Wednesday, 20 December was the festival of Saint Zephyrinus, Pope (died 217), fifteenth Bishop of Rome: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'Twas also the festival of Saint Dominic of Silos, Priest & Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 1000-1073): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.
'Twas also the festival of Saint Thomas of Dover, Religious & Martyr, O.S.B. (died circa 1295, A.K.A. Thomas Hales, Thomas de Halys), martyred by French pirates: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Twas also the festival of Blessed Vincenzo Romano, Priest (1751-1831, Anglicized as Vincent Romano), the "Worker Priest:" Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.
Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Advent Weekday
The Book of Isaiah, chapter seven, verses ten thru fourteen;
Psalm Twenty-four, verses one & two, three & four(a/b), & five & six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses twenty-six thru thirty-eight.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel of Luke, we find the Annunciation to Mary. Here is what Gabriel said to the Virgin: "Thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus…The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
No first-century Israelite would have missed the meaning here: this child shall be the fulfillment of the promise made to King David.
And this means that the child is, in fact, the king of the world, the one who would bring unity and peace to the nations. The conviction grew upon Israel that this mysterious descendent of David would be king, not just for a time and not just in an earthly sense, but would rule forever and for all nations. This definitive king of the Jews would be king of the world. He would be our king, as well.
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