Luke says that John goes throughout the region of the river Jordan “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Luke does not explain the content of his preaching in today's passage. We will hear it in next Sunday's gospel. It is his way of developing a story gradually so that it attracts the reader's attention. We see this trait in the parable of the Good Samaritan and the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus.

By referring to penitence and forgiveness Luke indicates repentance. More than the other evangelists Luke emphasizes this theme. For this reason, he will include the parables of the "Prodigal Son" and the "Tax Collector and the Pharisee" in his gospel. He will show the power of repentance with the story of the woman who washes Jesus' feet with her tears.

Perhaps we have noticed that Jesus does not appear in this gospel passage. However, he is here as the motivation for of the narrative. Jesus is the Lord whom John proclaims as coming with salvation. As such, he is the prophet that Israel has awaited since the time of Moses. In the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses, who to date was Israel's greatest prophet, says that God will raise up another prophet like him. This prophet will speak with God face to face. Who could Moses be talking about if not Jesus Christ? For Luke, Jesus Christ is the Son of God who comes like Moses to free the people from slavery. But he is greater than Moses as he is greater than Caesar Tiberius of the synchronization. Jesus does not free Israel from slavery to Pharaoh but the world from slavery to sin. He not only speaks face to face with God but, as the Son of God, shows the world the face of his Father. God will raise him from the dead so that we may follow him.

Friday, December 6, 2024

Friday of the First Week in Advent

(Isaiah 29:17-24; Matthew 9:27-31)

The daily readings for Advent are not picked arbitrarily.  The first reading, always from the Old Testament, speaks of the future.  It tells of what to expect on the “day of the Lord” when God acts definitively on behalf of His people.  Then the gospel shows Jesus fulfilling the prophecy, often in subtle but nevertheless palpable ways.

Today’s readings are no exception to this principle.  The prophet Isaiah tells of the deaf who will hear and the blind who will see.  He is not referring to the physically impaired as to the spiritually deaf who refuse to hear God’s word as mediated through the prophets.  He also refers to the spiritually blind who cannot see that the future is won by faith, not by political maneuvering.  Jesus cures the two blind men as a sign that their faith in him, and not pleasure or power, brings fulfillment in life and death. 

Faith in the synoptic gospels includes hope.  It is trust that the Lord will provide what we lack to achieve the goal we deep down desire.  Hope refuses to give up the struggle just because the odds of triumph are miniscule.  It knows that the Almighty God can and will make all things turn out well for those who trust in Him.

Thursday, December 5, 2024

 

Thursday of the First Week of Advent

 (Isaiah 26:1-6; Matthew 7:21.24-27)

The poor often come to parish offices looking for handouts.  Not untypically, they beg for cash to pay rent or purchase gasoline.  The requests are sometimes denied partly because of limited resources but also because staff members frequently are not sure whether the petitioners are telling the truth.  If the needy were members of the congregation, the staff would likely make every effort to secure assistance.  Today’s Scripture readings indicate why this is so.

The passage from Isaiah and the gospel today are related by the mention of the “Rock” which is the one God on whom the people can rely.  The reading from Isaiah is also connected to the basic gospel message proclaimed by Mary in her canticle praising God’s goodness.  As it says, God comes to upend the arrogant and to lift up of the lowly.  It also says that God provides a strong city with high walls to protect the humble.  The city here can refer to the Church, the community of faithful, who look out for one another.

We remember the poor, especially at this time of year.  Whether or not they are members of our parish, we help them meet their needs so that they too find joy in God’s coming.  But if they are people who kneel with us in prayer, we will naturally exert greater energy.  They would have a prior, although not an exclusive, claim on both our hearts and our bounty.