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

We are blessed to celebrate the incarnation of the Lord, because by God’s participation in our humanity, gives us an opportunity to participate in the divinity of Jesus.  In His humanity, our own humanity is purified and elevated. Our humanity finds its hope and in Him we can rightfully hope to inherit the divine love. In Jesus, God loves us and in Jesus’ human love we can taste the perfect divine love.

However, let us not forget that the incarnation is not a sole or alone entity, because it is narrowly connected with the death and resurrection of the Lord. By the incarnation, God, the giver of life has chosen death for His son, so that through His death that the humanity finds its hope of resurrection. It is in this deep theology of redemption that God has chosen to born in our natural weakness like a little child which will follow all the classical human process of joy and pain, life and death. In this human process this child will depend on human guidance, thus God affirms the need of human cooperation in the salvific mission of Jesus.

The injustice committed to Jesus, gives us a hope that Jesus understands perfectly our pains and disappointments in our contemporary life. The hypocrisy of the elites of then society, the silence of the crowd of Jerusalem which acclaimed ‘Son of David’, the betrayal of His own disciple, gives us an opportunity to raise us up and look at Jesus for pardon and mercy. Only if Judas Iscariot could have raised and looked up to Jesus………………!

Though these events were to come in the future, the Holy Child was however already revealed and informed by the Father who has sent Him in this world.  Thus we can with certain certitude affirm that the Incarnated was fully aware of the consequence of this act filled with love and compassion. The holy child was well aware of the salvific plan which God so desired through this great event. Thus, it is quite normal that this child observe each and every one of us. Therefore there is no hidden surprise that there is no free and warm space reserved for human, be accorded to this divine Child.  

In this child, for a moment, we may rightfully feel that He needs us more than we need Him.  He insists us that He really needs us for the whole humanity. Every child which depends upon the adults, every innocent person who is cheated and manipulated, each and every individual or association who work day and night for peace and reconciliation, every victim of violence and injustice are the same little child before us. For the survival of the humanity, we need them cared, looked after, nourished and we have to protect them.

Outside of the home, this little child will happily find a shelter though strange amidst animals, very close to the nature earth, does carry in this open world, abandoned by the owner of the shelter in their ignorance, communicates to us the universality of the salvation, the proximity and accessibility of divine grace to all. Since He is outside of the home, everyone can approach Jesus easily and profit the grace of this little child. All those who are alive and active, watching and praying, will be able to listen the message. However only those who make themselves available and engage concretely to put in action all that they have heard and listened, will see in this Child the saviour of the world. If we don’t learn to see rightly, this child will remain however unnoticed and invisible.

On this wonderful day I wish you all to identify this visible Child in or outside of our home and discover the invisible God in this Child. Happy Christmas to you all.

Scripture:

Luke 1:57-66

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. 58 And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John." 61 And they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name." 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all marveled. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers:

The parallels between John and Jesus, by Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD)

"The elderly Elizabeth gave birth to the last of the prophets, and Mary, a young girl, to the Lord of the angels. The daughter of Aaron gave birth to the voice in the desert (Isaiah 63:9), but the daughter of David to the strong God of the earth. The barren one gave birth to him who remits sins, but the Virgin gave birth to him who takes them away (John 1:29). Elizabeth gave birth to him who reconciled people through repentance, but Mary gave birth to him who purified the lands of uncleanness. The elder one lit a lamp in the house of Jacob, his father, for this lamp itself was John (John 5:35), while the younger one lit the Sun of Justice (Malachi 4:2) for all the nations. The angel announced to Zechariah, so that the slain one would proclaim the crucified one and that the hated one would proclaim the envied one. He who was to baptize with water would proclaim him who would baptize with fire and with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). The light, which was not obscure, would proclaim the Sun of Justice. The one filled with the Spirit would proclaim concerning him who gives the Spirit. The priest calling with the trumpet would proclaim concerning the one who is to come at the sound of the trumpet at the end. The voice would proclaim concerning the Word, and the one who saw the dove would proclaim concerning him upon whom the dove rested, like the lightning before the thunder." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 1.31)

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)

Aujourd'hui, dans la première lecture nous lisons: «Voici que j'envoie mon messager, et il préparera le chemin devant Moi» (Ml 3,1). La prophétie de Malachie s'accomplit en Jean Baptiste. C'est un des personnages principaux de la liturgie de l'Avent, qui nous invite à nous préparer dans la prière et la pénitence à la venue du Seigneur. Comme la prière collective de la messe d'aujourd'hui: «Accorde-nous tes serviteurs, qui reconnaissons l'approche de la naissance de ton Fils, d'expérimenter la miséricorde du Verbe qui a daigné prendre chair de la Vierge Marie et habiter parmi nous».

La naissance du Précurseur nous parle de la proximité de Noël. Le Seigneur est proche! Préparons-nous!. Quand les prêtres qui vinrent de Jérusalem lui demandèrent qui il était, il répondit: «Je suis la voix de celui qui crie dans le désert: Aplanissez le chemin du Seigneur» (Jn 1,23).

«Voici que je me tiens à la porte et je frappe: si quelqu'un entend ma voix et ouvre la porte, j'entrerai chez lui, je souperai avec lui et lui avec Moi» (Ap 3,20), lit-on dans l'antienne de la communion. Nous devons nous examiner pour voir comment nous sommes en train de nous préparer à recevoir Jésus le jour de Noël: Dieu veut naître surtout dans nos cœurs.

La vie du Précurseur nous enseigne les vertus dont nous avons besoin afin de profiter pleinement de la venue de Jésus, fondamentalement, l'humilité du cœur. Il se reconnaît comme un instrument de Dieu pour accomplir sa vocation, sa mission. Comme le dit Saint Ambroise; «Ne te glorifie pas d'être appelé fils de Dieu —reconnaissons la grâce sans oublier notre nature—; ne t'enorgueillis pas si tu as bien servi, car tu as accompli ton devoir. Le soleil fait son travail, la lune obéit, les anges accomplissent leur mission. L'instrument choisi par le Seigneur pour les gentils dit: ‘Car je suis le moindre des Apôtres, moi qui ne suis pas digne d'être appelé apôtre, parce que j'ai persécuté l'Église de Dieu’ (1Co 15,9)».

Cherchons uniquement la gloire de Dieu. La vertu de l'humilité nous conditionne à nous préparer dûment pour les fêtes qui approchent.

Scripture:

Luke 1:46-56

46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, 52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever." 56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers:

Mary preaches the new kingdom, by Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD)

"[Mary] revealed to Elizabeth what the angel spoke to her in secret, and that he called her blessed because she believed in the realization of the prophecy and the teaching that she heard (Luke 146-55). Then Mary gently brought forth the fruit of what she heard from the angel and Elizabeth: 'My soul bless the Lord.' Elizabeth had said, 'Blessed is she who has believed,' and Mary replied, 'From henceforth all generations will call me blessed.' It was then that Mary began to preach the new kingdom. 'She returned home after three months,' so that the Lord whom she was carrying would not begin service before his servant. She returned to her husband to clarify the matter, for if she had become pregnant through human fruit, it would have been appropriate for her to flee from her husband." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 1.28)

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)

Aujourd'hui, l'Evangile de la Messe nous présente à notre considération le Magnificat, que Marie, pleine de joie, entonne dans la maison de sa parente Elisabeth, mère de Jean Baptiste. Les paroles de Marie nous apportent une réminiscence d'autres chants bibliques qu'elle connaissait très bien et qu'elle avait récités et contemplés à tant d'occasions. Mais, maintenant dans ses lèvres, ces mêmes paroles ont un sentiment beaucoup plus profond: l'esprit de la Mère de Dieu se transparaît à travers elles et nous montre la pureté de son cœur. Chaque jour, l'Église le fait sien dans la Liturgie des Heures quand, priant les veilles, elle dirige vers le ciel ce même chant avec lequel Marie se réjouissait, bénissait et rendait grâce à Dieu pour toutes ses bontés.

Marie s'est bénéficiée de la grâce la plus extraordinaire que jamais une autre femme n'a reçu et recevra: elle a été élue de Dieu, parmi toutes les femmes de l'histoire, pour être la Mère du Messie Rédempteur que l'Humanité attendait depuis des siècles. C'est l'honneur le plus haut jamais connue pour une personne humaine, et elle le reçoit avec une total simplicité et humilité, se rendant compte que tout est grâce, offre, et qu'elle n'ait rien devant l'immensité du pouvoir et de la grandeur de Dieu, qui a fait des merveilles en elle (cf. Lc 1,49). Une grande leçon d'humilité pour nous tous, fils d'Adam et héritiers d'une nature humaine marquée profondément par le péché originel duquel, jour après jour, nous entraînons les conséquences.

Nous arrivons au final du temps de l'Avent, un temps de conversion et de purification. Aujourd'hui c'est Marie qui nous enseigne le meilleur chemin. Méditer la prière de notre Mère —en voulant la faire nôtre— nous aidera a être plus humbles. Sainte Marie nous aidera si on lui demande avec confiance.

Scripture:

Luke 1:39-45

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

The contemplation

We are totally taken by the Joy and wonder the marvellous work of the Holy Spirit. It is God who has taken the centre place of this simple human encounter and transforms it into a divine encounter. God is visibly active and supervise every single movement of the events. All are totally involved.  The Faith is in a parfait culmination. In Mary Elisabeth sees the Mother of God and in Elizabeth Mary sees the wonder work of the Lord. There is a beautiful celebration of faith and everyone is perfumed by the divine JOY. These people are simply believers. By their simple Faith, they have become extraordinary witness of Divine work. Shall we too make such simple visits which may be transformed by the Holy Spirit like an expression of extraordinary FAITH which will incite in everyone we meet, the Joy and PEACE that the Lord promises.

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)

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».

Le message

A l’approche de la grande fête, les lectures du jour nous donnent déjà un avant-goût de l’incarnation, la joie. C’est l’Esprit Saint qui anime les mouvements des événements qui s’entourent le Seigneur. Non seulement Marie est remplie de l‘Esprit Saint, même Elizabeth profite de cette visitation de la Mère de Dieu. Ce n’est plus une rencontre humaine, mais une rencontre divine. Tous les chrétiens sont appelé à transformer toutes les rencontre humaine à la rencontre divine. L’incarnation nous donne une telle opportunité que nous sommes indirectement impliqués au partage de la joie de l’Incarnation avec tout le monde.   

«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.

Scripture:

Luke 1:26-38

(alternate reading from the common lectionary: John 7:40-52)

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" 35 And the angel said to her, "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, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible."38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers:

Jesus is Son of God and Son of Mary, by Bede the Venerable, 672-735 A.D.

"We should carefully note the order of the words here, and the more firmly they are engrafted in our heart, the more evident it will be that the sum total of our redemption consists in them. For they proclaim with perfect clarity that the Lord Jesus, that is, our Savior, was both the true Son of God the Father and the true Son of a mother who was a human being. 'Behold,' he says, 'you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son' - acknowledge that this true human being assumed the true substance of flesh from the flesh of the Virgin! 'He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High' - confess too that this same Son is true God of true God, co-eternal Son forever of the eternal Father!" (excerpt from HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 1.3.22)

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)

Aujourd'hui, nous contemplons, une fois de plus, cette scène impressionnante de l'Annonciation. Dieu toujours fidèle à ses promesses à travers l'ange Gabriel fait savoir à Marie qu'elle est l'élue pour amener le Sauveur au monde. Dieu restant fidèle à sa façon d'agir, l'évènement le plus grandiose pour l'histoire de l'Humanité —le Créateur et Seigneur de toutes choses se fait homme comme nous—, se déroule de la façon la plus simple: une jeune fille, dans un petit village de Galilée, sans spectacle.

La façon de faire est facile, l'évènement est immense. Comme le sont aussi les vertus de la Vierge Marie: remplie de grâce, le Seigneur est avec elle, humble, simple, disponible devant la volonté de Dieu, généreuse. Dieu a ses projets pour elle, comme pour toi et pour moi, mais Il espère la coopération libre et amoureuse de chacun pour nous amener à terme. Marie nous donne l'exemple de cela: «Voici la servante du Seigneur, que tout se passe pour moi selon ta parole» (Lc 1,38). Ce n'est pas un simple oui au message de l'ange non plus, c'est se remettre en tout entre les mains du Seigneur, un abandon confiant à sa providence profonde, dire oui au Seigneur pour ce qu'il fait aujourd'hui et ce qu'il fera dans toutes les circonstances de sa vie.

De la réponse de Marie ainsi que de notre réponse à ce que Dieu nous demande —saint Joseph-Marie écrit— «ne l'oubliez pas, beaucoup de grandes choses en dépendent».

Nous nous préparons pour célébrer la fête de Noël. La meilleure façon de le faire est de rester proche de Marie, en contemplant sa vie et en essayant d'imiter ses vertus pour pouvoir accueillir le Seigneur avec un cœur disponible: —Qu'attend Dieu de moi, maintenant, aujourd'hui, dans mon travail, avec cette personne que je fréquente, dans la relation avec Lui? Ce sont de petites situations de chaque jour, mais… qui dépendent tellement de la réponse que nous donnons!

Scripture:

Luke 1:5-25

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; 15 for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." 19 And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they wondered at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained dumb.

23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. 24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, 25 "Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men."

The contemplation

Just before Christmas we are given wonderful passages of different announce of birth, Samson in the first reading and John Baptist in the gospel. Without entering deep into the interpretation of these text I would like invite you all to profit from these readings a single and distinct message to prepare ourselves for this great event; the Incarnation. In all these readings there are plenty to hope and celebrate. There is a call for deep faith and belief. There an invitation to cooperate in the accomplishment of the will of the Father. There are different people once looked upon as shameful are honoured by the Lord. There is an elevation from an ordinary life, not towards a human glory, but in the cooperation of a divine mission, inscribed in the salvation history.

Now let us look into our own humble history and find by ourselves what is exacted demanded from us. Have we really recognized the gifts that the Lord has given to us? Are we still in a complaining and interrogating mood, rather than being submissive to the will of the Father? Are we like Zachariah who refused to belief by applying simply the human intelligence and connaissance or able to surrender like Mary?

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)