DAILY- HOMILY

December 18, 2018 – TUESDAY, 3rd Week of Advent

OAdonai

Violet.

Jer 23: 5-8 / Mt 1: 18- 25

[Misa de Gallo, White, with Gloria]

FROM THE 1ST READING:             Jer 23: 5-6

Yahweh further says, "The day is coming when I will raise up a king who is David's righteous successor. He will rule wisely and govern with justice and righteousness. That will be a grandiose era when Judah will enjoy peace and Israel will live in safety. He will be called Yahweh-our-justice"

GOSPEL READING:           Mt 1: 18- 25

This is how Jesus Christ was born. Mary his mother had been given to Joseph in marriage but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to discredit her.

While he was pondering over this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a son. You shall call him 'Jesus' for he will save his people from their sins.."

All this happened in order to fulfill what the Lord has said through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and he will be called Emmanuel which means: God-with-us.

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do and he took his wife to his home. So she gave birth to a son and he had not had marital relations with her. Joseph gave him the name of Jesus.

REFLECTION

In the first reading the prophet Jeremiah speaks of the coming of the "spiritual" Israel after the defeat and destruction of Israel. Jeremiah's message gives hope for the triumph of God's justice.

In the Gospel reading we hear "how Jesus Christ was born." Mary was with child with Jesus and Joseph her husband, "an upright man," "made plans to divorce her in all secrecy."

God intervened and an Angel told Joseph not to divorce Mary: her child "was conceived by the Holy Spirit."

An unknown author once wrote that "a house is made of walls and beams, but a home is built by people with faith, hope and love." As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, we are all invited not just to live in a house but in a home. To be at home is to be united with loved ones. More than giving of material gifts this season, may love be felt in the very presence of our loved ones. After all, the Christmas story is the story of God gifting the world with his only begotten Son for the salvation of mankind.

We are then reminded of the essence of Christmas. May this coming Christmas season be a season where individuals are united with their families and loved ones at home, in love and harmony, in the gentle loving care of God.

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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   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

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