Dec 18 Monday: Mt 1:18-25:
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, the 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 in his royal line. Luke tells us of Mary’s
obedience (Lk 1:38), and Matthew shows us Joseph’s obedience. Luke tells the
story of the angel’s appearance to Mary (Lk 1:26-38), but Matthew tells us only
that the child was conceived of the Holy Spirit.
God’s message through His angel: This is the
first of four* 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, dismissing his fears,
takes Mary as his wife, and he claims her son as his own by naming him. His
earlier decision, to divorce this woman quietly, has disappeared, and Joseph
joyfully nurtures, protects, watches over, and loves both Mary and her child.
Life messages: 1) Like Joseph, we need to trust
in God, listen to Him, and be faithful in our obedience, Like Joseph and Mary,
we are called to be faithful, to trust in God as we do His will. 2) Let us talk
to Him and listen to Him speaking through the Bible. 3) 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, welcoming Jesus into
our hearts and lives not only at Christmas but all year long.
(Fr. Tony) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Dec 19 Tuesday: Lk 1:5-25:5
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 God’s Only-begotten Son, and
name 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
making the offering of 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 yearly chance of offering incense in front of the hidden Holy of
Holies. It was while performing this priestly function that Zechariah received
the vision of the angel who told him that his long-prayed-for son would be born
of Elizabeth, and that Zechariah was to name the boy John, then described in
detail how that child was to be raised and what he would do. Disbelieving,
Zechariah demanded a sign of the angel who responded, “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. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until
the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my
words, which will be fulfilled in their time” (Lk 1:19-20)
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 ask
God to help us 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 and
good example for our children and grandchildren.
(Fr. Tony) (https://www.frtonyshomilies.com/)
Dec 20 Wednesday: St. Dominic of Silos:
Regular reading Lk 1:26-38:
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 in her, literally and
physically, and thus she will be the greater House God promised to David.
Mary’s believing question, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” is
natural. That is why Gabriel reminds Mary, “For with God nothing will
be impossible.” 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) As Mary brought God to us as
Jesus our Savior, so we are to carry Jesus everywhere and bring Jesus to the
lives of others around us through love, mercy, forgiveness, and willing
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,
by 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://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Dec 21 Thursday: St. Peter Canisius: Luke 1:
39-45:
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, “One who is
on fire cannot sit on a chair.” Mary, carrying Jesus and filled with the
empowering fire of the Holy Spirit, hurried to the mountain country where
Elizabeth lived, thereby conveying the Holy Spirit to her cousin and the child
in her womb. 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, die, and be buried. 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 that we may respond to His love by
accomplishing His purposes.
Life messages:1) We should recognize the real
presence of Emmanuel (God Is with Us) and say “yes” to Him: Mary’s Visitation
of Elizabeth 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, offering them humble and committed service,
unconditional forgiveness, and compassionate caring service. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Dec 22 Friday: Lk 1:46-56:
The context: The Magnificat and
Hannah’s song (1400 B.C.) are properly mentioned together, because the former
is literarily and thematically dependent on the latter. Mary as a young Jewish
girl knew Hannah’s song, as it was sung on every Jewish New Year Day in the
Temple and the synagogues. Both Hannah and Mary are mothers rejoicing at the
birth of an unexpected child. Hannah praises God that He has seen fit to end
the curse of her barrenness, while Mary glorifies the Lord because He has
chosen her to bear the promised Messiah. Each knew, to her sorrow, that she
would have to give up her son one day. Just as Hannah dedicated her child
Samuel to the Lord, so Mary offered her son Jesus for our salvation. On hearing
Elizabeth’s greetings, Mary sang, praising and thanking God for the great
things He had done for her. He had filled her with graces, overshadowed her
with His Holy Spirit and made her the mother of His Son Jesus. Mary praised God
also for the mercy He had worked by humbling the proud, by ousting the mighty
from their thrones, and by exalting the lowly and filling the hungry with good
things, a social, political, and economic revolution.
Life messages: 1)We need to sing songs of praise
and gratitude to God as Mary did because of the great gift of life God has
given us through our parents and for the gift of early training we have
received from them in a Christian home.2) Let us also glorify God every day
through our works of charity for the gifts of Faith, of our particular vocation
in life, and of the opportunities God gives us every day for doing good to and
for others.
(Fr. Tony) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
Dec 23 Saturday: Lk 1: 57-66: (The Nativity of St.
John the Baptist): Luke 1:57-66:
The context: Today’s Gospel describes the birth and
naming of St. John the Baptist, the last Old Testament prophet. He was given
the mission of heralding the promised Messiah and of preparing the Chosen
People to welcome that Messiah by preaching to them repentance and the renewal
of life. John was born to the priest, Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth in
their old age. Today’s Gospel passage describes John’s birth, Circumcision, and
Naming ceremony.
A miraculous birth and an event of double joy: His elderly
parents rejoiced in John’s birth, as he was a gift from God in their old age.
Since the child was a boy, all their neighbors rejoiced with them, and the
village musicians celebrated the birth by playing their joyful music. The
Naming followed the baby’s Circumcision, and Elizabeth insisted that the child
should be named John (which means “the Lord is gracious”), the name given him
by the Archangel Gabriel when he spoke to Zechariah. Appealed to by the
gathered people, the mute Zechariah approved that name by writing, “His name
is John.” At that action of obedient surrender to the Lord God, the
priest’s speech was restored, and he loudly proclaimed the praises of God for
blessing him with a son and Israel with her Deliverer, Whose herald his son
would be.
Life messages: 1) We need to pray for our parents and be thankful to them for the gift of life, the training, and the discipline they have given us, and the love and affection they have lavished on us. Let us ask God’s pardon if we are, or were, ungrateful to them, do/did not take proper care of them in their illness or old age or ever inflicted pain on them. 2) We need to remember and pray for our godparents who sponsored us in Baptism, which made us children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus, heirs of Heaven, and members of Jesus’ Mystical Body, the Church. 3) We should have the courage of our Christian convictions as John the Baptist did, and we should become heralds of Christ as the Baptist was, by our transparent Christian lives. (Fr. Tony) (https://frtonyshomilies.com/)
