Let's talk about today's readings 12/21/08

[cheeto1]

Song of Songs 2:8-14
Zephaniah 3:14-18 (alternative reading)
Psalm 32
Luke 1:39-45

In the gospel Elizabeth says, “Why should I be honored with a
visit from the mother of my Lord?” She says this but does she
understand what she means? How is it that no one can recognize Jesus, despite this statement. John the Baptist’s
story was spread all over town, yet no one understood that he
was Elijah who was to come. When did the shepherds and wise men lose interest in Jesus? It just seems like if anyone was
told that their child was the son of God, or Elijah who was to come, they would at least tell their mother or their siblings. It would spread throughout the family and friends and how could
anyone lose track of them like they did?

In the alternative reading Zephaniah it says, “He has driven your enemies away, you have no more evil to fear”. How true this is
for our country. We always have access to mass, the bible, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. We are free to talk about our faith to our heart’s content, but when people in certain other countries try this, they do have evil to fear, and their enemies attack them. Let us all pray for the persecuted Church!

The psalm says to play loudly with all your skill. Isn’t this exactly what happens in churches everywhere in the Christmas season? I wonder if any of them play a harp and a 10 stringed lute as instructed in this psalm? This psalm also says, “They are happy, whose God is the Lord.” That makes me think, If I
am not happy, is God my Lord? It is like proverbs 3:5 which says in part, acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will direct your paths". So if I feel He’s not directing my path, then in which one of my ways am I not acknowledging Him?

Today is also the day of Peter Canisius, a priest who wrote the
Catechism. Is that the Baltimore Catichism?

Did anything strike you about today’s readings?:bible1:

 

[Nicholas_II]

Something struck me about Baptist. How could John the Baptist leap in his mothers womb, then baptise Jesus, hear the voice of God declaring him to be his Son, and then have to send his disciples to ask if he was the Messiah?

 

[itsjustdave1988]

Hmmmm…our readings differed…

4th Sunday of Advent

First reading
2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-11,16

Psalm
Psalm 88:2-5,27,29

Second reading
Romans 16:25-27

Gospel
Luke 1:26-38

 

[itsjustdave1988]

… How is it that no one can recognize Jesus, despite this statement…

Same reason people turn and worship a golden calf despite having seen many Divine wonders and signs (e.g. a pillar of fire). How many today, if shown supernatural wonders and signs from God, would be able to convince themselves of alternative explanations for it, like the ones given by the Pharoah’s men, or Richard Dawkins?

 

[Eileen_T]

Song of Songs 2:8-14
Zephaniah 3:14-18 (alternative reading)
Psalm 32
Luke 1:39-45

In the gospel Elizabeth says, “Why should I be honored with a
visit from the mother of my Lord?” She says this but does she
understand what she means?

Divine inspiration?

How is it that no one can recognize Jesus, despite this statement. John the Baptist’s story was spread all over town, yet no one understood that he was Elijah who was to come. When did the shepherds and wise men lose interest in Jesus? It just seems like if anyone was told that their child was the son of God, or Elijah who was to come, they would at least tell their mother or their siblings. It would spread throughout the family and friends and how could
anyone lose track of them like they did?

The Holy Family escaped to Egypt and how long they were there is not recorded in the Bible. When they returned it was to Nazareth.

I imagine the shepherds spread the word far and wide but the subject of the Messiah would not be likely to have been discussed much after Herod’s slaughter of all children under the age of two years.

Since John the Baptist escaped that slaughter he must have been outside the area of Bethlehem that was affected. But the distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem is about 120 miles. Not a journey to undertake without a good reason.

Since John’s parents were elderly I imagine he was brought up by close relatives of Zachariah who would be no relation to Mary and so he and Jesus probably grew up having no contact with each other.

 

[cheeto1]

Hmmmm…our readings differed…

4th Sunday of Advent

First reading
2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-11,16

Psalm
Psalm 88:2-5,27,29

Second reading
Romans 16:25-27

Gospel
Luke 1:26-38

You are right! I did the readings for Dec. 21, but, they don’t
count since it’s the 4th Sunday of advent. Well, I’m snowed
in here, so I guess I have time to read those too! Did anything
strike you about the readings? How was your homily?

 

[cheeto1]

distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem is about 120 miles.

Ah, so when Jesus’ family escaped, everyone may have thought
He had been killed. They couldn’t call and let everyone know they were all right. Then when He came back He was not really
“back” but 120 miles away, and no one knew what ever became
of Him until He was baptized! Thank you, I always thought the 2
cities were closer together…

 

[cheeto1]

Something struck me about Baptist. How could John the Baptist leap in his mothers womb, then baptise Jesus, hear the voice of God declaring him to be his Son, and then have to send his disciples to ask if he was the Messiah?

Hmm… Babies in the womb can do some pretty wild acrobatics,
that doesn’t mean they have a memory of it.

Did John the Baptist hear that voice or did Jesus only hear that
voice?

I always thought he should know who Jesus was, but now that
I know how far away Bethlehem and Nazareth were, it doesn’t
seem possible that these 2 cousins could have any kind of
relationship. However, Matthew’s account does say that John
the Baptist recognized Him as the Messiah saying, “I should be
baptized by you!” Yet he still sent his disciples asking Him
about it later. ???

 

[cheeto1]

Hmmmm…our readings differed…

4th Sunday of Advent

First reading
2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-11,16

Psalm
Psalm 88:2-5,27,29

Second reading
Romans 16:25-27

Gospel
Luke 1:26-38

In Samuel, God tells David all the good He has done for him
and all the good He will do for him. As the Catholic church in
America, I feel like God has done all these things for us. He
has provided a place for us where we are not attacked by
enemies for our faith. When our days are ended, we may
be laid to rest with our ancestors(family members) in a
Catholic cemetary, with our decendants carrying on the faith.
The Catholic church will always stand secure before Him
because the “gates of hell shall not prevail against it”.

The gospel says that Jesus will be given the throne of His
father David. So I wonder if that means that Mary is a descendant of David. I thought she was a descendant of Levi
since her cousin Elizabeth is a “daughter of Aaron”, the head
Levite.

So what struck you about today’s real readings?:bible1:

 

[Light_Seeker]

Yet he still sent his disciples asking Him about it later. ???

Many Saints, and us mere mortals too, sometimes go through a darkness of faith. Particularly in troubled times. Questions about what they truly believe. If what I believed is true, then how could this be…

Mother Theresa comes to mind immediately … her recent letters made public bear witness to a prolonged crisis of her faith.

As John sat in prison, knowing his life might end at any time, perhaps he was traveling this darkened road. Does this mean he didn’t know that Jesus is Messiah? Something he knew earlier at the river?

No. He wanted confirmation. He wanted understanding, as he was troubled.

Just as Mary could not understand, and asked Gabriel how, as a virgin, she could be pregnant. She knew that God can do all. She was troubled, and just wanted this confirmation.

 

[cheeto1]

As John sat in prison, knowing his life might end at any time, perhaps he was traveling this darkened road. Does this mean he didn’t know that Jesus is Messiah? Something he knew earlier at the river?

Thank you for making the story come to life…great explanation…

 

[Neil_Anthony]

Something struck me about Baptist. How could John the Baptist leap in his mothers womb, then baptise Jesus, hear the voice of God declaring him to be his Son, and then have to send his disciples to ask if he was the Messiah?

Our priest last year said that John may have sent his followers with that question for their benefit, to convince them to follow Jesus.

 

[Light_Seeker]

In Samuel, God tells David all the good He has done for him and all the good He will do for him.

This reading makes me smile … God with an attitude, kind of telling David off …

David is sitting around his luxurious palace, all his enemies are slain, life is good, & he thinks about building God, who is outside in the cold, in an ark in a tent, a house.

A HOUSE? You pissant, look at everything I did for you - if it wasn’t for me, you’d still be in the fields shepherding sheep. Everything you have I did for you! Did I ever ask for a house? You won’t build one for me, but I’ll build one for you, I’ll give your son a kingdom who will build me a house, and I will make your kingdom, your house, and your throne last forever! So chew on that, bubba!

Sort of like the verbal sparring that goes on before pro wrestling, or a football game.

Also enjoy the dual references to both Solomon and Jesus in this reading.

 

[benedictgal]

I heard the best homily this afternoon. My PV explained the connection between the two readings (first and Gosopel). He noted that God promised David that a descendant of his would sit on his throne forever. Even though King David did some terrible things as ruler, he still had great love for God and vice versa.

Now, we fast-foward several hundred years to Nazareth. Remember that even though the Davidic line no longer occupied the throne of Israel (there was no more throne), his descendants were still going strong, one of whom was Joseph, to whom the Blessed Virgin Mary is betrothed.

St. Gabriel tells her that her Son will inherit the throne of David, his father. Now, Joseph was of the line of King David, so, since he claimed Jesus as his son, that Davidic lineage is passed on to Jesus, thus fulfilling the promise.

David wants to build God a house; however, the Lord winds up building his own house in the person of the sinless Virgin. Mary, therefore, becomes the true Temple of God because He made His dwelling within her for nine months. Furtherore, the Blessed Mother is also the Ark of the Covenant, because within her womb, she carries the Eternal Priest (the rod of Aaron in the old Ark), the True Bread from Heaven (manna) and the fulfillment of the Law (the 10 commandments). The statement regarding her being overshadowed by the Holy Spirit is reminiscent of God overshadowing the Ark and the tent in which it was kept. Remember that Israel knew that God was with them whenever they would see a cloud descend and envelop the tent and the Ark.

It was a really great homily.

 

[Eileen_T]

Our priest last year said that John may have sent his followers with that question for their benefit, to convince them to follow Jesus.

That’s the way I heard it too.

It was a sort of playoff among disciples with John’s being a bit aggro about Jesus turning up out of nowhere and some of John’s disciples deserting the ranks to follow Jesus.

John wanted them to hear Jesus for themselves and understand He was the Messiah he had been preparing them for.

benedictgal:

St. Gabriel tells her that her Son will inherit the throne of David, his father. Now, Joseph was of the line of King David, so, since he claimed Jesus as his son, that Davidic lineage is passed on to Jesus, thus fulfilling the promise.

I read somewhere, years ago so I forget the reference, that Mary was descended from David as well as from Aaron, which gave Jesus the correct lineage to be both King and High Priest. It had a certain uh-huh factor which felt ‘right’ to me.

 

[LMP]

Yes, Mary was also descended in the Davidic line.
So there was no mistake about it.