Monday, December 18, 2006
Tuesday 3rd Week of Advent
December 19, 2006
Tuesday 3rd Week of Advent - Yr II
JUDGES 13:2-7, 24-25
There was a certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites, whose
name was Manoah. His wife was barren and had borne no children. An
angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, "Though you
are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and bear a
son. Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink and to eat
nothing unclean. As for the son you will conceive and bear, no razor
shall touch his head, for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the
womb. It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel from the power
of the Philistines." The woman went and told her husband, "A man of God
came to me; he had the appearance of an angel of God, terrible indeed.
I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name. But
he said to me, 'You will be with child and will bear a son. So take
neither wine nor strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. For the boy
shall be consecrated to God from the womb, until the day of his
death.'" The woman bore a son and named him Samson. The boy grew up and
the Lord blessed him; the Spirit of the Lord stirred him.
LUKE 1:5-25
In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah
of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of
Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of
God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord
blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and
both were advanced in years. Once when he was serving as priest in his
division's turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly
service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to
burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying
outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord
appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense.
Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the
angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer
has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall
name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will
rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He
will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the
Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb, and he will turn many of the
children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the
spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward
children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to
prepare a people fit for the Lord." Then Zechariah said to the angel,
"How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in
years." And the angel said to him in reply, "I am Gabriel, who stand
before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good
news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day
these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which
will be fulfilled at their proper time." Meanwhile the people were
waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the
sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and
they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was
gesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry
were completed, he went home. After this time his wife Elizabeth
conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, "So has
the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my
disgrace before others."
REFLECTION
Mary and Joseph discerned the authentic voice of God. Zechariah, the
priest, was unable to recognize God's voice.
Every Christian is called to be prayerful, to be discerning, to be
holy. This is one of the purposes of Advent: to deepen our prayer life,
to deepen our holiness, to deepen our ability to discern what Jesus is
asking of us on the anniversary of his birth.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
- Birthday: Chona Borja
- for the speedy recovery of Myra.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Wedding Anniversary: Zenaida & Alexander See Co
- Wedding Anniversary: Robin & Jackie Tong
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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