Sunday, December 18, 2011
MONDAY 4TH WEEK OF ADVENT – YEAR I
MONDAY 4TH WEEK OF ADVENT – YEAR I
Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25 / Ps 71: 3-4, 5-6, 16-17 / Lk 1:5-25
JUDGES 13:2-7, 24-25
There was a man of Zorah of the tribe of Dan, called Manoah. His wife
could not bear children. The Angel of Yahweh appeared to this woman
and said to her, "You have not borne children and have not given
birth, but see, you are to conceive and give birth to a son. Because
of this, take care not to take wine or any alcoholic drink, nor to eat
unclean foods from now on, for you shall bear a son who shall be a
Nazirite of Yahweh from the womb of his mother. Never shall his hair
be cut for he is consecrated to Yahweh. He shall begin the liberation
of the Israelites from the Philistine oppression." The woman went to
her husband and told him, "A messenger of God who bore the majesty of
an angel spoke to me. I did not ask him where he came from nor did he
tell me his name. But he said to me: `You are to conceive and give
birth to a son. Henceforth, you shall not drink wine or fermented
drinks, nor eat anything unclean, for your son shall be a Nazirite of
God from the womb of his mother until the day of his death'." The
woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew and
Yahweh blessed him. Then the Spirit of Yahweh began to move him when
he was in Mahane Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
LUKE 1:5-25
On seeing the angel, Zechariah was deeply troubled and fear took hold
of him. But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah, be
assured that your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear
you a son and you shall name him John. He will bring joy and gladness
to you and many will rejoice at his birth. This son of yours will be
great in the eyes of the Lord. Listen: he shall never drink wine or
strong drink, but he will be filled with holy spirit even from his
mother's womb. Through him many of the people of Israel will turn to
the Lord their God. He himself will open the way to the Lord with the
spirit and power of the prophet Elijah." Zechariah said to the angel,
"How can I believe this? I am an old man and my wife is elderly, too."
The angel replied, "I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I am the
one sent to speak to you and bring you this good news! My words will
come true in their time. But you would not believe and now you will be
silent and unable to speak until this has happened." When his time of
service was completed, Zechariah returned home and sometime later
Elizabeth became pregnant. For five months she kept to herself,
remaining at home, and thinking, "What is the Lord doing for me! This
is his time for mercy and for taking away my public disgrace."
REFLECTION
In the birth of John the Baptist, Luke portrays God as doing what He
has done in the past: giving a child to an aged, barren couple in
fulfillment of His promise. The children of such a promise had an
important part to play. John the Baptist is part of God's plan of
salvation. Zechariah and Elizabeth are representatives of the best of
Israel, faithful people awaiting news of the coming of the promised
Messiah.
But God has its own time and way. So, Zechariah while at the temple,
is interrupted by an angel who foretells the birth of a son. The news
is understandably hard for Zechariah to comprehend; the angel Gabriel
strikes him dumb so that he cannot announce the news yet.
Time and again in the history of Israel, God had acted in the midst of
everyday human life. And time and again, people had at first failed to
recognize His presence and believe in His words. Zechariah encounters
his vision in the course of carrying out his ordinary tasks. That he
is slow to believe is easy to understand. When God breaks through into
our ordinary, everyday lives, it can be hard for us to believe that it
is happening.
Do we believe that we are part of God's plan? Let us ask Him to
increase our faith and help us to believe that He is present and
active in the world today. Let us ask Him to open our hearts and minds
that we may let him work in us.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Chief Samrose Anyaugo
- Patricia White
- Shonee Mendoza
- Mitchell, Brian, Michael G, Kristen, Maria, Delores, Linda O, Mary
Ann, Rudy, Frank
- Jo Marcelo
- Mon Torres
- Rakkie Villa
… for the personal intentions of
- Dr. Ugo Anyaugo, Mr. Ogechi Anyaugo, Barr Obinna Okoronkwo, Barr Mrs
Barbs Adaugo Okoronkwo, Mr .Ifeanyi Anyaugo, Mr Chuboy Anyaugo,
Cordelia Anyaugo
- Pam and Rita, Eugene R and Dana
- Pauline
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Rhonda White
- Domingo Tomacruz Bautista
Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them.
May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Thomas Eberlein
- Birthday: Fr. Jose Cecilio J. Magadia, SJ
- In Memoriam (+): Vicente S. Chua
- In Memoriam (+): Vicente Cuevas Jr.
… for families who are in need of healing
… 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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