M
MariaChristi
Guest
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The Mass Readings for today, “Gaudete”(Latin for “Rejoice”) Sunday, speak of the Good News we prepare for during Advent. The people of God rejoiced in God’s promise before Jesus came, those who believed rejoiced when He came, and we are called today to rejoice both that He has come and He will come again.
In the First Reading from Zephaniah, we can hear echoes of Genesis 3 when God promised a woman who would undo the disobedience of Eve. Mary is the Icon of the New Jerusalem, The Church:
Likewise the phrase “in your midst” can also be understood as simply “in you”. Father Ignace continues: "Mary is several times described as the new city of the presence of God , the eschatological tabernacle of the presence of God among people " and “in the tradition of the Greek Fathers of the Church and in the Byzantine liturgy, the words of the angel have been almost universally understood and explained as an invitation to joy.”
The second reading from Philippians reinforces for us who are living now in the New Covenant, our own invitation to joy. We are to rejoice as Mary did on this earth and continues in heaven to rejoice in God our Savior. The Gospel calls us to listen to St. John The Baptist who prepared the people for the First Coming of Jesus and now by his words helps us to prepare for this Christmas and for the Final Coming of Christ. The Gospel ends with the words: “Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.” John began as did Jesus calling for repentance.
By God’s grace, let us open our hearts wide to receive Jesus today, as Mary did, and with her let us rejoice – again, I say rejoice!
The Mass Readings for today, “Gaudete”(Latin for “Rejoice”) Sunday, speak of the Good News we prepare for during Advent. The people of God rejoiced in God’s promise before Jesus came, those who believed rejoiced when He came, and we are called today to rejoice both that He has come and He will come again.
In the First Reading from Zephaniah, we can hear echoes of Genesis 3 when God promised a woman who would undo the disobedience of Eve. Mary is the Icon of the New Jerusalem, The Church:
It is beautiful to note that the words, “Shout for joy” can remind us of the greeting the Angel gave to Mary at the Annunciation. Some translations render the angel’s words “Hail” others “Rejoice”; the Greek word in the Gospel of Luke can mean either a simple greeting or an invitation to “rejoice”. This reference is from the book Mary in the Mystery of the Covenant by Fathere Ignace de la Potterie, SJ.
Likewise the phrase “in your midst” can also be understood as simply “in you”. Father Ignace continues: "Mary is several times described as the new city of the presence of God , the eschatological tabernacle of the presence of God among people " and “in the tradition of the Greek Fathers of the Church and in the Byzantine liturgy, the words of the angel have been almost universally understood and explained as an invitation to joy.”
The second reading from Philippians reinforces for us who are living now in the New Covenant, our own invitation to joy. We are to rejoice as Mary did on this earth and continues in heaven to rejoice in God our Savior. The Gospel calls us to listen to St. John The Baptist who prepared the people for the First Coming of Jesus and now by his words helps us to prepare for this Christmas and for the Final Coming of Christ. The Gospel ends with the words: “Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.” John began as did Jesus calling for repentance.
By God’s grace, let us open our hearts wide to receive Jesus today, as Mary did, and with her let us rejoice – again, I say rejoice!
