Dec 16 Monday: Matt: 21: 23-27: 23 And when
he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up
to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these
things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I also will
ask you a question; and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by
what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, whence was it? From
heaven or from men?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, `From
heaven,’ he will say to us, `Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we
say, `From men,’ we are afraid of the multitude; for all hold that John was a
prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither
will I tell you by what authority I do these things. USCCB
reflections: https://youtu.be/iYgXgiTyVHU?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAAsw34PxZGDqnI_bBKNWa9
The context: After casting out the
animal-merchants and moneychangers from the Temple immediately after the Palm
Sunday procession, Jesus started teaching in the Temple courts. Hence, the
chief priests and elders of the people approached Jesus, questioning his
authority in entering the city in a triumphal procession, allowing the children
to acclaim him, curing the sick, casting out merchants and money-changers and
teaching in the Temple area. It was a trap. If Jesus claimed that his authority
was Divine, as the Messiah, he would be charged with blasphemy. If he claimed
that his authority was human he would be arrested as a mad zealot damaging the
simple Faith of the people in the Temple and what it stood for. Since Jesus did
not want to risk his life and mission a few days ahead of time, he silenced
them by asking a challenging counter-question about John the Baptist and his
message – was this from God or man? Was this Divine or human? If they answered
Divine, the questioners would be asked to explain why they did not accept John’s
message and his witness-bearing that Jesus was the Messiah. If they answered
human, they would have to face the anger of the crowd who had accepted John as
a prophet. Hence, they kept silent opting for a shameful
self-humiliation. Life message: In religious matters we should
not ask the question whether our stand is safe, politically correct, or useful.
Instead, we need to stand for truth with the courage of our Christian
convictions even if it costs our life. (Fr. Tony) (https://www.frtonyshomilies.com/)
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Dec 17 Tuesday: Mt 1:1-17: 1 The book of
the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham
was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of
Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and
Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father
of Ammin’adab, and Ammin’adab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of
Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Bo’az by Rahab, and Bo’az the father of Obed
by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the
king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uri’ah, 7 and Solomon
the father of Rehobo’am, and Rehobo’am the father of Abi’jah, and Abi’jah the
father of Asa, 8 and Asa the father of Jehosh’aphat, and Jehosh’aphat the
father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzzi’ah, 9 and Uzzi’ah the father of
Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezeki’ah, 10 and
Hezeki’ah the father of Manas’seh, and Manas’seh the father of Amos, and Amos
the father of Josi’ah, 11 and Josi’ah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers,
at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 12 And after the deportation to
Babylon: Jechoni’ah was the father of She-al’ti-el, and She-al’ti-el the father
of Zerub’babel, 13 and Zerub’babel the father of Abi’ud, and Abi’ud the father
of Eli’akim, and Eli’akim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok,
and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eli’ud, 15 and Eli’ud
the father of Elea’zar, and Elea’zar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the
father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom
Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to
David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon
fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ
fourteen generations. USCCB reflections: https://youtu.be/Xme1Yn-TOds?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAAsw34PxZGDqnI_bBKNWa9
The context: Starting with a genealogy was the
Jewish way of beginning a biography because the Jews gave importance to the
purity of the lineage which made them part of God’s Chosen People. For a noble
Jew, the line must be traceable back through five generations, and for a Jewish
priest traceable back to Aaron. Matthew presents Jesus’ human ancestry,
indicating that salvation history has reached its climax with the birth of the
Son of God through Mary by the working of the Holy Spirit. The Jewish
genealogies followed the male line. Hence, Joseph, as the husband of Mary, was
the legal father of Jesus, and the legal father was on a par with the real
father regarding rights and duties. Thus, it is through Joseph, his legal
father, that Jesus became the descendant of David. Since the Jews generally
married within their clan, the early Fathers of the Church believed that Mary
also belonged to David’s family. As a legal son of David, Jesus is the
fulfillment of prophecies. The genealogy of Jesus Christ in today’s Gospel is
carefully arranged into three groups of fourteen generations each. The three
groups are based on 1) the rise of Israel to a great kingdom under David and
Solomon, 2) the fall of the nation in the Babylonian exile and 3) the raising
of the nation after the exile. The three groups symbolically represent the
creation of man in God’s image, the loss of man’s greatness in Adam’s sin and
the regaining of greatness through Christ Jesus.
Life messages: 1) We need to accept and support,
lift up and correct the bad members of our family, acknowledging the truth that
every family has some black sheep. Jesus’ genealogy mentions a harlot named
Rahab, an adulteress named Tamar and a Moabite Gentile woman named Ruth. We
need to remember that God can bring good out of the worst persons and
circumstances. 2) We need to appreciate our membership in the Divine family of
God by Baptism and behave as holy children of a Holy God. (Fr. Tony) (https://www.frtonyshomilies.com/)
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Dec 18 Wednesday: Mt 1:18-25: 18 Now the
birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been
betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child
of the Holy Spirit; 19 and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling
to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered
this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph,
son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived
in her is of the Holy Spirit; 21 she will bear a son, and you shall call his
name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took
place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, a virgin
shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (which
means, God with us). 24 …25 USCCB
reflections: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/index.cfm
The context: Today’s Gospel focuses on the story
of the Virgin Birth, which is at the heart of our Christmas celebrations. It
focuses also on the person and role of St. Joseph. In today’s Gospel, Matthew
sees in the passage from Isaiah one of the most descriptive and definite
prophecies foretelling that the future Messianic King, Christ, will be born as
a descendant of David. In order for Jesus to fulfill this promise, Joseph had
to, and willingly did, accept Jesus as his son, making Jesus a descendant of
David because Joseph was a descendant of David. Matthew makes it clear that
Jesus was not the biological child of Joseph. But because Joseph was the
husband of Mary at the time Jesus was born, Jesus was legally the son of Joseph
and, thus, a descendant of David. Luke tells us of Mary’s obedience (Luke
1:38), and Matthew shows us Joseph’s obedience. Luke tells the story of the
angel’s appearance to Mary (Luke 1:26-38), but Matthew tells us only that the
child was from the Holy Spirit.
God’s message through His angel: This is the first of three
occasions on which an angel appears to Joseph in a dream. The angel commands
Joseph to take Mary as his wife. Mary’s role is to bear a son, and Joseph’s
role is to name him. By naming him, Joseph makes Jesus his son and brings him
into the house of David. Joseph’s hallmark is obedience — prompt, simple,
unspectacular obedience. Joseph’s obedience allows Jesus to be adopted as a
true Son of David; it is Mary’s free consent to the will of God that allows
Jesus to be born Son of God. In the end, Joseph takes Mary as his wife, in
spite of his fears, and he claims her son as his own by naming him. In spite of
his earlier decision to divorce this woman quietly, Joseph nurtured and
protected and watched over and loved both Mary and her child.
Life messages: 1) Like Joseph, we need to trust
in God, listen to Him and be faithful. Like Joseph and Mary, we are called to
be faithful, and to trust in God. Let us talk to Him and listen to Him speaking
through the Bible. Let us try to imitate Joseph and Mary, the humblest of the
humble, the kindliest of the kindly, and the greatest-ever believers in God’s
goodness and mercy and welcome Jesus into our hearts and lives not only at
Christmas but all year long. (Fr. Tony) (https://www.frtonyshomilies.com/)
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Dec 19 Thursday: Lk 1:5-25: 5 In
the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the
division of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name
was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the
commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. …. 16 And he will turn many
of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in
the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the
children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the
Lord a people prepared.” 18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know
this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel
answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent
to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. 20……25 USCCB
reflections: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/index.cfm
The context: We recall two advents and two
angelic messages during the Advent season, namely, the advent of John the
Baptist and the advent of Jesus. The first was preceded by the Archangel
Gabriel’s informing Zechariah the priest that a son whom he was to name John
would be born to him and his barren, aged wife. The second is preceded by the
Archangel Gabriel’s message to Mary, a virgin betrothed to Joseph, asking her
consent to become the mother of Jesus. Today’s Gospel describes how Zechariah
got the Divine message From the Archangel Gabriel in the Holy of Holies in the
Temple of Jerusalem while Zechariah was offering incense.
Zechariah was one of the 1800 priests serving the Temple of
Jerusalem. They were divided into 24 groups of 75 each. Thirty priests of each
group were to serve the Temple for worship services each day and only one of
them got the rare chance of offering incense inside the Holy of Holies. It was
while performing this priestly function that Zechariah received the vision of
the angel and was given the message about his having a son in his old age.
Zechariah was given a temporary punishment of muteness for his lack of Faith in
God’s message delivered by Gabriel.
Life messages: 1) We should not take our small
misfortunes as big tragedies. We should imitate Zechariah who remained
optimistic, continuing in prayer and service in the Temple. 2) We need to get
rid of the barrenness of our heart, cleanse it daily, liberate it from evil
attachments and prepare it for the rebirth of Jesus. 3) We need to be good
parents and grandparents, offering incessant prayers for our children and
grandchildren. (Fr. Tony) (https://www.frtonyshomilies.com/) L/19
Dec 20 Friday: Lk 1:26-38: 26 In the
sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named
Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house
of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said,
“Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at
the saying and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. 30
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor
with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you
shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of
the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father
David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom
there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How shall this be, since
I have no husband?” 35 And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come
upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the
child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36 And behold, your
kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the
sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”38
…. USCCB
reflections: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/index.cfm
The context: Today’s Gospel describes the story
of the Annunciation, explaining how God began to keep the promise He had made
to King David through the prophet Nathan, that David’s descendant would rule
over the world as its Messiah.
The Archangel Gabriel’s salutation to Mary: “Hail, full
of grace,” reminds us of God’s words to Moses at the burning bush (Ex
3:12), and the angel’s salutation to Gideon, (Jgs 6:12). Mary is described
as “full of grace”, filled with God’s favor and graciousness.
She is to be the new Ark, a tent and temple. God will be literally
and physically in her, and thus she will be the greater House God promised to
David. Mary’s question, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” is
natural. That is why Gabriel reminds Mary, “Nothing is impossible
with God.” God will “empower” her (“the Spirit will come upon you“)
and “protect” her (“overshadow you“). Luke’s narrative points out
that the child will not only be a distant grandson of David — he will be God’s
own Son. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most
High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor
David.” Mary does not require confirmation but responds in
Faith. She agrees to carry out the Word Gabriel has addressed to her.
Life messages: 1) We need to be humble
instruments in the hand of God, trusting in His power and goodness. St.
Augustine reminds us that God Who created us without our permission cannot save
us without our active cooperation. Hence, let us cooperate in the
fulfillment of God’s plan for us with Mary’s trusting Faith and humility.
2) Like Mary who brought God to us as Jesus our Savior, it is our duty to carry
Jesus and bring him to the lives of others around us through love, mercy,
forgiveness and service. “Let the soul of Mary be in each one of you to magnify
the Lord. Let the spirit of Mary be in each one to exult in Christ.” (St.
Ambrose). 3) We should treasure these words of the Gospel and use them
often, for example, practicing the Christian custom of saying the Angelus every
day and reflecting on the five Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. (Navarre Bible
Commentary). (Fr. Tony) (https://www.frtonyshomilies.com/) L/19
Dec 21 Saturday: (St. Peter Canisius, Priest) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-peter-canisius/ : Lk
1:39-45: 39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the
hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and
greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe
leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, …45 USCCB
reflections: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/index.cfm
The context: The mystery of the Incarnation
comes to ordinary people living ordinary lives, who have the willingness to
respond to God’s call and the openness and generosity to do God’s will. Luke,
in today’s Gospel, tells us how two seemingly insignificant women
met to celebrate the kindness and fidelity of God.
In the Gospel, one definition of discipleship is to listen to God’s word and
then carry it out. Mary did both, to become the most perfect disciple.
The incident also shows us how sensitive Mary was to the needs of
Elizabeth, her older cousin, who had miraculously become pregnant in her old
age.
Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. There is a saying, “He (she)
who is on fire cannot sit on a chair.” Mary, carrying Jesus and
filled with the fire and empowering of the Holy Spirit, hurried to the
mountain country where Elizabeth lived, thereby conveying the Holy Spirit to
her cousin and her child. Like all good Jews, Mary was prompted in
everything she did by her commitment to God’s word in her life.
The paradox of blessedness. Blessedness confers on a
person both the greatest joy and the greatest task in
the world. Nowhere can we see the paradox better illustrated
than in Mary’s life. Mary was granted the blessedness and
privilege of being the mother of the Son of God. Yet, that very
blessedness was to be a sword to pierce her heart: one day she would see
her Son hanging on a cross. So, to be chosen by God is
often both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow. God does not
choose us to give us a life of ease and comfort, but in order to use
us for His purposes.
Life messages: 1) We should recognize the
real presence of Emmanuel (God Is with Us) and say “yes” to Him: The
Visitation of Mary reminds us that, through his holy ministry, Christ
continues to be present among his people. Let us recognize and appreciate
the truth that the same Christ “dwells among us” in the Bible, in the
Sacraments, in the praying community and in our souls.2) We should convey Jesus
to others as Mary did to Elizabeth. We can make a real difference in
the lives of others today by carrying Jesus to them. For
that, we must be filled with the spirit of Christ, allowing his
rebirth within us. Then Jesus will enable us to share his love with
all whom we encounter, by offering them humble and committed service, unconditional
forgiveness and compassionate caring. (Fr. Tony) (https://www.frtonyshomilies.com/)
L/19
