THE SMALLEST MIRACLES ARE THE GREATEST

Readings for January 1, 2023

The Octave Day of Christmas
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

L-Imqaddsa Omm Alla Marija.
Solennità.


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.”

Qari 1                mill-Ktieb tan-Numri 6:22-27

Il-Mulej kellem lil Mosè u qallu: “Kellem lil Aron u lil uliedu u għidilhom: ‘Meta tbierku lil ulied Iżrael, 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 Iżrael, u jiena nberikhom”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm               PSALM 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.
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):2-3,5,6,8

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

Qari 2                mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl Appostlu lill-Galatin 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: “Abbà! Missier!”. U hekk m’intix iżjed ilsir, iżda iben: u jekk 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.

Evanġelju               Qari skond San Luqa 2:16-21

F’dak iż-żmien, ir-ragħajja marru jgħaġġlu, u sabu lil Marija u lil Ġużeppi, bit-tarbija mimduda f’maxtura. Kif raw dan, bdew jgħarrfu b’kulma kien intqal lilhom dwar dik it-tarbija, u kull min semagħhom baqa’ mistagħġeb b’dak li qalulhom ir-ragħajja. Marija, min-naħa tagħha, baqgħet tgħożż f’qalbha dawn il-ħwejjeġ kollha u taħseb fuqhom bejnha u bejn ruħha. Ir-ragħajja 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 jagħmlulu ċ-ċirkonċiżjoni, semmewh Ġesù, bl-isem li kien tah l-anġlu qabel ma tnissel fil-ġuf. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.  

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Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr. Anthony Kadavil

Mary the Mother of God 

 PRAYERFUL NEW YEAR’S GREETINGS & GOD’S BLESSINGS

Thank you for being God’s instrument of blessing in my life by your valuable prayers and encouraging support for my Internet Gospel ministry in the past years. I assure you of my special prayers every day in the New Year 2023 during my Holy Masses. May the Holy Spirit of God continue to empower you and guide you in your ministry and strengthen you in your weakness. May God bless you every day of the New Year!

Introduction:

Since we celebrate the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God on New Year’s Day, may I take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy and Peaceful New Year? I pray that the Lord Jesus and His Mother Mary may enrich your lives during the New Year with an abundance of Divine blessings.

Sunday’s Feast of Mary, the Mother of God (also known as the Theotokos), is a very appropriate way to begin a new year, reminding us to rely on the powerful intercession of our Heavenly Mother. The Church also observes the World Day of Peace on this day and invites us to pray specially for lasting peace in the world throughout the New Year. (You may add an anecdote)

Scripture lessons summarized:

Today’s first reading gives us the beautiful Divine blessing from the book of Numbers for the New Year, and the Responsorial Psalm (Ps 67) begs for that blessing. In the second reading, Paul reminds the Galatians and us that God’s Son has become one of us through Mary and that it is through her son, Jesus that we have become the children of God.

Sunday’s Gospel describes how the shepherds spread to all their neighbors the Good News surrounding the birth of Jesus which the angel had revealed to them, and how Mary treasured “all these things” in her heart. The Gospel also tells us that on the day of Jesus’ Circumcision, the Child received the name Jesus that had been chosen by God Himself.

Traditional belief and Church doctrine:

We honour Mary primarily because God honoured her by choosing her to become the mother of Jesus, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, when He took on human flesh and became man, as stated in the Bible. The angel said to Mary: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High…” (Lk 1:30-32).

After the Angel had received her consent to become the mother of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary visited Elizabeth. At Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth said,” Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk 1:42-43; RSV 2 Catholic) Hence, the Council of Ephesus affirmed in AD 431 that Mary was truly the Mother of God (Theotokos), and in AD 451, the Council of Chalcedon affirmed the Divine Motherhood of Mary as a dogma, an official doctrine of the Holy Catholic Church.

Life messages:

1) Let us strive to be pure and holy like our Heavenly Mother. All mothers want their children to inherit or acquire their good qualities. Hence, let us honor Mary, our Heavenly Mother, by practicing her virtues of trusting Faith, obedience to the word of God, purity and humble, selfless, committed service.

2) Let us make the New Year meaningful by having every day
   a) some noble thing to dream,
   b) something good to do, and
   c) Someone to love, the first-person being Jesus.

3) Let us sanctify every day of the New Year:
   a) by offering every morning, all the activities of the day for God’s glory, thus transforming them into prayers,
   b) by asking for the anointing and strengthening of the Holy Spirit to do good to others and to avoid evil,
   c) by remaining faithful to our family prayers and Bible reading at night,
   d) by asking God’s pardon and forgiveness for our sins committed during the day    and e) by seeking God’s special protection during the sleep. Before we sleep, let us say, “Good night, Lord,” repeating Jesus’ last words from the cross, “Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit.”

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Readings for 

 December 25, 2022

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Mass during the Day    Lectionary: 16

It-Twelid ta’ Sidna Ġesù Kristu

Solennità – Quddiesa ta’ Binhar

Reading 1                 ISAIAH 52:7-10

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion,  “Your God is King!”  Hark!  Your sentinels raise a cry,  together they shout for joy,  for they see directly, before their eyes,  the LORD restoring Zion. Break out together in song, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the LORD comforts his people,  he redeems Jerusalem. The LORD has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations;  all the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God.

Qari 1                 mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Iżaija 52:7-10

Kemm huma sbieħ fuq il-muntanji r-riġlejn ta’ min iħabbar il-bxara, ta’ min ixandar is-sliem, ta’ min iħabbar ir-riżq, ta’ min ixandar is-salvazzjoni, u jgħid lil Sijon: “Alla tiegħek isaltan”. Ismagħha l-għajta! L-għassiesa tiegħek għollew leħenhom, ilkoll flimkien jgħajtu bil-ferħ, għax raw b’għajnejhom lill-Mulej rieġa’ lura f’Sijon. Intom, ħerbiet ta’ Ġerusalemm, għajtu lkoll bil-ferħ, għax farraġ il-Mulej il-poplu tiegħu, feda lil Ġerusalemm. Kixef il-Mulej id-driegħ tiegħu qaddis, quddiem il-ġnus kollha, u raw it-truf kollha tal-art is-salvazzjoni ta’ Alla tagħna. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm               PSALM 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
   for he has done wondrous deeds;
his right hand has won victory for him,
   his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

The LORD has made his salvation known:
   in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
   toward the house of Israel.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

All the ends of the earth have seen
   the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
   break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
   with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
   sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Salm Responsorjali               Salm 97(98):1,2-3ab,3ċd-4,5-6

R/. (3ċ): Raw it-truf kollha tal-art is-salvazzjoni ta’ Alla tagħna.

Għannu lill-Mulej għanja ġdida,
għax għamel ħwejjeġ tal-għaġeb.
Ġibitlu r-rebħa l-leminija tiegħu,
u d-driegħ imqaddes tiegħu. R/.

Għarraf il-Mulej is-salvazzjoni tiegħu,
f’għajnejn il-ġnus wera l-ġustizzja tiegħu.
Ftakar fit-tjieba u l-fedeltà tiegħu
mal-poplu ta’ Iżrael. R/.

L-art kollha, minn tarf għall-ieħor,
rat is-salvazzjoni ta’ Alla tagħna.
Għajtu bil-ferħ lill-Mulej fl-art kollha,
infexxu fil-hena, ifirħu u għannu! R/.

Għannu lill-Mulej biċ-ċetra,
biċ-ċetra u bil-ħlewwa tal-għana,
bit-trombi u bid-daqq tat-trumbetti;
għajtu bil-ferħ quddiem il-Mulej is-sultan! R/.

Reading 2                HEBREWS 1:1-6

Brothers and sisters: In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe,        who is the refulgence of his glory,  the very imprint of his being,  and who sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished purification from sins,  he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say: You are my son; this day I have begotten you? Or again:  I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me? And again, when he leads the firstborn into the world, he says:    Let all the angels of God worship him. Alleluia

Qari 2                Bidu tal-Ittra lil-Lhud  1:1-6

Alla fl-imgħoddi kellem lil missirijietna ħafna drabi u b’ħafna manjieri permezz tal-profeti. Issa f’dan l-aħħar żmien huwa kellimna permezz ta’ Ibnu, li hu għamlu werriet ta’ kollox, u li bih ukoll għamel il-ħolqien. Hu, l-Iben, li hu d-dija tal-glorja ta’ Alla u x-xbieha tal-essenza tiegħu, u li jżomm id-dinja kollha bil-kelma setgħana tiegħu, wara li naddafna minn dnubietna, qagħad fuq il-lemin tal-kobor ta’ Alla fl-għoli tas-smewwiet, u b’hekk sar daqshekk aqwa mill-anġli daqskemm ogħla minn tagħhom hu l-isem li kiseb. Għax lil min mill-anġli qatt qal Alla: “Inti ibni, jiena llum nissiltek!”? Jew: “Jiena nkun missieru, u hu jkun ibni!”? Imbagħad, hu u jdaħħal lil Ibnu l-Kbir fid-dinja, jgħid ukoll: “Ħa jqimuh l-anġli kollha ta’ Alla”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                JOHN 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word,  and the Word was with God,  and the Word was God.     He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him,  and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life,  and this life was the light of the human race;  the light shines in the darkness,  and the darkness has not overcome it.  A man named John was sent from God.  He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’” From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

Evanġelju               Bidu tal-Evanġelju skont San Ġwann Ġw 1:1-18

Fil-bidu kien il-Verb, u l-Verb kien ma’ Alla, u l-Verb kien Alla. Hu kien fil-bidu ma’ Alla. Kollox bih sar, u xejn ma sar mingħajru;  kulma sar kellu l-ħajja fih, u l-ħajja kienet id-dawl tal-bnedmin. Id-dawl jiddi fid-dlam, imma d-dlam ma għelbux. Kien hemm raġel mibgħut minn Alla, jismu Ġwanni. Dan ġie bħala xhud, biex jixhed għad-dawl, biex bih kulħadd jemmen. Ġwanni ma kienx id-dawl, imma ġie biex jixhed għad-dawl, dak id-dawl veru, li jdawwal kull bniedem, huwa u ġej fid-dinja. Kien fid-dinja, u d-dinja saret bih, imma d-dinja ma għarfitux. Ġie f’daru, u niesu ma laqgħuhx. Imma lil dawk li laqgħuh tahom is-setgħa li jsiru wlied Alla, dawk li jemmnu f’ismu, li twieldu mhux mid-demm, anqas mill-ġibda tal-ġisem, u anqas mir-rieda tal-bnedmin, iżda minn Alla. U l-Verb sar bniedem u għammar fostna, u aħna rajna l-glorja tiegħu, il-glorja li għandu mill-Missier bħala Ibnu l-waħdieni, mimli bil-grazzja u l-verità. Ġwanni ta xhieda fuqu meta għajjat u qal: “Dan hu li għalih għedtilkom: Jiġi warajja, imma hu aqwa minni, għax kien minn qabli”. Għax mill-milja tiegħu aħna lkoll ħadna, grazzja fuq grazzja. Alla ta l-Liġi permezz ta’ Mosè imma l-grazzja u l-verità seħħu permezz ta’ Ġesù Kristu. Lil Alla għadu ħadd ma rah; imma għarrafhulna l-Iben il-waħdieni ta’ Alla, li hu fi ħdan il-Missier. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr Fr. Anthony Kadavil
        

MAY Jesus be reborn in your heart and life during Christmas 2022 and every day of  the New Year 2023.
        MAY He radiate His Presence from within you as sharing love,  unconditional forgiveness, humble service, a compass-ionate heart, and overflowing generosity.
            MAY the Holy Babe of Bethlehem bless you with health in body and  soul and grant you a peaceful and blessed New Year.

 
Why do we celebrate Christmas with great rejoicing?

1: First, Christmas is the Feast of God’s sending us a Saviour: God undertook the Incarnation of Jesus as True God and true man to save us from the bondage of sin. The Hindus believe in ten incarnations of God. The purpose of these incarnations is stated in their Holy Scripture, Bagavath Geetha or Song of God. “God incarnates to restore righteousness in the world whenever there is a large-scale erosion of moral values.” (“Dharma samstaphanarthe sambhavami yuge yuge.”).

But the Christian Scriptures teach only one Incarnation, and its purpose is given in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”— (RVS 2 Catholic).

We call our celebration of the Incarnation of God in a Baby today “Good News” because our Divine Saviour has been born. As our Saviour Jesus liberated us from our evil addictions and unjust, inpure and uncharitable tendencies.  Christmas 2022 also challenges us to accept Jesus in ythe manger as our saving God and personal Saviour  sins by his suffering, death, and Resurrection.

So, every Christmas reminds us that we need a Savior every day, to free us from our evil addictions and unjust, impure, and uncharitable tendencies. Christmas 2022 also challenges us to accept Jesus in the manger as our saving God and personal Saviour and to surrender our lives to him, allowing him to rule our hearts and lives every day in the New Year.

# 2: Second, Christmas is the Feast of God’s sharing His love with us: Jesus, as our Saviour, brought the “Good News” that our God is a loving, forgiving, merciful, rewarding God and not a judgmental, cruel, punishing God. He demonstrated by his life and teaching how God our Heavenly Father loves us, forgives us, provides for us, and rewards us.

All his miracles were signs of this Divine Love. Jesus’ final demonstration of God’s love for us was his own death on the cross to atone for our sins and to make us children of God. Each Christmas reminds us that sharing love with others is our Christian privilege and duty, and every time we do that, Jesus is reborn in our lives.

Let us humbly admit the truth with the German mystic Angelus Silesius “Christ could be born a thousand times in Bethlehem – but all in vain until He is born in me.” (https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Angelus_Silesius) Hence, let us allow Jesus to be reborn in our hearts and lives, not only during Christmas, but every day, so that he may radiate the Light of his Presence from within us as sharing and selfless love, expressed in compassionate words and deeds, unconditional forgiveness, the spirit of humble service, and overflowing generosity.

# 3: Third, Christmas is the Feast of the Emmanuel (God living with us and within us): Christmas is the feast of the Emmanuel because God in the New Testament is a God Who continues to live with us in all the events of our lives as the “Emmanuel” announced by the angel to Mary. Jesus lives in us as Emmanuel in the Sacraments (especially in the Holy Eucharist), in the Bible, in the praying community, and in each believer, as the Holy Spirit residing in us makes us His “Temples.”

Christmas reminds us that we are bearers of God with the missionary privilege and duty of conveying Jesus to those around us by loving them as Jesus did, through sacrificial, humble, committed service. Sharing with others Jesus, the Emmanuel living within us, is the best Christmas gift we can give, or receive, today.

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LIFE CHANGING MOMENTS

Readings for December 18, 2022

Fourth Sunday of Advent
Lectionary: 10

Ir-Raba’ Ħadd tal-Avvent



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.

Qari 1                 mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Iżaija 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 tas-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.

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. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.   

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. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.

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. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory. 

Salm Responsorjali               Salm 23(24):1-2,3-4ab,5-6

R/.(7c,10b): Ħa jidħol il-Mulej, hu s-Sultan tal-glorja.

Tal-Mulej hi l-art u kulma fiha,
id-dinja u kulma 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 jdejh 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.

Qari 2               Bidu tal-Ittra ta’ San Pawl Appostlu lir-Rumani 1:1-7

Pawlu, qaddej ta’ Kristu Ġesù, imsejjaħ biex ikun appostlu, maħtur għall-Evanġelju ta’ Alla. Dan hu l-Evanġelju li Alla kien wiegħed permezz tal-profeti fil-Kotba Mqaddsa dwar Ibnu Ġesù 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 tal-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’ Ġesù Kristu; lill-maħbubin kollha ta’ Alla li jinsabu Ruma msejħin biex ikunu qaddisin: grazzja lilkom u sliem mingħand Alla Missierna u Sidna Ġesù 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.

Evanġelju               Qari skond San Mattew 1:18-24

It-tnissil ta’ Ġesù l-Messija sar hekk: ommu Marija, wara li tgħarrset ma’ Ġużeppi, qabel ma marru joqogħdu flimkien, saret omm bil-ħidma tal-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 Ġesù, 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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Spirituality of the Readings  //  by Fr John Foley, SJ 

 Fourth Sunday of Advent / Year A

An Inner Assurance

A dream changed Joseph’s life and ours. A mere dream, like what you and I have at night.

How trustworthy could this be?

And yet the safety of Mary and the child Jesus depended on it. In his dream (Gospel), an angel told him that Mary’s pregnancy was from the Holy Spirit of God. Mary had accepted readily but without really understanding. This angel of the Lord told him in the dream that he should not be afraid of the pregnancy, even though he was not yet married to this woman.

There can be a time when grace is so quietly strong that the person praying has an inner assurance that the experience did not come from imagination but from God.

Not be afraid? Already everyone could see that Joseph’s fiancé was “in a family way.” USA culture might applaud this fact, as it does when movie stars have children with whomever they please, whenever they please. In Biblical culture marriage was a sacred act [and not too long ago in our own], a participation in God’s own fidelity. It seemed that Mary had broken with that fidelity, at least as far as the townspeople could see. The Blessed Mother - a public sinner! No wonder Joseph was making arrangements for a “quiet divorce.”

So why in the world would he trust a dream? A friend of mine said he dreamed one night about a kangaroo sitting on his roof in a rocking chair, smoking a pipe! Should my friend keep a rocking chair on the roof from now on, just in case? No. We take dreams for what they probably are, a mechanism of our psyche that somehow helps us but does not give us literal truth. We do not trust dreams for life-changing messages.

Why did Joseph?

I think the answer has to do with something St. Ignatius of Loyola calls "discernment." In general, discernment is an examination of one's internal reactions to God (“movements”) in prayer.

There are many different kinds of interior movements to discern, but Ignatius notes a more rare one first. There can be a time when grace is so quietly strong that the person praying has an inner assurance that the experience did not come from imagination but from God. In this case, no doubts are possible.

You and I have to be careful not to get carried away by this notion. Probably many of us could convince ourselves that God or an angel spoke to us this morning. We need to discern which experiences are from God and which are not. Are they quiet? Do they lead toward God or away? What is the long-term result? A spiritual director could help us sort through such questions.

Joseph's dream must have been a movement of this kind. It contained a quiet certainty of the presence of God. No doubts followed it, in a situation when doubts would surely seem called for. It was like the face of a mother to an infant. Like the voice of a close friend.

Another way to put it is that Joseph already had much trust in God's love. This trust was in no way broken into, shattered or pulled to pieces by the dream. Instead the message fit right into the design of Joseph's life with God. And so he followed it.

What is your internal sense of the Christmas story? Is the birth of God an impossible tale reserved for children? Or do you find the roots of trust within yourself as Joseph did?

Pray for the open faith Joseph and Mary had.

//////////////////////////////////////     Copyright © 2022, John B. Foley, SJ - All rights reserved.

ARE YOU THE ONE?

Readings for December 11, 2022

Third Sunday of Advent
Lectionary: 7

It-Tielet Ħadd tal-Avvent


Reading 1               ISAIAH 35:1-6a, 10

The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.  Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; they will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.

Qari 1                mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Iżaija 35:1-6a,10

Ħa jifirħu d-deżert u l-art maħruqa; ħa jifraħ ix-xagħri u jwarrad, ħa jwarrad bħar-ranġis. Ħa tifraħ fuq li tifraħ, taqbeż u tgħanni. Sebħ il-Libanu jingħata lilha, il-ġmiel tal-Karmel u ta’ Saron.  Għad jaraw is-sebħ tal-Mulej, il-ġmiel ta’ Alla tagħna. Qawwu l-idejn mitruħa; saħħu l-irkopptejn imriegħda. Għidu lil dawk b’qalbhom imbeżżgħa: “Agħmlu l-ħila, la tibżgħux! Araw, Alla tagħkom ġej jitħallas; il-ħlas ta’ Alla wasal; Hu stess ġej biex isalvakom”. Imbagħad jinfetħu għajnejn l-għomja, jinfetħu widnejn it-torox. Imbagħad iz-zopp jaqbeż bħal għażżiela u lsien l-imbikkma jinħall bil-ferħ. Jerġgħu lura l-mifdijin tal-Mulej, u jidħlu f’Sijon jgħajtu bil-ferħ, b’ferħ ta’ dejjem fuq rashom. Il-ferħ u l-hena jiksbu, u jgħibu swied il-qalb u l-krib. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                PSALM 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10.

The LORD God keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Lord, come and save us.

The LORD gives sight to the blind;
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
the LORD protects strangers.
R. Lord, come and save us.

The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations.
R. Lord, come and save us.

Salm Responsorjali               Salm 146(147):7,8-9a,9bc-10

R/. (Iż 34:4): Ejja, Mulej, ħa ssalvana.

Il-Mulej iżomm kelmtu għal dejjem,
jagħmel ħaqq lill-maħqurin,
u jagħti l-ħobż lill-imġewħin.
Il-Mulej jeħles lill-imjassrin. R/.

Il-Mulej jiftaħ għajnejn l-għomja;
il-Mulej jerfa’ lill-milwijin;
il-Mulej iħobb lill-ġusti;
il-Mulej iħares lill-barranin. R/.

Hu jżomm lill-iltim u lill-armla,
imma lill-ħżiena jħarbtilhom triqathom.
Il-Mulej isaltan għal dejjem;
Alla tiegħek, Sijon, minn nisel għal nisel. R/.

Reading 2               JAMES 5:7-10

Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates. Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Qari 2                 mill-Ittra ta’ San Ġakbu Appostlu 5:7-10

Ħuti, stabru, sa ma jasal il-Mulej. Ara, il-bidwi joqgħod b’sabar kbir jistenna l-frott għażiż tal-art, sa ma jieħu x-xita bikrija u mwaħħra. Stabru intom ukoll; qawwu qalbkom, għax il-miġja tal-Mulej hi fil-qrib. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel               MATTHEW 11:2-11

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me." As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out?  To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

Evanġelju                Qari skond San Mattew 11:2-11

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġwanni, li kien fil-ħabs, sama’ bl-għemejjel tal-Messija, u bagħat għandu tnejn mid-dixxipli tiegħu u qallu: “Inti huwa dak li għandu jiġi, jew nistennew lil ħaddieħor?”. Ġesù wieġeb u qalilhom: “Morru agħtu lil Ġwanni l-aħbar ta’ dak li qegħdin tisimgħu u taraw: l-għomja jaraw, iz-zopop jimxu, il-lebbrużi jfiqu, it-torox jisimgħu, il-mejtin iqumu, l-Evanġelju jixxandar lill-foqra. Hieni hu min ma jitfixkilx minħabba fija”.   Meta dawk telqu, Ġesù qabad ikellem lin-nies fuq Ġwanni: “Xi ħriġtu taraw fid-deżert? Qasba tixxejjer mar-riħ? Xi ħriġtu taraw? Raġel liebes fin? Dawk li jilbsu fin fil-palazzi tas-slaten issibhom. Mela xi ħriġtu taraw? Profeta? Iva, ngħidilkom, anzi xi ħaġa iżjed minn profeta. Dan hu li fuqu hemm miktub: ‘Ara, jiena nibgħat qablek il-ħabbâr tiegħi biex iħejji triqtek quddiemek’. Tassew, ngħidilkom, li fost ulied in-nisa ħadd ma qam akbar minn Ġwanni l-Battista. U b’danakollu l-iżgħar wieħed fis-Saltna tas-Smewwiet hu akbar minnu”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Spirituality of the Readings - Third Sunday of Advent, Year A 

by Fr John Foley, SJ

Gifts  -

I have a new watch, an inexpensive one.  The old one had worn out. This new one has something I like very much, a second hand. I can watch the seconds tick by and I can “time” anything I want to.

But I also realise that we will miss the present by looking backward or forward too much.

Who wants to time things?

Well I do, especially when I get caught by a traffic light that changes to red just as I pull within a half a block. I glance at my wrist to see just how long the light sits on red. Some of them last—listen to this—a minute and fifteen seconds!

Imagine having to sit with nothing to do when you are late and in a hurry, with a mechanical device deciding for an entire minute and a quarter the second when you are allowed to go on!

As you can see, I need to put on some patience.

The Second Reading for Sunday says it this way:

    See the farmer await the yield of the soil.
    He watches it in winter and in spring rain.*

The farmer is attentive and tolerant because crops do not come up in a day. He has learned patience through many seasons.

How about those of us who are not farmers? How do we “put on” patience?

I think there are two parts to the answer.

First, I have noticed that when I am being impatient I am also failing to notice what is happening in the present time. I am stuck in the future worrying about what will occur and how to make it happen; about where I am supposed to be by now; and how the light will not let me go.

And a lot of us reside in the past instead of the present. We re-hash mistakes we made and finally think of a retort that would have topped someone's nasty remark, and so on.

The present moment is the only one we actually live in. The precious goodness of God makes everything exist right now, not tomorrow or yesterday, which are only memories or projections. We will miss the present by looking backward or forward too much.

Second, we need to recall that God makes the future safe. God has promised that, in ways we cannot understand, the crooked will be made straight. Our gnarled lives will be filled with goodness.

Patience is really a way of remembering the constant love of God, no matter how frightening or disconcerting the future may seem or may actually be. We need to slow down, look around, and live.

Think about Mary’s “be it done unto me,” her lifelong daily prayer, her nine months, her place at the cross. Notice that, when the angel gave her the annunciation, she did not demand guarantees and full details. She relied on God's love. She waited.

And, the Second Person of the Trinity, alive to earth’s ways, waited until it was time to come into the world as Jesus. Then when he sensed that he was hungry, he suckled at his mother's breast, burping only when the occasion presented itself, not before. And think of his years of being just a carpenter day after day. God's beloved, making a chair!

But that is Advent.

Christ is with you. His presence needs to grow.

Just open. Watch for the signs.

Patience, people!

//////////////////////////////////////     Copyright © 2022, John B. Foley, SJ - All rights reserved.