The Voice, the Water and the Spirit

Readings for January 13, 2013

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Feast of the Baptism of the Lord 

Il-Magħmudija tal-Mulej                                                                                                    

Messalin C 135

Reading1 - Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11

Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end,  her guilt is expiated; indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.  A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!  Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; the rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.  Go up on to a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings; cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news! Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God! Here comes with power  the Lord GOD, who rules by a strong arm; here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care. This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Ewwel Qari -  Isaija 40, 1-5, 9-11

"Farrġu, farrġu l-poplu tiegħi -igħid Alla tagħkom. Kellmu lil qalb Ġerusalemm u għidulha li ntemm il-jasar tagħha, tħallset  ħżunitha, ħadet mingħand il-Mulej darbtejn ġħal dnubietha kollha." Leħen jgħajjat: "Ħejju t-triq għall-Mulej fid-derżert, wittu għal Alla tagħna mogħdija fix-xagħri. Jintradam kull wied, u jitniżżlu l-muntanji u l-għoljiet; kull art imħabbta titwitta kull art imħarbta ssir maqgħad. U tfiġġ il-glorja tal-Mulej, u l-bnedmin jarawha lkoll f'daqqa, għax fomm il-Mulej tkellem." Itla' fuq il-muntanja għolja, int li ġġib il-bxara t-tajba lil Sijon! Għolli leħnek bil-qawwa kollha, int  li tagħti l-aħbar it-tajba lil Ġerusalemm; għajjat, la tibżax. Għid lill-ibliet ta' Ġuda:"Hawn hu Alla tagħkom! Hawn hu Sidi l-Mulej, li ġej bil-qawwa, u jaħkem bil-qawwa ta'driegħu. Hawn hu bi ħlasu miegħu, u r-rebħa tiegħu quddiemu. Bħal ragħaj li j irgħa l-merħla tiegħu; bi driegħu jiġmagħha, u l-ħrief  fi ħdanu jerfagħhom; u n-nagħaġ ireddgħu bil-mod imexxihom."  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Responsorial Psalm -  Psalm 104

R. (1) O bless the Lord, my soul.

O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
you are clothed with majesty and glory,
robed in light as with a cloak.
You have spread out the heavens like a tent-cloth;                      R/

You have constructed your palace upon the waters.
You make the clouds your chariot;
you travel on the wings of the wind.
You make the winds your messengers,
and flaming fire your ministers.                                                        R/

How manifold are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you have wrought them all—
the earth is full of your creatures;
the sea also, great and wide,
in which are schools without number
of living things both small and great.                                               R/

They look to you to give them food in due time.
When you give it to them, they gather it;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.      R/

If you take away their breath, they perish and return to the dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.                                              R/

Salm Responsorjali   -  Salm 103 (104)

     

R/                      Bierek ruħ tiegħi, il-Mulej.

Mulej, Alla tiegħi, inti kbir bil-bosta!

Bis-sebħ u l-ġmiel init mlibbes,

bid-dawl, bħal b'mantell, inti mkebbeb.

Inti frixt is-smewwiet bħal tinda.                                       R./

Waqqaft fuq l-ilma l-għamajjar għoja tiegħek.

Inti tagħmel is-sħab mirkeb tiegħek,

fuq ġwienaħ ir-riħ tiġġerra.

l-irjieh tagħmilhom ħabbara tiegħek,

u l-ilsna tan-nar qaddejja tiegħek.                                     R/

Kemm huma huma kotran l-għemejjel tiegħek, Mulej!

Kollha bl-għerf għamilthom;

mimlija l-art bil-ħlejjaq tiegħek.

Dan il-baħar  ta' kobor u wisa' bla tarf,

li fih jimraħ ħut bla għadd;

bħejjem żgħar u bhejjem kbar.                                         R/

Minnek jistennew il-ħlejjaq kollha

li tagħtihom ikilhom f'waqtu.

Inti  tagħtihom, u huma jiġbru;

tiftaħ idejk, u  jixbgħu bil-ġid.                                            R/

Jekk taħbi wiċċek, huma jinfixlu;

jekk teħdilhom nifishom, imutu,

u lejn it-trab  jerġgħu jmorru.

Malli tibgħat in-nies tiegħek, jinħolqu,

u inti ġġedded il-wiċċ ta' l-art.                                           R/

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Reading 2 - Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7

Beloved: The grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good. When the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.  This is the Word of The Lord.

It-Tieni Qari  -  Titu 2, 11-14;, 3, 4-7

Ibni, dehret il-grazzja ta' Alla, għas-salvazzjoni lill-bniedmin kollha; hi trawwimna nwarrbu l-ħażen u l-ġibdiet  tad-dinja;  biex ngħixu bir-rażna u l-ġustizzja u t-tjieba f'dan iż-żmien,  u nistennew it-tama ħienja u d-dehra tal-glorja tal-kbir Alla u Salvatur tagħna. Hu ta lilu nnifsu għalina biex jifdina minn kull ħażen u jnaddafna u jagħmel minn poplu magħżul għalih, poplu mħeġġeġ għall-għemil it-tajjeb. Iżda meta feġġet it-tjieba ta' Alla, Salvatur tagħna, u l-imħabba tiegħu għall-bnedmin, hu salvana  bil-ħasil ta' twelid ġdid u t-tiġdid tal-Ispirtu s-Santu, mhux minħabba l-opri tajba li stajna għamilna aħna, iżda minħabba l-ħniena tiegħu. Dan l-ispirtu hu xerrdu bil-kotra fuqna b'Ġesu' Kristu,  is-Salvatur tagħna, biex bis-saħħa tal-grazzja tiegħu nitqaddsu u nsiru werrieta tal-ħajja ta' dejjem skont it-tama li għandna.     Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Gospel - Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.  This is the Word of The Lord.

Evanġelju -  Luqa   3, 15-16, 21-22

F'dak iż-żmien, il-poplu kien qiegħed jistenna ħerqan, u kulħadd kien jistaqsi lilu nnifsu dwar  Ġwanni, jekk kienx hu l-Messija. Għalhekk Ġwanni qabad u qal lil kulħadd: "Jien, ngħid għalija, ngħammidkom bl-ilma, imma ġej wieħed aqwa minni, li ma jistħoqqlix inħollu  l-fqieli tal-qorq tiegħu. Hu jgħammidkom bl-Ispirtu s-Santu u n-nar."  Ġara li, wara li tgħammed il-poplu kollu, Ġesu' tgħammed ukoll u,  waqt li kien qiegħed jitlob, is-smewwiet infetħu, u niżel l-Ispirtu s-Santu u deher fuqu fis-sura ta' ħammiema.U mis-sema ġie leħen jgħid: "Inti Ibni l-għażiż; fik sibt l-għaxqa tiegħi."  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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COMMENTARY

on the Gospel reading by Larry Broding 

(Catholic Liturgical resources www.word-sunday.com)

A Time For Quiet Realization

 

Has something of importance ever slipped by you unnoticed? 
When did you realize its importance? What did you do about it?

I don’t know about you. But I can only do one thing at a time. “Multi-tasking” is difficult for me. I stand in awe of people who can do more than one thing at a time.

When I am pressured and try to do more than one thing at the moment, I can get confused. These are the times I am vulnerable. Someone could approach me with a matter of importance, and I would treat it as trivial. I must admit I have made too many wrong decisions when important decisions needed to be made. Simply because I was distracted, confused.

If you are like me, then a time for reflection each day is a must. For, in reflection, we can see the gravity of events around us. And take action.

Jesus was no different. But his reflection came in times of prayer.

This gospel can be divided into two sections: John’s rejection of the title “Messiah” and the introduction of the real Messiah.

If we were to attempt a literal translation of the reading it would probably go like this:   As the people (in John’s audience) waited in expectation (in response to John’s message), and as all wondered in their hearts concerning John, if not he might be the Christ,  John answered, saying to everyone (there), “I baptize you with water, on the one hand. But, on the other hand, (he) comes, ONE mightier than I, WHOSE strap of (HIS) sandal I am not (worthy) enough to loosen on HIM. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Let me explain further:  The words “whose strap of (his) sandal I am not (worthy) enough to loosen on him” is clumsy in English, it is elegant in Greek. The clause begins (“whose”) and ends (“on him” which is actual “his”) with possessive pronouns that refer to “strap.”

“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” - The baptism of fire could refer to the Final Judgment or to spiritual maturation. In the first sense, the Holy Spirit and the Final Judgment are opposed to each other. Christ as the Great Judge would favour his followers with the Spirit, while condemning those who rejected the Spirit.  In the second sense, the Spirit was the support for the Christian undergoing persecution (i.e., “fire”). Those who expected to grow in the Spirit would encounter opposition, even martyrdom, as a result of their choice. Spiritual maturity had a cost.

Luke presented the ministry of the Baptism as a dialogue between himself and his audience. John preached. His audience took his message to heart. At the core of John’s message was preparation for the Christ.

As the people’s expectations for the Messiah rose, John defined his own status. He was the prophet, not the Messiah. He was not worthy of the Coming One. Just as Mark wrote, Luke recorded the Holy Spirit and fire prediction of John. As the note above stated, there has been some discussion about the relationship between the Holy Spirit and fire. Personally, I think they are the same, God’s love and justice.

“ It happened (that) everyone (in John’s audience) was baptized also JESUS having been baptized and that, as HE was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 the Holy Spirit visibly as a dove came down on HIM, and (there) was a voice from heaven: “YOU are my SON, (my) BELOVED, in YOU I am well pleased.”

Unlike Matthew and Mark, Luke envisioned the revelation of the Trinity (descent of the Spirit and the voice from heaven) while Jesus was at prayer, not as he emerged from the water.  Unlike the accounts found in Mark and Matthew, Luke simply recorded the fact that Jesus had been baptized (past tense). The revelation of the Trinity occurs during Jesus’ prayer, not as he rose out of the water. [21] This reflected Luke’s emphasis not on historical event, but upon the revelation of it importance. For Luke, it was not when an event “happens to me”; it is the moment I “get it,” I make the connection. For Luke, prayer was the time of revelation and insight; Luke portrayed Jesus in prayer before the major decisions of his ministry.

For Luke, prayer was the time for grace, God with us. This could not be underestimated. Luke used the images of a actual dove and a actual voice to communicate the concrete reality of God’s grace with us. The heavens were torn open, so there was no barrier between God and his people. [21-22] Grace was now present; the time of realization was in prayer.

When do you realize times of grace?
How has your prayer time given you those “graced” moments?

Luke recorded the message of John and the baptism of Jesus along the lines of Mark and Matthew. But he changed one small detail. The moment of realization was in prayer.

Prayer is a time for gentle insight and peace. It is not earth shattering, but it can be earth moving. God can rule with justice, insight, and liberation, but we must take the time to realize his gifts in prayer.

We cannot multitask prayer and expect results.

This coming week, plan for prayer time as a time for reflection. Slow down and concentrate on your words to God. And your presence with God. See how God will bless your time with him.

The signs of the times

Readings for Sunday, January 6^th

Solemnity of the Epiphany of The Lord

L-Epifanija tal-Mulej

Messalin Ċ pp 129

  

Reading 1 – Isaiah - Chapter 60, 1-6

Rise up in splendor! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; But upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.  Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: Your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.  Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, For the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.  Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; All from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the LORD. This is the Word of The Lord

L-Ewwel Qari -  Isaija - 60, 1-6

Qum!  Ħa jiddi wiċċek! Id-dawl tiegħek wasal! Jiddi fuqek sebħ il-Mulej! Ara d-dlamijiet jiksu l-art, u sħab iswed il-popli; iżda fuqek jiddi l-Mulej, u s-sebħ tiegħu jfeġġ fuqek. Il-ġnus  għad jimxu fid-dawl tiegħek, u s-slaten fid-dija tas-sebħ tiegħek. Għolli u dawwar għajnejk madwarek u ara: ilkoll miġbura  ġejjin għandek. Uliedek ġejjin mill-bogħod, u bnietek iġorruhom fuq id-dirgħajn. Imbagħad tħares u wiċċek jiddi, u tħabbat u timtela qalbek, għax fuqek taqa' l-kotra tal-ġid tal-ibħra, u l-għana tal-ġnus jiġi għandek. Imrieħel ta' iġmla għad jgħattuk, l-iġmla żgħar ta' Midjan u Għefa; ilkoll minn Seba jiġu, mgħobbija bid-deheb u l-inċens, u jxandru t-tifħir tal-Mulej. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Responsorial Psalm: Chapter 72, 2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13    

R. (cf. 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.                        R/

Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.                   R/

The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.                                             R/

For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.                                 R/

Salm Responsorjali - Salm  71 (72)

R/   Il-ġnus kollha tal-art jagħtuk qima, Mulej.

O Alla, agħti lis-sultan il-ħaqq tiegħek,

il-ġustizzja tiegħek lil bin is-sultan,

biex jiġġudika l-poplu tiegħek bil-ġustizzja,

u bil-ħaqq  l-imsejknin tiegħek.                          R/

Tħaddar f'jiemu l-ġustizzja,

u sliem kotran sa ma jintemm il-qamar.

Isaltan minn baħar sa l-baħar,

u mix-xmara  sa truf l-art.                                 R/

Is-slaten ta' Tarsis u l-gżejjer jagħtuh ir-rigali,

is-slaten ta' Seba u ta' Saba għotjiet iġibulu.

Iqimuh is-slaten kollha,

Il-ġnus kollha lilu jaqdu.                         R/

Għax hu jeħles lill-fqir li jsejjaħlu,

u lill-imsejken li m'għandux minn jgħinu.

Iħenn għad-dgħajjef u għall-fqajjar;

il-ħajja tal-fqajrin isalva.                                   R/

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 Reading 2 – Ephesians Chapter 3, 2-3, 5-6

If, as I suppose, you have heard of the stewardship ¹ of God's grace that was given to me for your benefit, (namely, that) the mystery ² was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly earlier. which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. This is the Word of The Lord

It-Tieni Qari – Efesin 3. 2-3a;5-6

Ħuti,  intom smajtu bil-pjan tal-grazzja  li Alla tani għall-ġid tagħkom, jiġifieri, li permezz ta'  rivelazzjoni għarrafni l-misteru. Dan hu l-misteru li fil-ġenerazzjonijiet l-imgħoddija ma kienx mgħarraf lill-bnedmin bħalma issa ġie rrivelat lill-appostli qaddisa tiegħu u lill-profeti fl-Ispirtu,

jiġifieri, li l-pagani huma msejħa biex ikollhom sehem mill-istess wegħda, fi' Kristu Sidna permezz tal-Evanġelju. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Gospel – Matthew Chapter 2, 1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, ² behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,  saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star ³ at its rising and have come to do him homage."  When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet:  'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance.  He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage."  After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star,  and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. This is the Word of The Lord

 

Evanġelju  -  Mattew 2, 1-12

Meta twieled Ġesu' f'Betleħem tal-Lhudija, fiż-żmien is-sultan Erodi, xi maġi mill-Lvant ġew  Ġerusalem jistaqsu:  "Fejn hu dak li twieled sultan tal-Lhud? Għax rajna l-kewkba tiegħu tielgħa u ġejna nqimu." Is-sultan Erodi sama' bihom, u tħawwad hu u Ġerusalemm kollha miegħu. Ġabar flimkien  il-qassisin il-kbar u l-kittieba kollha tal-poplu, u ried jaf mingħandhom fejn kellu itwieled il-Messija. U huma qalulu:  "F'Betlehem, tal-Lhudija, għax hekk inkiteb mill-profeta:  "U int, Betlehem, art ta' Ġuda, le, m'intix l-iżgħar fost il-bliet il-kbar ta' Ġuda, għax minnek joħroġ mexxej li jirgħa l-poplu tiegħi Iżrael". Erodi mbagħad sejjaħ lill-maġi bil-moħbi, u tkixxef bir-reqqa kollha mingħandhom iż-żmien li fih dehritilhom il-kewkba; bagħathom Betlehem u qalilhom:  "Morru,  staqsu sewwa għat-tifel, u meta ssibuh ejjew għiduli, ħalli jien ukoll niġi nqimu." Dawk, wara li semgħu lis-sultan, telqu, u ara, il-kewkba li kienu raw tielgħa bdiet miexja quddiemhom sakemm waslet u waqfet fuq il-post fejn kien hemm it-tifel. Kif raw il-kewkba tlew b'ferħ kbir tassew. Meta mbagħad daħlu d-dar u raw lit-tifel ma' Ommu Marija, inxteħtu fl-art iqimuh; fetħu t-teżori tagħhom u offrewlu rigali, deheb, inċens u mirra. Imbagħad, billi kienu mwissijin f'ħolma biex ma jerġgħux imorru għand Erodi, telqu lura lejn arthom minn triq oħra.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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COMMENTARY

Father Cantalamessa on the Epiphany of the Lord

Here is a translation of a commentary by the Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa (left), on the liturgical readings for the solemnity of the Epiphany.
The Signs of the Times

"We celebrate three wondrous events on this holy day: Today the star leads the Magi to the stable, today the water is changed into wine at the wedding feast at Cana, today Christ is baptized by John in the Jordan for our salvation." With these words the liturgy describes today's feast; it consists in the triple revelation of Christ: to the magi, at the wedding feast at Cana, and in Jesus' baptism in the Jordan. Since ancient times, that which has brought about the unification of these three events in a single feast is their common theme of manifestation (in Greek "epiphania"). In these events Jesus progressively reveals what he is in reality, the Messiah and saviour.

Christ reveals himself to all peoples and to each category of persons with signs appropriate and comprehensible to them. To simple shepherds he sends an angel; to the wise who scrutinize the courses of the heavenly bodies he sends a star; to the Jews attached to signs, he gives a sign, that is, a miracle: He changes water into wine.

With what signs does Christ manifest himself to the men of our time? The Second Vatican Council gave important attention to the "signs of the times" ("Gaudium et Spes," No. 11). Among these are the sense of solidarity and the interdependence that is developing between nations, Christian ecumenism, the promotion of the laity, the liberation of women, the new sense of religious freedom.

 When Jesus spoke of the "signs of the times," he meant above all the messianic signs: "The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news preached to them" (Matthew 11:5). Are there such signs today? Certainly there are! The blind receive the light of faith and hope through contact with the word of God; the spiritually lame (and sometimes the physically lame) get up and walk; those who are prisoners in themselves, of evil, or of men, are freed from their chains; in sum, people are converted and live through the power of Christ and his Spirit.

Jesus insists on one of these signs in particular: "The good news is announced to the poor" (Luke 7:22). Is not the concern, typical of our time, that the Gospel be preached to the poor, a sign that Christ is at work in the Church? Perhaps today we are able to discover a new meaning in that saying of Jesus: "The poor you will always have with you but you will not always have me" (Matthew 26:11); that is to say: When I am no longer with you physically, the poor who represent me will be with you: do to them what you would do to me!

The bringing of the Gospel to the poor may sometimes appear too slow and uncertain and not always consistent, but it would be unjust to deny that there is alive in the whole Church an interest, a zeal -- which is also a positive sign -- a strong feeling in regard to the poor, whether they be individuals or an entire people. It is a new consciousness that "manifests" the power of the word of Christ.

These are some of the signs of the epiphany of Christ that continue to manifest themselves among us. We all have the task of discovering and evaluating these signs and becoming ourselves a sign of the presence of Christ in the world!   []

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

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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

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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

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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  

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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.