Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God, to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent to a virgin, who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
The angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean.
But the angel said, “Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a son; and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great, and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever; and his reign shall have no end.”
Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born of you shall be called Son of God. Even your relative, Elizabeth, is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child; and she is now in her sixth month. With God nothing is impossible.”
Then Mary said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.

Lectio Divina
READ: “I am the handmaid of the Lord”
REFLECT: As we celebrate today the Feast of the Immac­ulate Conception, it is good to remind ourselves how Mary responded to the invitation brought by the Angel Gabriel: “I am the handmaid of the Lord”. It seems that Mary is in­viting every believer to reflect that all are handmaids or serv­ ants of the Lord. We are called to serve Him in one another. In effect our lives are lives for Service. “I am the handmaid of the Lord”. We are called to be like Mary, who was not stingy of herself but gave it for hu­manity.
PRAY: Lord, make us always understand that our calling is for the service of the Church and humanity. Our Lady has shown us the way: “I am the handmaid of the Lord”. May we re ready as well to utter the same words of Mary when we are confronted with challeng­ing tasks ahead.
ACT: Today as a resolve we can also show that readiness to serve others in whatever way we can but most especial­ly when we are asked to carry even the heavy loads of other people.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12
In the course of time, John the Baptist appeared in the desert of Judea and began to proclaim his message: “Change your ways; the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was about him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice is shouting in the desert, ‘Prepare a way for the Lord; make his paths straight!’
John had a leather garment around his waist and wore a cloak of camel’s hair; his food was locusts and wild honey. People came to him from Jerusalem, from all Judea and from the whole Jordan valley, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan, as they confessed their sins.
When he saw several Pharisees and Saddu­cees coming to where he baptized, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who told you that you could escape the punishment that is to come? Let it be seen that you are serious in your con­version; and do not think: We have Abraham for our father. I tell you, that God can raise children for Abraham from these stones! The ax is al­ ready laid to the roots of the trees; any tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire.
I baptize you in water for a change of heart, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I am; indeed, I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He has the winnowing fan in his hand; and he will clear out his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff, he will burn in inextinguishable fire.”

Lectio Divina
READ: “Produce good fruits as evidence of your repen­tance” (Mt.3:1­12)
REFLECT: What is para­mount in our readings for this second Sunday of Advent is the call to repen­tance. However, repentance is just a word. It will have no meaning if it remains to be a word. Thus, repentance must have some tangible things to show. This is the reason why this leads us to think that when we are repentant then we need to do is to put flesh to the conversion and re­pentance that we aspire. This means our good and chari­table works should be seen. Our relationship with one another should also be tan­gible to people. They should see these actions in flesh. Thus, repentance invites us to be good in our rela­tion with others, for in the end it is relations that count for we are relational beings. And Isaiah’s prophesy in the first reading says: “his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.”
PRAY: “Lord give me the heart and mind to put others at the center of my life”
ACT: Make every encounter with people be an occasion for us to bear good fruits as a sign of our conversion.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8
Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom; and he cured every sickness and disease. When he saw the crowds, he was moved with pity; for they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are only few. Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest.”
Jesus called his Twelve disciples to him, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to heal every disease and sickness.
Jesus sent these Twelve on mission, with the instructions: “Do not visit pagan territory and do not enter a Samaritan town.
Go, instead, to the lost sheep of the people of Israel. Go, and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. Freely have you received, freely give.

Reflections
“His heart was moved with pity for them”
Jesus is constantly on the move, teaching in synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom and curing every di­ sease and illness. Jesus has deep compassion on all those who are like sheep without a shepherd.
When we were baptized, we become coworkers in the vine­yard of the Lord. Every one of us is called to be a laborer with the Lord. I could be the only one who could reach a corner of my own part in the harvest field: my family, my neighbors, my office mates and others who came into my life. I may be the only person who could bring Jesus’ healing and compassion into their lives.
Let them know that Christ­mas is all about sharing in the works of Jesus. Heal those sick friends by your sympathy and support. Give life and vigor to them. They are physically alive but they have stopped living wonderful and meaningful lives. Let them know that they are ac­cepted and loved by God.
The spirit of Christmas impels us to act on our baptismal pro­mises as coworkers of the Lord. Be a gift to others. Share the spirit of Christmas by your own spiri­tual and corporal works of mercy.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Matthew 9:27-31
As Jesus moved on from there, two blind men followed him, shouting, “Son of David, help us!” When he was about to enter the house, the blind men caught up with him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do what you want?” They answered, “Yes, Sir!”
Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, “As you have believed, so let it be.” And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus gave them a stern warning, “Be careful that no one knows about this.” But as soon as they went away, they spread the news about him through the whole area.

Reflections
“Son of David, have pity on me.”
To really hear and see the wondrous things of the Lord, we need to have faith. The two blind men have this when they called out to Jesus.
When they approached the Lord, Jesus asked them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord!” Without their total trust and faith in him, Jesus cannot do anything for them. Their sight was restored.
But, more than this, their life was redeemed and they were able to see clearly the content of their faith: Jesus, the Messiah! Their life of gloom and darkness has been filled now with light and joy. Their joy was so over­whelming that they could not contain it. And so they shared and spread the Good News of Salvation they received.
We are reminded of our own blindness and our need for God. How many times have I become deaf and blind of the presence of Jesus in my life? Christmas is all about recognizing that Jesus was born for us to see and appre­ciate how great and marvelous is the love of God for humanity. Seek Jesus in others. Share Jesus with others and your Christmas would be filled with many won­derful things of the Lord.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019