1st WEEK OF ADVENT
Psalter: Week 1 / (Violet)
Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
Justice shall flourish in his time,
and fullness of peace for ever.
1st Reading: Is 11:1-10
From the stump of Jesse a shoot will come forth; from his roots a branch will grow and bear fruit.
The spirit of the Lord will rest upon him—a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and power, a spirit of knowledge and fear of Yahweh.
Not by appearances will he judge, nor by what is said must he decide, but with justice he will judge the poor and with righteousness decide for the meek.
Like a rod, his word will strike the oppressor, and the breath of his lips slay the wicked.
Justice will be the girdle of his waist, truth the girdle of his loins.
The wolf will dwell with the lamb, the leopard will rest beside the kid, the calf and the lion cub will feed together and a little child will lead them.
Befriending each other, the cow and the bear will see their young ones lie down together.
Like cattle, the lion will eat hay.
By the cobra‘s den the infant will play.
The child will put his hand into the viper‘s lair.
No one will harm or destroy over my holy mountain, for as water fills the sea the earth will be filled with the knowledge of Yahweh.
On that day the “Root of Jesse“ will be raised as a signal for the nations. The people will come in search of him, thus making his dwelling place glorious.
Gospel: Lk 10:21-24
At that time, Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and made them known to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. I have been given all things by my Father, so that no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son, and he to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.“
Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said to them privately, “Fortunate are you to see what you see, for I tell you, that many prophets and kings would have liked to see what you see, but did not see it; and to he hear what you hear, but did not hear it.“
REFLECTION:
Today, we pray for the grace to know Jesus more clearly, to love Him more dearly and to follow Him more faithfully and always. The prophet Isaiah foretells that from Jesse‘s descendants someone will come forth and the Spirit of God will rest upon Him. We believe that, that “someone“ is Jesus. The description of the spirit reminds us of the gifts of the Holy Spirit we received in Confirmation. It tells us that we are one with Christ through the Spirit.
To know Him more clearly, Jesus teaches to have a childlike simplicity, open mind, eager to learn. A simple mind can easily receive truth that a learned cannot easily accept. It was so hard for the teachers to take in Jesus‘ proclamation. The humble and the lowly (Mary and Apostles) easily understood Jesus then followed.
Our knowledge of Jesus: His unity with the Father, as the fullness of God‘s revelation, as the peak of the history of salvation, the goal and climax of the prophets‘ preaching will naturally lead us to love Jesus so dearly and follow Him faithfully. In Jesus, we meet God, He whom we are longing for.
Daily Reflection
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
Readings and Reflections
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