The “O” Antiphon for today: O Root of Jesse, who stands for an ensign of the people, before whom kings shall keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: Come to deliver us…Isaiah 11:1-3.
Prayer: The Angelus
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, and she conceived by the Holy Spirit. (Hail Mary)
Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to Thy word (Hail Mary)
(Bow your head and say) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. (Hail Mary)
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray: Pour forth we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the incarnation of Christ Thy Son, was made know by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross, be brought to glory of His resurrection, through the same, Christ our Lord. Amen
Continuing onto the third line of the Angelus, we come to one of the most significant events in human history… “And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”
Scripture for meditation: John 1:1-5, 10-14, 15-18
In the beginning was the Word; the Word was in God’s presence, and the Word was God. He was present to God in the beginning, Through Him all things came into being, and apart from Him nothing came to be. Whatever came to be in Him found life, life for the light of men. The light shines on in darkness, a darkness that did not overcome it. He was in the world, and through Him the world was made, yet the world did not know who He was. To His own He came, yet His own did not accept Him. Any who did accept Him He empowered to become children of God. These are they who believe in His name – who were begotten not by blood, nor by carnal desire, nor by man’s willing it, but by God. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us, and we have seen His glory. The glory of an only Son coming from the Father, filled with enduring love. Of His fullness we have all had a share – love following upon love. For while the law was given through Moses, this enduring love came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, ever at the Father’s side, who has revealed Him.
Christ tells us: John 14: 8-10
“Lord,” Philip said to Him, “show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” “Philip,” Jesus replied, “after I have been with you all this time, you still do not know Me? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?”
Alfred McBride, O. Praem. shares with us: Genesis taught that in the beginning, God created the world by speaking….. John’s gospel repeats this truth but amplifies the Genesis message by being more explicit. The Word was more than speech. The Word was God. This Word generates and energizes all life. In the case of Human beings, this life contains a potential for participation in divine life itself. In biblical thought God breathed life into each person; hence a human shimmers with an image of divinity already. But a person needs the ability to see this and embark on a journey to union with the divine. That is why the Word - who endows us with the beginning of life, is also our light to help us see our origins and our destiny. We need the light of the Word to appreciate the life received from the Word. This gospel says the world failed to recognize the Word. Even many of His own people did not accept Him. But some did and they were given power to be the children of God and believe in His name. Their union with divine Love did not come from merely being born. Nor was it caused by a human choice based on logic and common sense. They chose union with the Divine Word – Love – because Love first chose them. (The Divine Presence of Jesus: Meditation and Commentary on the Gospel of John; Alfred McBride, Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 1992)
My thoughts: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” is so powerful we must bow our heads when we say it, for we are declaring that we believe Jesus is God, that He is both man and God, and that He came to earth to live among us. What wondrous love is this, O my Soul? This love is with us today, calling us to come to Him and believe in Him, hope in Him and love Him, for He made us, redeemed us and wants us home with Him in heaven. As we spend this last week of Advent preparing for Christmas, let us not forget to thank the Lord for the gift He so willingly gave to us – Himself – and return the favor by giving ourselves to Him. Emmanuel: God with us!
Don't forget to say your Christmas Novena 15 times today for your special intention!
Christmas Novena
Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires(mention request here).
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.
Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires(mention request here).
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.
No comments:
Post a Comment