1ST READING
The
land of Israel, the physical country, has always been and still is an
important aspect of the Jewish faith. This results from a literal
interpretation of Genesis 12:1-3 and the constant returning to this
theme of land, blessing and progeny in the Old Testament texts. It has
become part of the psyche of the Orthodox Jews to the point that they
believe the land is theirs by divine fiat. As Christians, we believe the
land God promised Abraham refers to heaven, a place not in such hot
dispute as the land of Israel today.
Jeremiah 23:5-8
5 Behold,
the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up a righteous
shoot to David; as king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do
what is just and right in the land. 6 In his days Judah shall be saved, Israel shall dwell in security. This is the name they give him: “The Lord our justice.” 7 Therefore, the days will come, says the Lord, when they shall no longer say, “As the Lord lives, who
brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt”; 8 but
rather, “As the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of the house of
Israel up from the land of the north” — and from all the lands to which
I banished them; they shall again live on their own land.
P S A L M
Psalm 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19
R: Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
1 O God, with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king’s son; 2 He shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment. (R) 12 For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. 13 He shall
have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save. (R) 18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous deeds. 19 And blessed forever be his glorious name; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. (R)
GOSPEL
Matthew
gives us quite a few details about the birth of Jesus so that we can
better situate the fact in an earthly setting. This is important to us
as we need to believe in the humanity of Jesus if we want to be saved.
In the words of one of the Fathers of the Church, “Christ redeems that
which He assumes.” In other words, if Christ is not human, then He does
not redeem our humanity and we remain unsaved.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power!
Matthew 1:18-25
18 This
is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was
betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with
child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. 20 Such
was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him
in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of
David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is
through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. 21 She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. 25 He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.
READING 2nd READING
GOSPEL PSALM
think: “Christ
redeems that which He assumes.” In other words, if Christ is not human,
then He does not redeem our humanity and we remain unsaved.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ___________________________
____________________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_________
____________________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Amos 4-6
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