AND MARY MEDITATED ON ALL THESE THINGS IN HER HEART

Readings for January 1, 2014

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God  

                                                                    Solennita' ta’ l-Imqaddsa Omm Alla Marija                                                                       Messalin A pp 111

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 Lezzjoni -  Qari mill-Ktieb tan-Numri 6 22-27

²² Il-Mulej kellem lil Mose' u qallu:  ²³ "Kellem lil Aron u lil uliedu u għidilhom:  "Meta tbierku lil ulied Iżrael, hekk ghandkom tgħidulhom: ²⁴ Ibierkek il-Mulej u jħarsek!   ²⁵ Jixħet il-Mulej id-dija ta' wiċċu fuqek, u jurik il-ħniena! ²⁶ Iħarsek lejk il-Mulej bi mħabba, u jagħtik is-sliem!"  Hekk huma jsejħu ismi fuq ulied Iżrael u jiena nberikhom.   Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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

R/ (2a) May God bless us in his mercy.

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.
R/ 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.
R/ 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!
R/ May God bless us in his mercy.

Salm Responsorjali                       -              (Salm 66 (67)

R/. (2a)  Iħenn għalina Alla, u jberikna.

²Iħenn għalina Alla, u jberikna;

idawwar għal fuqna d-dija ta' wiċċu!

³ Biex jingħarfu fuq l-art triqatek,

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

⁵ Jithennew il-ġnus u jgħannu bil-ferħ,

għax trieġi l-popli bis-sewwa,

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

⁶ Ifaħħruk il-popli, o Alla,

ifaħħruk il-popli kollha.

⁸ Iberikna Alla, u tibża' minnu

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

 

Reading 2   -  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 Lezzjoni  - Qari mill-Ittra ta' San Pawl Appostlu lill-Galatin 4, 4-7

Ħuti, ⁴meta waslet il-mija taż-żmien, Alla bagħat lil Ibnu,  imwieled minn mara, imwieled taħt il-Liġi,  ⁵biex jifdi lil dawk li kienu taħt il-Liġi, biex ikollna l-adozzjoni ta' wlied.   ⁶U għax intom ulied, Alla bagħat l-Ispirtu ta' Ibnu f'qalbna jgħajjat: "Abba, Missier!"   ⁷ U hekk m'intix iżjed ilsir, iżda iben, u jekk iben, werriet ukoll bil-grazzj 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. 

L-Evanġelju   -  Qari mill-Evanġelju skond San Luqa  2, 16-21

F'dak iż-żmien, ir-rgħajja  ¹⁶marru jgħaġġlu, u sabu lil Marija u lil Ġużeppi, bit-tarbija mimduda f'maxtura.  ¹⁷ Kif raw dan, bdew  igħarrfu b'kull ma kien intqal lilhom dwar dik it-tarbija, ¹⁸ u kull min semgħhom baqa' mistgħġeb b'dak li qalulhom ir-rgħajja.   ¹⁹Marija, min-naħa  tagħha, baqgħet tgħożż f'qalbha dawn il-ħwejjeġ kollha utaħseb  fuqhom  bejnha u bejn ruħha.  ²⁰  Ir-rgħajja bagħad reġgħu lura, isebbħu u jfaħħru lil Alla għal kull ma kienu raw u semgħu, kif l-anġlu kien qalilhom.  Meta wasal it-tmien jum biex lit-tifel jagħmlulu ċ-ċirkonċiżjoni, semmewh Ġesu', bl-isem li  kien tah  l-anġlu qabel ma tnissel fil-ġuf.   Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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COMMENTARY

Here is a translation of a commentary by the Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, on the liturgical readings for the solemnity of Holy Mary, Mother of God.

AND MARY MEDITATED ON ALL THESE THINGS IN HER HEART

The Council taught us to look upon Mary as a "figure" of the Church, that is, as the Church's perfect exemplar, as the first fruits of the Church. But can Mary be a model of the Church even as "Mother of God," the title with which she is honored this day? Can we become mothers of Christ?

Not only is this possible, but some fathers of the Church have said that, without this imitation, Mary's title is useless to me: "What does it matter," they said, "if Christ was once born to Mary in Bethlehem but is not born by faith in my soul?"

Jesus himself was the first to apply this title, "Mother of Christ," to the Church when he declared: "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice" (Luke 8:21).

Today's liturgy presents Mary to us as the first of those to become mother of Christ through attentive listening to his word. The Church has chosen for this feast the Gospel passage where it is written that "Mary, for her part, treasured all these words, meditating on them in her heart." How one concretely becomes a mother of Christ is explained to us by Jesus himself: hearing the word and putting it into practice.

There are two types of incomplete or interrupted motherhood. One is the old one which we know: early termination of the pregancy. This happens when a woman conceives a life but does not give birth to it because, in the meantime, either for natural causes or the sin of men, the child dies. Until a short time ago this was the only known form of incomplete motherhood.

Today, however, we know another which consists, on the contrary, in giving birth to a child without having conceived it. This happens when child is first conceived in a test tube and then inserted into the womb of a woman. In some terrible and squalid cases, the womb is borrowed, sometimes rented, to bear a human life conceived elsewhere. In this case, that which the woman gives birth to does not come from her, is not "first conceived in her heart."

Unfortunately, also on the spiritual plane there are these two sad possibilities. There are those who conceive Jesus without giving birth to him. Such are those who welcome the word without putting it into practice, those who have one spiritual abortion after another, formulating plans for conversion which are then systematically forgotten and abandoned at the halfway point; they behave toward the word as hasty observers who see their faces in a mirror and then go away immediately forgetting what they looked like (cf. James 1:23-24). In sum, these are those who have faith but not works.

On the other hand, there are those who give birth to Christ without having conceived him. Such are those who do many works, perhaps even good ones, which do not come from the heart, from love of God and right intention, but rather from habit, from hypocrisy, from the desire for their own glory or interests, or simply from the satisfaction of doing something, acting. In sum, these are those who have works but not faith.

These are the negative cases of an incomplete maternity. St. Francis of Assisi describes for us the positive case of a complete maternity which makes us resemble Mary: "We are mothers of Christ," he writes, "when we carry him in our hearts and our bodies through divine love and pure and sincere conscience; we give birth to him through holy works, which should shine as an example before others!"

We -- the saint says -- conceive Christ when we love him with sincerity of heart and with rectitude of conscience, and we give birth to him when we accomplish holy works that manifest him to the world.

 © Innovative Media Inc.

The Word of God Makes Families Holy

                  
       Readings for December 29, 2013

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reading 1 -  BIN SirAK 3:2-6, 12-14

God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons. Whoever honors his father atones for sins, and preserves himself from them. When he prays, he is heard;  he stores up riches who reveres his mother. Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children, and, when he prays, is heard. Whoever reveres his father will live a long life; he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother. My son, take care of your father when he is old;  grieve him not as long as he lives. Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him; revile him not all the days of his life; kindness to a father will not be forgotten, firmly planted against the debt of your sins —a house raised in justice to you. This is the Word of  The Lord.

1 QARI -  BIN SirAK 3:2-6, 12-14

 Il-Mulej għolla l-missier fuq it-tfal, u saħħaħ dritt l-omm fuq l-ulied.  Min jibża' minn missieru jagħmel tajjeb għal dnubietu,  u min iweġġaħ lil ommu qisu qed jiġma' f'teżor.   Min jibża' minn missieru jifraħ b'uliedu, u meta jitlob jinstama'.  Min iweġġaħ 'il missieru jkollu għomor twil, u min iserraħ lil ommu jkun qed jisma' mill- Mulej. Ibni, ieqaf ma' missierek fi xjuħitu, u matul ħajtu tweġġagħlux qalbu.  Ukoll jekk moħħu jeħfief, għadru, u tonqsux mill-ġieħ meta għadek b'saħħtek,   għax il-ħniena ma' missierek ma tintesiex, imma tingħaddlek bi ħlas għal dnubietek.  Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm  -  Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

R. (cf. 1) Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.

Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.

SALM RESPONSORJALI – Salm 1-2, 3, 4-5    - Għanja tat-Telgħat.

R/ Hieni kull min jibża' mill-Mulej,

Hieni kull min jibża' mill-Mulej, kull min jimxi fit-triqat tiegħu!

Mix-xogħol ta' idejk inti tiekol; hieni int, u riżqek tajjeb!                      R/

Martek tkun bħal dielja għammiela fl-irkejjen ta' darek;

uliedek bħal xitel taż- żebbuġ madwar il-mejda tiegħek.                    R/

Ara, kif ikun imbierek il-bniedem li jibża' mill-Mulej!

 Ibierkek il-Mulej minn Sijon!

Jalla tara l-ġid ta' Ġerusalemm tul ħajtek kollha!                                      R/

Reading 2 - Colossians 3:12-21

Brothers and sisters:  Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,  heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another,  if one has a grievance against another;  as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love,  that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,  the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,  as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,  singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs  with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed,  do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,  giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, be subordinate to your husbands,  as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives,  and avoid any bitterness toward them. Children, obey your parents in   everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children,  so they may not become discouraged.  This is the Word of  The Lord.

2 qari - kolossin 3:12-21

Intom il-magħżulin ta' Alla, il-qaddisin u l-maħbubin tiegħu. Ilbsu mela sentimenti ta' hniena, tjieba, umiltà, ħlewwa u sabar.   Stabru b'xulxin, u, jekk xi ħadd minnkom ikollu xi jgħid ma' ħaddieħor, aħfru lil xulxin; bħalma l-Mulej ħafer lilkom, hekk agħmlu intom ukoll.  U fuq kollox ilbsu l-imħabba, li hi l-qofol tal-perfezzjoni.  Ħalli s-sliem ta' Kristu jsaltan fi qlubkom, dak is-sliem li għalih kontu msejjħa biex  issiru ġisem wieħed. U ta' dan roddu ħajr lil Alla.  Ħalli l-kelma ta' Kristu tgħammar sħiħa fikom; għallmu bl-għerf kollu u widdbu lil xulxin b'salmi u innijiet u b'għana spiritwali, u b'radd il-ħajr kantaw f'qalbkom innijiet lil Alla.   Kull ma tagħmlu jew tgħidu, agħmlu kollox f'isem il-Mulej Ġesù, u roddu ħajr lil Alla  l-Missier permezz tiegħu. Il-ħajja fil-familja nisranija Intom, nisa miżżewwġa, obdu lil żwieġkom, kif għandu jkun fil-Mulej. ] Intom imbagħad, irġiel miżżewwġa, ħobbu n-nisa tagħkom, u tkunux iebsa magħhom.   Intom, tfal, isimgħu mill-ġenituri tagħkom f'kollox, għax dan hu li jogħġob lill-Mulej.  Intom, missirijiet, la ddejjqux lil uliedkom, għax inkella jistgħu jaqtgħu qalbhom.  Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel -  Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,  and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”  Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night  and departed for Egypt.  He stayed there until the death of Herod,  that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,  Out of Egypt I called my son. When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel,  for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” He rose, took the child and his mother,  and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea  in place of his father Herod,  he was afraid to go back  there.  And because he had been warned in a dream,  he departed for the region of Galilee. He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled,  He shall be called a Nazorean.  This is the Word of  The Lord.  

VANGELU -  Mattew 2:13-15, 19-23

Meta telqu l-Magi, deher anglu tal-Mulej f’holma lil Guzeppi u qallu: “Qum,  hu mieghek lit-tifel u ‘l ommu, u ahrab lejn l-Egittu. Ibqa’ hemm sa ma nghidlek jien, ghax Erodi se jtiffex lit-tifel biex joqtlu.”  Ġużeppi qam, ħa miegħu lit-tifel u 'l ommu billejl u telaq lejn l-Eġittu, u baqa' hemmhekk sal-mewt ta' Erodi, biex hekk iseħħ dak li kien qal il-Mulej permezz tal-profeta, meta qal, 'Mil- Egttu sejjaht lill ibni’. Meta miet Erodi, deher l-anġlu tal-Mulej f'ħolma lil Ġużeppi fl-Eġittu u qallu: "Qum, ħu miegħek lit-tifel u 'l ommu, u erġa' lura lejn l-art ta' Iżrael, għax  mietu dawk li kienu jfittxu l-ħajja tat-tifel."  Ġużeppi qam, ħa miegħu lit-tifel u 'l ommu, u mar fl-art ta' Iżrael.    Imma billi sama' li fil-Lhudija kien qiegħed isaltan Arkelaws flok Erodi missieru, baża' jmur hemm. Fuq twissija li kellu fil-ħolm, telaq lejn l-inħawi tal-Galilija,  u mar joqgħod f'belt jisimha Nazaret, biex hekk iseħħ dak li kien ingħad permezz   tal-profeti, ‘Ikun jissejjaħ Nazri.  Kelma tal-Mulej.

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 The Word of God Makes Families Holy —

A Biblical Reflection for the Feast of the Holy Family, Year A – by Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB,  CEO Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation

Today’s readings for the Feast of the Holy Family take up the tension between rights and obligations.  Our Scripture texts maintain that obligations have primacy over rights.  Hence the truly human, genuinely Christian priority is not so much what others can do for me but rather what I can do for others. Preoccupation with self must be set aside as we cast ourselves in the role of servant rather than served.  Serving and selflessness are at the core of authentic family life. 

Ben Sira, the early second-century B.C. author of today’s first reading from Sirach [3:2-6,12-14], offers a brief but invaluable commentary on the fourth commandment: “Honour your father and your mother.” The author describes the earthly rewards that belong to those who revere their parents. Even to old and infirm parents this respect is due; through it, the sins of children are pardoned. Failure to render respect is blasphemy and merits a curse from God [3:16].

Life in the Christian Home  -   The second reading from Colossians [3:12-21], deals with the Christian life as it is to be lived in the Christian home.  The characteristics of the believing family are mutual forgiveness, love, peace, and gratitude modelled on the self-giving of Christ.

In both today’s Gospel for Holy Family Sunday [Mt 2:13-15,19-23] and next Sunday’s Gospel for the Feast of the Epiphany [2:1-12], we realize once again that far from being a children’s tale, Matthew’s Infancy narrative of Jesus is a tragic adult story.  A child is born at the same time as a death-dealing power rules.  King Herod tries to co-opt the wise men to betray their journey, to end their commitment to future possibility and new life.  At the centre of the whole story of striking contrasts lies a baby who is joy.  Herod is afraid of this “great joy for all the people.”

Matthew [in 2:13-15,19-23] shows the family of Jesus to be clearly rooted in fidelity to God’s Word.  Joseph accepts the command to leave Israel and then return again at a later date. Joseph places the accent on obligations first. Jesus must be the cohesive centre of family life.  The Holy Family is a wonderful example for us of the dignity and beauty of human and family life- it is here, in the house of Nazareth that Jesus learned how to reach out to the poor, lonely and defenceless.  It was at Nazareth that something beautiful was transmitted from Mary and Joseph to their Son, Jesus.

Joseph, the righteous man

On this Sunday dedicated to families, let us reflect on the silent witness of St. Joseph in the Christmas stories.  Joseph is not the biological father of Jesus, whose Father is God alone, and yet he lives his fatherhood fully and completely.  He is often overshadowed by the glory of Christ and the purity of Mary. But he, too, waited for God to speak to him and then responded with obedience. Luke and Matthew both mark Joseph’s descent from David, the greatest king of Israel [Mt 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38]. Scripture has left us with the most important knowledge about him: he was “a righteous man” [Mt 1:18].

Joseph was a compassionate, caring man. When he discovered Mary was pregnant after they had been engaged, he knew the child was not his but was as yet unaware that she was carrying the Son of God. Joseph was also a man of faith, obedient to whatever God asked of him without knowing the outcome.  When the angel came again to tell him that his family was in danger, he immediately left everything he owned, all his family and friends, and fled to a strange country with his young wife and the baby. He waited in Egypt until the angel told him it was safe to go back [Mt 2:13-23].

Joseph’s fatherhood    -      Joseph revealed in his humanity the unique role of fathers to proclaim God’s truth by word and deed. His paradoxical situation of “foster father to Jesus” draws attention to the truth about fatherhood, which is more than a mere fact of biological generation. A man is a father most when he invests himself in the spiritual and moral formation of his children. He was keenly aware, as every father should be, that he served as the representative of God the Father.

As Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has taught us:    What is important is not to be a useless servant, but rather a “faithful and wise servant”. The pairing of the two adjectives is not by chance. It suggests that understanding without fidelity, and fidelity without wisdom, are insufficient. One quality alone, without the other, would not enable us to assume fully the responsibility which God entrusts to us.

In Joseph, faith is not separated from action. His faith had a decisive effect on his actions. Paradoxically, it was by acting, by carrying out his responsibilities, that he stepped aside and left God free to act, placing no obstacles in his way. Joseph is a “just man” [Mt 1:19] because his existence is “adjusted” to the word of God.

Joseph, the “foster-father” of the Lord reveals that fatherhood is more than a mere fact of biological generation. A man is a father most when he invests himself in the spiritual and moral formation of his children.  Real fathers and real men are those who communicate paternal strength and compassion.  They are men of reason in the midst of conflicting passions; men of conviction who always remain open to genuine dialogue about differences; men who ask nothing of others that they wouldn’t risk or suffer themselves.  Joseph is a chaste, faithful, hardworking, simple and just man.  He reminds us that a family, a home, a community, and a parish are not built on power and possessions but goodness; not on riches and wealth, but on faith, fidelity, purity and mutual love.

May St. Joseph strengthen us and help us to imitate the Holy Family of Nazareth, who listened attentively to God, acted upon his Word, treasured the gift of the Child Jesus, all the while modeling to us how the Word becomes flesh and dwells among us.

Advent thought - 7

You shall be called "My Delight"

    

Readings for the

Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Vigil) 

It-Twelid   ta' Sidna Ġesu' Kristu (Quddiesa tal-Vġili)

Messalin A p 87

Reading 1                               ISAIAH 62:1-5

For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch. Nations shall behold your vindication, and all the kings your glory; you shall be called by a new name pronounced by the mouth of the LORD. You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD, a royal diadem held by your God. No more shall people call you “Forsaken,” or your land “Desolate,” but you shall be called “My Delight,” and your land “Espoused.” For the LORD delights in you and makes your land his spouse. As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you. This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Ewwel Lezzjoni - Qari mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Isaija 62, 1-5

¹Minħabba f'Sijon ma nehdiex, minħabba f'Ġerusalemm ma niskotx, sa ma tfeġġ bħal dija l-ġustizzja tagħha, tħeġġeg bħal torċa s-salvazzjoni tagħha.  ²Il-ġustizzja tiegħek għad jarawha l-ġnus, u s-sebħ tiegħek jarawh is-salten kollha. B'isem ġdid għad isejħulek, isem li għad jagħżlu fomm il-Mulej. ³Għad tkun kuruna ta' ġmiel f'id il-Mulej, u dijadema ta' sultan f'id Alla tiegħek. ⁴Ma jgħidulekx aktar l-Abbandunata, lanqas lil artek l-Imħarbta. Lilek għad isejħulek Għaxqti fiha, u lil artek għad jgħidulha Għarusa; għax l-għaxqa tal-Mulej fik, u artek għad titgħarras. ⁵Bħalma l-għarus jitgħarras xebba, hekk jitgħarrsek il-Bennej tiegħek; u bħalma l-għarus jitgħaxxaq b'għarustu, hekk jitgħaxxaq bik Alla tiegħek. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm     -     PSALM 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29

R. (2a) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.                  R/

Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.                      R/

He shall say of me, “You are my father,
my God, the rock, my savior.”
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.               R/

Salm Responsorjali                --          Salm 88 (89). 4-5. 16-17,27-29

R/. (2a)    It-tjieba tal-Mulej irrid dejjem ngħanni.

Int għedt Mulej:

⁴"Għamilt patt mal-magħżul tiegħi,

ħlift lil David, il-qaddej tiegħi:

⁵Jien nagħmel li nislek jibqa' għal dejjem,

li f'kull żmien jibqa' sħiħ it-tron tiegħek." R/.

¹⁶Ħieni l-poplu li jaf jgħajjat bil-ferħ,

li jimxi, Mulej, fid-dawl ta' wiċċek.

¹⁷B'ismek jithennew il-jum kollu,

u bil-ġustizzja tiegħek jifirħu.                              R/.

²⁷Hu jsejjaħli:  "Int missieri u Alla tiegħi,

fortizza u salvazzjoni tiegħi!"

²⁹It-tjieba tiegħi nżommha fuqu għal dejjem,

u l-patt tiegħi miegħu jibqa' sħiħ."                       R/.

Reading 2                               ACTS 13:16-17, 22-25

When Paul reached Antioch in Pisidia and entered the synagogue, he stood up, motioned with his hand, and said,  “Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors  and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. With uplifted arm he led them out of it. Then he removed Saul and raised up David as king; of him he testified, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’ From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise,  has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. John heralded his coming by  proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel;  and as John was completing his course, he would say,  ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me;  I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’” This is the Word of The Lord.

It-Tieni Lezzjoni  -  Qari mill-Ktieb ta' l-Atti ta' l-Appostli 13, 16-17. 22-25

Meta ġie f'Antijokja ta' Pisidja, Pawlu qam fis-sinagoga, ¹⁶għamel sinjal b'idu u beda jitkellem:  "Nies ta' Iżrael u intom il-ġnus li tibżgħu minn Alla, isimgħuni.   ¹⁷Alla ta' dan il-poplu ta' Iżrael għażel lil missirijietna.  Meta l-poplu kien jgħix f'art barranija, fl-Eġittu, Alla għamlu poplu kbir u ħarġu minn hemm bil-qawwa ta' driegħu. ²²Meta mbagħad  neħħa lil Sawl, qiegħed bħala sultan  tagħhom lil David, li għalih  ta  din ix-xhieda: "Sibt lil David, bin Ġesse, raġel  skond  qalbi, li jagħmel dak kollu li rrid jien." ²³Min-nisel ta' David, Alla, skond il-wegħda tiegħu,  ġieb għal  Iżrael salvatur, li hu Ġesu'.  ²⁴Qabel il-miġja tiegħu,  Ġwanni ħareġ ixandar magħmudija ta' ndiema lill-poplu  kollu ta' Iżrael.  ²⁵U meta kien wasal fi tmiem il-ħidma tiegħu,  Ġwanni qal:  "Jien m'iniex dak li intom taħsbu li jien.   Imma, araw, warajja ġej wieħed li jien anqas jistħoqqli nħoll il-qorq ta' riġlejh."  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel                                     MT 1:1-25

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob,  Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon,  whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of  Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz,  Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile. After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud,  Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,  Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.  Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.  Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together,  she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,  yet unwilling to expose her to shame,  decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,  “Joseph, son of David,  do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit  that this child has been conceived in her.She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,  because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,  which Means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had  commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

Evanġelju - Bidu ta' l-Evanġelju skond San Mattew1, 1-25

¹Ktieb in-nisel ta' Ġesu' Kristu, bin David, bin Abraham. ²Abraham nissel lil Iżakk, Iżakk nissel lil Ġakobb,  Ġakobb nissel lil Ġuda u  lil ħutu, ³Ġuda nissel lil Fares u li Żaraħ minn Tamar, Fares nissel lil Ħesron,  Ħesron nissel lil Aram, ⁴Aram nissel lil Ġħamminadab,    Għamminadab nissel lil Naħson, Naħson nissel lil Salmon, ⁵Salmon nissel lil Bogħaż minn Raħab, Bogħaż nissel lil Għobed minn Rut, Għobed  nissel lil Ġesse, ⁶Ġesse nissel lil David, is-sultan. David nissel lil Salamun mill-mara ta' Urija, ⁷Salamun nissel lil  Robogħam, Robogħam nissel lil Abija, Abija nissel lil Asa, ⁸Asa nisel lil Ġosafat, Ġosafat nissel lil Ġoram, Ġoram nissel lil Għużżija, ⁹Għużżija nissel lil Ġotam, Ġotam nissel lil Aħaż, Aħaż nissel lil Ħeżekija, ¹⁰Ħeżekija nissel lil Manassi,  Manassi nissel lil Amon, Amon nissel lil Ġosija, ¹¹Ġosija nissel lil Ġekonija u lil ħutu; kien  żmien l-eżilju f'Babilonja. Wara l-eżilju f'Babilonja, Ġekonija nissel lil Salatjel, Salatjel nissel lil Żorobabel,  ¹³Żorobabel nissel lil Abiħud, Abiħud nissel lil Eljakim, Eljakim nissel lil Ażor, ¹⁴Ażor nissel lil Sadok, Sadok nissel lil Akim, Akim nissel lil Eliħud, ¹⁵Eliħud nissel lil Elgħażar,  Elgħażar nissel lil Mattan, Mattan nissel lil Ġakobb, ¹⁶Ġakobb nissel lil Ġużppi, ir-raġel  ta' Marija,  li minnha twieled Ġesu' li jsejħulu l-Messija. Mela n-nisel kollu kien, minn Abraham sa David,  erbatax-il nisel, minn David sa l-eżilju ta' Babilonja, erbatax-il nisel; u mill-eżilju ta' Babilonja sal-Messeija, erbatax-il nisel. ¹⁸It-tnissil ta' Ġesu' l-Messija sar hekk:  ommu Marija, wara li tgħarrset ma' Ġużeppi, qabel ma marru joqogħdu flimkien, saret omm bil-ħidma ta' l-Ispirtu s-Santu.  ¹⁹Żewġha Ġużeppi li kien raġel ġust u ma riedx ixandarha quddiem kulħadd, għamel il-ħsieb li jibagħtha  bil-moħbi tan-nies.  ²⁰Meta kien għadu qiegħed jaħsibha, deherlu  anġlu tal-Mulej fil-ħolm u qallu:  "Ġużeppi, bin David,  xejn la tibża' tieħu għandek lil martek Marija, għax dak li tnissel fiha ġej mill-Ispirtu s-Santu.  Hi se jkollha iben, u inti ssemmih Ġesu'.għax hu jsalva l-poplu tiegħu minn dnubiethom." ²² Dan kollu ġara biex iseħħ dak li kien qal il-Mulej permezz tal-profeta, meta qal:  ²³ "Ara, ix-xebba tnissel u jkollha iben, u  jsemmuh Għimmanu-El," li bi lsienna jfisser "Alla magħna." ²⁴ Ġużeppi, meta qam, għamel kif ordnalu l-anġlu tal-Mulej, u ħa lil martu għandu.   ²⁵ Imma baqa' ma għarafhiex sa ma kellha iben, u semmieh Ġesu'.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej 

Advent thought - 6

Advent thought - 5 (22nd)

GIVE THEM A REASON FOR HOPE

Readings for December 22, 2013 

Fourth Sunday of Advent 

Ir-Raba' Ħadd ta' l-Avvent

Messalin A pp 79

 

Reading 1      ISAIAH 7:10-14                                                                          

The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying: Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!” Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary people,  must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:  the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.  This is the Word of the Lord.

L-Ewwel Lezzjoni  -  Profeta Isaija 7, 10-14

F'dak iż-żmien, il-Mulej issokta jkellem lil Aħaż u jgħidlu: "Itlob sinjal għalik mingħand il-Mulej, Alla tiegħek,  f'qiegħ l-art jew fl-għoli as-smewwiet."  U Aħaż wieġeb:  "Ma nitlobx, ma rridx nittanta lill-Mulej." U l-profeta wieġeb:  "Isimgħu, mela, dar David! Mhux biżżejjed għalikom li tkiddu lill-bnedmin,  biex issa se tkiddu lil Alla tiegħi? Għalhekk is-sinjal jagħtihulkom Sidi stess: Araw, ix-xebba titqal u tiled iben u ssemmih Għimmanu-El." Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm  -  PSALM 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (7c and 10b) Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.

The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;

the world and those who dwell in it.

For he founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the rivers.                         R/

Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?

or who may stand in his holy place?

One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,

who desires not what is vain.                                     R/

He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,

a reward from God his savior.

Such is the race that seeks for him,

that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.               R/

Salm Responsorjali         -            Salm 23(24)

                R/           Ħa jidħol il-Mulej, hu s-Sultan tal-glorja.

Tal-Mulej hi l-art u kull ma fiha,

id-dinja u kull ma jgħix fiha.

Għax hu fuq l-ibħra waqqafha

u fuq ix-xmajjar fis-sod qegħedha.                        R/

Min jista' jitla' fuq l-għolja tal-Mulej,

min joqgħod fil-post imqaddes tiegħu?

Min għandu idejh indaf u qalbu safja

min ma jagħtix ruħu għall-frugħa.                         R/

Dan ikollu barka mingħand il-Mulej,

u l-ħlas li ħaqqu minn Alla, is-Salvatur tiegħu,

Dan hu n-nisel ta' dawk li jfittxuh;

li jfittxu 'l wiċċek, Alla ta' Ġakobb.                          R/

Reading 2                                           ROMans 1:1-7

Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus,  called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, the gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh,  but established as Son of God in power  according to the Spirit of holiness  through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we have received the grace of apostleship,  to bring about the obedience of faith, for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles, among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ; to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is the Word of the Lord.

It-Tieni Lezzjoni  - Ittra lir-Rumani 1, 1-7

Pawlu, qaddej ta' Kristu Ġesu', imsejjah biex ikun appostlu, maħtur għall-Evanġelju ta Alla. Dan hu l-Evanġelju li Alla kien wiegħed permezz tal-profeti fil-Kotba Mqaddsa dwar Ibnu Ġesu' Kristu Sidna  li, skond it-tnissil tal-ġisem, twieled min-nisel ta' David, u,  skond l-Ispirtu s-Santu, ġie rivelat bħala  l-Iben ta' Alla  b'kull qawwa permezz tal-qawmien mill-imwiet.    Bih aħna rċevejna l-grazzja ta' l-appostolat biex  inwasslu għall-ubbidjenza tal-fidi l-bnedmin fost il-ġnus kollha għall-ġieħ ta' ismu. Fosthom tinsabu intom ukoll, imsejħin biex  tkunu ta' Ġesu' Kristu; lill-maħbubin kollha ta'  Alla li jinsabu Ruma msejħin  biex ikunu qaddisin: Grazzja lilkom u sliem mingħand Alla Missierna u Sidna Ġesu' Kristu.

Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel                                                 MatThew 1:18-24

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,  but before they lived together,  she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame,  decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,  “Joseph, son of David,  do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit  that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,  because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,  which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him  and took his wife into his home. This is the Word of the Lord.

L-Evanġelju - San Mattew 1,18-24

It-tnissel ta' Ġesu' l-Messija sar hekk:  ommu Marija, wara li tgħarrset ma' Ġużeppi, qabel ma marru joqogħdu flimkien, saret omm bil-ħidma ta' l-Ispirtu s-Santu. Żewġha Ġużeppi, li kien raġel ġust u ma riedx ixandarha quddiem kulħadd,  għamel il-ħsieb li jibgħatha bil-moħbi tan-nies. Meta kien għadu qiegħed jaħsibha,  deherlu anġlu tal-Mulej fil-ħolm u qallu:   "Ġużeppi, bin David, xejn la tibża' tieħu  għandek lil martek Marija, għax dak li  tnissel fiha ġej mill-Ispirtu s-Santu. Hi se jkollha iben, u inti ssemmih Ġesu', għax hu jsalva l-poplu tiegħu minn dnubiethom." Dan kollu ġara biex iseħħ dak li kien qal il-Mulej permezz tal-profeta, meta qal:  "Ara, ix-xebba tnissel u jkollha iben, u jsemmuh Għimmanu-El" li bi lsienna jfisser "Alla magħna." Ġużeppi, meta qam, għamel kif ordnalu l-anġlu tal-Mulej, u ħa lil martu għandu.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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COMMENTARY:

This Is How the Birth of Jesus Christ Came About

Gospel Commentary for 4th Sunday of Advent  -  by Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap

There is something that the three readings have in common this Sunday: In each one a birth is spoken of: "Behold the Virgin will conceive and will give birth to a son and he shall be called Emmanuel, God-with-us" (first reading); "Jesus Christ ... was born from the line of David according to the flesh" (second reading); "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about ..." (Gospel). We could call it the "Sunday of births!"

We cannot avoid immediately asking: Why are so few children born in Italy and other Western countries? The principal reason for the scarcity does not have to do with economic factors. From an economic point of view, the births should increase as we move up through the levels of society, or as we move from the global South to the global North; but we know that the contrary is true.

The reason is deeper: It is the lack of hope, and the lack of what hope brings with it, namely, confidence in the future, vital drive, creativity, poetry and joie de vivre. If you wed, it is always an act of faith; bringing a child into the world is always an act of hope. Nothing can be done in the world without hope. We need hope like we need oxygen to breathe. When someone is about to faint we say, "Give them something strong to help them breathe." Something similar should be done for a person who is about to let themselves go, to give up on life: "Give them a reason for hope!" When hope is reborn in a human situation, everything looks different, even if nothing in fact has changed. Hope is a primordial force. It literally works miracles.

The Gospel has something essential to offer our people in this moment of history: Hope with a capital "H," the theological virtue that has God himself as its author and guarantee. Earthly hopes -- home, employment, health, successful children, etc. -- even if they are realized, will inexorably delude us if there is not something deeper that supports them and keeps them going. Consider what goes into the making of a spider web. The spider web is a work of art. It is perfect in symmetry, elasticity, functionality. The threads that stretch out horizontally on all sides make it taut. But it is held upright in its center by a thread that comes down from above, the thread that the spider had spun to lower itself down. If one of the threads on the side breaks, then the spider repairs it. But if you break the thread that comes from above down to the center, everything is destroyed. The spider knows that there is nothing it can do and goes away. In our lives the theological virtue of Hope is the thread from above, that which sustains the whole plot of our lives.

In this moment in which we feel the need for hope so strongly, the feast of Christmas can be the occasion for us to change our tendencies. Let us recall what Jesus said one day: "He who welcomes a child in my name welcomes me." This also holds for whoever welcomes a poor and abandoned child, for whoever adopts and feeds a child of the Third World; but it holds above all for two Christian parents who, loving each other, in faith and hope, open themselves to a new life. Many couples who are lost in joy at the moment the pregnancy announces itself are certain to then make their own the words of Isaiah's Christmas prophecy: "You have spread joy, you have made happiness increase, because a child is born for us, a son is given us!"

[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]

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