'Tis the Fourth Sunday of Advent: Advent-link & Wikipedia-link Advent.
Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Fourth Sunday of Advent
The Book of Isaiah, chapter seven, verses ten thru fourteen;
Psalm Twenty-four (R/. seven[c] & ten[b]), verses one & two, three & four, & five & six;
The Letter to the Romans, chapter one, verses one thru seven;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter one, verses eighteen thru twenty-four.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, the Gospel for today presents Matthew’s version of the Incarnation.Video reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire): Advent: Dreaming Big.
The central claim of Christianity—still startling after two thousand years—is that God became human. The creator of the cosmos, who transcends any definition or concept, took to himself a nature like ours, becoming one of us. Christianity asserts that the infinite and the finite met, that the eternal and the temporal embraced, that the fashioner of the galaxies and planets became a baby too weak even to raise his head.
And to make the humor even more pointed, this incarnation of God was first made manifest not in Rome, Athens, or Babylon, not in a great cultural or political capital, but in Bethlehem of Judea, a tiny outpost in the corner of the Roman Empire.
One might laugh derisively at this joke—as many have over the centuries—but, as G.K. Chesterton observed, the heart of even the most skeptical person is changed simply for having heard this message. Christian believers up and down the years are those who have laughed with delight at this sacred joke and have never tired of hearing it repeated.
Reflect: Reflect on the nature of God’s love–that he would stoop down to become one of his creatures and be born into poverty and obscurity.
Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Reflection from Father Joseph Mary Wolfe, M.F.V.A. (Eternal Word Television Network):
Who is this One we have awaited?Video reflection by Tim Hanley (Array of Hope): Advent of Hope 2019.
He is the Son of God, the Word made flesh, who has come to teach us and to save us through his Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension.
The Preface at Mass lyrically says:
“For all the oracles of the prophets foretold him,
the Virgin Mother longed for him
with love beyond all telling,
John the Baptist sang of his coming,
and proclaimed his presence when he came.
It is by his gift that already we rejoice
at the mystery of his Nativity,
so that he may find us watchful at prayer
and exultant in his praise.”
Let us pray for each other as we await, with love and longing, the birth of our Savior―Emmanuel – “God with us.”
Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.
†
Otherwise, 22 December would be the festival of Saint Flavian of Acquapendente, Martyr (died 362), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Julian the Apostate: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (List).
Commentary: Wayback Machine. Husband of St. Dafrosa of Acquapendente [4 January] & father of Ss. Bibiana [2 December] & Demetria [21 June], martyrs all.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Abbán of New Ross, Abbot (died circa 520; also spelt Eibbán, Moabba; A.K.A. of Magheranoidhe, Abbán moccu Corbmaic), founder of numerous churches & monasteries, including New Ross & that at which the Nurney Cross was erected: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link New Ross & Wikipedia-link Nurney Cross.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Hunger of Utrecht, Bishop (died 866, A.K.A. Hungerus Frisus), thirteenth (XIII) Bishop of Utrecht (854-866): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Utrecht & Wikipedia-link Utrecht.
'Twould also be the festival of Saint Amaswinthus of Málaga, Abbot (died 892, A.K.A. of Silva), abbot of the monastery at at Silva de Málaga (850-892): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link (List).
'Twould also be the festival of Blessed Jutta of Disibodenberg, Abbess, O.S.B. (1091-1136, A.K.A. of Sponheim), abbess of Disibodenberg Abbey (1116-1136): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Disibodenberg.
'Twould also be the festival of Blessed Jacopone of Todi, Religious, O.F.M. (circa 1230-1306, A.K.A. Jacopo dei Benedetti): Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.
'Twould also be the festival of Blessed Thomas Holland, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (1600-1642, A.K.A. Thomas Sanderson, Thomas Hammond), martyred under the auspices of the Roundhead Parliament: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.
Papal Quote o' the Day
"With the coming of the birthday of the Redeemer, the Church brings us to the stable of Bethlehem & there teach that we must be born again & undergo a complete reformation. That will only happen when we are intimately & vitally united to the Word of God made Man."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope Ven. Pius XII (1876-1958, reigned 1939-1958)
"When our Lord comes, it will not be just to judge the one circumscribed area of the earth in which He labored & revealed Himself. It will be to reveal Himself & to judge all nations & all empires. When that time is, nobody knows. He refuses to tell us. He only says that it will be sudden, like a flash of lightning. He, the Savior, is the judge. What a beautiful way to have a judgment. Can you imagine any earthly judge saying to a criminal before him: 'You were guilty, I am going to take all of your sins & crimes upon myself. I will suffer for you.' What a judge he would be? But our blessed Lord took upon Himself all of our sin as we stood before the bar of divine justice, & He who suffered for us will come to judge us. What a judgment it will be when we will see One Who loved us so much."Chesterton Quote o' the Day
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
"Our peace is put in impossible things
Where clashed and thundered unthinkable wings
Round an incredible star."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)
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