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ADVENT 2018 WAU.ORG
DAILY MEDITATIONS FOR ADVENT 2018
Advent 2018 | Volume 38, Number 1
Inside this issue. . . Behold the Handmaid of the Lord She Kept All These Things in Her Heart Treasuring and pondering with Mary this Christmas.
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Hail, Full of Grace! 10 Mary teaches us how to live in the peace of Christ. She’s at the Top of My List Mary has always help a special place in my heart.
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Daily Meditations December 2–31
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This Issue’s Special Features
The
Spirit of Catholic Living
A Daily Approach to Prayer & Scripture
“Are You the Messiah?” Even John the Baptist was caught off guard.
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Ever-Blooming Chances My Christmas lesson in hospitality.
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A New Kind Of Mission St. Francis of Assisi helped me rediscover my purpose after the Iraq war.
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Online at wau.org, or call us at 1-800-775-WORD (9673). www.facebook.com/wordamongus
Mary, My Model of Faith
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f you were to ask me which saint has had the most dramatic influence on my life, I would answer, without a moment’s hesitation, “The Virgin Mary.” I believe her prayers of intercession have helped me many times over the years, starting from when I was only one year old and facing a life-threatening medical condition. But I don’t honor Mary just because of the way she has helped me. I also, and more importantly, honor her for the kind of a person she is: loving, compassionate, peaceful, humble, obedient, and prayerful. Mary is one of the most revered people ever born. “All generations” truly have called her “blessed” (Luke 1:48). Even today, in a world that is becoming increasingly isolated, people of every background admire this young woman from Nazareth. No one seems to have anything unkind to say about her! In the first two articles of this special Advent edition, we want to look at the way Mary lived out her faith. We will look at her great trust in the Lord when she said yes to the angel. We will look at how she pondered and treasured God’s work throughout her 2 | The Word Among Us
life. And we will look at how she was able to keep her peace in good times and in bad. Then, in the final article, I wanted to share about the special impact Mary has had on my life. Every Christmas, we celebrate the “good news of great joy” that Jesus, our Savior, has been born (Luke 2:10). No one on earth has ever appreciated this good news more than Mary. May we all learn to carry Jesus in our hearts with the same love and humility that Mary had when she carried him in her womb.
A Fond Farewell. In December of 1981, we printed and distributed 1,000 copies of the first edition of this magazine. Today, 37 years later, we are printing more than 700,000 copies each month with readers in over 100 countries, and an extra one million special copies for Advent and Lent. Clearly, God has blessed us over these years—and I hope that he has blessed all of you through this magazine as well. So it is with mixed emotions that I announce that this is my last edition as publisher of The Word Among Us. I want to thank all of you for your prayers over the years, along with the thousands of letters and emails
you have sent me. I haven’t always been able to respond, but I have read them all, and each one touches me in a special way. I also want to assure you that the magazine is in good hands. As I depart, I am handing over responsibility for the magazine to Jeff Smith, the president of our company, and to our editorial director, Leo Zanchettin and Susan Heuver, our managing editor, all of whom I have worked with for decades. Each of them loves the
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mission of The Word Among Us as much as I do, and I am confident that they will continue to be faithful to the call of the Lord for this publication. All of us here at The Word Among Us wish you a happy and blessed Christmas. May God grant you abundant peace, overflowing joy, and a double portion of his love.
Joe Difato Publisher (joe@wau.org)
Spirit of Catholic Living
Publisher: Joseph Difato, PhD Editorial Director: Leo Zanchettin Managing Editor: Susan Heuver Content Editor: Patricia Mitchell Features Editor: Kathryn Elliott Assistant Editor for International Editions: Lynne May Assistant Editor for Meditations: Hallie Riedel Contributing Writers: Ann Bottenhorn, Jill Boughton, Mary Cassell, Bob French, Theresa Keller, Christine Laton, Joel Laton, Laurie Magill, Lisa Sharafinski, Patty Whelpley Art Direction: David Crosson Design: Suzanne Earl Theological Advisors: Fr. Joseph A. Mindling, OFM Cap, Fr. Joseph F. Wimmer, OSA Proofreader: Ginger Roché WAU Partners: Orlando Barros, Angela Burrin, Ryan Petrillo
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Articles in this booklet may be reproduced with prior approval of the publisher for use in Bible studies, discussion groups, religion classes, and the like. Excerpts from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Psalms, Copyright © 1991, 1986, 1970, by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
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Heart
She Kept All These Things in Her
Treasuring and Pondering with Mary This Christmas 4 | The Word Among Us
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he is honored in shrines in virtually every country in the world. Pictures of her grace countless homes. Statues of her likeness abound in our churches. She is the subject of more paintings than any other person in the history of Western art. Songs and hymns have been composed about her in every age, and tales and legends about her life began springing up mere decades after she passed from this life. She is Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, the model of perfection and the holiest of all people. Mary occupies such a commanding presence in our imaginations and plays such a pivotal role in salvation history that it can be easy to forget that she was in many ways an ordinary woman living in a specific time and place in history. We tend to overlook the question of what her everyday life was like. So this Advent we want to look at how Mary can show us what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. In this first article, we want to look at Mary’s habit of pondering God’s work in her midst, and how this habit led her to treasure her son all the more.
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Treasure and Ponder. On the night Jesus was born, shepherds hurried to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus. When they arrived at the manger, they told Mary what the angel had said to them: “I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). They told her about their vision of angels singing, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (2:14). Mary must have been amazed when she saw their faces, radiant and filled with joy, and as she heard them praising and thanking God. Scripture tells us that rather than letting these holy moments slip by, Mary treasured them deeply and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19). Luke gives us another window into Mary’s heart when he tells how the twelve-year-old Jesus remained behind in the Temple to discuss the Law of Moses with the elders. It’s possible this was the first time Jesus was separated from his parents for any length of time. They spent three anxious days searching for him, and when they finally found him, Mary asked, “Son, why have you done this to us?” (Luke 2:48). Jesus replied by asking, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (2:49). 6 | The Word Among Us
Undoubtedly, Mary was hurt by Jesus’ seeming indifference. But she didn’t let the sting of his words take root in her. She may not have known exactly what Jesus meant by these words, but she sensed that something important was happening. So rather than becoming angry or defensive, Mary said to herself, “There must be something deeper going on here, and I want to understand it.” Once again, Luke tells us that Mary “kept all these things in her heart” (2:51). She continued to ponder and treasure everything surrounding her son.
Spiritual Pondering. In many ways, these stories of the shepherds at the manger and finding Jesus in the Temple present us with a microcosm of Mary’s entire life. They provide snapshots of the way she always lived. She made it a habit to ponder God’s work and to treasure what she saw Jesus say and do—even if she didn’t understand it, even if it caused her pain or confusion at first. Mary took the time to turn these events over in her mind again and again. She prayed about them and asked God for new insights into what they meant. She understood that God’s plan is unfolding each and every day, and she didn’t want to miss out on recognizing it.
W e ponder so many
things, but maybe we can spend a little more time pondering spiritual things. Mathematicians and scientists do the same thing. They can spend years pondering formulas and equations in the hopes of making new discoveries. Businesspeople do the same thing as well. They meet with their managers and ponder how to increase sales, cut costs, or overcome roadblocks. Medical research teams also do the same thing as they search for new breakthroughs. We all spend time pondering things. We ponder who we will marry, how we should raise our children, where we want to work, or how we will spend our money. We
think about the “whats”, the “whys,” and the “hows” of life. We ponder so many things, but maybe we can spend a little more time pondering spiritual things. What better way to do this during Advent than to ponder the nativity scene? Or the angel Gabriel’s message to Mary? Or the love behind Jesus’ decision to humble himself and become a man like us? In fact, if she were here with us right now, Mary would probably urge us to set aside time each day to ponder all the joyful events surrounding her son’s birth.
Seek First the Kingdom. Prior to the Annunciation, Mary’s plans were pretty much set. She was going to Advent 2018 | 7
marry Joseph, raise a family, and live a quiet life in Nazareth. But it didn’t take long after the angel appeared to her for Mary to realize that this new plan from God was going to cost her—maybe everything. Rather than panicking, refusing the angel, or growing resentful, Mary trusted the Lord and then set about pondering everything that had to do with the new plan God had revealed to her. The more she pondered, the more she treasured, and the more she treasured, the more she pondered. All this pondering and treasuring led her to the point where she could tell Elizabeth, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior” (Luke 1:46-47). This is similar to what happens when two people fall in love. After a couple of dates, they decide they want to see more of each other. They start talking to each other every day. They ponder the wonderful time they had with each other, and they treasure being with each other. Then, at some point, each of them asks, “Do I want to spend the rest of my life with this person?” This question—which points to radical and costly decisions in the future—tells us that all the time they have spent pondering and treasuring each other has led them to join their lives together in marriage. 8 | The Word Among Us
Just like that couple in love, the more you ponder the Lord, the more you’ll treasure him, and the more you treasure him, the more you’ll ponder him. The more time you spend dwelling on Jesus and the miracle of his coming among us, the more God will bless you. Again, if Mary were here, she would probably tell us to value her son above every other treasure. She would tell us that the most worthwhile thing we can do every day is to contemplate everything Jesus has done for us. She would tell us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides” (Matthew 6:33).
Imitate Mary. There is an old saying that states, “Your life is a gift from God. What you do with it is your gift to him.” Even before the Annunciation, Mary had been pondering God and his love, but when the angel appeared, her prayer took on a whole new depth. She became so filled with gratitude that she decided to give even more of her life to God. How did she do it? At the Annunciation, she surrendered herself to God. When she prayed, “May it be done to me according to your word,” she preferred God’s will over her own (Luke 1:38). When she visited Elizabeth, who had become pregnant
W hoever you are,
wherever you live, and whatever you have done, your life is a gift from a loving Father. in her old age, Mary cared for other people. In her Magnificat, she worshipped God. At the wedding feast in Cana, she interceded for the bride and groom. And as she watched her son die on the cross, she suffered with him over all the sin in the world. Mary’s trust in God, her love for him, her humble obedience to his plan—all of it was her way of giving herself back to the Lord as a precious gift. The same holds true for you. Whoever you are, wherever you live, and whatever you have done, your life is a gift from a loving Father. You are unique in the world. God has given you special gifts and blessings that
he has given to no one else. Can you now give yourself back to him? The answer will be different for each of us because we are all different. But one thing remains the same: as we ponder the Lord and his goodness, we’ll discover his gifts and blessings to us. And discovering them, we’ll treasure them more and more. We’ll see how valuable they are, and we’ll become more and more grateful for them. And in our gratitude, we’ll start finding ways to honor and serve God in our everyday lives— just as Mary did. So whatever you decide to do for the Lord this Advent, you can rest assured that Mary is looking down on you from heaven and cheering you on. That’s her job because she is our mother. n Advent 2018 | 9
MEDITATIONS
DECEMBER 2–8
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Sunday, December 2 Jeremiah 33:14-16 The days are coming, says the LORD . . . (Jeremiah 33:14) We often talk about “The Christmas Story,” as if it were one single story. Actually, it’s made up of a number of individual stories, each of which tells us something unique about the Christ child. The story of the Annunciation tells us about Mary’s openness to God’s plan. The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth tells us how John the Baptist—Jesus’ forerunner—was called at birth. The stories of the shepherds and the Magi tell us that Jesus is worth searching for. There’s another story we don’t often think about because it’s not as long. It’s the story of the innkeeper whose closed doors led Mary and Joseph to the manger. But just imagine for a moment that he did manage to find room for them after all. His inn, not the manger, would be honored throughout the world. There would likely be a grand church marking its location, and pilgrims would flock to it year after year. 22 | The Word Among Us
As Advent begins, let’s not be like the innkeeper. He missed a grand opportunity because he didn’t make room for Jesus. Many of us will gather with family and friends this Christmas. Anyone who has hosted these gatherings will tell you how time consuming the preparations can be. They want to create a pleasant, welcoming environment, so everything has to be just right. But no matter how much work is involved, they don’t mind. The thought of seeing everyone together makes the work feel lighter. Let’s have this same attitude toward Jesus. Let’s get ready with joy and anticipation, even if it involves some work on our part. Let’s embrace the opportunities to pray a little more, to examine our lives, and to show more love to the people around us. Our first reading tells us that “the days are coming” when God will visit his people (Jeremiah 33:14). Let’s dedicate the next twenty-three days to making our hearts as open and welcoming as possible so that Jesus will find a comfortable home there. “Lord, help me to make time for you this Advent.” !
Psalm 25:4-5, 8-10, 14 1 Thessalonians 3:12–4:2 Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
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Monday, December 3 Isaiah 2:1-5 All nations shall stream toward it. (Isaiah 2:2) Nearly eight hundred years before Christ, the prophet Isaiah promised that whole nations would come to Israel to learn about the Lord. “From Zion,” he promised, “shall go forth instruction,” and that instruction would draw people back to God (Isaiah 2:3). Now here we are, two-and-a-half millennia later, and Isaiah’s prophecy continues to come true, but in a new way—one that shows how the Old Testament is fulfilled in Jesus. It’s his good news that now “goes forth” and draws people from every background into his presence. The gospel goes out, and the people stream in. It’s a theme that runs throughout Scripture. In Genesis, we hear God telling Abraham that the nations would “find blessing” in him (18:18). Then, in Exodus, we see foreigners following the Israelites out of Egypt to worship God (12:38). Later Ruth—a woman from Moab—leaves her homeland and her gods behind to follow Naomi into Israel (Ruth 1:16). And the stories go on and on. Then, in today’s Gospel, we see Jesus healing the servant of a Roman centurion—a pagan with no direct ties to the covenant with Moses.
But Jesus declares that “many will come from the east and the west” to dine in God’s kingdom (Matthew 8:11). Finally, we look on as people “from every nation, race, people, and tongue” gather around the throne of God in the glory of heaven (Revelation 7:9). Today, the gospel goes out through missionaries laboring in foreign lands or sharing the love of Christ in homeless shelters just down the road from us. And people are streaming in as a result. You have a part to play as well. You don’t have to be a prophet like Isaiah or a missionary for the good news of Christ to ring out from your life. You can offer everyday acts of love and kindness to the people around you. You can visit a neighbor who is sick and offer to pray for them—or even with them! You can include that lonely coworker in your plans for the holidays. You can help teach a catechism class or set up at your parish’s “Welcome Sunday” social. In all these ways, the gospel can “go forth” from you, and people will come closer to God (Isaiah 2:3). “Lord, make me a witness to your love.” !
Psalm 122:1-9 Matthew 8:5-11 Advent 2018 | 23
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Tuesday, December 4 Isaiah 11:1-10 His dwelling shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:10) When you look at a nativity scene, you will see hay and animals. And right in the center of it all is Jesus, the Son of God, lying in a manger. Who would have thought that he would choose to make his glorious dwelling in such a humble setting? Let this truth sink in: Jesus, the Messiah, was willing to come right into the heart of our world and be born in a stable. No pomp. No fanfare. No royal attendants. His presence alone made that stable glorious. Every day, Jesus continues to come to us in humility. He chooses to enter our ordinary circumstances and make them glorious. When he does, our lives are graced just as that stable was two thousand years ago. He doesn’t wait for just the right moment or the perfect setting. He embraces our highs and lows, triumphs and failures. Just as he came to an unkempt stable, Jesus is happy to come into your messy home. Just as he was surrounded by the sounds of noisy animals, he is there in the midst of crying children or difficult relationships. Just as he came to a displaced
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family huddled in a cave, he is there when we feel isolated or afraid. He comes to prison cells and hospital rooms just as readily as he comes to families gathered around the table and worshippers gathered around the altar. Jesus is always Emmanuel, God with us, in times of joy and times of sorrow. He comes and fills them with his glory. Jesus always comes to you, regardless of your situation. The smelliness of the stable cannot take away from the beauty of his presence. Your own unworthiness or failings cannot dim his glory. He embraces every part of your life, and by doing so, he makes you glorious! So don’t be afraid to welcome Jesus. Don’t think you’re unworthy. Don’t let shame or fear keep you from opening the door to him. He knows what it’s like to live in an all-too-human, less-than-perfect world. Not only will he come into your home and your life, but he will change it—simply by his loving presence. “Jesus, come and dwell in every part of my life. Make me into your glorious dwelling place.” !
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 Luke 10:21-24
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Wednesday December 5 Matthew 15:29-37 They picked up the fragments left over—seven baskets full. (Matthew 15:37) Here’s a question to ponder. If Jesus is the all-knowing perfect Son of God, why didn’t he give the apostles exactly the right amount of food for this crowd? Why did they end up with extra bread? Maybe he thought that the disciples might get hungry again. Or maybe he anticipated more people showing up later. More likely, Jesus used the leftovers to teach his disciples something. The number of baskets remaining—seven—can give us a clue. In Jewish tradition, seven was an expression of perfection, the kind of perfection found only in God. It took God six days to create the world, and then he rested on the seventh. It was a day of satisfaction and plenty. It was a time to enjoy his creation. In the same way, the bread that Jesus provided satisfied the crowd in a way that no earthly food could (Matthew 15:37). The number seven also shows us God’s limitless generosity. Isaiah lists seven gifts of the Spirit (11:23). The Book of Proverbs describes divine wisdom as having seven pillars (9:1). Jesus told Peter to forgive “seventy-seven times,” that is, always
(Matthew 18:22). He knew that Peter could be so forgiving because God’s mercy is boundless. Notice also that the apostles started with seven baskets, and they finished with seven baskets. It was Jesus’ way of saying that whenever we rely on God’s resources in our giving to someone, we will never run out. These fragments weren’t really leftovers. They were part of his endless supply of blessings! All of these elements apply in a special way to the Eucharist, the Bread of Life that Jesus gives us every day at Mass. This bread, which is his Body, is unlike any other food we could ever eat. It is perfect, lacking in nothing. It is full of God’s eternal, unlimited blessings. When we receive this bread in faith and surrender our hearts to Jesus, he fills us with everything we need. He satisfies our hearts’ deepest desires. And he gives us plenty of “leftover” grace to share with everyone we will encounter. What a generous, loving God he is! “Lord, I trust that your Body and your Blood can satisfy the deepest desires of my heart.” !
Isaiah 25:6-10 Psalm 23:1-6
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Friday, December 3
Daily Mass Readings December 2– December 31, 2018
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Sunday, December 2 1st Sunday of Advent
We should always observe Advent with faith and love, offering praise and thanksgiving to the Father for the mercy and love he has shown us in this mystery. —St. Charles Borromeo Entrance To you, I lift up my soul, O my God. Antiphon In you, I have trusted; let me not be put to shame.
Nor let my enemies exult over me; and let none who hope in you be put to shame. Cf. Ps 25 (24):1-3 Collect Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God,
the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. First Jeremiah 33:14-16 Reading The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the
promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah. In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land. In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her: “The LORD our justice.” Responsorial Psalm 25 Psalm R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, ADVENT 2018 | M1
Sunday, December 2 for you are God my savior, and for you I wait all the day. R. Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, and teaches the humble his way. R. All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees. The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him, and his covenant, for their instruction. R. Second 1 Thessalonians 3:12–4:2 Reading Brothers and sisters: May the Lord make you increase and
abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen. Finally, brothers and sisters, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God—and as you are conducting yourselves—you do so even more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. Gospel Alleluia, alleluia. Acclamation Show us, Lord, your love;
and grant us your salvation. Ps 85:8 Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 Reading JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES: “There will be signs in the sun, the
moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand. “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will M2 | MASS READINGS SUPPLEMENT
Monday, December 3 assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” Profession (See Liturgy, page L3) of Faith Prayer Accept, we pray, O Lord, these offerings we make, over the gathered from among your gifts to us, Offerings and may what you grant us to celebrate devoutly here below
gain for us the prize of eternal redemption. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Communion The Lord will bestow his bounty, and our earth shall yield Antiphon its increase. Ps 85 (84):13 Prayer after May these mysteries, O Lord, Communion in which we have participated,
profit us, we pray, for even now, as we walk amid passing things, you teach us by them to love the things of heaven and hold fast to what endures. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Monday, December 3 Saint Francis Xavier, Priest (Memorial)
I love you, not because you have the power to give heaven or hell, but simply because you are—my king and my God. —St. Francis Xavier Entrance I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; Antiphon I will tell of your name to my kin. Ps 18 (17):50; 22 (21):23 Collect O God, who through the preaching of Saint Francis Xavier
won many peoples to yourself, grant that the hearts of the faithful may burn with the same zeal for the faith and that Holy Church may everywhere rejoice ADVENT 2018 | M3
Monday, December 3 in an abundance of offspring. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. First Isaiah 2:1-5 Reading This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and
Jerusalem. In days to come, The mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: “Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD! Responsorial Psalm 122 Psalm R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the LORD.” And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem. R. Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD. R. M4 | MASS READINGS SUPPLEMENT
Monday, December 3 According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David. R. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May those who love you prosper! May peace be within your walls, prosperity in your buildings. R. Because of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you!” Because of the house of the LORD, our God, I will pray for your good. R. Gospel Alleluia, alleluia. Acclamation Come and save us, Lord our God;
let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved. Cf.. Ps 80:4 Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Matthew 8:5-11 Reading WHEN JESUS ENTERED CAPERNAUM, a centurion approached him
and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.” Prayer Receive, O Lord, these offerings we bring you over the in commemoration of Saint Francis Xavier, Offerings and grant that, as he journeyed to distant lands
out of longing for the salvation of souls, so we, too, bearing effective witness to the Gospel, may, with our brothers and sisters, ADVENT 2018 | M5
Tuesday, December 4 eagerly hasten towards you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Communion What I say to you in the darkness Antiphon speak in the light, says the Lord,
what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. Mt 10:27 Prayer after May your mysteries, O God, Communion kindle in us that fire of charity
with which Saint Francis Xavier burned for the salvation of souls, so that, walking ever more worthily in our vocation, we may obtain with him the reward you promise to those who labor well in your harvest. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Tuesday, December 4 Saint John Damascene, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Optional Memorial)
Lord, do not let my heart lean either to the right or to the left, but let your good Spirit guide me along the straight path. —St. John Damascene Entrance Your priests, O Lord, shall be clothed with justice; Antiphon your holy ones shall ring out their joy. Cf. Ps 132 (131):9 Collect Grant, we pray, O Lord,
that we may be helped by the prayers of the Priest Saint John Damascene, so that the true faith, which he excelled in teaching, may always be our light and our strength. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
M6 | MASS READINGS SUPPLEMENT
The Order of Mass INTRODUCTORY RITES Entrance Antiphon
(See each day.)
Greeting
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And with your spirit. (Other forms of the Greeting may be used.)
Penitential Act
Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, (The people strike their breast, saying:) through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault;
ADVENT 2018 | L1
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. (Other forms of the Penitential Act may be used.) Kyrie
(The Kyrie is omitted if it has already been used in one of the forms of the Penitential Act.) V. Lord, have mercy. V. Christ, have mercy. V. Lord, have mercy. Or: V. Kyrie, eleison. V. Christe, eleison. V. Kyrie, eleison.
Gloria
R. Lord, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy. R. Kyrie, eleison. R. Christe, eleison. R. Kyrie, eleison.
(When it is prescribed, this hymn is either said or sung:) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.
L2 | LITURGY
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. Collect
(See each day.)
LITURGY OF THE WORD Reading s Profession of Faith
(See each day.) I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; ADVENT 2018 | L3
through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, (At the words that follow, up to and including and became man, all bow.) and * by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. * (At Mass on Christmas, kneel at the words and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate) For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. (The Apostles’ Creed may be used instead of the Nicene Creed.) L4 | LITURGY
“Are You the Messiah?”
Even John the Baptist Was Caught Off Guard by Fr. George Montague
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I
t’s cold. It’s dark. I haven’t seen sunlight in a month. Or moon or starlight for that matter. I can’t tell time except for the one meal that tells me it must be daylight. When Herod comes to ask me questions, I figure it must be night because he has slipped away from Herodias, who hates any nod toward me. Welcome to the dungeon at Machaerus. Yes, it’s miserable here. But I’ve never appreciated the gift of time as much as I do now. It has given me the chance to ponder—and there is much that I need to ponder. I left my village in the hill country outside of Jerusalem in order to answer God’s call in the desert. But now, I’m wrestling with that same God and that same calling. Not about being in prison. No, I’m wondering if I have got my mission right. All these years, I have been studying the prophets and crying out, telling the people that the Messiah is coming. I pleaded with them to repent or risk being burned by the fire of God’s judgment. But my disciples have brought word that the ministry of my kinsman Jesus doesn’t seem to match what I’ve been saying. Is he the Anointed One of God? If so, what is the kingdom of God going to be like?
Not What I Expected. Let me explain. My calling goes back to childhood. My father was a priest—not by ordination but by birth. As soon as he started teaching me Torah I fell
in love with the prophets. My favorite was Jeremiah, because he was a prophet of judgment. I became captivated by Jeremiah’s story and how he said that the desert was where God would begin to renew his people. Jeremiah never married. I too felt a wife and family would hinder my call. Not long after my bar mitzvah, my parents went home to the Lord. Relatives offered to take me in, but I had different ideas. So many in Israel were claiming to be God’s people but were breaking his commands. They thought that he didn’t care. Even some of the Temple priests thought their sacrifices were enough to make them pleasing to God. So many were observant when it came to our beloved rituals, but were sorely lacking when it came to purity of heart. The Spirit of the prophets stirred in me. The fire of judgment was so close I could feel its heat. I left my comfortable village braided with vineyards and struck out for the desert by the Jordan. Like a lion in the desert I began to roar. Eventually, people came from everywhere, even from Advent 2018 | 53
Jerusalem, to hear what I had to say. Some of them became my disciples. My cry of “Repent!” touched many, and they lined up to confess their sins and be washed in the river. I knew this was revolutionary. It wasn’t the kind of ritual washing that people did in the mikvoth before entering the Temple. Neither was it a sin offering to make up for one’s faults. It was a preparation for the kingdom and for God’s Messiah. Some thought of him as a conquering king. Not me, though. I believed he was a holy judge. So you can imagine my shock when this judge, Jesus of Nazareth, came for baptism! It was on a hot day, and the line was so long that I could not tell who was joining it. Suddenly I looked up, and there he was: the Messiah, the Anointed of the Lord. “This isn’t right,” I thought.
A Baptism of New Life. “Wait!” I blurted out. “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me as a penitent like the others.” He stepped down from the bank into the muddy river and waded toward me. In a low voice I told him, “I shouldn’t be doing this. I am unworthy even to untie your sandals.” “But it is right,” he countered. “I’m coming for the sins of my 54 | The Word Among Us
people and those of the whole world. Amen, I say to you, John, I will take their place before the Father.” I cringed at the thought that the fiery fate I had prophesied might touch him—my own flesh and blood. When my hand gently laid his head under the water, it was like he was dying. It was as if he were being smothered by all the sins of the human race. But he didn’t stay under long. When he raised his head, he was beaming with life and joy. The sins had been drowned. That’s the way Jesus wanted it. Then three things happened. I saw the sky split in two and release a blinding light. A dove alighted on his head, making me think of the dove that came back to Noah announcing a new creation. And then there was the voice: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). I felt like I was submersed myself—not in water, but in a great and powerful love. For a moment, I forgot about the scales of judgment. I forgot about the fire of God’s wrath. Here was indeed something greater and more mysterious than what God had revealed to me. That day marked the beginning of our journeys: his of ministry, mine of discovery.
After we parted, I kept fasting and praying and preaching conversion. Meanwhile some of my best disciples left to go with Jesus. I knew that would happen. But while he evangelized the cities, I held onto the desert. It was my home and the place where I felt God calling me to prepare the way of the Lord. I knew no other way.
Ministry of Mercy. One day a penitent arrived with news that again confirmed the need for public repentance. King Herod Antipas had stolen and married his brother’s wife. When the royal chariot passed by a few days later, I called out, “You are not allowed to have your brother’s wife! Repent!” The next day, Herod’s soldiers came and brought me here, to Machaerus.
Credit:© Balage Balogh / Art Resource, NY Jesus Baptised Artist: Balage Balogh,
When he raised his head, he was beaming with life and joy. The sins had been drowned.
God is compassionate, though, because Herod shows a spirit of curiosity. He even visits me here at the dungeon with questions. And he allows my disciples to visit me. Last month, I asked them to return to Galilee and look for the signs of God’s judgment that I felt sure Jesus was performing. I told them, “He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12). “Come back with news of how he’s doing that,” I said. They returned three weeks ago, and I was stunned by what they reported. Not only was Jesus healing people, he was going to parties with known sinners like tax collectors. He was correcting the scribes Advent 2018 | 55
and priests in the Temple and defending adulterous women on the streets. “Lord God,” I asked, “have I misread the Scriptures? How could he be the Messiah?” I have wrestled with that question through many a sleepless night. His ministry was not what I expected. Had I pointed out the wrong person? Was my hope in Jesus misplaced? I needed to know if my life’s work was in vain. Last week I finally decided to send my disciples to ask Jesus a simple but biting question: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3). His response would determine everything.
The Good News Proclaimed! “So
That last line cut to my heart. How could I have so misread him? Jesus is saying, “Look at the fruit of my ministry. People restored, given hope, and raised to abundant life.” The Messiah came for a purpose more glorious than I ever thought. I realize now that I have not only misunderstood Jesus: I have misread the prophets, at least by overlooking the new life they foretold. Jesus was not only quoting the promise of Isaiah, he was fulfilling it in keeping with what all of the prophets said about God’s mercy. Even my hero Jeremiah said: “With weeping they shall come, but with compassion I will guide them” (31:9). “With ageold love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you” (31:3). I feel tears building in my eyes. Maybe it’s because I’m beginning to see with Jesus’ eyes. The memory of his baptism comes back to me. My heart is growing warm. I see the heavens open and the dove descend. I hear the Father’s voice and mercy melts me. It is love, not wrath, that will win the world. I threatened judgment and gathered a handful of disciples. He offers mercy, and the whole world runs to him. Even with these chains, I run. n
what did he say?” I asked them anxiously the moment they returned. “He said you are a prophet and more than a prophet,” they replied. “Yes, but is he the one the prophets foretold?” I pressed them. “The one who will bring about God’s kingdom?” They told me what Jesus had said to them. “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, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them” (Luke 7:22). And then he added, “And blessed is the one who Fr. George Montague, SM, teaches at St. Mary’s University in Texas. takes no offense at me” (7:23). 56 | The Word Among Us