The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph -

Commentary

Luke 2: 22 - 40

My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation

This Gospel passage gives us two lessons on both receiving and sharing God’s salvation.

Receiving God’s salvation:

Simeon’s desire, a desire of his lifetime, is to “see God’s salvation.”  Once he has seen God’s promise fulfilled, the longing of his life is also fulfilled. 

Do we have the same absolute desire for God?  When we do, we would be more ready to recognize God’s presence around us, and would know more and more how great a gift it is.

Sharing God’s salvation:

The gift of God’s salvation is given to Simeon in an infant, and through a family carrying out their religious duties. 

Many a times, we bring God and God’s salvation into the lives of others by doing what God asks of us, as ordinary and routine as they can be.

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (December 28, 2014)

Readings

Image source: Peter Paul Rubens, Presentation in the Temple.  Website:  Art and the Bible: http://www.artbible.info/art/

4th Sunday of Advent - B

Commentary

Luke 1: 26-38

“The Lord is with You”

The angel’s words of greeting to Mary are the same words we use to greet each other in the Liturgy, after the Sign of the Cross, before the proclamation of the Gospel, at the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer (to begin the Preface before the Holy, Holy), before the sign of peace, and before the final blessing.  We believe that the Lord is with each one of us.

Like Mary, we are full of grace, not because of our credits or efforts, but because “the Holy Spirit has come upon us, and the power of the Most High overshadows” us, and we become the sanctuary of the Son of God.

It is the same Son of God who entered human history at Christmas, who brought us into one with Him in Baptism and Confirmation, and is now one with us in the Eucharist. 

Indeed, we are all “full of grace.”

May we become more like Mary, who brings Christ to the world.

4th Sunday of Advent - B (December 21, 2014)

Readings

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3rd Sunday of Advent - B

Commentary

John 1: 6-8, 19-28

The Voice in the Desert

It might be relevant to note three descriptions of John the Baptist in this passage of Scriptures. 

• His origin:  He “is sent by God.”
• His mission:  “to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.”
• The circumstance or manner of his mission:  He was “a voice crying out in the desert.”

How do these things relate to each one of us?

When I might be the lonely voice crying out in the desert, John reminds me that, like him, I am indeed sent by God  to testify to the light, so that all might believe through me (not in me).

3rd Sunday of Advent - B (December 14, 2014)

Readings

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2nd Sunday of Advent - B

Commentary

Mark 1: 1 – 8

The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

By the opening line of his Gospel, Mark already tells us what he is writing about, “The Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.”

And this Gospel is based on the testimonies of God, spoken through the prophets in Sacred Scriptures, and of John the Baptist.  [1]

That is just the beginning. [2]

The Good News will unfold in the life of Jesus.

And it will continue because the eternal Word of God never ends.

The Good News of Jesus is also proclaimed continuously through the witness of the lives of all those who are called to point out Jesus to others – that is all of us. 

It is important to note that it is the Gospel of Jesus, not ours, that we are called to proclaim and to testify to.  And like John, the authenticity of our lives is the most convincing testimony of the Gospel.

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[1] Frank Moloney, This is the Gospel of the Lord: Reflections of the Gospel Readings, Year B. Homebush, NSW, Australia: St. Paul Publications, 1993; p. 68.

[2] John Petty, “Lectionary Blogging,” www.progressiveinvolvement.com

2nd Sunday of Advent - B (December 7, 2014)

Readings

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