Tuesday, December 18, 2012
WEDNESDAY 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT – YEAR II
DECEMBER 19, 2012
WEDNESDAY 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT – YEAR II
Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a / Lk 1:5-25
JUDGES 13:2-7, 24-25A
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
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah, belonging to the priestly clan of Abiah. Elizabeth, Zechariah's wife, also belonged to a priestly family. Both of them were upright in the eyes of God, and lived blamelessly in accordance with all the laws and commands of the Lord, but they had no child. Elizabeth could not have any and now they were both very old. Now, while Zechariah and those with him were fulfilling their office, it fell to him by lot, according to the custom of the priests, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. At the time of offering incense, all the people were praying outside; it was then that an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 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; he will reconcile fathers and children, and lead the disobedient to wisdom and righteousness, in order to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." 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 to 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." Meanwhile, the people waited for Zechariah, and they were surprised that he delayed so long in the sanctuary. When he finally appeared, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He remained dumb and made signs to them. 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, "This, for me, is the Lord's doing! This is his time for mercy, and for taking away my public disgrace."
REFLECTION
Today we have two illustrations from Sacred History showing how God works to prepare his people for his intervention in their lives. God always prefers to work through people rather than through direct personal intervention. Today's readings tell us of the miraculous conception of two such people, Samson and John the Baptist.
We might wonder why the Church chooses these two accounts as part of her preparation for the coming celebration of Jesus' birth. The main reason has to be that the extraordinary conception of both Samson and John tells us clearly that it is God and God alone who saves. But it is also clear that God does not ordinarily choose to work except in and through men and women. Finally, the Lord's coming into the lives of his people has to be prepared.
This is still God's way. Samson and especially John are still present to us, telling us now that the celebration of Jesus' birth this year will be empty unless we heed their preaching and express a willingness to be converted and to prepare for the Lord a people well- disposed for Jesus' birth.
One of the chief purposes of these Advent Masses, especially those close to the feast of Christmas, is to open our hearts in welcome to prepare for the coming of our Savior and to make us more and more aware of our personal need to be people who lead others closer to God.
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
- Mon Torres
- Fleur Torres
- Ditas dela Paz
… for the personal intentions of
- Dr Ugo Anyaugo, Oge Anyaugo,Barr (Mrs) adaugo Barbara Okoronkwo,Engr. Ifeanyi Matt Anyaugo, Chuba Anyaugo and Ezinne Cordelia Anyaugo
- Queenie
- Beny Chua
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Jose Cecilio J. Magadia, SJ
- Birthday: Thomas Eberlein
- Wedding Anniversary: Geoffrey & Jane Uymatiao
- Wedding Anniversary: Mr. & Mrs. Allan Dayrit
- In Memoriam (+): Vicente S. Chua Sr. +
… 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!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
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| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
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© 2012 Daily-Homily
WEDNESDAY 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT – YEAR II
Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a / Lk 1:5-25
JUDGES 13:2-7, 24-25A
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
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah, belonging to the priestly clan of Abiah. Elizabeth, Zechariah's wife, also belonged to a priestly family. Both of them were upright in the eyes of God, and lived blamelessly in accordance with all the laws and commands of the Lord, but they had no child. Elizabeth could not have any and now they were both very old. Now, while Zechariah and those with him were fulfilling their office, it fell to him by lot, according to the custom of the priests, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. At the time of offering incense, all the people were praying outside; it was then that an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 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; he will reconcile fathers and children, and lead the disobedient to wisdom and righteousness, in order to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." 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 to 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." Meanwhile, the people waited for Zechariah, and they were surprised that he delayed so long in the sanctuary. When he finally appeared, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He remained dumb and made signs to them. 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, "This, for me, is the Lord's doing! This is his time for mercy, and for taking away my public disgrace."
REFLECTION
Today we have two illustrations from Sacred History showing how God works to prepare his people for his intervention in their lives. God always prefers to work through people rather than through direct personal intervention. Today's readings tell us of the miraculous conception of two such people, Samson and John the Baptist.
We might wonder why the Church chooses these two accounts as part of her preparation for the coming celebration of Jesus' birth. The main reason has to be that the extraordinary conception of both Samson and John tells us clearly that it is God and God alone who saves. But it is also clear that God does not ordinarily choose to work except in and through men and women. Finally, the Lord's coming into the lives of his people has to be prepared.
This is still God's way. Samson and especially John are still present to us, telling us now that the celebration of Jesus' birth this year will be empty unless we heed their preaching and express a willingness to be converted and to prepare for the Lord a people well- disposed for Jesus' birth.
One of the chief purposes of these Advent Masses, especially those close to the feast of Christmas, is to open our hearts in welcome to prepare for the coming of our Savior and to make us more and more aware of our personal need to be people who lead others closer to God.
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
- Mon Torres
- Fleur Torres
- Ditas dela Paz
… for the personal intentions of
- Dr Ugo Anyaugo, Oge Anyaugo,Barr (Mrs) adaugo Barbara Okoronkwo,Engr. Ifeanyi Matt Anyaugo, Chuba Anyaugo and Ezinne Cordelia Anyaugo
- Queenie
- Beny Chua
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Jose Cecilio J. Magadia, SJ
- Birthday: Thomas Eberlein
- Wedding Anniversary: Geoffrey & Jane Uymatiao
- Wedding Anniversary: Mr. & Mrs. Allan Dayrit
- In Memoriam (+): Vicente S. Chua Sr. +
… 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!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GoogleGroup Address: http://groups.google.com/group/daily_homily
To subscribe from this free mailing service, send email to: dailyhomily@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe: daily_homily-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
© 2012 Daily-Homily
