Epiph18.   Isaiah 60:1-6.  Isaiah writes here of the return of the Hebrews to Israel.  Isaiah 45:3a writes that God says, “I will give you treasures out of the darkness, and riches that have been hidden away,” probably meaning that King Cyrus, on allowing the Hebrews to go back to Israel, returned to them the treasures taken from the Temple by the Babylonians when the Jews were taken into captivity. The Wikipedia article on ‘Cyrus the Great in the Bible’ states, “Among the classical Jewish sources, besides the Bible, Josephus (1^st century AD) mentions that Cyrus freed the Jews from captivity and helped rebuild the temple.  He also wrote to the rulers and governors that they should contribute to the rebuilding of the temple and assisted them in rebuilding the temple.”  I believe that Isaiah was referring to this when he wrote, “the wealth of the nations shall be brought to you.”  By extension we take this to mean that this is a prophetic reference to the gifts of the magi.

Matthew 2:1-12.  “Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews?  We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.’” Even though these magi were what we would call pagans; nonetheless, they were obviously in prayerful union with God so that they could come to know the significance of the star.  In the Acts of the Apostles (10:34-35) it says, “Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, ‘In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.  Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” Prayer or communication with God is not only God listening to us but also us listening to God, i. e. a dialog, not just a monolog.  Not only does he tell us, “Ask and you shall receive,” but also, “have the ears to hear.”  The problem, of course, is that religion is primarily a faith and not a science.  Our God is invisible to our eyes and inaudible to our ears.  So there is the need for a spirit  of discernment that what comes to us is truly from God.  We have the sacraments, sacred and religious buildings and literature and good people in our lives through whom the Lord often enough speaks to us.  1 John 4:1 reads: “Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”  However, only if we grow daily in giving our hearts and minds to the Lord through God the Holy Spirit, will we truly have the internal and external voices to speak to the Lord and the external and internal capacity to perceive the Lord speaking to us.

The devil communicates also.  Herod who so connived in his attempt to murder the child Jesus through his perceived gullibility of the magi and later through “the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under” (Matthew 2:16) seemed to be in close contact with the devil.  In these Scripture verses concerning the magi there is a stark contrast between the magi who lived in the light of Lord and Herod who dwelled in the darkness of the devil.  Psalm 72:10-11 reads: The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts; the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.  All Kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve him.”  This psalm speaks of the qualities of the promised Messiah.  The magi help to fulfill the prophecies of Psalm 72.  They offer the best they have and so should we.

Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6.  “You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.”  “It has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus though the gospel.”  The magi represent the acceptance by the non-Jews who choose to be believers in the Christ as the Father’s Son and Redeemer.  We receive all that Christ came to give.  We are the adopted children of God the Father through the work of his Son.  In our own individual humble way may the love of Christ which the Spirit imbues in us reveal the glory of the tiny babe!

FamB23.   Genesis 15:1-6, 21:1-3.   Abram (Abraham) was very old and had no heir; and his wife was beyond her childbearing years.  It could have easily been that Abraham should have had every reason to think that his family line would have had no future; but, nonetheless, he “put his faith in the Lord, who credited to him as an act of righteousness.” “The Lord took note of Sarah as he had said he would.” “Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old age.” The Lord is faithful to those who are faithful to him.

Luke 2:22-40.  Mary and Joseph came to the Temple as practicing Jews.  Simeon and Anna, representing the Judaism that the Lord had first established in Abraham and Sarah, received the baby Jesus, as the unique One, who was to be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for (God’s) your people Israel.” However, Simeon warns Mary: “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted—and you yourself a sword will pierce—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” This baby Jesus was divinity taking on humanity so to sacrifice himself on the cross for the redemption of Abraham’s descendants and all the People of God.  In Jesus God was faithful to his people, even to the point of suffering and death.

Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19.    Abraham is the paragon or saint of faith.  Despite every reason to not believe, he believed and for his belief in the face of unbelief, he triumphed.  Simeon prophesized that Mary was also to be tested and challenged.  Mary’s greatness is not so much in her being physically Jesus’ mother but rather her faith in the faithfulness of God her Father.  She was to believe to the cross and beyond.

FamB20.    Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3.    God has made Abram rich but given him no children and his wife was too old to bear a child.  Abram’s hopelessness to have a family offered the opportunity to God to show his gloriously mighty caring power.  God promised Abram that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.  Then Sarah bore Abram a son in her old age.  When God made his promise to Abram, Abram simply accepted God at his word.  Our reading says, “Abram put his faith in the Lord, who credited it to him (Abram) as an act of righteousness (holiness).”

Luke 22:22-40.   Matthew 1:24b says, “Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.”  Although Jesus was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit, once Joseph took his wife Mary into his home, Joseph legally became Jesus’ father.  Joseph and Mary, who are referred to in this Sunday’s reading as “the child’s father and mother,” brought the baby Jesus to the Temple to present him to the Lord.  Four times it is mentioned that they were doing everything as good Jews in compliance with the Jewish Law.  The sacrifice they offered in the Temple was the sacrifice mandated for the poorest of families. (Leviticus 12:8 & Exodus 13:2 & 12)  Simeon spoke prophetically that Jesus was “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”  Also traditionally it has been understood that the sword that would pierce Mary’s heart was Jesus’ crucifixion. Likewise Anna spoke prophetically that Jesus was the one for whom “all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.”  In Jesus, divinity took on humanity.  Jesus was truly a human being without losing his divinity; however, his divinity had to stand back so as to allow Jesus’ humanity to develop as a true human being.  As Abram entrusted himself to God’s promise, so Mary put her faith in the word of God spoken through the angel Gabriel that she would be the mother of Jesus, the “Son of the Most High.”

Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19. This reading begins: “Brothers and sisters: By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go.  By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age—and Sarah herself was sterile—for he thought the one who made the promise was trustworthy.”  This Sunday is dedicated to the Holy Family.  They are the Holy family because their lives individually and their life as a family unit were lived in their faith in God, entrusting themselves to the God who is trustworthy.  They invite us to do the same.

 

FAMB17.   Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3.  “Abram put his faith in the Lord, who credited to him as an act of righteousness.”  Abraham needed to have male descendant from his wife Sarah to establish a line of descendants, as the basis of God’s Chosen People.  He trusted that God would do what he had promised, despite the fact that Sarah was beyond her child-bearing years.  That trust was credited to him as an act of righteousness because he believed that no matter what God would never fail him. And so Isaac was born.

Luke 2:22-40.   “They took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.”  The act of presenting or consecrating a child to God is recognize and honor the fact that all life is from God and belongs to its creator and not to the one created.  God has given us conception as human beings to be loved by him forever and, being loved by him, we have been given the calling to be love as God is love, as his sons and daughters in the image of God our Father.  Simeon had the Holy Spirit who revealed to him that he would see the Messiah before he died.  Even before John the Baptist, Simeon introduced to the world the Messiah, “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”  Joseph and Mary, “the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him by Simeon.”  Simeon, foretelling Mary’s witnessing the passion and death of Jesus, says to Mary, “you yourself a sword will pierce.”  Simeon also foretells, “This child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel,” which I interpret to mean that many will go to heaven and many others to hell as they manifest from their hearts their acceptance or rejection of Jesus.  Anna, the prophetess, also foretold that Jesus would lead his followers to redemption.  “The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him.” Since the angel Gabriel came to Mary, one might imagine that the angel made timely visits to Jesus’ parent to keep them informed about their extraordinary child but apparently not.  After the incident of the boy Jesus teaching in the Temple, John 2:50-51 says, “But they did not understand what he said to them.  He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.” Mary is a model for us of one who is attentive to God who reveals himself a little here and there.  As Mary stayed close to God, ready to listen to what God wishes to reveal, we should do the same.  Our gospel reading (John 112:40) ends, “The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.  John 12:52 ends “And Jesus advanced {in} wisdom and age and favor before God and man.”  Jesus, in his humanity, was a real child who grew up under the care of his parents.  Jesus was not God masquerading as a pretend human being.  It is very difficult but necessary to keep in balance that Jesus is both human and divine. Joseph is referred to as his father because, even as a adopting father, he is a real parent to Jesus.  This feast of the Holy Family is an invitation to us to think of ourselves as members of God’s family here on earth, as members of the church, and as members-in-formation of God’s family in heaven.

Hebrew 11:8, 11-12, 17-19.  “By faith Abraham obeyed,” “not knowing” to what land God was calling him.  By faith he believed that God would make of Sarah and him a great nation, even though they were well beyond the age to have a child.  By faith he believed that, even if he offered up Isaac as a sacrifice, God would still raise up Israel as a great nation.  Abraham calls upon us to be a people of faith in the God who is always faithful.  In Mark 9:22b-24, the father of a boy whom a demon had possessed says: “’But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us’.  Jesus said to him, ‘If you can!’  ‘Everything is possible to one who has faith.’  Then the boy’s father cried out, ‘I do believe, help my unbelief!’”  We live in a world that that requires physical proof of everything but as people of faith, we realize we put our faith a God who made the universe.  We have a reality beyond the reality that only our eyes can see.

Adv4B23.   2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16.  God makes his home here on earth by dwelling in the midst of his own adopted People, rooted in Jesus’ ancestry from David.  The Lord spoke to David through the prophet Nathan: “I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm.  I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.” The Lord has made us, his People, redeemed by the sacrificial blood of his Son made human through Mary, so that through his humanity he is to offer himself on the cross.

Luke 1:26-38.  God sent his messenger or angel Gabriel to Mary to announce to her: “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall name him Jesus.” He is to be the “Son of the Most High” God conceived in her by “the power of the Most High” God.  Coming into our world, our divine God became human while still retaining his divinity, so to enable us to enter into his divine world while we still retain our humanity.  By Mary’s response to the announcement delivered to her by the angel: “Behold, I am the handmaid (servant) of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word,” she accepted God’s Will.  She is a model for us to respond positively to God’s will and so to give God access to sharing some of his divine life with us and enable us to be at home with him even while we are on earth.

Romans 16:25-27.  Alone without God we cannot resist the temptations of this world and the devil.  He strengthens us daily throughout the day.  God’s plan for our salvation has been made “known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith.”  In Christmas Jesus not only came into the world but still comes into our hearts.  To let him enter we must with Mary say ‘yes’ to his will.

Adv4B20.    2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16.   King David had come to a stable time in his life when he was victorious over his many enemies and quite well-to-do.  He naturally thought that it was time for him to do something for God who had so much for him.  It is so human to think of God as being on our level.  God is the source of all good.  Whatever anyone has that is good came, comes and will come from God.  No one can give him anything that is good that God himself has not had eternally.  God turns the tables on David.  David who already has received so much from God will receive even more.  God promises David a house or a dynasty that will be composed of one heir who will rule eternally.  The Lord God said to David thought the prophet Nathan, “I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm.”  “Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.”

Luke 1:26-38.   This gospel is traditionally referred to in the rosary as the Annunciation.  The angel or messenger of God announced to Mary, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever.” This fulfills the prophecy found in the first reading.  Also Mary is celebrated for her submission or obedience to God’s will.

Romans 16:25-27.  Paul concludes this epistle with a doxology or hymn of praise: “To him—-be glory forever and ever. Amen.”  The long section between those words calls upon God to strengthen the Roman Christians to be obedient to God, which obedience is their faith lived out in their lives.

Adv4B17.   2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16.   Through the prophet Nathan, God says, “Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Should you build me a house to dwell in?’” God goes on to assert that it is he who gets things done, using David as his servant.  In the narration that follows, using the word ‘I’ eleven times, God makes it clear that it is his omnipotence that has accomplished the good things that have been done for Israel.  It was not David but God with David’s cooperation who accomplished all the good.

Luke 1:26-38.  The angel Gabriel, sent by God, announces to Mary, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,.”  Mary responds, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.”  Mary accepts her role as servant of God’s will, as David had been ages before.  Since Mary recognizes that it will not be by her action that this birth will occur, she asks the angel, ‘How can this be?”  “And the angel said to her in reply, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” It is God’s power with Mary’s cooperation that brings about the wondrous divine act of divinity taking on humanity so that in his humanity Jesus is able to offer himself up to the Father as a redemptive sacrifice for our sins and so open the gates of heaven to those who wish to enter by living out a life of faith in Jesus the Christ.

In the Christmas Vigil Mass, Isaiah (62:5) proclaims, “As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you.  And as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you.”  Through Mary all humanity that serves God as Mary did, in a sense, becomes a bride to God.  Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 11:2: “For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God, since I betrothed you to one husband to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”  In the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:10b), the five wise virgins went into the wedding feast with the bridegroom.  At the judgment time those who have filled their lives with holiness become the bride of Christ, the new Jerusalem (Revelation. 21:2), God’s holy people.

At the end of the first reading, God says through the prophet Samuel, I will make his kingdom firm. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.  Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.”  Through Mary’s son Jesus, God fulfills his promise.  In this Gospel reading, the angel says to Mary, Jesus “will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his Father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Romans 16:25-27.  Paul glorifies God who has made known to all nations the mystery kept secret for long ages that Jesus is Lord and so we ought to obey him by putting our faith in him.

Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29.  “Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord,” for fulfilling his promises made to David.

Adv3B23.    Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11.    In Luke 4: 16-21, Jesus proclaims that he is the fulfillment of Isaiah 61: 1-2a.  This Old Testament passage was originally written by an ancient prophet to declare to the newly released Hebrew captives that all had changed.  The brokenhearted could now “rejoice heartily in the Lord.”

John 1:6-8, 19-28.  The verses just prior to this Sunday’s gospel reading (John 1:4-5) proclaim about Jesus that “through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”  John the Baptist came “to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.” John was announcing that the One to come was so spectacularly awesome that John was not even worthy to untie his sandal strap.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24.  Since we live in Christ at every moment, right now we possess eternal goodness.  What joy it is to have it all now and forever.  Prayer is to be in communion with Jesus.  That means that for us who have chosen to draw on Jesus as the source of our daily life all of life is prayer.  Prayer does not mean that we always have to be mentally and emotionally in touch with the divine.  Life in this world demands that we actively deal with and be attentive to worldly things.  Jesus himself when he lived as a member of the Holy Family had to live daily in the midst of worldly concerns.  To be other worldly while we are immersed in this world is be totally committed to belong to what is of God and God only.  God gave us a body and a place in this world; however, God demands that we nonetheless not belong to this world.  To belong to this world means that we choose not to have God as our God.  Do not quench the Spirit when he reminds you that this place is not our home but only the passageway or road to our real home.

Adv3B20.   Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11.    The Lord God has anointed the prophet Isaiah to proclaim a year of favor to reconstruct what was broken; to enable those who  were unable, since they were without adequate resources; to free those who were bound up or held back so that all may be made whole and productive.  The prophet rejoices from the depths of his heart in his God who works such wonders.  The Lord God has made him glorious like a garden that bears new growth out of what was barren before.  All nations will be will be amazed at the glorious work of the Lord God.

Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54.  In these verses from the Magnificat Mary exults in the spectacular work of the Lord in her.  She rejoices that God has filled her lowliness with his magnificent  blessing on her.  The Almighty has used his might to raise her up from her relative insignificance, someone who was not worthy of anyone to pay any attention to her, by the great things he has done for her.

John 1:6-8, 19-28.   As Isaiah was sent from God, so was John the Baptist.  He witnesses, declares, testifies to the coming of the Lord God into this world.  At first the representatives from the Sadducees, then those from the Pharisees question John.  John declares that he has the same task that Isaiah had, i.e., to prepare the way of the Lord.  The Pharisees ask John as to how he has the right to purify or baptize.  John answers that his baptism is only by water.  The baptism that has divine power belongs to the one who is now following him, one who is far greater than he.  Our first reading from Isaiah proclaimed that God was about to do something wondrous.  In the Magnificat Mary rejoices in what a spectacular thing God has done in her.  In this gospel reading John the Baptist prepares the Jewish nation to receive their Messiah, the light who will take away the darkness.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24.   In this conclusion to his letter Paul encourages the Thessalonians to maintain order in their church community so to be found holy at the coming of the Lord.  This reading continues the theme of this Sunday’s reading to joyfully ready oneself to greet the coming Savior.

Adv3B17.   Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11.  God’s Spirit anoints Isaiah to announce God’s empowerment to the lowly, i.e. the poor, the brokenhearted, the captives, the prisoners.  Isaiah, made by God the glorious herald of freedom for the captives of Israel, proclaims, “I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul.”  Through Isaiah God brings the good news of his restauration of the People of Israel.

Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54.  Paralleling Isaiah’s joyful proclamation, Mary likewise rejoices in the work of God to raise up the lowly, i.e., Mary, her very self, as well as all those who have so little but do respect God as the God over them, especially Israel.  Mary and Israel are mentioned as servants of God’s Will.  On this Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday of rejoicing, both Isaiah and Mary renew in us the spirit of rejoicing in the Lord always, for the God who is everything good forever, comes into our lives to give us the eternal joy of his life.

John 16-8, 19-28.  When the people saw the miracle of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, getting back his power of speech they said in Luke 1:66b: “’What, then, will this child be?’  For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”  Zechariah proclaims in his Canticle about John the Baptist, in Luke 1:76: “And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.” This Sunday’s Gospel says John came “to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him (Jesus).” The end of St. John the Evangelist’s Gospel, John (20:31) says, “but these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of god, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.”  John the Baptist’s testimony as well as the Scriptures shine the light on Jesus preparing us to receive him our Savior and God.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24.  Paul gives us ways to help us have Jesus as the God of our lives.  First, “rejoice always.” If God is truly the God of our lives, we will necessarily be joyful because we have everything that is good and we have all that forever.  Secondly, “Pray without ceasing.  In all circumstances give thanks.”  Be in ceaseless communication with the Lord, both speaking to him and allowing him to communicate with us so that our life is a never ending life with Jesus within us as we see him always working for our good in our lives.  Jesus tells us in John 15:5b, “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing” (good). Third, “Do not quench the Spirit.” Do not let the ways, which the world has ingrained in us, drive us to shut him (the Holy Spirit) down.  Fourth, test everything.  The devil’s wiles are endless and he is a genius in twisting what seems to be good into evil.  Fifth, “May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  To go to heaven, the home of the saints, we must become saints.  We become saints by cooperating with the Holy Spirit who, because he is God, can and will make saints of those who work with him and not against him.  God, who is always faithful, is working within us to make of us his true sons and daughters.  We need to be faithful to the One who is always faithful, collaborating with him daily.