1ST READING
There are many texts in the Old Testament, many of them in the Book of Isaiah, the Prophet, that hint at the coming of a Messiah. The Scripture scholars will tell us that there should be certain aspects to a text before considering it a messianic text per se, but sometimes we can become a little too rigid with this sort of thing. As long as we are not abusing the meaning of a text, let us allow it to draw us into contemplating on the coming of the Messiah. Hope is very important to a person as it can give untold strength and inspiration in times of trouble and stress. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to inspire us to believe and hope in the coming of the Messiah.
Isaiah 52:7-10 (or Isaiah 9:1-6)
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, “Your God is King!” 8 Hark! Your sentinels raise a cry, together they shout for joy, for they see directly, before their eyes, the Lord restoring Zion. 9 Break out together in song, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the Lord comforts his people, he redeems Jerusalem.10 The Lord has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God.
P S A L M
Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6 (or Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13)
R: All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
1 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) 2 The Lord has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. 3 He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. (R) All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. 4 Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. (R) 5 Sing praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. 6With trumpets and the sound of the horn sing joyfully before the King, the Lord. (R)
2ND READING
God has planned our salvation from the beginning of time. In His omniscience, He was aware that we would sin. Yet, love still demanded that He create us, as there can be no love without the freedom to reject that very love. Love is always a risk, as we can never know for sure if it will be reciprocated. This is the nature of love and part of its unique and enduring character. When it is reciprocated, we know that all the risk is worthwhile.
Hebrews 1:1-6 (or Titus 2:11-14)
1 Brothers and sisters: In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; 2 in these last days, he spoke to us through the Son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, 3 who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say: “You are my son; this day I have begotten you”? Or again: “I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me”? 6 And again, when he leads the first-born into the world, he says: “Let all the angels of God worship him.”
GOSPEL
Trust John to go into a deep theological reflection on the nature of the incarnation. Yet, if we spend a little time reflecting upon the images and words he uses, I am sure we will all be edified. It is important that we reflect deeply upon the mysteries of our faith, in order to go deeper in our understanding of God. The deeper we go, the more we will be amazed and inspired to take the next step. This is the essence of becoming holy — constantly being drawn deeper into the mystery of God’s love.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, and adore the Lord. For today a great light has come upon the earth.
John 1:1-18 (or Luke 2:1-14)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be 4 through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; 5 the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 A man named John was sent from God. 7 He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. 12But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’’ 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, 17 because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.
think: This is the essence of becoming holy — constantly being drawn deeper into the mystery of God’s love.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today_
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Sirah 16-20
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