Saturday of the Second Week of Advent

Luke 1:30-33: The angel said to [Mary], "Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever."

Prayer ...

Heavenly Father, we thank you for all the ways Jesus is described and all the names he is given. They help us see the breadth of his nature and the depth of his character. Please bless us that we may always find a dimension of Jesus' actions or a name or description of Jesus to help sustain us, when we walk through the shadows of doubt caused by the evil one. Help us, O Lord, to see Jesus and not our preoccupations and biases so that when he comes again, we will know him, and Jesus us. Through infant Jesus we pray. Amen.

Today's Readings ... (December 15, 2012)

Day:	Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
First Reading:	Sir 48:1-4, 9-11
Responsorial Psalm:	Psalm 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19
Second Reading:	Nil
Gospel:	Matthew 17:9a, 10-13
Lectionary:	185
Colour:	Violet
Listen to Reading:

Scripture: Matthew 17:9a,10-13

^9aAnd as they were coming down the mountain ¹⁰the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first Eli'jah must come?" ¹¹He replied, "Eli'jah does come, and he is to restore all things; ¹²but I tell you that Eli'jah has already come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of man will suffer at their hands." ¹³Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

Meditation on Today's Scripture:

God gives signs to explains what he is about to do. John the Baptist is one such sign, who pointed to Jesus and equipped the way for his coming. John fulfilled the necessary task of all the prophets: to be fingers pointing to Jesus Christ. John is the last and best prophet of the old kingdom, the old covenant. The Jews expected that when the Messiah would come, Elijah would come into view to announce his presence. John fills the role of Elijah and prepares the way for the coming of Jesus Christ by preaching a baptism of atonement and renewal. As watchful servants, we, too must get ready for the Lord's coming again by turning away from sin and from the whole thing that would keep us from pursuing his will. Are we eager to do God's will and are we ready to meet the Lord Jesus when he returns in glory? Loving Infant Jesus, stir our zeal for your righteousness and for your kingdom. Free us from complacency and from compromising with the ways of sin and worldliness that we may be enthusiastically devoted to you and to your kingdom.