25 December 2012. Tuesday. Christmas Mass during the Day
Light into the Darkness
Light into the Darkness
Grafted to the Tree of Life
With Christmas Eve just one day away, the Church gathers to make its final preparations to greet the Infant King.
Elizabeth praises Mary’s faith. Mary replies with the Magnificat.
Lk 1:46ff. Mary’s hymn of praise and thanksgiving, the Magnificat.
Luke 1:39ff. The shared joy of Mary and Elizabeth: sharing of faith at the Visitation.
Lk 1:26ff. The angelic annunciation to Mary, who will conceive and give birth to Jesus.
Lk 1:5ff. The destiny of John, the long-awaited son of Zechariah and Elizabeth.
Mt 1:18ff. Joseph learns the origins of Jesus, who “will save his people from their sins. ”
Mt 1:1ff The genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
We’re over half way through Advent. Traditionally today is called Gaudete Sunday, which means ‘a day for rejoicing’. We celebrate today because the Lord’s coming is nearer.
Pádraig McCarthy believes the Budget should figure in priests’ homilies and queries the silence of official church voices
Mt 17:9ff. John the Baptist was the “Elijah” – the fore-runner, before the Messiah’s arrival.
Mt. 11:16ff. Jesus criticises those of his generation who listened to nobody.
Mt 11:11ff. John the Baptist was great, but the least in the kingdom is even greater.
Mt 11:28ff. Jesus assures those who are burdened, my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Mt 18:12ff. The shepherd rejoices to find the lost sheep.
Lk 5:17ff. Jesus heals the paralysed man, showing that he has authority to forgive sins.
The readings at Mass during the first part of the Advent season remind us more and more of the the end of time, and the glory awaiting believers. We trust that God stays with us always.