Today’s readings communicate a wonderful message— God really wants loving relationship with us. They describe some of the ways He has shown that and some ways that we should respond.
Here are my thoughts, explained as follows:
What these passages tell us about God
What these passages tell us to do
Commentary
Hyperlink
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, read these passages prayerfully, see what He shows you—and then act on it!
Reading 1 BAR 5:1-9
Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever: wrapped in the cloak of justice from God, bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name. For God will show all the earth your splendor: you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship. As in today’s gospel, God calls for action on our part & responds to that action. The action He calls us to here is faith-driven hope/expectation that God loves us, manifested in our hopeful our attitude/bearing in the midst of difficulty.
Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights; look to the east and see your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that they are remembered by God. Led away on foot by their enemies they left you: but God will bring them backto you borne aloft in glory as on royal thrones. For God has commanded that every lofty mountain be made low, and that the age-old depths and gorges be filled to level ground, that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God.The forests and every fragrant kind of tree have overshadowed Israel at God’s command; for God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory, with his mercy and justice for company. God wants loving relationship with His people, especially those who have been separated by sin from the good He wills for them. See Catechism of the Catholic Church, ¶1.He will not forget/abandon them. He will act to restore/deliver them from conditions/situations that resulted from their sin. As is also stated in today’s gospel, God wants obstacles to that loving relationship eliminated and replaced with things that facilitate that relationship.
Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights; look to the east and see your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that they are remembered by God. Led away on foot by their enemies they left you: but God will bring them backto you borne aloft in glory as on royal thrones. For God has commanded that every lofty mountain be made low, and that the age-old depths and gorges be filled to level ground, that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God.The forests and every fragrant kind of tree have overshadowed Israel at God’s command; for God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory, with his mercy and justice for company. God wants loving relationship with His people, especially those who have been separated by sin from the good He wills for them. See Catechism of the Catholic Church, ¶1.He will not forget/abandon them. He will act to restore/deliver them from conditions/situations that resulted from their sin. As is also stated in today’s gospel, God wants obstacles to that loving relationship eliminated and replaced with things that facilitate that relationship.
Responsorial Psalm PS 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6.
R. (3) The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the torrents in the southern desert. This sounds a lot likeSirach 11:12-13 & 21-22Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the torrents in the southern desert. This sounds a lot likeSirach 11:12-13 & 21-22Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Reading 2 PHIL 1:4-6, 8-11
Brothers and sisters:
I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.
I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.
God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ
for the glory and praise of God.
Alleluia LK 3:4, 6
R. Alleluia, alleluia.Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region
of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,the word of God came to Johnthe son of Zechariah in the desert. This is a very specific time frame. The Holy Spirit likely inspired this detail to verify the truth of this particular account and Luke’s gospel as a whole. That show that He really wants us to “get it.”
of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,the word of God came to Johnthe son of Zechariah in the desert. This is a very specific time frame. The Holy Spirit likely inspired this detail to verify the truth of this particular account and Luke’s gospel as a whole. That show that He really wants us to “get it.”
John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:A voice of one crying out in the desert:“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.Every valley shall be filledand every mountain and hill shall be made low.The winding roads shall be made straight,and the rough ways made smooth,andall flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
God was proactive and activated/energized John to go to the people. God was reaching out to folks to bring them to Him, drawing the folks to Him and His loving embrace. He does the same thing towards us today through this account.
This is how we should respond to God’s loving initiative: (1) by intentionally seek to be in relationship with & service to Him; (2) by identifying & getting rid of the things in our lives that interfere with the relationship/service; (3) by replacing them with things that facilitate that relationship/service.
Those who do these things see God’s salvation. Others see part of that salvation reflected from/delivered by those who do these things
No comments:
Post a Comment