Monday: Fourth Week of Advent

Luke 2:16-20: hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby [Jesus], who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed... But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Prayer ...

Heavenly Father, Faithful and all powerful Lord, thank you for being trustworrthy and true. Help us to be faithful to you in what we do and say and think during this stressful yet wonderful time of the year. May we never lose faith in the coming of Jesus and may our faith in him ever shape our life to be more pleasing to you. In the name of Infant Jesus we pray. Amen.

Today's Readings ... (December 24, 2012)

Day:	Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent
First Reading:	2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
Responsorial Psalm:	Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29
Second Reading:	Nil
Gospel:	Luke 1:67-79
Lectionary:	200
Colour:	Violet
Listen to Reading:

Scripture: Luke 1:67-79

⁶⁷And his father Zechari'ah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, ⁶⁸"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people, ⁶⁹and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, ⁷⁰as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, ⁷¹that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; ⁷²to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, ⁷³the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, ⁷⁴to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, ⁷⁵in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. ⁷⁶And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, ⁷⁷to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, ⁷⁸through the tender mercy of our God, when the day shall dawn upon us from on high ⁷⁹to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Meditation on Today's Scripture:

The Holy Spirit gave Zechariah a dream for his own son as a prophet and predecessor who would prepare the way for the Messiah. Every pious Jew longed for the day when the Messiah expected would come. Now Zechariah knows beyond a doubt that that day is very near. Like Zechariah, the Holy Spirit wants to give us revelation, joy, and confidence in the knowledge of God's merciful love, safety, and care which he offers us through his Son Jesus. Like the Baptist, we too are called to organize the way that leads to Jesus. Life is a journey and we are either moving towards the Lord or away from the Lord. The Lord comes to visit us each day with his revitalizing Word and Spirit. Those who hunger for the Lord will not be upset. Jesus will draw them to himself and show them his love and mercy. In sending the Messiah God has made a gracious visit to his people to save them. This was the assignment for which Jesus was sent into the world - to redeem those sold for sin and sold under sin. In the banquet of the Incarnation we rejoice the gracious gift of God in sending his only beloved Son to redeem us. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit may inspire us and fill us with joy and courage to proclaim the message of the Lord's visitation and redemption. Loving Infant Jesus, you have been gracious and merciful towards us. Fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may bear witness to the joy of the gospel to those around us.