L'Evangile dans ma vie/ The Gospel in my life

Gospel text

(Jn 20,2-8): 

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala ran to Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved. And she said to them, «They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don't know where they have laid him». Peter then set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down and saw the linen cloths lying flat, but he did not enter. Then Simon Peter came following him and entered the tomb; he, too, saw the linen cloths lying flat. The napkin, which had been around his head was not lying flat like the other linen cloths but lay rolled up in its place. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and believed.

The Application

The person who is able to see what is there and identify the invisible truth of life, will be happy and joyful. The resurrection of the Lord, though seems to us simple to understand and perceive, it was not so, then to the disciples of the Lord. Jean is helping us to understand this resurrection from an empty tomb without the body of their loved ONE.

Many at time in our difficult moments of life, like sickness of our dear ones, or accidents or failures, we refuse to see the important elements available before us. We may cry for the sick person, while totally ignoring that the son or the daughter is a doctor at home or it’s simply a fever or cough, or an ordinary sickness, or even if it is serious, there are sufficient treatments and persons available to take care of the sick person. If we refuse to see these means which are at the door step, then we will continue to cry for the dead, whereas the resurrection and the joy is before us.  We should learn to see towards the right direction and in the right way.

John saw in this disturbed time, materials like cloths in the empty tomb, were well arranged and in order, which implied that there was not an intruder or undesired guest. It is in these visible signs that he discovered the sign of hope and the joy of the resurrection. From visible to invisible truth. In every moment of life, if we learn to see what we have, particularly the persons and the means at our disposition, then we will be able to see even in the death, the resurrection and in the pain, a reason to be joyful and happy.  God has given these things, pain and joy, at the same time, with a great difference of density. It is in our hand to see and chose what we desire. John has chosen to see the resurrection and Mary of Magdalen has chosen the empty tomb. Both are right and the result will be drastically different and extreme.

«He saw and believed»

Fr. Manel VALLS i Serra 
(Barcelona, Spain)

Today, the liturgy celebrates the festivity of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist. The first day after Christmas, the Church celebrates Saint Stephen's day, the first martyr of the Christian faith. And the following day is the feast of Saint John. Saint John is the one who better and most deeply understood the mystery of the Word Incarnate. John was the very first “theologian” and best example for any other true theologian. Today's proposed fragment of his Gospel helps us to consider Christmas from the perspective of the Lord's Resurrection. Indeed, when John arrived to the empty tomb, «he saw and believed» (Jn 20:8). Trusting the Apostles’ testimony, every Christmas we are stimulated to ‘see’ and ‘believe’, too.

We can also find these same words “see” and “believe” in connection with Jesus' birth, the Verb incarnated. Pushed by his heart's intuition —and we should add, by “grace”— John “sees” beyond what, at that time, his eyes cannot yet see. In fact, he believes without “having yet seen” the Christ; and receives the praise of those «who haven't seen me and believe anyway» (Jn 20:29), that ends chapter twenty of his Gospel.

Peter and John “run” together towards the tomb, but the text says John «outran Peter and reached the tomb first» (Jn 20:4). It seems that the desire to be again by the side of the One he loved —Christ— was stronger than that of physically being next to Peter, with whom, however —by waiting for him and allowing him to be the first to enter the tomb— he shows that it is Peter who holds the primacy of the Apostolic College. Yet, it is his ardent heart, full of zeal, John's impassionate love, which impels him to “run” and “outrun”, in a clear invitation for us to equally live our faith with such a fervent desire to see the Resurrection.

Texte de l'Évangile

(Jn 20,2-8): 

Le premier jour de la semaine, Marie de Magdala court donc trouver Simon-Pierre et l'autre disciple, celui que Jésus aimait, et elle leur dit: «On a enlevé le Seigneur de son tombeau, et nous ne savons pas où on l'a mis». Pierre partit donc avec l'autre disciple pour se rendre au tombeau. Ils couraient tous les deux ensemble, mais l'autre disciple courut plus vite que Pierre et arriva le premier au tombeau. En se penchant, il voit que le linceul est resté là ; cependant il n'entre pas. Simon-Pierre, qui le suivait, arrive à son tour. Il entre dans le tombeau, et il regarde le linceul resté là, et le linge qui avait recouvert la tête, non pas posé avec le linceul, mais roulé à part à sa place. C'est alors qu'entra l'autre disciple, lui qui était arrivé le premier au tombeau. Il vit, et il crut.

L’Application

La foi est un cadeau offerte par l’Esprit Saint, pourtant pour mieux l’approprier, il faut en peut d’intelligence et de compréhension.  Sans cette intelligence et de compréhension, nous ne pouvons définir ni cette foi que nous avons reçue, ni pouvoir en profiter.

Cette intelligence nous aide à franchir, le mur de la visibilité à l’invisibilité. L’évangile du jour nous le dit clairement, « Il vit, et il crut. » Il faut savoir découvrir la vérité, particulièrement les œuvres divines à travers les événements et les réalités qui nous entourent. Jean nous aide à découvrir cette vérité qui nous sauve et à croire sans voir.

«Il vit, et il crut»

Abbé Manel VALLS i Serra 
(Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, la liturgie célèbre la fête de saint Jean, apôtre et évangéliste. Le jour qui suit la Noël, l'Église célèbre la fête du premier martyr de la foi chrétienne, saint Étienne. Et le jour suivant, saint Jean, celui qui pénètre le mieux et le plus profondément le mystère du Verbe incarné, premier théologien et modèle de tout véritable théologien. Le passage de son Évangile qu'on nous propose aujourd'hui nous aide à contempler Noël dans la perspective de la Résurrection du Seigneur. Jean, en effet, arrivé au sépulcre vide, «vit et crut» (Jn 20,8). Confiants dans le témoignage des Apôtres, à chaque Noël, nous nous voyons poussés à “voir” et à “croire”.

L'on peut revivre ces mêmes “voir” et “croire” à propos de la naissance de Jésus, le Verbe incarné. Jean, poussé par les intuitions de son cœur —et, devrions-nous ajouter, par la “grâce”— “voit” au-delà de ce que ses yeux peuvent contempler en ce moment. En réalité, s'il croit, il le fait sans “avoir vu” encore le Christ, ce qui inclut déjà la louange implicite de ceux qui «croiront sans avoir vu» (Jn 20,29), qui culmine dans le vingtième chapitre de son Évangile.

Pierre et Jean “courent” ensemble au sépulcre, mais le texte nous dit que Jean «courut plus vite que Pierre et arriva le premier au tombeau» (Jn 20,4). Comme si Jean était mu davantage par le désir d'être de nouveau aux côtés de Celui qu'il aimait —le Christ— que par le fait de rester aux côtés de Pierre, dont, cependant —par le geste de l'attendre et de le laisser entrer le premier— il reconnaît la primauté dans le Collège des Apôtres. Malgré tout, le cœur ardent de Jean, plein de zèle, regorgeant d'amour, le porte à “courir” et à “s'avancer”, nous invitant clairement à vivre aussi notre foi avec ce désir ardent de rencontrer le Ressuscité.

Texte de l'Évangile (Mt 10,17-22): 

«Méfiez-vous des hommes: ils vous livreront aux tribunaux et vous flagelleront dans leurs synagogues. Vous serez traînés devant des gouverneurs et des rois à cause de moi: il y aura là un témoignage pour eux et pour les païens. Quand on vous livrera, ne vous tourmentez pas pour savoir ce que vous direz ni comment vous le direz: ce que vous aurez à dire vous sera donné à cette heure-là. Car ce n'est pas vous qui parlerez, c'est l'Esprit de votre Père qui parlera en vous. Le frère livrera son frère à la mort, et le père, son enfant; les enfants se dresseront contre leurs parents et les feront mettre à mort. Vous serez détestés de tous à cause de mon nom; mais celui qui aura persévéré jusqu'à la fin, celui-là sera sauvé».

«Ils vous livreront aux tribunaux et vous fouetteront»

Abbé Josep Mª MASSANA i Mola OFM 
(Barcelona, Espagne)

Today Christmas has become an occasion for the family get together and a moment rich with generational exchanges. Certainly it is socially something very good and to be appreciated in all our family get-togethers. However, it is important that we realise, that Christmas is to be centred in the Person of Christ and discover the mystery of divine intervention for the salvation of the humanity. It is a feast which invites us to look beyond the visible realities and through them to seek the invisible TRUTH, particularly the divine work in the humanity, by which He protects and guides us all.

The divine incarnation is filled with hope and joy, not only for the spiritual seekers, but also for the material and pleasure seekers. God has created us in a manner that man in his freedom choses what he thinks important and pleasing for him. However, it is in this same freedom and liberty that God desires to instruct us, to make a wise discernment and be able to go beyond these pleasure of earthly things and through them, discover the eternal joy that He proposes us today.

Yesterday in the mass for the children I asked to one of the children what is the reason for his joy, and he replayed to me by saying, it is just like this, and Christmas gives my joy. Knowingly or unknowingly, children enter into the tradition and with the exchange of sweets and gifts, we forget the giver and source of this joy. The parents prepare all these for their children, because they love them and desire that they may be happy.  Many of us even the adults are not able to understand why God has done this for us, the sinners. We forget just like these little children and sometime we don’t even search and find that we are someone very precious for God that He says by the incarnation that He can go to any extent to save us and protect our soul.

The incarnation does disturb and upset the society of its understanding of God and the way God works. Why the creator has chosen to born in the poverty, while the palaces were always available at His disposition?  It is simply because that God may be close to us and be able to reach to us without any hurdles and disturbances. To create the proximity and accessibility, this poverty was the best means chosen by God. The heart of May was sufficiently enough to warm this little child and God contents himself with this little heart filled with joy and hope. Through the incarnation God has given this immaculate heart of Mary to warm us, form us and model us, particularly to teach us how to keep Christ warm and pleasing.

It is important that we approach this divinely chosen mother to learn from her, how to love Christ. Saint Joseph though remain silent, was active when this child was in need of him. It is important that we learn from him too this quality of silence and discretion, watching and waiting patiently, and simply accompanying Mary to accomplish her mission, to be the mother of Christ.  His kindness and generosity can be a good model for us too, particularly in our human and interpersonal relationship.

May this joy of Christ and the Christmas remain in us and continue to produce the hope to live this life fully. Let us share this joy with our brothers and sisters , and bless them gnerousely and pray for them. God bless you all and Merry Christmas.

Fr.Terry

Texte de l'Évangile (Lc 1,57-66):

 Le temps où Élisabeth devait accoucher arriva, et elle enfanta un fils. Ses voisins et ses parents apprirent que le Seigneur avait fait éclater envers elle sa miséricorde, et ils se réjouirent avec elle. Le huitième jour, ils vinrent pour circoncire l'enfant, et ils l'appelaient Zacharie, du nom de son père. Mais sa mère prit la parole, et dit: «Non, il sera appelé Jean». Ils lui dirent: «Il n'y a dans ta parenté personne qui soit appelé de ce nom». Et ils firent des signes à son père pour savoir comment il voulait qu'on l'appelle. Zacharie demanda des tablettes, et il écrivit: «Jean est son nom». Et tous furent dans l'étonnement. Au même instant, sa bouche s'ouvrit, sa langue se délia, et il parlait, bénissant Dieu. La crainte s'empara de tous les habitants d'alentour, et, dans toutes les montagnes de la Judée, on s'entretenait de toutes ces choses. Tous ceux qui les apprirent les gardèrent dans leur coeur, en disant: «Que sera donc cet enfant?». Et la main du Seigneur était avec lui.

«‘Que sera donc cet enfant?’. Et la main du Seigneur était avec lui»

Abbé Miquel MASATS i Roca 
(Girona, Espagne)

Texte de l'Évangile (Lc 1,46-56): 

Marie dit: «Mon âme exalte le Seigneur, et mon esprit se réjouit en Dieu, mon Sauveur, parce qu'il a jeté les yeux sur la bassesse de sa servante. Car voici, désormais toutes les générations me diront bienheureuse, parce que le Tout Puissant a fait pour moi de grandes choses. Son nom est saint, et sa miséricorde s'étend d'âge en âge Sur ceux qui le craignent. Il a déployé la force de son bras; Il a dispersé ceux qui avaient dans le coeur des pensées orgueilleuses. Il a renversé les puissants de leurs trônes, et il a élevé les humbles. Il a rassasié de biens les affamés, et il a renvoyé les riches à vide. Il a secouru Israël, son serviteur, et il s'est souvenu de sa miséricorde, —comme il l'avait dit à nos pères— envers Abraham et sa postérité pour toujours». 

Marie demeura avec Élisabeth environ trois mois. Puis elle retourna chez elle.

«Mon âme exalte le Seigneur, et mon esprit se réjouit en Dieu»

Abbé Francesc PERARNAU i Cañellas 
(Girona, Espagne)

Gospel text

(Lc 1,39-45): 

Mary then set out for a town in the Hills of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, and giving a loud cry, said, «You are most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that the Lord's word would come true!».

The Application

These days we are meditating on the theme of joyful waiting and today we have this joy in its fullness, fully animated by the Holy Spirit. The main actors however remain invisible to the outsiders of this divine encounter.  

All the human players of today’s divine encounter were deep believers. They simply believed without any sufficient scientific evident of future course or implications of these events. We should also learn to believe, by putting all our trust in the divine goodness.

They were fully connected to the events inside and outside of their surroundings. It is important that we too remain connected to the inner movements and remain connected to the outside of ours’. They were well aware that the Holy Spirit was in full action in them. The Holy Spirit is still acting in us. Only if we realise these inner movements, we will discover the reason of our joy, pure joy, which comes from the divine encounters.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: 

John prophecies from the womb, by Maximus of Turin (died between 408-423 AD)

"Not yet born, already John prophesies and, while still in the enclosure of his mother's womb, confesses the coming of Christ with movements of joy - since he could not do so with his voice. As Elizabeth says to holy Mary, 'As soon as you greeted me, the child in my womb exulted for joy.' John exults, then, before he is born. Before his eyes can see what the world looks like, he can recognize the Lord of the world with his spirit. In this regard, I think that the prophetic phrase is appropriate: 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you came forth from the womb I sanctified you' (Jeremiah 1:5). Thus we ought not to marvel that after Herod put him in prison, he continued to announce Christ to his disciples from his confinement, when even confined in the womb he preached the same Lord by his movements." (excerpt from SERMON 5.4)

«Blessed are you who believed»

Fr. Àngel CALDAS i Bosch 
(Salt, Girona, Spain)

Today, the text of the Gospel corresponds to the second joyful mystery: the «Visitation of the Blessed Virgin to Her Cousin, St. Elizabeth». It certainly is a complete mystery! A silent inburst of profound and intense joy as History has never ever narrated! It is Mary's joy that has just become a mother, because it is fitting that all grace continues to come through Mary by the work of the Holy Spirit. The latin word “gaudium” express a deep and intimate joy that does not burst out. Despite that, the mountains of Judah were covered with joy. Mary exulted as a mother who has just realized she is expecting a child. And what a Child! A Child that, before being born, already peregrinated through the bouldery trodden tracks leading to Ain Karim, nestled in the heart and lovely arms of Mary. 

Joy in Elisabeth's soul and face, and in the baby leaping in her womb. The words of Mary's cousin will travel through time: «Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!» (Lk 1:42). The prayer of the Saint Rosary, as a source of joy, is one of the new perspectives discovered by our Pope John Paul II in his apostolic Letter about the Rosary of the Virgin Mary.

Joy is indivisible from faith. «But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?» (Lk 1:43). The joy of God and Mary has spread all over the world. To allow it within us, we need only to open ourselves through our faith to God's constant influence in our life, while walking our path with the Infant, with She who has believed, by holding St. Joseph's strong and enamored hand. Earthen paths, asphalt, cobblestones or muddy roads through, any Christian always carries upon him, two dimensions of faith: the union with God and the service to others. Both quite closely linked up: with a unity of life that establishes no solution of continuity between one thing and the other.

Texte de l'Évangile (Lc 1,39-45): 

En ces jours-là, Marie se mit en route rapidement vers une ville de la montagne de Judée. Elle entra dans la maison de Zacharie et salua Élisabeth. Or, quand Élisabeth entendit la salutation de Marie, l'enfant tressaillit en elle. Alors, Élisabeth fut remplie de l'Esprit Saint, et s'écria d'une voix forte: «Tu es bénie entre toutes les femmes, et le fruit de tes entrailles est béni. Comment ai-je ce bonheur que la mère de mon Seigneur vienne jusqu'à moi? Car, lorsque j'ai entendu tes paroles de salutation, l'enfant a tressailli d'allégresse au-dedans de moi. Heureuse celle qui a cru à l'accomplissement des paroles qui lui furent dites de la part du Seigneur».

L’application

Ces jours nous nous contemplons sur la joie, la joie que Dieu nous offre à travers l’incarnation. Tous les personnage de l’évangile du jour sont dans la joie et ont reconnus que Dieu a bien tenu sa promesse.

La source de cette joie pourtant reste invisible aux autres qui sont en dehors de cette rencontre : l’Esprit Saint. Tous sont remplis de l’Esprit Saint. Si nous laissons l’Esprit Saint à animer notre vie, nous serons nous aussi joyeux, comme Maire, Elizabeth, les enfants invisibles, et aussi Joseph et Zacharie, qui sont présents par leur absences.

En regardant le comportement de ces personnages visibles, nous pouvons certainement reconnaitre qu’ils sont étaient convaincus que Dieu a exhaussé leurs prières et aussi étaient témoins de l’accomplissement de la Parole de Dieu.  

«Heureuse celle qui a cru»

Abbé Àngel CALDAS i Bosch 
(Salt, Girona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, le texte de l'Évangile correspond au 2ème mystère joyeux: «La visitation de Marie à sa cousine Elisabeth». Il s'agit d'un vrai mystère! Une explosion de joie profonde comme jamais l'histoire ne nous l'avait jamais raconté auparavant! La joie de Marie qui vient de devenir mère, par la grâce et l'action de l'Esprit Saint! Le mot “gaudium” exprime une joie profonde, intime qui ne se dévoile pas à l'extérieur. Pourtant, les montagnes de Judée se sont remplies de joie. Marie exulte comme une mère qui vient d'apprendre qu'elle attend un enfant… et quel Enfant! Un fils pèlerin, avant même la naissance, qui se rend par des sentiers rocheux à Ain Karen, enveloppé dans le cœur et les bras de Marie.

Joie dans l'âme et le visage d'Elisabeth, et l'enfant qui tressaille d'allégresse dans son ventre. Les paroles même de la cousine de Marie se transmettront dans les âges: «Tu es bénie entre toutes les femmes, et le fruit de tes entrailles est béni» (Lc 1,42). La prière du rosaire comme source de joie, est une des nouvelles perspectives dévoilées par Jean Paul II dans sa lettre apostolique "Le rosaire de la Vierge Marie".

L'allégresse est inséparable de la foi. «Comment ai-je ce bonheur que la mère de mon Seigneur vienne jusqu'à moi?» (Lc 1,43). La joie de Dieu et de Marie s'est dispersée dans le monde. Pour la laisser passer, il suffit de nous ouvrir par la foi à l'action constante de Dieu dans notre vie, devenir pèlerins avec l'Enfant, avec Celle qui a cru, et se tenir à la main forte et amoureuse de saint Joseph. Par les chemins de la terre, par les routes, sentiers ou chemins boueux, un chrétien porte en lui, toujours, deux dimensions de la foi: l'union avec Dieu et le service aux autres. Le tout bien rassemblé: avec une unité de vie qui empêche qu'il ait une solution de continuité entre une chose et l'autre.

Texte de l'Évangile (Lc 1,26-38): 

Le sixième mois, l'ange Gabriel fut envoyé par Dieu dans une ville de Galilée, appelée Nazareth, à une jeune fille, une vierge, accordée en mariage à un homme de la maison de David, appelé Joseph; et le nom de la jeune fille était Marie. L'ange entra chez elle et dit: «Je te salue, Comblée-de-grâce, le Seigneur est avec toi».

A cette parole, elle fut toute bouleversée, et elle se demandait ce que pouvait signifier cette salutation. L'ange lui dit alors: «Sois sans crainte, Marie, car tu as trouvé grâce auprès de Dieu. Voici que tu vas concevoir et enfanter un fils; tu lui donneras le nom de Jésus. Il sera grand, il sera appelé Fils du Très-Haut; le Seigneur Dieu lui donnera le trône de David son père; il régnera pour toujours sur la maison de Jacob, et son règne n'aura pas de fin». 

Marie dit à l'ange: «Comment cela va-t-il se faire, puisque je suis vierge?». L'ange lui répondit: «L'Esprit Saint viendra sur toi, et la puissance du Très-Haut te prendra sous son ombre; c'est pourquoi celui qui va naître sera saint, et il sera appelé Fils de Dieu. Et voici qu'Élisabeth, ta cousine, a conçu, elle aussi, un fils dans sa vieillesse et elle en est à son sixième mois, alors qu'on l'appelait: “la femme stérile”. Car rien n'est impossible à Dieu». Marie dit alors: «Voici la servante du Seigneur; que tout se passe pour moi selon ta parole». Alors l'ange la quitta.

«Voici la servante du Seigneur; que tout se passe pour moi selon ta parole»

Abbé Jordi PASCUAL i Bancells 
(Salt, Girona, Espagne)

Gospel text (Lc 1,5-25): 

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah, belonging to the priestly clan of Abiah. Elizabeth, Zechariah's wife, also belonged to a priestly family. Both of them were upright in the eyes of God and lived blamelessly in accordance with all the laws and commands of the Lord, but they had no child. Elizabeth could not have any and now they were both very old.

Now, while Zechariah and those with him were fulfilling their office, it fell to him by lot, according to the custom of the priests, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. At the time of offering incense all the people were praying outside; it was then that an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. On seeing the angel, Zechariah was deeply troubled and fear took hold of him. But the angel said to him, «Don't be afraid, Zechariah, be assured that your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you shall name him John. He will bring joy and gladness to you and many will rejoice at his birth. This son of yours will be great in the eyes of the Lord. Listen: he shall never drink wine or strong drink, but he will be filled with Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb. Through him many of the people of Israel will turn to the Lord their God. He himself will open the way to the Lord with the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah; he will reconcile fathers and children, and lead the disobedient to wisdom and righteousness, in order to make ready for the Lord a people prepared».

Zechariah said to the angel, «How can I believe this? I am an old man and my wife is elderly, too». The angel replied, «I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I am the one sent to speak to you and bring you this good news! My words will come true in their time. But you would not believe and now you will be silent and unable to speak until this has happened».

Meanwhile the people waited for Zechariah, and they were surprised that he delayed so long in the sanctuary. When he finally appeared, he could not speak to them and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He remained dumb and made signs to them. When his time of service was completed, Zechariah returned home and some time later Elizabeth became pregnant. For five months she kept to herself, remaining at home, and thinking, «What is the Lord doing for me! This is his time for mercy and for taking away my public disgrace».

The Application

We all wish to be happy and we search the means to accomplish this goal. Zachariah, just like any other ordinary being desired for a child and has made a sincere prayer. Gladly this prayer was judged as just and pleasing to God. It is important that we discern in our demands and prayers, whether, they were pleasing to God and are they just before the eyes of the Lord.

God has His own way of communicating or responding to our prayers and needs. If He has chosen a dream to communicate to Joseph, He has decided to send the His Angel directly to the Temple. It is important that we understand the divine plan and be ready to welcome it and accept it, which Zachariah has drastically failed. However, God never taken back what He has promised. He will always faithful to His promise.

It is important, particularly in these days to be like Zachariah, to accept happily all that God gives and listen to Him more closely. If we listen to God, even in our limited way, God will make a miracle and transform everything, even our failures in to joy.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: 

Born for prophecy - murdered for truth, by Maximus of Turin (died between 408-423 AD)

"I do not know what is the most important thing that we should preach - that he [John the Baptist] was wonderfully born or more wonderfully slain - for he was born as a prophecy and murdered for truth. By his birth he announced the coming of the Savior, and by his death he condemned the incest of Herod (Matthew 14:3-12). This holy and righteous man, who was born in an uncommon way as the result of a promise, merited from God that he should depart this world by an uncommon death - that he should by confessing the Lord lay aside his body, which he had received as a gift from the Lord. Therefore John did everything by the will of God, since he was born and died for the sake of God’s work." (excerpt from SERMON 5.1-.2)

«Don't be afraid, Zechariah, be assured that your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son»

Fr. Ignasi FUSTER i Camp 
(La Llagosta, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, the angel Gabriel announces the “supernatural” birth of John the Baptist, the man who will prepare the mission of the Messiah to the priest Zechariah. God, in His loving providence, prepares Jesus' birth along with John's. Isabel's sterility is not a problem. God wants to perform such a miracle because of His love for us, his creatures.

But Zechariah, on this occasion, does not show much supernatural faith: «How can I believe this? I am an old man and my wife is elderly, too» (Lk 1:18). He has an excessively human way of looking at things. He lacks trust in God's plans, which are always bigger than ours: in this case, nothing more than the Incarnation of the Son of God for the salvation of mankind! The angel finds an “absent-minded” Zechariah, slow in Godly matters, a bit “off the air”.

With Christmas being.only a few days away, may the angel of the Lord find us ready, just as Mary was. It is necessary that we try to keep ourselves in the presence of God during the day, to intensify our love for Jesus Christ in our prayer, to receive Holy Communion with devotion: because Jesus is going to be born and come to us! We should have a supernatural outlook about all our affairs. We need such a vision in our professional work, in our studies, in our apostolate, even in our daily setbacks. Nothing escapes divine providence! With the certainty and joy of knowing that we are cooperating with the angels and the Lord in the loving, salvational plans of God.