God's Word Will Not Fail

Lk 1:26-38

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

As  we approach Christmas we return to the Annunciation where the story begins as shrouded in mystery, challenge and promise as it can be. Who is this young betrothed? Who is this messenger? What is this message? As the years have passed by we certainly have more understanding of this event than Mary did, yet she complied to the request with an enormous expression of faith, trust, confidence and love and because of it, we are celebrating the birth of the Son of God, the Keystone of our salvation.  As we reflect on this Gospel, we cannot but wonder at the risk God took in making this request of Mary, and the risk she took in saying YES to it. What is God requesting of us today, in the final days of Advent, in the year ahead? Do we trust as Mary did, that God's Word will not fail, no matter what we are facing right now? Let us pray with Mary, "May your word to me be fulfilled."

Bro. Rene

Dear God, may Mary's willingness to accept your will inspire me to accept your will for me. Amen.

God's Plan Is Hidden But Best

 

                                                                                  Lk 1:5-25

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Little did Zechariah  know what he was dealing with when the angel of the Lord appeared to him with the startling news that his wife, Elizabeth, would conceive and bear a son in her old age. He questioned the news as most or many of us would have done. "She's too old. How can this be?" And was silenced for nine months until the child was born, during which time he had the opportunity to reflect on and come to accept the message of the angel. How often do we think that "the impossible" is too far beyond us and things will never change? I'm suffering now with a  painfully swollen left foot, shoulders that are so stiff that I can't lift my arms, and acute shortness of breath, getting worse by the day. I've been praying for healing, so far to no avail.  The  prayers just evaporate into thin air or fall heavily into a bottomless pit. The temptation is it give up, but my faith tells me there is a purpose behind all of this and that I should continue to put my health and future in God's loving hands. It's hard to do, but the right thing to do.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, help me to trust that you know what is best for me and that in due time All Shall Be Well.

The Obedient Joseph

Mt 1:18-25

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name 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 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

We can barely imagine the consternation Joseph experienced when he found his beloved betrothed with child before they had come together as man and wife.  What to do? He was ready to divorce her until the angel appeared to him in a dream with "the rest of the story". That was enough for him and the good man proceeded with the wedding, putting his trust in God. We cannot but admire Joseph for his desire to do the right thing and for his courage to embrace Mary and the life as God's instrument who had to adapt his own life more than once according to the plan of God. When we find ourselves perplexed, burdened of even angry at the circumstances of our life, let us think of Joseph and his willingness to obey God even when he didn't fully understand God's plan. He trusted and obeyed; so can we.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, through the example of St. Joseph, help me to carry out your will with trust and joy. Amen.

The Family Tree

Mt 1:1-17

The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah

1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,

Isaac the father of Jacob,

Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,

Perez the father of Hezron,

Hezron the father of Ram,

4 Ram the father of Amminadab,

Amminadab the father of Nahshon,

Nahshon the father of Salmon,

5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,

Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,

Obed the father of Jesse,

6 and Jesse the father of King David.

David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,

7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam,

Rehoboam the father of Abijah,

Abijah the father of Asa,

8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,

Jehoram the father of Uzziah,

9 Uzziah the father of Jotham,

Jotham the father of Ahaz,

Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,

Manasseh the father of Amon,

Amon the father of Josiah,

11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah[c] and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

12 After the exile to Babylon:

Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,

Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,

Abihud the father of Eliakim,

Eliakim the father of Azor,

14 Azor the father of Zadok,

Zadok the father of Akim,

Akim the father of Elihud,

15 Elihud the father of Eleazar,

Eleazar the father of Matthan,

Matthan the father of Jacob,

16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.

Every family has its heroes and skeletons, and the lineage of Jesus is no different. Most of the names we do not recognize except Boaz, Ruth, David, and finally Joseph, Mary and Jesus. Yet as with our ancestors, they all played a role in giving the Son of God a home and a place in this world. This Gospel is included to assure us that Jesus, the Son of God is also as human as we are. Next week we will be celebrating his birth; today we are given his family history to assure us that he is truly human and one of us, a cause for celebration and boundless gratitude.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, thank you for taking on our human nature and becoming one of us.  Amen.

By Whose Authority?

 

Mt 21:23-27

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”

27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

Jesus cleverly thwarts the efforts of the chief priests and elders to stump him, embarrass him and ultimately to stop him. We see here that we "don't mess with Jesus." As honest and sincere as he is, so should we be. Jesus calls for faith, not proof. Am I ready to answer the question he poses? Are my Advent prayers and practices deepening my faith in him and my love of him? We have a week and a few days left in Advent, how can we best use them?

Bro. Rene

Dear God, thank you for this Advent Season. Let me use it to deepen by faith and love of Jesus and my neighbor. Amen

Concrete Suggestions

Lk 3:10-18

John's Exhortations

10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.

11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

John the Baptist lived a radically simple and austere life and preached a clear, forceful and challenging message that would prepare hearts for the teachings of Jesus. His exhortations are still relevant today and his humble self-regard is a model for us, especially as we now draw closer to Christmas: only a week and a half to go! What acts of charity can we do? How much time can we spend in prayer and reflection, despite the frenzy of decorating, baking, shopping, wrapping gifts and sending Christmas cards? Can we put prayer time first and then get to these other things? Let's give some time to listening to John the Baptist, and select some of his suggestions, or just even one, to help jus experience a fruitful Advent.

Bro. Rene 

Dear God, help me to make the best use of this last week and a half of Advent, so that  spiritually this might be the best Christmas ever. Amen.

Trusting in God's Plan

 

Mt 17:9a,10-13

Suffering Is Part of the Plan

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

The Disciples were so fixed on John the Baptist that they missed Jesus's prediction of his impending sufferings and death. And certainly they had no thoughts about their own persecution, sufferings and death.  Neither do we, except that when illness and suffering turn our lives in a different direction, we realize that God is calling us to something deeper, to union with him in his sufferings, and yes, even death. It's not easy to forgo a former way of life and adjust, let's say, to a more sedentary, less independent lifestyle. It's not easy to depend on others for rides and not just jump into our  own  vehicle and take off to do our errands or go to a  movie.  For the bed-ridden, it's even worse, but if Jesus could suffer, so can and must we. Let us turn our lives more and more over to him, and accept whatever he is asking us to do.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, help me to drink willingly from the cup of suffering as you did. Amen.