Active obedience bears fruit (Gospel for Dec. 21, 2019)

Luke 1:39-45

Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."

Mary actively followed God’s direction.

She did so with alacrity.

Elizabeth gave voice to what the Holy Spirit prompted her to say.

We, and billions of others across the centuries, have been richly blessed by what resulted from their active obedience. 

God WILL set all things right and it WILL be worth all we go through. In the meantime, we must pray, renew our trust in Him, and love each other. (Readings for Dec. 15, 2019, lectionary 7)

Key:

What the readings tell us about God

What these readings tell us to do

What these readings tell us not to do

Hyperlinks to additional translations 

Reading 1: Isaiah 35:1-6, 10 

The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.

Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; they will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 

R. (cf. Isaiah 35:4) Lord, come and save us.
The LORD God keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets captives free.
R. Lord, come and save us.
The LORD gives sight to the blind; the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just; the LORD protects strangers.
R. Lord, come and save us.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations.
R. Lord, come and save us.

Reading 2: James 5:7-10  

Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates. Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Alleluia:Isaiah 61:1(cited in Luke 4:16-21) 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?"

Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you hear and see:  the blind regain their sight,  the lame walk,  lepers are cleansed,  the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me."

As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out?  

To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.

Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

What these readings tell us about God:

the glory of the LORD

the splendor of our God
Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you

the eyes of the blind be opened

the ears of the deaf be cleared

the lame leap like a stag

the tongue of the mute will sing.
Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing crowned with everlasting joy

they will meet with joy and gladness

sorrow and mourning will flee

The LORD God keeps faith forever

secures justice for the oppressed
gives food to the hungry

The LORD sets captives free
The LORD gives sight to the blind

the LORD raises up those who were bowed down
The LORD loves the just

the LORD protects strangers
The fatherless and the widow he sustains

the way of the wicked he thwarts
The LORD shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor

the blind regain their sight

the lame walk

lepers are cleansed

he deaf hear

the dead are raised

the poor have the good news proclaimed to them

blessed is the one who takes no offense at me

I am sending my messenger ahead of you

he will prepare your way before you.
there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he

What these readings tell us to do:

Strengthen the hands that are feeble

make firm the knees that are weak
say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! 

[pray:] Lord, come and save us

[pray:] Lord, come and save us

[pray:] Lord, come and save us

[pray:] Lord, come and save us

Be patient

be patient

Make your hearts firm

Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord

What these readings tell us not to do:

Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another

The Awesome God of all reaches out to us in love. We must embrace His loving will, even if it’s not what we would expect (readings for Dec. 9, 2019, Lectionary 689)

Key:

What these readings tell us about God

What these reading tell us to do

What these readings tell us not to do

Hyperlinks to additional resources

Reading 1: Genesis 3:9-15, 20 

After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree, the LORD God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?”

He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.”

Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!”

The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me—she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.”

The LORD God then asked the woman, “Why did you do such a thing?”

The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.”

Then the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; on your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.”

The man called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 

R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God.Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Reading 2: Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him.

In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted usin the beloved.

In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.

Alleluia: Luke 1:28  

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38  

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."  But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end."

But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?"

And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God."

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

What these readings tell us about God

the LORD God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?”
he has done marvelous deeds
he has done wondrous deeds
His right hand has won victory

his holy arm.
he has done marvelous deeds
The LORD has made his salvation known

he has revealed his justice
his kindness

his faithfulness

he has done marvelous deeds
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God
he has done marvelous deeds

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing

he chose us in him

In love he destined us for adoption

through Jesus Christ

the favor of his will

his grace that he granted us
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things

He will be great

Son of the Most High

the Lord God will give him the throne of David

he will rule over the house of Jacob forever

his Kingdom there will be no end

the power of the Most High

the child to be born will be called holy

the Son of God

nothing will be impossible for God

What these readings tell us to do

Sing to the Lord a new song

Sing to the LORD a new song

Sing to the Lord a new song

Sing to the Lord a new song
Sing joyfully to the LORD

break into song

sing praise

be holy and without blemish before him

destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things

we might exist for the praise of his glory

hoped in Christ

pondered what sort of greeting this might be

Do not be afraid

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord

May it be done to me according to your word

What these readings tell us not to do

I was afraid

so I hid myself

God’s kingship is perfect. We should humbly, sincerely, seek Him. We should follow His example of justice for and mercy to the weak. (Readings for Dec. 8, 2019, Lectionary 4)

Key:

What these readings tell us about God

What these readings tell us to do

What these readings tell us not to do

Hyperlinks to additional resources

Reading 1: Isaiah 11:1-10

On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.

Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land's afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips. 

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra's den, and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD, as water covers the sea. 

On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17  

R.  Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king's son; he shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.
Justice shall flower in his days, and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.
May his name be blessed forever; as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed; all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.

Reading 2: Romans 15:4-9  

Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

May the God of endurance and encouragement  grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus,  that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.

For I say that Christ became a minister of the circumcised to show God's truthfulness,  to confirm the promises to the patriarchs, but so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles and sing praises to your name.

Alleluia: Luke 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.

Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12  

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.John wore clothing made of camel's hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?  Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.'For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 

I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

What these readings tell us about God:

The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him

a spirit of wisdom

understanding

a spirit of counsel

strength

a spirit of knowledge

fear of the LORD

his delight shall be the fear of the LORD

he shall judge the poor with justice

decide aright for the land's afflicted

He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth

with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked

Justice shall be the band around his waist

faithfulness a belt upon his hips

There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain

the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD, as water covers the sea

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever
your justice

he shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever
Justice shall flower in his days, and profound peace

he rule from sea to sea

from the River to the ends of the earth
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever
he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever

his name be blessed forever

as long as the sun his name shall remain
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed

all the nations shall proclaim his happiness
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever

Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction

by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope

the God of endurance and encouragement  

Christ became a minister of the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, to confirm the promises to the patriarchs

the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy

all flesh shall see the salvation of God

God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones

every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire
He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire

What these readings tell us to do:

judge the poor with justice

decide aright for the land's afflicted

govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment
rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him

have pity for the lowly and the poor

lives of the poor he shall save
his name be blessed forever

by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope 

think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus

with one accord 

with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you

praise [God] among the Gentiles 

sing praises to [God’s] name
Prepare the way of the Lord

make straight his paths

Repent

going out to him 

acknowledged their sins
Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance

bear good fruit

What the readings tell us not to do:

Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide

do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.'