""How can this be?"

Fourth Sunday of Advent
Lectionary: 11

Ir-4 Ħadd ta' l-Avvent Sena 'B'

Messalin B pp 91

 

Reading 1                                                                                                                                                 2 SaMuel 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16

When King David was settled in his palace, and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!" Nathan answered the king, "Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you." But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said: "Go, tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in?' "It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock  to be commander of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went,
and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth. I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you. And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever."  This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Ewwel Lezzjoni

Qari mill-Tieni Ktieb ta' Samwel 7, 1-5, 8b-12. 14a,16

Meta s-Sultan David mar joqgħod f'daru u  l-Mulej serrħu mill-għedewwa kollha ta' madwaru, is-sultan qal lil Natan il-profeta:  "Issa, ara jien qiegħed f'dar taċ-ċedru, u l-arka ta' Alla qiegħda 'nofs ta' tinda!"   U qal Natan lis-sultan: "Kull ma għandek fi ħsiebek li tagħmel, mur agħmlu għax il-Mulej miegħek." Imma dak il-lejl stess ġiet il-kelma tal-Mulej lil Natan u qallu:  "Mur għid lill-qaddej tiegħi David: "Dan jgħid il-Mulej:  Se tibnili int dar biex noqgħod fiha? Ara, jiena ħadtek mill-mergħat minn wara l-imrieħel biex tkun prinċep fuq il-poplu tiegħi Iżrael. Dejjem kont miegħek f'kull ma kont tidħol għalih; u meta int qridt l-għedewwa tiegħek kollha minn quddiemek.   Issa jiena nibnilek isem kbir jixbah l-ismijiet  il-kbar li hawn fid-dinja. Nagħmel post għall-poplu tiegħi Iżrael, u nqiegħdu hemm fejn jgħammar bla biża'.u ma jgħakksuhx iżjed il-ħżiena bħalma għamlu sa minn dejjem, jiġifieri sa minn meta qajjimt l-imħallfin fuq il-poplu tiegħi  Iżrael; u nserrħek mill-għedewwa tiegħek kollha. Lilek imbagħad il-Mulej jagħtik kelma li jibnlek dar. U meta inti ttemm żmienek, u tkun striħajt ma' missirijietek,  jiena nqajjem nislek warajk, nisel ħiereġ mill-ġewwieni tiegħek, u nsaħħaħ is-saltna tiegħu.   Jiena nkun għalih missier, u hu jkun għalija iben. Il-familja tiegħek u s-saltna tiegħek jibqgħu sħaħ għal dejjem quddiemi.   It-tron tiegħek jibqa' sħiħ għal dejjem. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                                                                                                              PSalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29

The promises of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. 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. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

"He shall say of me, 'You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my saviour.'
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm."
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Salm Responsorjali                                                                                  

Salm 89

           

F'kull żmien ixandar fommi l-fedelta' tiegħek.

Għax jien għedt:

"Tjubitek tibqa' sħiħa għal dejjem;

bħas-smewwiet int wettaqt il-fedelta' tiegħek."           R/

R/   It-tjieba tal-Mulej irrid dejjem ngħanni.

"Għamilt patt mal-magħżul tiegħi,

ħlift lil David, il-qaddej tiegħi:

Jien nagħmel li nislek jibqa' għal dejjem,

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

R/   It-tjieba tal-Mulej irrid dejjem ngħanni.

"Hu jsejjaħli:  "Int missieri

u Alla tiegħi, fortizza u salvazzjoni tiegħi!"

It-tjieba tiegħi nżommha fuqu għal dejjem,

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

R/   It-tjieba tal-Mulej irrid dejjem ngħanni.

Reading 2                                                                                                                                                  ROMans 16:25-27

Brothers and sisters: To him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen. This is the Word of The Lord.

It-Tieni Lezzjoni

Qari mill-Ittra lir-Rumani 16, 25-27

Ħuti, lil Alla li għandu l-qawwa li jwettaqtkom fl-Evanġelu li nħabbar jien, jien  u nxandar lil Ġesu' Kristu, skont ir-rivelazzjoni tal-misteru, li kien moħbi fis-skiet tal-eternita'; lil dan li Alla issa  rrivelalna dan il-mistieru, u għarrfu lill-ġnus bil-kitba tal-Profeti, skont l-ordni tiegħu, Alla ta'  dejjem, biex iwassalhom għall-ubbidjenza tal-fidi; lil dan Alla, waħdu fl-għerf, il-glorja għal dejjem ta' dejjem b'Ġesu' Kristu.   Ammen. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel                                                                                                                                                  LuKe 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Evanġelju

Qari skont San Luqa 1, 26-28

F'dak iż-żmien, Alla bagħat l-anġlu Gabrijel f'belt tal-Galilija,  jisimha Nazaret, għand xebba, mgħarrsa  ma' raġel jismu Ġużeppi  mid-dar ta' David.  Dix-xebba kien jisimha Marija.  L-anglu daħal  għandha u qalilha:  "Sliem għalik, mimlija  bil-grazzja, il-Mulej miegħek." Hi tħawdet ħafna għal dan il-kliem, u bdiet taħseb bejnha u bejn  ruħha x'setgħet qatt tfisser din it-tislima.    Iżda l-anġlu qalilha: "Tibżax, Marija, għax int sibt grazzja quddiem Alla.   Ara, int se tnissel fil-ġuf u jkollok iben u ssemmieh Ġesu'.   Hu jkun kbir, u  jkun jissejjaħ Bin l-Għoli.  Il-Mulej Alla jagħtih it-tron ta' David missieru,  u jsaltan għal dejjem fuq dar Ġakobb, u ma jkunx hemm tmiem għas-saltna tiegħu." Iżda Marija qalet lill-anġlu:  "Kif ikun dan, ladarba ma  nagħrafx raġel?" Wieġeb l-anġlu u qalilha:   "L-Ispirtu s-Santu jiġi fuqek, u l-qawwa ta' l-Għoli  tixħet id-dell  tagħha fuqkem.  U għalhekk dak li jitwieled minnek ikun qaddis, u  jissejjaħ Bin Alla.   Ara, l-qariba tiegħek Eliżabetta, fi xjuħitha, hi ukoll nisslet iben fil-ġuf, u ġa għandha sitt xhur dik li għaliha kienu jgħidu li ma jistax ikollha tfal, għax għal Alla ma hemm xejn li ma jistax isir." Imbagħad qalet Marija:  Ara, jien il-qaddejja  tal-Mulej:  ħa jsir minni skont kelmmtek!" U l-anġlu telaq minn quddiemha. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Commentary:

How Do We Solve a Problem Like Maria?

Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB

"The Sound of Music" stage play and I are the same age -- both from that vintage year of 1959 -- and the film version was the first "motion picture" I saw as child in the mid 1960's with my family. God alone knows how many times I have seen it since on stage, at the theater and on television! In 2008, the Rodgers and Hammerstein famed musical "The Sound of Music" was still delighting audiences, even in Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre in the downtown theater district. The city was "alive" with the sound of music.

Solving the problem of Maria von Trapp

One of the memorable songs of the play is "Maria," sometimes known as "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?" It is sung brilliantly by Sister Berthe, Sister Sophia, Sister Margaretta and the Mother Abbess at the Benedictine Nonnberg Abbey in Salzburg, Austria. The nuns are exasperated with Maria for being too frivolous, flighty and frolicsome for the decorous and austere life at the abbey. It is said that when Oscar Hammerstein II wrote the lyrics for this song, he was taken by the detail of her wearing curlers in her hair under her wimple!

When older Austrians in Salzburg speak of Maria, it is the "Gottesmutter," the Mother of the Lord! When the foreigners, especially North Americans, arrive in Salzburg and speak about Maria, it is usually the other one: Maria Augusta Kutschera, later Maria Augusta von Trapp, who was a teacher in the abbey school after World War I and whose life was the basis for the film "The Sound of Music."

Because of this Maria, the abbey acquired international fame, to the consternation of some of the sisters! Having visited Nonnberg Abbey on several occasions while I was studying German in nearby Bavaria, I spoke with a few of the elderly sisters about the impact of "The Sound of Music" on their life. The prioress told me that they have no plaques up about Maria von Trapp and her escapades at the abbey nor in Salzburg! One elderly sister said to me, with a smile, "Das ist nur Hollywood!" (That is only Hollywood!)

Solving the problem of Maria von Nazareth

The Gospel story of the Annunciation presents another Maria, the great heroine of the Christmas stories -- Mary of Nazareth -- the willing link between humanity and God. She is the disciple par excellence who introduces us to the goodness and humanity of God. She received and welcomed God's word in the fullest sense, not knowing how the story would finally end. She did not always understand that word throughout Jesus' life but she trusted and constantly recaptured the initial response she had given the angel and literally "kept it alive," "tossed it around," "pondered it" in her heart (Luke 2:19). At Calvary she experienced the full responsibility of her "yes." We have discovered in the few Scripture passages relating to her that she was a woman of deep faith, compassion, and she was very attentive to the needs of others.

Maria von Trapp followed the captain and his little musical family through the Alpine mountain passes of Austria, fleeing a neo-pagan, evil regime that tried to deny the existence of God and God's chosen people. Some would say that they lived happily ever after in Vermont in the United States, and that their musical reputation lives on through the stage production enchanting Toronto audiences at present. The hills are still alive with their music!

The "problem" of Maria of Nazareth began when she entertained a strange, heavenly visitor named Gabriel. The young woman of Nazareth was greatly troubled as she discovered that she would bear a son who would be Savior and Son of the Most High.

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." The angel left her and then the music began: "Magnificat anima mea Dominum." It would become a refrain filling the world with the sound of its powerful music down through the ages.

The message Mary received catapulted her on a trajectory far beyond tiny, sleepy Nazareth and that little strip of land called Israel and Palestine in the Middle East. Mary's "yes" would impact the entire world, and change human history.

Problem solved

Mary of Nazareth accepted her "problem" and resolved it through her obedience, fidelity, trust, hope and quiet joy. At that first moment in Nazareth, she could not foresee the brutal ending of the story of this child within her. Only on a hillside in Calvary, years later, would she experience the full responsibility of her "yes" that forever changed the history of humanity.

If there are no plaques commemorating Maria von Trapp's encounter with destiny at Nonnberg Abbey, there is one small plaque commemorating Mary of Nazareth's life-changing meeting in her hometown. Standing in the middle of the present day city of Nazareth in Galilee is the mammoth basilica of the Annunciation, built around what is believed to be the cave and dwelling of Mary. A small inscription is found on the altar in this grotto-like room that commemorates the place where Mary received the message from the angel Gabriel that she would "conceive and bear a son and give him the name Jesus" (Luke 1:31). The Latin inscription reads "Verbum caro hic factum est" (Here the word became flesh).

I can still remember the sensation I had when I knelt before that altar for the first time in 1988. That inscription in the grotto of the Annunciation is profound, otherworldly, earth shaking, life changing, dizzying and awesome. The words "Verbum caro hic factum est" are not found on an ex-voto plaque in the cave of the Nativity in Bethlehem, nor engraved on the outer walls of the Temple ruins or on governmental tourist offices in Jerusalem. They are affixed to an altar deep within the imposing structure of Nazareth's centerpiece of the Annunciation. "This is where the word became flesh." This is where history was changed because Mary said "yes."

Could such words be applied to our own lives, to our families, communities, and churches -- "Here the word becomes flesh"? Do we know how to listen to God's Word, meditate upon it and live it each day? Do we put that word into action in our daily lives? Are we faithful, hopeful, loving, and inviting in our discourse and living? What powerful words to be said about Christians -- that their words become flesh!

However beautiful and catchy are the tunes of Maria of Salzburg, the music of the other Maria, the one from Nazareth, surpasses anything I have ever heard.

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The Spirit of the Lord is upon me....

Third Sunday of Advent                                                    It-3 Ħadd tal-Avvent                                                        Messalin B pp86

Reading 1                

Is 61:1-2a, 10-11

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God. I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul; for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels. As the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring up, so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise spring up before all the nations. This is the Word of the Lord.

L-Ewwel Qari

Qari mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Isaija.61, 1-2, 10-11

L-Ispirtu ta’ Sidi l-Mulej fuqi, għax il-Mulej ikkonsagrani biex inwassal il-bxara t-tajba lill-fqajrin, bagħatni ndewwi l-qalb miksura, biex inħabbar il-ħelsien lill-imjassrin, u lill-ħabsin il-ftuħ tal-ħabs; biex inniedi s-sena tal-grazzja tal-Mulej. Nifraħ fuq li nifraħ bil-Mulej, taqbeż bil-ferħ ruħi b’Alla tiegħi. Għax hu libisni bi lbies is-salvazzjoni, bil-mantar tal-ġustizzja għattieni, bħal għarusa tlellex bil-ġawhar tagħha. Bħalma l-art tnibbet, bħalma l-ġnien inibbet il-miżrugħ fih, hekk il-Mulej inibbet il-ġustizzja u l-foħrija, quddiem kollha kemm huma l-ġnus. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                     

Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked upon his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

R. My soul rejoices in my God.

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

R. My soul rejoices in my God.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

R. My soul rejoices in my God.

Salm Responsorjali                      

Luqa 1, 46-48,49-50, 53-54

R/  Taqbeż bil-ferħ ruħi b'Alla tiegħi.

Ruħi tfaħħar il-kobor tal-Mulej,

u l-ispirtu tiegħi jifraħ f’Alla s-Salvatur tiegħi,

għax hu xeħet għajnejh fuq iċ-ċokon tal-qaddejja tiegħu.

Iva, minn issa ‘l quddiem

kull nisel jibda jsejjaħli ħienja.             

R/  Taqbeż bil-ferħ ruħi b'Alla tiegħi.

    

Għax is-Setgħani għamel miegħi ħwejjeġ kbar;

qaddis hu l-isem tiegħu.

Il-ħniena  tiegħu tinfirex f’kull żmien

fuq dawk li jibżghu minnu.                                          

R/  Taqbeż bil-ferħ ruħi b'Alla tiegħi.

Mela b’kull ġid lil min hu bil-ġuħ,

u l-għonja bagħathom ‘il barra b’xejn.

Ħa ħsieb Israel qaddej tiegħu,                                      

għax ftakar fil-ħniena tiegħu.                                      

R/  Taqbeż bil-ferħ ruħi b'Alla tiegħi.

Reading II                

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give  thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil. May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it. This is the Word of the Lord.

It-Tieni Qari

Qari mil-Ewwel Ittra lit-Tessalonkin 5, 16-24   

Ħuti:   ifirħu dejjem, itolbu bla heda, iżżu ħajr lil Alla f’kollox. Dan hu li jrid Alla minn  għandkom fi Kristu Ġesu’. Ixxeklux l-Ispirtu, tmaqdrux il-profezija Ippruvaw kollox:  it-tajjeb żommuh, u fuq kollox,  warrbu kull xorta ta’ ħażen. U Alla tas-sliem iqaddiskom f’kollox, u  jżommkom sħaħ bla mittiefsa, fl-ispirtu,  fir-ruħ u fil-ġisem, sa ma jiġi Sidna Ġesu’ Kristu. Fidil hu Alla li sejħilkom, u huwa jagħmel dan.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel                      

John 1:6-8, 19-28

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. And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him  to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an  answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said:  “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’” as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent.  They asked him,“Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. This is the Word of the Lord.

L-Evanġelju

Qari mill-Evanġelju skond San Ġwann 1, 6-8, 19-28

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. Ix-xhieda ta' Ġwanni kienet din,   meta l-Lhud ta’ Ġerusalem bagħtu għandu xi qassisin u  l-leviti biex jistaqsuh, “Int min int?˝ Hu stqarr bla ma ċaħad: “Jien miniex il-Messija.˝ Huma reġgħu staqsewh :  “Mela min int Elija?˝   “Miniex˝ qalilhom. ˝Inti lprofeta?˝   “Le˝, weġibhom.   Imbagħad qalulu:  “Mela min int?  Biex nagħtu  tweġiba ‘lil dawk li bagħtuna.  Min tgħid li int?˝   U hu qal wiegeb kif qal il-profeta Isaija:  “Jien l-leħen ta’ wieħed jgħajjat fid-deżert, ‘Wittu t-triq tal-Mulej.’˝ Issa dawk il-messaġġiera kienu min-naħa tal-Fariżej. Huma staqsewh:  “Mela kif qiegħed tgħammed la m’initix  il-Messija, u la Elija u lanqas il-Profeta?˝  “Jiena  ngħammed bl-ilma,˝ weġibhom Ġwanni,  ˝imma  f’nofskom, hemm wieħed li intom ta tafuhx, li ġej warajja;  jien anqas jistħoqqli nħollu l-qafla tal-qorq tiegħu.˝Dan ġara b’Betanja, in-naħa l-oħra tal-Ġordan, fejn Ġwanni kien igħammed. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Rejoicing and Waiting with John the Baptist

Commentary by Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB

Advent is the season of the prophets and the Scripture readings of these weeks before Christmas help us to focus our vision and deepen our longing for the Messiah.

In this year's Gospel for the Third Sunday of Advent, the figure of John the Baptist appears once again on the stage of salvation history. John's whole mission was a preparation for the Messiah's coming. When the time had come, John led his own disciples to Jesus and indicated to them the Messiah, the True Light, and the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. John, himself, was not the light. He came to testify to the light. He didn’t spend time thinking about his shadow. He just allowed the light to shine on him.

John considered himself to be less than a slave to Jesus, "There is one among you whom you do not recognize -- the one coming after me -- the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to unfasten" (John 1:26-27). When John's own disciples came to him and were troubled about the meaning of Jesus' baptism in the Jordan, he answered them confidently: "No one can receive anything except what is given them from above." John says he is only the friend of the bridegroom, the one who must decrease while his master increases (John 3:25-30). The Baptizer defined his humanity in terms of its limitations.

In one of the most poignant scenes of Luke's Gospel, John the Baptist is imprisoned by Herod Antipas because of his public rebuke of the tetrarch for his adulterous and incestuous marriage with Herodias (Matthew 4:12; Mark 1:14; Luke 3:19). Alone, dejected and near the end of his life, John the Baptist, hailed as the "greatest of all prophets," had to ask the question, "Are you really the Messiah?" John probably expected a fiery social reformer to come and bring about the Kingdom, certainly not someone who would associate with the poor, the lame, the blind, outcasts and sinners. Yet Christ comes in the most unexpected ways and often in the most unlikely people.

Jesus invites John to look around and see the works that had already been accomplished in the midst of people. The blind recovered their sight and the lame were walking again. Diseases and illness were healed and all those who were deaf could hear. The Good News was now preached to the poor. That was the greatest wonder of all! This is a great consolation for us. We should never be surprised if we often find ourselves asking the same question -- "Is Christian living really worth it?" "Is Jesus really the answer to all the evils and sadness of the world and of our own lives?

The crowds came to John and asked him, "What then shall we do?" The Baptist advises no one to leave the world they are in, however ambiguous it may be. Rather he told those with two coats to share one with those who had none. Likewise, those with an abundance of food were to share with the hungry. Tax collectors were told to collect no more than was appointed to them. Soldiers were to rob no one by violence or by false accusation. They were to be content with their wages. What were people to do to prepare for the imminent coming of the Messiah? To be generous, just, honest, grateful and compassionate (cf. Luke 3:10-14).

John the Baptist's life and mission reminds us how badly we need a Savior to save us, in order that we might be all that we are called to be and do all that we have to do to live in the Light. How are we courageous and prophetic in our Christian witness to the Light, who has already come into our world? So often we fail to recognize the one among us who is our True Light.

May John the Baptist give us strength and courage to bear the light to others, and the generosity and ability to rejoice as we wait. "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing," Paul writes in his letter to the Thessalonians. We can also reverse the order of these two sentences: "Pray without ceasing, so that we will be able to rejoice always."

In prayer we experience God’s gathering up all of our concerns and hopes into his own infinite love and wisdom, his setting us back on our feet, and his giving us fullness of life and light.

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Prepare the way of the Lord

Second Sunday of Advent

It-2 Ħadd tal-Avvent  Sena 'B'

Messalin B pp80

Reading 1

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 his 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.

L-Ewwel Qari

Qari mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta 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 ħżunitħa, ħadet minn għand il-Mulej darbtejn għal dnubietha kollha. Leħen igħajjat;  “Ħejju triq għall-Mulej fid-deżert, wittu għal Alla tagħna mogħdija fix-xagħri. Jintradam kull wied, u jitniżżlu l-muntanji u l-għoljiet: kull art imħattba titwitta, kull art imħarbta ssir maqgħad. U tfeġg 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 tajba lil Sijon; għolli leħnek bil-qawwa kollha, int li tagħti l-aħbar it-tajba lill Ġerusalemm; għajjat, la tibżax. Għid lill-ibliet ta’ Ġuda: “Hawn hu Alla tagħkom!” Hawn hu Sidi l-Mulej, li ġej bil-qawwa, u jaħkem il-qawwa ta’ driegħu. Hawn hu bi ħlasu miegħu, u r-rebħa tiegħu quddiemu. Bħal ragħaj li jirgħa l-merħla tiegħu, bi driegħu jiġmagħha, u l-ħrief fi ħdanu jerfagħhom; u n-ngħaġ ireddgħu bil-mod imexxihom. il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                                 

PSalm 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14

R/ (8)   Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD ―for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.                                            R/

Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.                   R/

The LORD himself will give his benefits;

our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and prepare the way of his steps.                              R/

  
Salm Responsorjali          

Salm 84

R/  Uri lilna, Mulej, it-tjieba tiegħek, u s-salvazzjoni tiegħek agħtina.

Ħa nisma’ x’igħid Alla;

il-Mulej is-sliem ixandar,

għal-poplu u l-ħbieb tiegħu.                             

Qrib tassew is-salvazzjoni tiegħu

għal dawk li jibżgħu minnu,

biex tgħammar is-sebħ f’artna.                       R/

It-tjieba u l-fedelta jiltaqgħu.

Il-ġustizzja u s-sliem jitbewsu.

Il-fedelta' mill-art tinbet,

u l-ġustizzja mis-sema tixref..                         R/

Il-Mulej ukoll jagħti l-ġid tiegħu,

u artna tagħti l-frott tagħha.

Il-ġustizzja quddiemu timxi,

u s-sliem fuq il-passi tiegħu.                           R/

Reading 2                                                                

2 PeTer 3:8-14

Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord  will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out. Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire.  But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.

It-Tieni Qari

Qari mit-Tieni Ittra ta’ San Pietru 3, 8-14

Ħuti egħżież, dan għandkom tkunu tafu, li quddiem il-Mulej jum wieħed hu bħal elf sena,  u elf sena bħal jum wieħed. Mhux għax jiddawwar il-Mulej li jtemm il-wegħdiet tiegħu, kif jaħsbu xi wħud; imma qiegħed jistabar bikom għax ma jridx li xi ħadd jintilef, imma,  li kulħadd jersaq għall-indiema. Jasal, tabilħaqq, Jum il-Mulej, bħal ħalliel; jintemmu mbagħad is-smewwiet bi ħsejjes kbar, jinħallu bin-nar l-elementi tad-dinja, u l-art b’kull ma fiha tkun maħruqa min-nar... Ladarba hekk  kollox għandu jintemm, araw daqsxejn kif  għandkom iġġibu ruħkom, kemm għandha tkun qaddisa u tajba ħajjitkom, waqt li tistennew b'ħerqa kbira l-miġja tal-Jum ta' Alla. Hu minħabba f’dan il-Jum li s-smewwiet jinħarqu u jinħallu. u  l-elementi tad-dinja jinqerdu bin-nar. imma aħna, skont  il-wegħda tiegħu, nistennew  smewwiet ġodda u art ġdida, li fihom  tgħammar il-ġustizzja. Għalhekk, ħuti egħżież, waqt li nistennew dan kollu, qisu li jsibkom fis-sliem, bla tebgħa u bla dnub. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

                       

Gospel                                                                      

MarK 1:1-8

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.  A voice of one crying out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

L-Evanġelju

Qari skond San Mark 1,  1-8

Bidu tal-Evanġelju ta’ Ġesu Kristu, l-Iben ta’Alla. Bħalma hu miktub fil-ktieb ta’ Isaija l-profeta:  ‘Ara, jien nibgħat qablek il-ħabbar tiegħi biex iħejji triqtek. Leħen ta’ wieħed igħajjat fid-deżert: Ħejju t-triq tal-Mulej, iddrittaw il-mogħodijiet tiegħu." Hekk Ġwanni deher jgħammed fid-deżert u jxandar magħmudija ta’ ndiema għall-maħfa tad-dnubiet.  U kienet tmur għandu l-Lhudija kollha u n-nies kollha ta’ Ġersalemm, jitgħammdu minnu fix-xmara Ġordan waqt li jistqarru dnubiethom. Ġwanni kien jilbes libsa tax-xagħar  tal-ġemel, bi ħżiem tal-ġild madwar qaddu, u kien jiekol ġradijiet u għasel selvaġġ. U kien ixandar u jgħid:  “Ġej warajja min hu aqwa minni, li jien ma nistħoqqlix nitbaxxa quddiemu u nħoll il-qfieli tl-qorq tiegħu. Jiena ghammidtkom bl-ilma, iżda huwa jgħammidkom bl-Ispirtu s-Santu.” Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Commentary by Fr Thomas Rosica

John the Baptizer, the Advent Prophet

One of the great stars of the Advent and Christmas stories, John the Baptizer, makes his appearance on the biblical stage today. Let us consider some of the details of John's life and see how he is such a good model for us.

John the Baptist didn’t mince words. He got right to the point and said what needed to be said. He would speak with equally straightforward words to us -- words that would zero in on the weak points of our lives. John the Baptist was a credible preacher of repentance because he had first come to love God's word that he heard in the midst of his own desert.

He heard, experienced and lived God's liberating word in the desert and was thus able to preach it to others so effectively because his life and message were one. One of the most discouraging things we must deal with in our lives is duplicity. How often our words, thoughts and actions are not coherent or one. The true prophets of Israel help us in our struggle against all forms of duplicity.

The desert wilderness

Throughout biblical history, leaders and visionaries have gone to the desert to see more clearly, to listen intently for God's voice, to discover new ways to live. The Hebrew word for wilderness midvar is derived from a Semitic root that means, "to lead flocks or herds to pasture." Eremos, the Greek word used to translate midvar, denotes a desolate and thinly populated area and, in a stricter sense, a wasteland or desert.

The term "wilderness" has two different but related meanings, referring to something judged to be wild and bewildering. It is probably the unknown (bewildering) and uncontrolled (wild) character of the place that earned it the name "wilderness." There is also another way of understanding the meaning of desert or wilderness.

A careful look at the root of the word midvar reveals the word davar meaning "word" or "message." The Hebraic notion of "desert" or "wilderness" is that holy place where God's word is unbound and completely free to be heard, experienced and lived. We go to the desert to hear God's Word, unbound and completely free.

The Spirit of God enabled the prophets to feel with God. They were able to share God's attitudes, God's values, God's feelings, God's emotions. This enabled them to see the events of their time as God saw them and to feel the same way about these events as God felt. They shared God's anger, God's compassion, God's sorrow, God's disappointment, God's revulsion, God's sensitivity for people, and God’s seriousness. Nor did they share these things in the abstract; they shared God's feelings about the concrete events of their time.

John the Baptist is the Advent prophet. His image is often portrayed in the finger pointing to the one who was coming: Jesus Christ. If we are to take on John’s role of preparing the way in today’s world, our lives also will become the pointing fingers of living witnesses who demonstrate that Jesus can be found and that he is near. John gave the people of his time an experience of forgiveness and salvation, knowing full well that he himself was not the Messiah, the one who could save. Do we allow others to have experiences of God, of forgiveness and of salvation?

John the Baptist came to teach us that there is a way out of the darkness and sadness of the world and of the human condition, and that way is Jesus himself. The Messiah comes to save us from the powers of darkness and death, and to put us back on the path of peace and reconciliation so that we might find our way back to God.

The late Jesuit theologian, Father Karl Rahner, once wrote: “We have to listen to the voice of the one calling in the wilderness, even when it confesses: I am not he. You cannot choose not to listen to this voice, 'because it is only the voice of a man.' And, likewise, you cannot lay aside the message of the Church, because the Church is 'not worthy to untie the shoelaces of its Lord who goes on before it.' It is, indeed, still Advent.”

We may not have the luxury of travelling to the wilderness of Judah, nor the privilege of a week’s retreat in the Sinai desert this Advent. However, we can certainly carve out a little desert wilderness in the midst of our activity and noise this week. Let us go to that sacred place and allow the Word of God to speak to us, to heal us, to reorient us, and to lead us to the heart of Christ, whose coming we await this Advent.

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