These past few days we may have noticed that the readings, from the 1st, psalm and gospel are being repeated consecutively. It's message has been giving emphasis to the birth of Jesus our God by the Blessed Virgin Mary. When we think of a virgin giving birth to a son we come to this undeniable truth that God acted totally on His own initiative to bring about His saving action on mankind. This is to really demonstrate that God is Emmanuel, indeed with us and has loved us first. God is constantly inviting man to be in communion with Himself. According to Pope Benedict XVI Jesus is the incarnate love of God. He gives flesh and blood to the word of God not just in concept but really goes out in search of the stray. God is not totally invisible because He has become visible in Jesus. Amen. Hallelujah!
Isaiah 7:10-14
…the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.
The Old Testament scriptures point to the coming of Christ. The prophets preannounced and prefigured His coming and pointed to the fulfillment in Jesus in the New Testament. A virgin is with child. He has loved us first and continues to do so. He encounters us ever anew in the sacraments especially in the Eucharist. The Church helps us to respond to God’s initiative through word and teaching and the gathering of believers who respond faithfully. In the course of the time and in the history of mankind we hear of people like Abraham chosen by God. The chosen people were given laws and ordinances to follow. The remnants of the chosen people or those who were faithful to God in keeping these commandments like Simeon and Anna, Joaquin and Anne are those who belong to the Hebrew generation, kept the Jewish tradition and prepared the way for the coming of the Messiah. This initiation of God in loving us first should bring us to act and make love blossom as a response on our part. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
R: Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.
1 The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. 2 For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
On the day that the angel appeared to Mary she may have already been praying for a Savior to come. We all have been praying to God for something. Le us not doubt that God answers all our prayers in the best way possible. We should not waver or falter and have faith in God who knows our past, present and future. He can make all things beautiful in His perfect time that is for sure. There is no question to this, God is moving in power. Everything lies in the hands of God but it is in our hands whether to respond in the way Mary did or not and say this to God with all humility and trust, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 32 He 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, 33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” 35 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. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; 37 for nothing will be impossible for God.” 38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
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