3rd Week of Advent
19th December 2023 (Tuesday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 3
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a
In those days: There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” Then the woman came and told her husband, “A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name, but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’” And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him
Psalm 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17 (R. see 8a)
R/. My mouth is filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay!
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Luke 1:5-25
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Highlight: When God blesses!
Guidlines: Our God is benevolent. He looks mercifully on the pitiable condition of those who trust in Him{alertSuccess}
1. “Barrenness” is a common theme in both the readings of the day. Barrenness is not just something physical. It was something despicable, It was a disgrace. It was considered a curse. The wife of Manoah in the first reading and Elizabeth in the gospel were barren.
2. They pray earnestly to God. Interestingly, both women and their husbands were God-fearing and faithful. Specifically, we are told in the gospel that Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah “were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord”.
3. Then why did they have to suffer the disgrace? What wrong did they do? No answer. And there is no point in arguing. But we can pick up some lessons: Suffering is not necessarily a sign of God’s displeasure or punishment.
4. All the more, good people suffer. God has His own plans. Patience and perseverance are needed. Especially those who have higher roles in God’s plans, those who receive higher favours, need to suffer more.
5. Certainly, God would intervene and remove the disgrace. It will be then a superabundant glory. But from the human part, a total consecration is required. Now is the call to think of our own interior and spiritual barrenness, dry and indifferent and negligent toward God and spiritual duties; and also our fraternal barrenness which is unconcerned and uncharitable toward others.
Practice: A barren life that is unproductive and fruitless is not pleasing to God. So let us rise up from our barrenness and become a blessing to others and blessed in the sight of God{alertSuccess}