1st READING
The coming of the Messiah is something that will challenge the status quo and bring about some dramatic changes. He will be like a refiner who purifies precious metals. We see this in Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple when He drove out all the money changers and the animals and made it again a place of quietness and prayer. We see the fierceness of Christ in His challenge to the Scribes and the Pharisees for their pretense and hypocrisy. Yes, His coming will be life-changing if we allow it to be.
Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24
1 Thus says the LORD GOD: Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; and suddenly there will come to the temple the LORD whom you seek, and the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 2 But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye. 3 He will sit refining and purifying [silver], and he will purify the sons of Levi, refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD. 4 Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD, as in days of old, as in years gone by. 23 Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the day of the LORD comes, the great and terrible day, 24 to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with doom.
P S A L M
Psalms 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
R: Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
4 Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior. (R) 8 Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. 9 He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way. (R) 10 All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees. 14 The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him, and his covenant, for their instruction. (R)
G O S P E L
From the time he saw a vision of an angel in the Temple to the time of the birth of his son, Zechariah had been dumb, unable to speak because he had not believed the angel’s message. Now, all of a sudden his lips are opened and he can speak. One can imagine its impact on the local people. This was a dramatic sign from God that this child had a special mission. Unbelief also makes us unable to speak and proclaim the Good News, so let us be men and women of faith who boldly proclaim the message of God’s mercy and love.
ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Luke 1:57-66
57 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” 61 But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” 62 So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. 63 He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. 65 Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
2 Peter 1-3
my reflections
t h i n k : Unbelief makes us unable to speak and proclaim the Good News, so let us be men and women of faith who boldly proclaim the message of God’s mercy and love.
God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2 Peter 1-3
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