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.

Adv2B23.     Isaiah 40:1-5; 9-11.    The Hebrews are being led out of slavery by a loving, comforting, caring God.  He is the almighty, awesome, all-powerful God.  “Here comes with power the Lord God, who rules by his strong arm.” “Like a shepherd he feeds his flock.”

Mark 1:8.  John the Baptist was preparing the way for the Lord to enter into the hearts and minds of his people by “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Speaking of the coming Messiah, John said, “I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  Advent is that special time when we ask the Holy Spirit to make us holy as he is holy so that the new born Messiah will feel comfortable within us.

2 Peter 3:8-14.  In preparing for the second coming of the Lord Peter exhorts the followers of Christ to prepare themselves by “conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion.”  When Jesus comes the second time all the physical things that are so precious to us vanish and dissolve.  The only thing that is truly precious and dear is having the Lord within us.

Adv2B20.    Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11.   “Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.”  Because the Hebrews had in effect disowned their God by their acts of disobedience to God, God allowed the Babylonians to ravage and enslave Jerusalem and Judah (what remained of Israel).  The Hebrews were punished “double for their sins.”  However, God promises restoration after the captivity.  “Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.”  “Jerusalem, herald of good news” will proclaim, “Here is your God!”  “Here is his reward with him.”  “Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs.”  God restores Jerusalem.  This scripture points us to our restoration and redemption from sin with the arrival of our savior, the baby Jesus.  Psalm 85 says that God “proclaims peace to his people.” “The Lord himself will give his benefits.”

Mark 1:1-8.    The prophecy announces the coming of a messenger from God to proclaim the coming of the Lord. He is John the Baptist who proclaims “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”  Baptism is at once the purification from sin so to be enabled or readied to develop and grow as a holy person, reborn in Christ by the working of the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 3:8-14.  Once again the scriptures warn us to be ready to be judged by the Lord at any moment.  However, this time Peter warns of Jesus’ second Coming when “the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements (all physical things) will be dissolved by fire.”  Nevertheless “according to his (Jesus’) promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwell.”  To ready ourselves for that end time that waits for us Peter encourages us to think about “what sort of persons ought you to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion.”

Adv2B17.   Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11.  The Lord God is the good shepherd leading his flock, his Chosen People, out captivity in Babylon back to Jerusalem.  He speaks comfortingly to his flock, assuring them that they have made due reparation for their sins.   In his glory and might he has made the road easy and welcoming for them, as a loving embrace for his chosen ones.

Mark 1:1-8.  This reading is a parallel to the first one from Isaiah.  John the Baptist is appointed by God to prepare the way for the Messiah by heralding his arrival.  John prepares the way for Jesus by “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”  With the forgiveness of our sins the Messiah can dwell in our hearts as King over us who now truly belong to him.  John needs to make it clear that he is not the Messiah because he presents himself as such a strong, outstanding figure that might well be mistaken for the Messiah himself.  John baptizes with water as the symbol of purification from our sins but Jesus will baptize with God the Holy Spirit who is the one of the Holy Trinity who is attributed with the work of purification from sins and the consequent sanctification of souls. Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:5: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”  Paul writes in Titus 3:5: “he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior.”

2 Peter 3:8-14.  Peter writes that Jesus’ Second Coming happens when “the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire.”  In other words, place your life in the hands of the one who is forever and not in the here today and gone tomorrow. Peter continues, “Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God.” Further on, he writes, “be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.”  It is God the Holy Spirit who has the power to sanctify us in preparation for the coming of Christ.  Let us live daily in his power within us.