Readings for January 1, 2010

The Octave Day of Christmas Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God Solennita ta' Marija  Omm Alla   Omm il-Paċi                                                              Messalin Ċ pp 123

Reading 1                     Numbers 6:22-27

The LORD said to Moses: “Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:  This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace! So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.”  This is the Word of The Lord.

               

L-Ewwel Qari - -Ktieb tan-Numri. (6, 22-27)

                    

Il-Mulej kellem ‘il Mose’ u qallu: “Kellem lil Aron u ‘l uliedu u għidilhom: Meta tbierku ‘l ulied Israel,  hekk għandkom tgħidulhom: ‘Ibierkek il-Mulej u jħarsek! Jixħet il-Mulej id-dija ta’ wiċċu fuqek  u jurik il-ħniena! Iħares lejk il-Mulej bi mħabba, u jagħtik is-sliem!” Hekk huma jsejħu ismi fuq ulied Irael, U jien nberikhom.”          Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                   Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

May God have pity on us and bless us;
   may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
   among all nations, your salvation.
May God bless us in his mercy.

May the nations be glad and exult
   because you rule the peoples in equity;
   the nations on the earth you guide.
May God bless us in his mercy.

May the peoples praise you, O God;
   may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
   and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
May God bless us in his mercy.

Salm Responsorjali       (Salm 66 (67)  

            Iħenn għalina Alla, u jberikna.

Iħenn għalina Alla, u  jberikna;i

idawwar għal fuqna d-dija ta’ wiċċu!

Biex jingħarfu fuq l-art triqatek,

fost il-ġnus kollha s-salvazzjoni tiegħek. R/

Jithennew il-ġnus u jgħannu bil-ferħ,

għax trieġi l-popli bis-sewwa,

u l-ġnus fuq l-art inti tmexxihom.                       R/

Ifaħħruk il-popli o Alla,

ifaħħruk il-popli kollha.

Iberikna Alla, u tibża minnu

l-art kollha minn tarf għall-ieħor!                        R/

 Reading II         Galatians 4:4-7

Brothers and sisters: When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law,  so that we might receive adoption as sons. As proof that you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son,  and if a son then also an heir, through God. This is the Word of The Lord.

It-Tieni Qari- L-ittra lill-Galaltin (4, 4-7)

Ħuti, meta waslet il-milja taż-żmien,  Alla bagħat lil Ibnu, imwieled minn mara, imwieled taħt il-Liġi, biex jifdi lil  dawk li kienu taħt il-Liġi, biex ikollna l-adozzjoni ta’ wlied. U għax intom ulied,  Alla bagħat l-Ispirtu ta’  Ibnu f’qalbna jgħajjat”“Abba Missier!” U hekk m’intix iżjed ilsir, iżda iben, werriet ukoll bil-grazzja ta’ Alla. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel              Luke 2:16-21

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message  that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God  for all they had heard and seen,  just as it had been told to them. When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. This is the Word of The Lord.

Evanġelju -  Luqa 2, 16-21           

F’dak iż-żmien: ir-rgħajja marru jgħaġġlu, u sabu lil Marija u lil Ġużeppi,  bit-tarbija mimduda f’maxtura. Kif raw dan, bdew igħarrfu b’kulma kien  intqal lilhom dwar dik it-tarbija, u kull min semgħhom baqa’ mistagħġeb b’dak li qalulhom ir-rgħajja. Marija, min-naħa tagħha, baqgħet tgħożż f’qalbha  dawn il-ħwejjeġ kollha u taħseb fuqhom bejnha u bejn ruħha. Ir-rgħajja mbagħad reġgħu lura, isebbħu u jfaħħru lil Alla għal kulma  kienu raw u semgħu,  kif l-anġlu kien qalilhom. Meta wasal it-tmien jum biex lit-tifel jgħmlulu ċ-ċirkonċiżjoni, semmewh Ġesu’, bl-isem li kien tah l-anġlu qabel ma tnissel fil-ġuf. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Sunday in the Christmas Octave

Hadd fl-Ottava tal-Milied

               

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Festa tal-Familja Mqaddsa ta’ Gesù, Marija u Guzeppi

First Reading: 1 Samuel 1, 20-22.24-28

 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,[b] saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.” When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow,  Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always.”   After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull,] an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli,  and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD.  I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.  So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there. This is the Word of the Lord.

Qari I - 1 Samwel 1, 20-22.24-28

F’dak iz-zmien Anna tqalet, u meta wasal zmienha wildet iben u semmietu Samwel «ghaliex - kif qalet hi - tlabtu lill-Mulej.»  Elkana bil-familja kollha tala’ joffri s-sagrifiççju ta’ kull sena lill-Mulej u jtemm il-weghda tieghu.  Imma Anna ma telghetx, ghaliex qalet lil zewgha: «Meta nkun ftamt it-tifel, imbaghad niehdu biex jidher quddiem il-Mulej, u jibqa’ hemm ghal dejjem.»  U meta fatmitu, Anna tellghet ‘il binha maghha fid-dar tal-Mulej f’Silo. Hadet maghha gendus ta’ tliet snin, efa dqiq u zaqq inbid, u marret bit-tfajjel maghha.  Hemm qatlu l-gendus, u ressqu t-tifel quddiem Gheli,  u qaltlu: «Nitolbok, sidi; daqskemm int haj, sidi, jien dik il-mara li kienet wieqfa hawn hdejk titlob lill-Mulej. Ghal dan it-tifel kont tlabt, u l-Mulej laqa’ t-talba tieghi, u tani li tlabtu. U issa jien se naghtih lill-Mulej il-jiem kollha ta’ hajtu, u kemm idum haj ikun tal-Mulej.» U qiemu lill-Mulej hemmhekk. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

………………………………….

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 84

Rl    (5a): Blessed are those who dwell in your house

How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty- My soul yearns, even faints, 

for the courts of the LORD;  my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.    /R

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. 
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.     /R

Look on our shield O God;  look with favor on your anointed one.       /R

Salm Responsorjali - Salm 83 (84), 2-3. 5-6. 9-10

Rl    (5a): Henjin dawk li jghammru f’darek, Mulej

Kemm hi ghaziza d-dar tieghek, Mulej tal-ezerçti! ixxennaq u tinfena ruhi ghat-tempju tal-Mulej;                                                                                                                       nghanni ferhan b’ruhi u gismi lil Alla l-haj.       /Rl   

Henjin dawk li jghammru f’darek; huma jfahhruk ghal dejjem. Henjin dawk li jsibu fik il-qawwa taghhom,                                                                                                                                                             li ghandhom ghal qalbhom il-pellegrinagg ghat-tempju.      /Rl 

                                

Hares, o Alla, lejn it-tarka taghna, Hares lejn is-sultan, il-midluk tieghek.      /Rl

………………………………………….

Reading 2 – 1 John 3. 1.2. 21.24

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.  And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.  The one who keeps God’s commandslives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. This is the Word of the Lord.

Qari II - 1 Gwanni 3, 1-2, 21-24

Gheziez, araw b’liema ghozza habbna l-Missier; nistghu nissejhu wlied Alla, u hekk ahna tassew! Ghalhekk id-dinja ma taghrafniex, ghax ma gharfitx lilu. Gheziez, issa ahna wlied Alla, imma x’se nkunu ’l quddiem mhuwiex irrivelat lilna. Madankollu nafu li meta jidher hu, ahna nkunu bhalu, ghax narawh kif inhu. Gheziez, jekk il-kuxjenza taghna ma ççanfarniex, ahna qalbna qawwija quddiem Alla,  u kulma nitolbu naqilghuh minghandu, ghax qeghdin inZommu l-kmandamenti tieghu u naghmlu dak li joghgob lilu. Dan hu l-kmandament tieghu: li nemmnu fl-isem ta’ Ibnu Gesù Kristu, u nhobbu ’l xulxin, kif wissiena hu. Min izomm il-kmandamenti tieghu jghammar f’Alla u Alla fih. B’hekk naghrfu li hu jghammar fina: bl-Ispirtu li hu tana. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

…………………………………..

Gospel - Luke 2, 41-52 

Every year, Joseph and Mary used to travel to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover. When Jesus was twelve years old, they took him to Jerusalem for the festival. After the family celebrated Passover, Joseph and Mary started home. But, the young boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem and his parents didn't realize it. Joseph and Mary thought Jesus tagged along with the travel party. So they looked for him among their family and friends. When they didn't find him, Joseph and Mary returned to Jerusalem to look for him there. Three days later, Joseph and Mary found Jesus in the Temple sitting with some religious teachers. He listened to what they taught and asked them questions. Everyone who heard Jesus was surprised at his bright answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. "Child, why did you do this to us?" his mother scolded Jesus. "Listen! Your father and I searched for you everywhere. We were worried about you!"  "Why did you spend all your time looking for me?" Jesus answered. "Didn't you know I needed to be in my Father's house, doing what my Father wants me to do?" They didn't understand his answer. But his mother thought a lot about everything that happened. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus returned home to Nazareth. There, obeying his parents, Jesus grew in wisdom and physical size. He pleased God and the people more and more. This is the Word of the Lord.

Evangelju - Luqa 2, 41-52 

Ta’ kull sena l-genituri ta’ Gesù kienu jmorru Ìerusalemm ghall-festa tal-Ghid. Meta kellu tnax-il sena telghu wkoll, skont id-drawwa ta’ dik il-festa. Wara li ghaddew dawk il-granet qabdu t-triq lura, imma t-tfajjel Ìesù baqa’ Ìerusalemm bla ma kienu jafu l-genituri tieghu. Huma hasbuh qieghed ma’ xi whud li kienu fit-triq maghhom; i?da meta wara jum mixi fittxewh fost qrabathom u n-nies li kienu jafuhom, ma sabuhx, u ghalhekk regghu lura Gerusalemm ifittxuh. Wara tlitt ijiem sabuh fit-tempju, bilqieghda f’nofs l-ghalliema, jismaghhom u jistaqsihom; u kull min semghu baqa’ mistaghgeb bid-dehen u t-twegibiet tieghu. Kif rawh, instamtu, u ommu qaltlu: «Ibni, dan ghaliex ghamiltilna hekk? Ara, missierek u jiena konna qeghdin infittxuk b’qalbna maqsuma.» U hu qalilhom: «U ghaliex kontu qeghdin tfittxuni? Ma tafux li jiena ghandi nkun f’dak li hu ta’ Missieri?» Izda kliemu ma fehmuhx. Imbaghad nizel maghhom u raga’ mar Nazaret; u kien jobdihom. U ommu kienet tghozz f’qalbha dawn il-hwejjeg kollha. U hekk Gesù baqa’ jikber fl-gherf, fis-snin u fil-grazzja, quddiem Alla u quddiem il-bnedmin. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej  

………………………..  

The Holy Family

      

  

                                                         

COMMENTARY on Sunday’s Gospel                                                                                                                                           by Sacred Space - www.sacredspace.ie

IT IS CUSTOMARY to celebrate the feast of the Holy Family on the Sunday immediately following our celebrations on the birth of Jesus at Christmas. It is a time when we can reflect on the quality of our own family life in the light of the Church’s (if not the world’s) ‘First Family’.  For a large part of his life Jesus was part of a family. We always imagine that this must have been an extremely happy family. Yet, like every other family, it must have had from time to time its ups and downs, its joys and sorrows, its problems and difficulties. 

There may have been problems about supplying the family’s needs on occasion. Surely someone fell sick at one time or another and was a source of anxiety for the rest of the family. And this was in an age when medical resources were few and relatively little was known about health and hygiene. During Jesus’ public life, Mary appears a number of times and she witnessed his death on the cross. But we do not know anything about Joseph. Had he already died by the beginning of Jesus’ public life (although his name is mentioned during Jesus’ visit to Nazareth [Luke 4:22])? Given the short life expectancy of those days, it is very possible that, by the time Jesus was in his 30s, Joseph had already died. If so, it must have been a painful experience for mother and son. There is no reason to think that Holy Family was spared any of the pains or denied any of the joys of ordinary families. 

Leaving the family

It must have been a painful time – as it can be for any family – when Jesus, already about 30 years old, left his family for the work his Father had given him to do. But warning of this had come much earlier, as described in today’s Gospel.  The family had gone to Jerusalem, according to their regular custom, to celebrate the Passover with thousands of other pilgrims. We are told that Jesus was just 12 years old, the age when he was regarded as entering adulthood and be required to observe all the requirements of the Mosaic Law. This partly explains his behaviour on this occasion. 

As the caravan of pilgrims (very likely the people of Nazareth went together with relatives and neighbours) was on its way home, Mary and Joseph suddenly realise that the Jesus is not with them. Being in a group of neighbours and relatives they would not at first have experienced any alarm if he was not in their immediate company. If he was a normal boy, he would be spending much of his time with other boys in the group.  But then – perhaps he did not turn up for a meal or in the evening time – the parents began to become anxious. When they went looking for him, there was no sign anywhere among family members and friends. So they went back to Jerusalem “looking for him everywhere”. Only people who have lost a son or daughter or sibling in this way will be able to appreciate the anxiety such a situation would engender. What was worse, the city of Jerusalem was filled with strangers and anything could happen to a young boy on his own. 

Finally, the parents went to the Temple and were amazed to find their boy calmly sitting with the religious teachers and discussing with them. And he was impressing them with his intelligence and the answers he was giving to their questions.  Mary, however, was not quite so appreciative. “My child, why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.” “Why were you looking for me?” Jesus replied. “Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?” What did he mean talking like that? Mary had mentioned Jesus’ ‘father’ but Jesus had spoken about ‘my Father’. They did not yet fully grasp what he was talking about. 

They all then went back together to Nazareth where peaceful family life resumed as it had been. But this interlude was a presage of things to come. Their Son had a very special mission which went far beyond the life in Nazareth. Only later would the Mother understand. For now, she stored the memories in her heart.  From now on, Jesus would belong to a new family, the family of the world and especially of those who were committed to follow his Way. His mother, brothers and sisters would from now on be those who became his disciples, those who heard the Word of God and kept it. They would, of course, also include Mary his mother, for no one kept and heard God’s Word better than she. 

Most people, in one way or another, leave their family environment. While the family must always have top priority in our concerns, it is not an absolute priority. All of us, and especially Christians, are called to follow the example of Jesus and align ourselves with the family of the world. For, with one Father, we are all brothers and sisters to each other and are called to care for each other. One of the problems with some modern families is that they see the surrounding society as being there simply to satisfy their wants and ambitions. It is this attitude which can put unbearable pressures on young people. 

The Lord Is on High but Cares for the Lowly

                                     

Readings for December 23, 2012          

 Fourth Sunday of 
Advent Year C

Ir-Raba' Ħadd ta’

l-Avvent                                           

Messalin  C pp 91

Reading 1 - Michaea 5:1-4a

Thus says the LORD: You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne, and the rest of his kindred shall return to the children of Israel. He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD, his God; and they shall remain, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth; he shall be peace. This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Ewwel Qari - mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Mikea 5, 1-4a

Dan jgħid il-Mulej: "Int, Betlehem ta' Efrata, ċkejkna fost il-familji ta' Ġuda, minnek għad joħroġli dak li jkun prinċep f'Iżrael; hu għandu l-bidu tiegħu mill-qedem, sa minn dejjem ta' dejjem. Għalhek il-Mulej jitlaqhom sa meta teħles dik li hi fl-uġigħ tal-ħlas; imbagħad  il-bqija ta' ħutu jerġgħu lura fost ulied Iżrael. U hu joqgħod jirgħa l-merħla tiegħu bil-qawwa tal-Mulej, bil-glorja ta' isem il-Mulej, Alla tiegħu. U huma jgħammru fiż-żgur, għax issa tkun kbira setgħetu, sa trufijiet l-art. U dan ikun is-sliem!" Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

……………………..

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19.

            R. (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power,
and come to save us.                                                     R/

Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.               R/

May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.            R/

Salm Responsorjali       -  Salm 79(80)

            R/   Mulej, ifta fuqna d-dija ta' wiċċek, u nkunu salvi.

O Ragħaj ta' Iżrael, agħti widen,

int li qiegħed fuq il-kerubini, iddi.

Qajjem il-qawwa tiegħek,

u ejja ħa ssalvana.                                            R/

Erġa' ejja, Alla tal-eżerċti;

ħares mis-sema,  u ara,

u żur 'il din id-dielja.

Ħu ħsieb dak li ħawlet lemintek,

ir-rimja li int kabbart għalik.                              R/

Ħa tkun idek fuq il-bniedem ta' lemintek,

fuq il-bniedem li int saħħaħt għalik.

Aħna ma nitbegħdux minnek;

roddilna l-ħajja, u aħna nsejħu ismek.                 R/

…………………..

Reading 2 - Hebrews 10:5-10

Brothers and sisters: When Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, 'As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.'" First he says, "Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in." These are offered according to the law. Then he says, "Behold, I come to do your will." He takes away the first to establish the second. By this "will," we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. This is the Word of The Lord.

It-Tieni Qari-  mill-Ittra lil Lhud 10, 5-10

Ħuti:   Kristu meta daħal fid-dinja qal: "Sagrifiċċju u offerta int ma ridtx, imma ġisem int ħejjejt għalija; vittmi maħruqa u vittmi għad-dnubiet lilek ma għoġbukx. Jien imbagħad għedt:  "Hawn jien, ġejt biex nagħmel ir-rieda tiegħek, O Alla, kif fil-ktieb hemm miktub fuqi." L-ewwel qal:  "Sagrifiċċji u offerti, vittmi maħruqa u  vittmi għad-dnubiet,   la ridthom u lanqas għoġbuk", għalkemm dawn titlobhom il-Liġi. Imbagħad qal:  "Hawn jien, ġejt biex  nagħmel ir-rieda tiegħek". B'hekk Alla neħħa s-sagrifiċċji tal-ewwel biex  iqiegħed flokhom tat-tieni. Bis-saħħa ta' din ir-rieda aħna  konna mqaddsin, permezz tal-offerta tal-ġisem ta' Ġesu' Kristu magħmula għal dejjem. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

……………………

Gospel - Luke 1:39-45

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."  This is the Word of The Lord. 

 L-Evanġelju - skond San Luqa 1, 39-45

F'dawk  il-ġranet Marija qamet u marret tħaffef lejn l-għoljiet, f'belt tal-Lhudija. Daħlet għand Zakkarija u sellmet lil Eliżabetta. Malli Eliżabetta semgħet lil Marija ssellmilha, it-tarbija qabżet fil-ġuf tagħha u Eliżabetta mtliet bl-Ispirtu s-Santu: u nfexxet f'għajta kbira u qalet: "Imbierka inti fost in-nisa, u mbierek il-frott tal-ġuf tiegħek! U minn fejn ġieni dan li omm il-Mulej tiegħi tiġi għandi? Għax ara, malli smajt f'widnejja leħen it-tislima tiegħek, it-tarbija li għandi fil-ġuf qabżet bil-ferħ. Iva, ħiena dik li emmnet li jseħħ kulma bagħat igħidilha l-Mulej." Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

……………………………………

                      

COMMENTARY

Father Cantalamessa on Fourth Sunday of Advent

Here is a translation of a commentary by the Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, on this Sunday's liturgical readings.

He has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness

The last Sunday of Advent is the one that must prepare us immediately for Christmas. By now we should be done with our shopping and be more open to also think about the religious meaning of this festive time.

Today's Gospel is the one that recounts Mary's visit to Elizabeth, which ends with the Magnificat: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness."

With the Magnificat Mary helps us to take in an important aspect of the Christmas mystery on which I would like to insist: Christmas as the feast of the lowly and as the ransoming of the poor.

Mary says: "He has cast down the powerful from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty."

In today's world there are two new emerging social classes which are no longer the ones we knew in the past. On one hand, there is the cosmopolitan society that knows English, that moves easily in the airports of the world, that knows how to use computers and to "navigate" the internet. For this group the world is already a "global village."    

On the other hand, there is the great mass of those who have just left the country of their birth and have limited and only indirect access to the great means of social communication. It is these two groups which today are, respectively, the new "powerful" and the new "lowly."

Mary helps us to put things right again and to not let ourselves be deceived. She tells us that often the deepest values are hidden among the lowly; that the more decisive events in history (such as the birth of Jesus), takes place among the lowly and not on the world's great stages.

Today's first reading tells us that Bethlehem was "a little one among the towns of Judea," and yet in her the Messiah was born. Great writers, like Manzoni and Dostoyevsky, have immortalized, in their works, the values and stories of the "lower class."

The "preferential option" for the poor was something that God decided on well before the Second Vatican Council. Scripture says that "the Lord is on high but cares for the lowly" (Psalm 138:6); he "resists the proud but gives his grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5).

In revelation God continually appears as one who pays attention to the wretched, the afflicted, the abandoned and those who are nothing in the eyes of the world. All of this contains a lesson that is extremely relevant for us today. Our temptation is to do exactly the opposite of what God does: to want to look to those who are on top, not at those who are on the bottom; to those who are prosperous, not to those who are in need.

We cannot be content just remembering that God considers the lowly. We ourselves must become little, humble, at least in our hearts.
The Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem has only one entrance, and you cannot pass through it without bending down. Some have said that it was built this way so that the Bedouins could not enter seated on their camels. But there is another explanation that has always been given, and which, in any case, contains a deep spiritual truth. This door is supposed to remind pilgrims that in order to penetrate the deep meaning of Christmas it is necessary to humble oneself and become little.

In the days that follow we will hear our old Italian carol sung: "Tu scendi dalle stelle, o re del cielo…" (You descend from the starry skies, O King of heaven…). But if God has descended "from the starry skies," should we not also come down from our pedestals of superiority and power and live together as brothers reconciled?

We too must climb down from the camels to enter into the stable of Bethlehem.

Rejoice Always

Readings for December 16

Third Sunday of Advent

It-Tielet Ħadd ta’ l-Avvent   

Messalin C 86

FIRST READING - Zephaniah 3:14-18

Sing, daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem. YHWH has taken away your judgments. He has thrown out your enemy. The King of Israel, YHWH, is in the midst of you. You will not be afraid of evil any more. In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, “Don’t be afraid, Zion. Don’t let your hands be weak.”  YHWH, your God, is in the midst of you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.  I will remove those who grieve about the appointed feasts from you. They are a burden and a reproach to you.

L-EWWEL QARI - mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Sofonija 3:14-18a

Ghajjat bil-ferh ta’ qalbek, bint Sijon, Israel, samma’ lehnek! Infexx fl-hena u ifrah b’qalbek kollha, bint Gerusalemm! Nehha l-Mulej minn fuqek is-sentenza li kellek kontrik, kecca l-ghedewwa tieghek. Is-sultan ta’ Israel, il-Mulej, hu f’nofsok; ma jkollokx izjed hsara minn xiex tibza’ Dakinhar jghidu lil Gerusalemm: «Tibzax, Sijon, thallix idejk jintelqu! Il-Mulej, Alla tieghek, qieghed f’nofsok, gwerrier li jsalva; minhabba fik jithenna b’hena kbir, fi mhabbtu jgeddek, jinfexx minhabba fik f’ghajjat ta’ ferh, bhallikieku f’jum ta’ festa.

-----------------

RESPONSORIAL PSALM – ( Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6)

R. (6) Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is

the great and Holy One of Israel.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.                               R/

Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.                      R/         

Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.

Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!                                    R/

 

SALM RESPONSORJALI   -  (Isaija 12:2-6)

        R/: Kbir hu f’nofsok il-Qaddis ta’ Israel!

Alla s-salvazzjoni tieghi,

jiena nittama u ma jkollix mniex nibza’.

Ghax qawwieti u ghanjieti hu l-Mulej,

ghalija sar is-salvazzjoni.

Kollkom ferhana

timlew l-ilma mill-ghejjun tas-salvazzjoni.  R/…

Roddu hajr lill-Mulej, sejhu ismu,

gharrfu lill-gnus bl-ghemejjel tieghu,

xandru li ismu huwa fl-gholi.                      R/…

Ghannu lill-Mulej ghax ghamel hwejjeg kbar;

ha jkun dan maghruf mal-art kollha.

Aqbez bil-ferh, ghanni,

int li tghammar f’Sijon,

ghax kbir hu f’nofsok il-Qaddis ta’ Israel.   R/…

-----------------

SECOND READING -  Philippians 4:4-7

Be joyful with God. I tell you again, be full of joy. Let everyone know you are peaceful. After all, the Lord will be here soon. So, don’t get anxious about anything. Instead, let God know all that you need. Pray to him with a heart full of thanks. God’s peace is greater than everything we know. With Christ Jesus at our side, his peace will guard our minds and hearts from worry.

T-TIENI QARI    -  mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl lill-Filippin 4:4-7 

Huti, ifirhu dejjem fil-Mulej; nerga’ nghidilkom, ifirhu. Il-hlewwa taghkom, ha jkunu jafuha l-bnedmin kollha. Il-Mulej qorob! Thabbtu raskom b’xejn. Fit-talb kollu taghkom itolbu u uru lil Alla xi jkollkom bzonn, u izzuh hajr. U s-sliem ta’ Alla, sliem li jghaddi kulma l-mohh jista’ jifhem, izommilkom qalbkom u mohhkom shah fi Kristu Gesù.  

----------------

GOSPEL -  Luke 3:10-18

After John told the people around him that simply being Jewish was not good enough to please God, 10 people kept asking him, "What should we do then?" "The person who packed extra clothes should share with the person who needs clothing to stay warm at night," John kept saying. "The person with food should share with the hungry."  Tax men came to be baptized by John. "What should we do?" they asked John.  "Don't collect more money from the people than the Romans tell you to collect," John answered. Even the Roman soldiers kept asking him, "What should we do, too?" "Don't beat up people for their money. Don't threaten to lie about people in court so they will give you their money. Be happy with your pay," John replied. The crowds around John wondered if John was the Messiah. After all, they waited eagerly for the coming of God's savior.  But John said to everyone, "Listen! I baptize you with water. But there is someone coming who is greater than I am. He is so great, I am not even fit to untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire!  His baptism will be like a great grain harvest. He will clear off the floor where he separated the grain from the rest of the plant. Then, he will store the good grain in his barn. But he will burn up the rest of the plant in a never ending fire!"  John kept encouraging the people talking about changing their lives and about the coming Messiah. In this way, John spread the Good News to everyone who heard him.

IL-VANGELJU  - Luqa 3:10-18

F’dak iz-zmien, in-nies kienu jistaqsu lil Gwanni u jghidulu: «Mela x’ghandna naghmlu?» U huwa kien iwegibhom: «Min ghandu zewg ilbiesi, jaqsam ma’ min ma ghandu xejn, u min ghandu x’jiekol jaghmel l-istess.» Resqu wkoll xi pubblikani biex jitghammdu u qalulu: «Mghallem, x’ghandna naghmlu ahna?» U huwa wegibhom: «Tissikkaw lil hadd biex jaghtikom taxxi izjed milli jmisskom tiehdu.»  Staqsewh ukoll xi suldati u qalulu: «U ahna, x’ghandna naghmlu?» U huwa wegibhom: «Tisirqu lil hadd bit-tehdid jew bil-qerq taghkom, u kkuntentaw ruhkom bil-paga li ghandkom.» Il-poplu kien qieghed jistenna herqan, u kulhadd kien jistaqsi lilu nnifsu dwar Gwanni, jekk kienx hu l-Messija. Ghalhekk Gwanni qabad u qal lil kulhadd: «Jien, nghid ghalija, nghammidkom bl-ilma, imma gej wiehed aqwa minni, li ma jisthoqqlix inhollu l-qfieli tal-qorq tieghu. Hu jghammidkom bl-Ispirtu s-Santu u n-nar. Il-midra qieghda f’idu, biex iderri l-qiegha u jigbor il-qamh fil-mahzen tieghu, imma t-tiben jaharqu b’nar li ma jintefiex.» U b’hafna twissijiet ohra kien ixandar lill-poplu l-bxara t-tajba.

---------------------

COMMENTARY

Father Cantalamessa on Kindness

Here is a translation of a commentary by the Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, on this Sunday's liturgical readings.

"A Balm in Human Relationships"

The third Sunday of Advent is pervaded by the theme of joy. This Sunday is traditionally called "Laetare" Sunday, that is, the Sunday of "rejoicing," from the words of St. Paul in the second reading: "Rejoice in the Lord always; I say again, rejoice."

In the first reading we hear the words of the prophet Zephaniah: "Rejoice, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!" In the responsorial psalm this extraordinary vocabulary of joy is enriched with still other terms: "My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my salvation. With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation. … Shout with exultation, O city of Zion."

Let us remain for a while with this word. (The Gospel passage continues the message of John the Baptist that we commented on last Sunday.) In the poem "Il sabato del villaggio" ("The village sabbath") Giacomo Leopardi has expressed the idea that in the present life the only authentic and possible joy is the joy of expectation, the joy of the sabbath. It is a "day full of hope and joy," full of joy precisely because it is full of hope. The expectation of the feast is better than the feast itself.

The possession of the good that was longed for brings nothing but disillusionment and boredom, because every finite good reveals itself to be inferior to what was desired and is tiresome; only expectation is the bearer of living joy. But this is precisely what Christian joy is in this world: the joy of the sabbath, the prelude to the Sunday without end, which is eternal life. St. Paul says that Christians must be "joyful in hope" (Romans 12:12), which does not mean that we must "hope to be happy" (after death), but that we must be "joyful in hope," already happy now by the simple fact of hoping.

The Apostle does not limit himself only to the command to rejoice; he also indicates how a community that wants to bear witness to joy and make it credible to others must conduct itself. He says: "Your affability should be known by all men."

The Greek word that we translate as "affability" signifies a whole complex of attitudes that runs from clemency to the capacity to know how to believe and to show oneself to be lovable, tolerant, and hospitable. We could translate it with the word "kindness." It is necessary that we first of all rediscover the human value of this virtue. Kindness is a virtue which is at risk, or, more exactly, it is a virtue that is extinct in the society in which we live.

Gratuitous violence in films and on television, language that is intentionally vulgar, the competition to go beyond the limits in regard to brutality and explicit sex is making us used to every expression of ugliness and vulgarity.

Kindness is a balm in human relationships. Family life would be so much better if there were more kindness in our gestures, in our words, and above all, in the sentiments of our hearts. Nothing extinguishes the joy of being together more than a certain vileness in our behavior. "A kind answer," says Scripture, "calms wrath, but a barbed one brings ire" (Proverbs 15:14). "A kind mouth multiplies friends, and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings" (Sirach 6:5). A kind person generates fond feelings and admiration wherever he goes.

Alongside this human value we must also rediscover the Gospel value of kindness. In the Bible the terms "meek" and "mild" do not have the passive sense of "subjected," "repressed," but the active sense of a person who acts with respect, courtesy, clemency toward others.

Kindness is indispensable above all for those who want to help others find Christ. The Apostle Peter recommends to the first Christians to be "ready to give a reason for their hope," but adds immediately: "But this must be done with sweetness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15 ff), which is to say, with kindness.