Our Daily Bread: Exposition of the Readings of Catholic Mass

Our Daily Bread

Exposition of the Readings of Catholic Mass

James H. Kurt

© 2003, 2004 James H. Kurt

All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 11/17/04

ISBN: 1-4208-0840-0 (e)

ISBN: 1-4208-0839-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4208-0840-7 (ebook)

Bloomington, Indiana

Nihil Obstat:

Rev. Anthony Figueiredo

Censor Librorum

Imprimatur:

+ Most Reverend John J. Myers, J.C.D., D.D.

Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey

July 15, 2004

The Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur are official declarations that a book or pamphlet is free of doctrinal error. No implication is contained therein that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

Scripture (and commentary) quotes taken from

New St. Joseph Sunday Missal, Catholic Book Publishing, N.J., 1999.

and

The Vatican II Weekday Missal, Daughters of St. Paul, Boston, Mass., 1975.

All quotes are from the day’s readings, unless otherwise noted. Some liberty has been taken in capitalization, particularly re the male pronoun for God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Table of Contents

Author’s Notes

Introduction

I. ADVENT

A. First Part of Advent

B. Second Part of Advent

II. CHRISTMAS

A. Octave of Christmas

B. From January 2 to Epiphany

C. Epiphany to Baptism of the Lord

III. ORDINARY TIME

1. Year A

2. Year B

3. Year C

B. Weekdays

1. Year I

2. Year II

IV. LENT

A. First Five Weeks

B. Holy Week

V. EASTER

A. Octave of Easter

B. Weeks 2-7 Second Week

VI. Solemnities and Feasts

About the Author

for Daily Communicants

and All Those Who Hunger for the Word of God

I will inspire you with wisdom which your adversaries will be unable to resist.

Lk. 21:15

Author’s Notes

Before Beginning:

While reading the Scriptures through three times (before the dawn of each day), I shall mine their message by seeking parallel meaning in the separate passages and pointing up a line from one which epitomizes their complementary significance.

It is from the Scriptures themselves I shall draw water.

Upon Completion:

In the process of composing this work I have discovered a certain harmony inherent in the juxtaposition of any two (or three…) Scripture passages. This is indicative of the fact that sacred Scripture is whole, is, in essence, one Word, and so all its parts are integrally related.

Finally, this exposition is by no means an exhaustive reflection of even my own understanding of the readings of Catholic Mass, for each time I read them something new, or some different emphasis, do I find. Holy Scripture is indeed an inexhaustible ocean of wisdom.

Overall:

I have read the Bible cover to cover five times and written daily about the Scriptures for Mass for the past eight years running-five in a spiritual diary, two on this work, one on chanted verses for each Mass. and currently a sentence a day. (You may go to my website-address on back of book-to review these and other writings.)

May the Light of God’s Word shine forth here for you.

Introduction

I find that the general bent of naturalist inquiry into Scripture, so predominant in our modern times, ironically makes it approaching impossible for the well-studied exegetes to see beyond the nose of their collective face. I have found their understanding as deep as a puddle (which serves but to muddy the ground for a time), where Scripture is, as Augustine tells us, a vast ocean which can never be drained. All this skeptical questioning of Holy Scripture is as the cat chasing his tail: it is useless activity; and if the cat should somehow succeed, he would only injure himself.

We should not ask ourselves what the writer is saying but what God is saying to us in these verses-why are they here in this way? Or do we not believe it is an inspired Word written to His desire? I find no point in questioning matters in Scripture unless the literal is clearly absurd. Obviously Jesus is not an actual door; but there is no reason to doubt the hundreds of years men are said to have lived (for instance) as if God, who created us to be eternal in the beginning-and in whom we will be eternal in the end-cannot allow man to continue alive as long as He pleases and decide to curtail his life span at a later time. Nor is He unable to stop the sun in the sky, which He Himself created, or perform any other miracle as spoken in His Word. This, and so much else which is questioned, is clearly within God’s power and bears investigation only by those who lack faith. And these will never find answer anyway. (The Word will never change; come as a child to it.)

Even yesterday, at the end of the Pentecost novena, the commentator in my missal writes of John’s assurance as to the veracity of his gospel (21:24), The pronoun ‘we’ points to others who helped develop this profoundly theological gospel, despite the denial of these others by the Douay-Rheims version, proven simply by John’s same use of the pronoun we in the first chapter (v.14,16) to refer to himself and the Christian community. And the idea that the gospel is somehow developed rather than inspired witness, as John himself clearly states, cuts to the heart of the blindness of our scholars.

And Christ’s words to the Pharisees become relevant again, albeit ironically: You search the Scriptures, because in them you think that you have life everlasting. And it is they that bear witness to me, yet you are not willing to come to me that you may have life (Jn.5:39-40). Our scholars’ blindness to the Lord’s presence in Scripture and before their eyes is the same, though today one wonders if there is any faith that life everlasting is anywhere. And how appropriate the Lord’s chastisement: How can you believe who receive glory from one another, and do not seek the glory that is from the only God? (Jn.5:44). And as He says, But I know you have not the love of God in you (Jn.5:42). So how can they be expected to see…?

Jesus stands before us ln Hls Word. It ls sufflclent gulde for us to flnd Him, if we read it in His Spirit. The Lord guides through His Church, despite its imperfections, even the selection of texts we find at Mass; for His desire is that we know Him well. Let us see what we have before us: this is true science.

So I set forth in the Spirit on this day of Pentecost by His power and grace to shed light on our daily bread.

Amen, Lord Jesus, make yourself known.

In the Father make your home here in these rooms.

I love you, my Lord and my God.

I. ADVENT

A. First Part of Advent

First Week

Sunday (A)

(Is.2:1-5; Ps.122:1-9; Rm.13:11-14; Mt.24:37-44)

Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may instruct us in His ways, and we may walk in His paths.

Beat [your] swords into plowshares. Throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep, and to stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. And even now He calls you to go up to the house of the Lord and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Advent has come, and so we are reminded of the Lord’s coming and our need to be prepared. He will not come in vain, and will not accept any vanity into His kingdom. His is a kingdom of light into which no darkness enters. His is a place of peace where rivalry and jealousy and all the desires of the flesh find no provision.

If in the days of Noah they were blind to the time of their visitation, and so the flood came and carried them away, how can it be the same with us, who have the first coming of Christ in the manger and on the cross to stir us to wakefulness? If we live now as in the days of Sodom, how much greater will be our punishment? If we allow our house to be broken into though we have His voice calling to our hearts, what could make us think that He will take us with Him when He comes again?

It is indeed time to wake from the sleep of sin and stream toward… the Lord’s mountain. There we shall rejoice in His grace as His relatives and friends; there we shall find the light of His teaching. For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem, and it shall fill the earth with holiness.

The Lord has been born in our midst. The Word has been made flesh and walked among us. Now we are called to become like Him, to walk in His ways of peace. And so when He returns at the end of time, we will be prepared to set foot within [the] gates of His kingdom.

A. I. 1. Sun. (B)

Sunday (B)

(Is.63:16b-17,19b,64:2-7; Ps.80:2-4,15-16,18-19; 1Cor.1:3-9; Mk.13:33-37)

Would that you might meet us doing right, that we were mindful of you in our ways!

O Lord of hosts, look down from heaven, and see. Rouse your power, and come to save us. Do not let us wander, O Lord, from your ways, and harden [not] our hearts so that we fear you not. We are your fruitful vine, but we have all withered like leaves. for you have hidden your face from us and delivered us up to our guilt. Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay and you are the potter. May your help be with the Man of your right hand. May we be formed in His image and so be pleasing to you. May we be ready for His return, and our final meeting with you, our Lord and God.

Brothers and sisters, we must be as the Corinthians, among whom the testimony of Christ was confirmed, who are not lacking in any spiritual gift as [they] wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He travels now abroad in the kingdom of His Father, but He will return. And He has indeed left us each with his work; all are gifted by God and called to bear fruit in the time that is ours now. May He not come suddenly and find [us] sleeping. When He rend[s] the heavens and come[s] down, with the mountains quaking before [Him], may we not be found quaking as well, having slipped into the slumber of sin, having been covered with this world’s darkness. Rather, let Him meet us doing right at whatever hour He may come. Let us constantly serve our God and He will keep [us] firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’ In many ways does He indeed say it: Be watchful! Be alert! Keep your eyes open! Stay awake! Be ready! But ever He tells us to remember that we are called to fellowship with [the] Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. And as God is faithful so must we too be faithful to our call, giving witness always to the glory of our Lord.

Now is the time to turn from our sin and be formed in His image. Let the prophet not say over us: There is none who calls upon [His] name, who rouses himself to cling to [Him]. Let us prepare ourselves for His coming by walking rightly in His ways.

A. I. 1. Sun. (C)

Sunday (C)

(Jer.33:14-16; Ps.25:4-5,8-10,14; 1Thes.3:12-4:2; Lk.21:25-28,34-36)

You are God my savior, and for you I wait all the day.

So does David sing of the just shoot that will be raised up after him; so does he anticipate the coming of Jesus into our midst. But, though the Messiah has been born, though He has come among us now, yet the Lord will not fulfill the promise [He] made to the house of Israel and Judah until Jesus returns on the last day. And so, we too await our Savior.

And how should we wait? Brothers and sisters, you know how you should conduct yourselves to please God, to be found blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy ones. You have been guided in His truth and instructed by the one who teaches the humble His way. The friendship of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and His covenant, for their instruction. And you fear Him, and so receive His instruction. Continue to do so. Continue to increase and abound in love for one another. Let not the sum of your good works diminish in the least, but strengthen your hearts, and what you have been doing for Him, do so even more. Until the Day He comes your justice must increase.

And what is coming upon the world you know as well. The end of the world is upon us and has been since Christ’s crucifixion. All is passing away and shall soon be no more. The nations will look, but they will not see the things they trusted in so vainly. Only the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory will be known; He will be all that is seen. And will you recognize Him? And will He recognize you?

Brothers and sisters, with the Lord’s own words I will leave you: Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man. Wait expectantly.

A. I. 1. Mon.

Monday

(Is.2:1-5 or Is.4:2-6; Ps.122:1-9; Mt.8:5-11

I shall treat of both first readings)

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

For it shall come. The mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest mountain.. All nations shall stream toward it, and there the Lord will give judgment. And His judgment will cause the banishment of war, for all shall be one in Him, and to all He shall grant shelter and protection, by night and by day.

The coming peace and unity all find on the holy mountain of Jerusalem prophesied by Isaiah is signaled in our gospel passage today as the Gentile centurion approaches Jesus with a request made in great faith. His surpassing faith prompts the Lord to reveal the truth of the coming kingdom: Many will come from the east and the west and will find a place at the banquet in the kingdom of God with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For it is faith that brings us to Him and to His blessings.

Certainly the serving boy for whom the centurion intercedes receives healing from the Lord; and certainly all those who go up to the house of the Lord in faith shall themselves be gratefully received. I pray we all remain in Zion, remain in her place of assembly, and so find refuge from storm and rain and from the heat of day. The New Jerusalem we know is the Catholic Church, is the faith handed down by Jesus through His apostles and blessed by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We know that within these walls we shall always find peace and protection, and we pray for all to stream toward the truth and the glory found in this House. There all shall find cleansing from their sins; with a blast of searing judgment, the Lord has created this Virgin Bride. So, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

As Jesus remarks to His followers, I have never found this much faith in Israel, He is calling them to an increase in their faith. He calls us, too, brothers and sisters, to act more readily upon His commands. Let us not fall short in our service to Him, and the peace of Jerusalem shall just as readily be ours.

A. I. 1. Tues.

Tuesday

(Is.11:1-10; Ps.72:1,7-8,12-13,17; Lk.10:21-24)

The earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord, as water covers the sea.

And so, there shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain, says the Lord.

The vision is sure: The wolf shall be the guest of the lamb… the lion shall eat hay like the ox. the child shall lay his hand on the adder’s lair, for all shall live as one in the Spirit of the Lord. Justice shall flower in His days, and profound peace-such is the vision to which all hearts aspire.

Jesus is the fullness of that peace. And so He says to His disciples, Blest are the eyes that see what you see, for what prophets and kings wished to see, what Isaiah prophesies for us today, is present there before them.

And He is present before us. But we can only see and hear Him if we are as merest children, else His presence will be hidden from our eyes. He wishes to reveal Himself, desires to lead us to the Father whom He alone knows, to whom He alone can lead us-but to find such fullness of vision, to gaze upon the face of God, to be filled with His wisdom and knowledge as is His Son, we must first fear Him, as He does, and seek to abide by the words and the commands that come to us by the breath of His lips. All must be slain that is wicked in us, and His justice and faithfulness shall be ours.

May His name be blessed forever; as long as the sun His name shall remain, for He Himself is light, and indeed His dwelling is glorious. With judgment and justice He is endowed, and in the light of His wisdom and grace we stand eternally blessed. But are our eyes open to Him?

Now should we pray for the Lord’s light to fill us, for His knowledge to cover us, that our eyes may be open to see Him, that we shall not miss Him as He comes.

O Lord, prepare our hearts to see you, and the blessing of your presence, your peace, among us.

A. I. 1. Wed.

Wednesday

(Is.25:6-10; Ps.23:1-6; Mt.15:29-37)

The hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain.

And He will heal us. And He will lead us. And He will feed us.

Jesus went up onto a mountainside along the Sea of Galilee and sat down to teach and to heal. The sick were laid at His feet. Isaiah says, On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples. This mountain is the Lord. It is Jesus who reaches out His hand to heal those lying at His feet. It is Jesus who raises the bread for blessing and gives all to eat. And it is He who will destroy death forever. This is the Lord for whom we looked.

And it is through His Church Jesus works; through the blessing of the priest who raises the bread and the cup, Jesus gives us His Body and Blood-this is our feast of rich food and choice wines envisioned by Isaiah. It is He who forgives our sins, He who removes the reproach of His people, wiping away the tears from all faces in the confessional. He anoints us with the oil of the Spirit in Baptism; He joins us as one in holy Matrimony. He shepherds us with the Word of His teaching, leading us in right paths, beside restful waters, to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Let us rejoice and be glad that He has saved us! If only goodness and kindness follow us all our days, what have we to do but rejoice? If we have a Lord who looks with such pity upon our hunger, what need we fear? If it is He who spread[s] the table before us, even here in this world, in the sight of [our] foes, where sin besets us. what can we lack? If cripples, the deformed, the blind, the mute, and many others were healed of their maladies, what sickness of ours is beyond His redemption?

In this world we walk in the dark valley. In this world we hunger. Here the veil that veils all peoples is upon us. But here, too, He is with us to refresh our souls and feed us with His Body and Blood in the New Jerusalem.

A. I. 1. Thurs.

Thursday

(Is.26:1-6; Ps.118:1,8-9,19-21,25-27; Mt.7:21,24-27)

"Trust in the Lord forever!

For the Lord is an eternal rock."

Sand or rock? Upon which do we build our house? If we take refuge in the Lord and enter the gates of justice, we shall find salvation in the Lord’s kingdom; if we trust in man and princes, we shall be leveled with the dust-our house shall collapse and we be completely ruined.

The choice is set before us. Those in high places will be humbled to the ground; those who find refuge in the empty things of this world will find no protection on the day of His coming. But for the nation of firm purpose, which comes in the name of the Lord, He sets up walls and ramparts to protect. And they shall give thanks to the Lord as they enter the gates of His holy city.

Jesus states clearly, Only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven will enter His kingdom: the one who hears my words and puts them into practice is he who is wise. And the putting into practice is key. Jesus has come in the flesh, and flesh there must be to our deeds. He is real, and we must be as real as He in our love. Otherwise we deny Him. We deny His coming if we do not live His way. God is not across the ocean or in the sky; He walks upon this earth now and must be in our lives. Only this will bring us strength. Only this will enable us to stand when the torrents come and the winds blow and buffet our house-for these have no power over those who are set in the Hand of God, who do His bidding.

Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it (Lk.11:28). We cannot but think of these challenging words from our Lord, referring greatly to the Mother of God-whose service to the Lord we particularly celebrate in these days of preparation-and cannot but hope to abide by them and become the handmaiden Mary has shown herself to be, that the eternal blessings of God might be ours as well. In Him let us trust. In Him let our faith be set. And let us do His will.

A. I. 1. Fri.

Friday

(Is.29:17-24; Ps.27:1,4,13-14; Mt.9:27-31)

The eyes of the blind shall see.

O that I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord and contemplate His temple. That out of gloom and darkness I might be taken, and come to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. That I could feel His hands touch my eyes, that I might have the faith to believe they shall be open to His glory…

Brothers and sisters, we are blind. All of us. All of us lack understanding. All of us falter in faith. For who among us is there that gazes continually upon the Lord’s presence? Who among us has entered His glory? Who among us possesses no arrogance and has nothing to be ashamed of? If yet we toil upon this earth, groaning as we await the redemption of our bodies, then yet do we continue in a measure blind. Yet do we seek His face. And if yet seeking to see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living, then yet have we to find it in its fullness; and so, yet do our eyes lack of the light that is the Lord, our salvation.

But certainly we are not without hope. Most certainly His hand is upon us even now. Most certainly His presence comes to us each and every day. Clearly His light shines in our midst in the Sacrament we receive and in the Word we hear, and so we can with confidence heed the exhortation of the psalm of David: Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord. For He comes, and we know this. We are catching up to Him, and this is our joy. Yes, today do we know we shall see Him, for our eyes do glimpse Him even now.

In the meantime, brothers and sisters, as we wait, as the light that has dawned upon the world rises to our eyes, as He comes to fill our vision, let us strive to avoid speaking any word which condemns a man. Let us know that indeed we err in spirit and need the Lord’s light to guide us, and we shall become free of that which blinds us. And we shall be the lowly who are raised to His presence.

A. I. 1. Sat.

Saturday

(Is.30:19-21,23-26; Ps.147:1-6,Is.30:18; Mt.9:35-10:1,6-8)

On the day the Lord binds up the wounds of His people, He will heal the bruises left by His blows.

Cure the sick, raise the dead, heal the leprous, expel demons. With these words Jesus sends His disciples forth proclaiming, The reign of God is at hand!

The prophecy of Isaiah has been fulfilled. The Savior has come. The Teacher is at our side now speaking into our ears, This is the way; walk in it. And of all our sins He cleanses us; from all our sickness He heals us. Indeed, as soon as you call He will answer you, for He is ready to wipe all tears from your eyes.

And what must be our response to a Lord who heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. We must be the same as He. We must go forth as He has, teaching, proclaiming the good news of God’s reign, and curing every sickness and disease. It is our call to make others whole in heart, mind, soul, and body; and so, to whatever need is present-and there are many or the Lord would not ask us to beg the harvest master to send out laborers to gather His harvest-we must apply the grace of God. He will do the work that is needed, but He needs us to work through.

To what glory all are called; what a wonderful message we have to bring forth! Isaiah, the great prophet, only touches upon it when he cries out that the Lord will give rain for the seed that you sow in the ground (see how He will bless your work!) and when he proclaims: The light of the moon will be like that of the sun and the light of the sun will be seven times greater. This vision is for all who turn to the Lord for healing.

We have been bruised, brothers and sisters. No doubt, our sins have brought wounds to our souls. But the Lord will bind up all these; in His surpassing pity He will raise us all from death as He rebuilds Jerusalem. Let us bring this message forth.

A. I. 2. Sun. (A)

Second Week

Sunday (A)

(Is 11:1-10; Ps.72:1-2,7-8,12-13,17; Rm.15:4-9; Mt.3:1-12)

His dwelling shall be glorious.

Wrought in the justice that has pity for the lowly and the poor, in His days the Lord shall rescue the poor man when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. The reign of the Lord the Gentiles shall seek out and all the nations shall proclaim His happiness. For He is just. Though with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked and the chaff He will burn in unquenchable fire, indeed, profound peace awaits His poor and lowly children: There shall be no harm or ruin on all [His] holy mountain-He shall gather His wheat into His barn.

What encouragement we find in the Scriptures today; what hope is here. Isaiah’s vision of peace among creatures, founded in the wisdom and justice of our blessed Lord, is without comparison; and it is confirmed in our beautiful psalm. Paul’s words are so true-this was written for our instruction that in harmony with one another we might with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And who is called by the voice of one crying out in the desert? To whom is the message given to Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! Each of the readings and the psalm make clear that all the nations are called, Gentile as well as Jew-His Day is a day for all people. John the Baptist reveals that all are called when he says to the Pharisees, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Indeed, the stoniest heart, the most distant from the altar of the living Lord are called now to enter His holy presence.

None is precluded from the table of our God. But none is presumed accepted. What the Baptist says to the Pharisees, he says to us all: Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. If this greatest of prophets can say in truth, I am not worthy to carry His sandals, how much must we all guard against the pride of presumption of worthiness for the kingdom. The ax lies at the root of the trees; may there be fruit now upon our leaves to be gathered into His glorious reign.

A. I. 2. Sun. (B)

Sunday(B)

(Is.40:1-5,9-11; Ps.85:9-14; 2Pt.3:8-14; Mk.1:1-8)

Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.

And so, John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And so comes the voice of one crying out in the desert, in the desert that is our fallen lives: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.

Turn from your sins, brothers and sisters. Repent. It is the Lord’s will that all should come to repentance, that all should be found without spot or blemish on the day of His coming, on the day all the elements will be dissolved with fire. With the fire of the Holy Spirit does the Lord Jesus come now to baptize, that what John has cleansed from our souls might be gone forever-that the new person we become by this baptism of water might be made complete, might become hardened and lasting in the furnace of His love.

God proclaims peace to His people. Near indeed is His salvation to those who fear Him. Hear what His prophet says, for he cries out at the top of [his] voice that indeed all hearts might listen: Here is your GOD! Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by His strong arm. Yes, the mouth of the Lord has spoken, and now the WORD is in our midst, walking amongst us as our shepherd and leading the ewes with care. The justice [that] shall walk before Him, and prepare the way of His steps, has come, and now the level highway that leads to His kingdom we must tread-there is no denying the road that is set before us.

Christ is coming, brothers and sisters, and Christ has come. The Baptist has prepared His path, and He, the Son of God, has walked it. And now we await His return in glory. And the Lord does not delay His promise; His return is sure. Already we see the glory dwelling in our land. He waits for you to come now to Him. In patience He looks for you to turn. Turn to Him now in earnest; with all your soul cry out His Name. Jesus Christ the Son of God dawns on the horizon. Embrace His love; walk His sacred path.

A. I. 2. Sun. (C)

Sunday (C)

(Bar.5:1-9; Ps.126:1-6; Phil.1:4-6,8-11; Lk.3:1-6)

All flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Yes, at a particular point in time, in the year delineated so precisely by Luke in our gospel, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. The Holy Spirit whispered in his ear, set his heart on fire, and so called him to cry out the coming of the Lord upon the nation. And John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, calling all souls to a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; being thus inspired, what else could he do? The Spirit so powerfully upon him, of what else could he think? The long-awaited Savior is finally near-and the people must be ready.

And so, sinful flesh is made clean in the Jordan River. And so the rough ways [are] made smooth, the winding roads. made straight, for nothing crooked shall meet the Messiah. We do not come to Him in sinful garb. O Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever. Plunge yourself into the waters that make new. Let all of the old man be washed away. For God will show all the earth your splendor; you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship. See your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that they are remembered by God, joyful that He has come. All the earth shall be blessed through you and the royal tree that grows in your midst.

When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. How can it be our salvation has come? And now God is leading Israel in joy by the light of His glory, with His mercy and justice for company. In His Church this day we dwell; into His presence ever we come. Obedient to the cry of the prophet’s voice, we turn from our sins and are made anew. And now our daily bread we consume.

What joy should fill our hearts, brothers and sisters! that the Lord has come to dwell with us. We eat the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God, and the strength we find herein He will complete on the day of His coming again. Let our hearts be set on fire as was John’s. Let us cry out to all flesh that the salvation of God is nigh.

A. I. 2. Mon.

Monday

(Is.35:1-10; Ps.85:9-14,Is.35:4; Lk.5:17-26)

A highway will be there, called the holy way.

Jesus is the highway; holy is He! He is the stream that will burst forth in the desert. It is He who strengthen[s] the hands that are feeble [and] make[s] firm the knees that are weak, that they might walk along His way. It is He who forgives sins. For no one unclean may pass over the safe path He makes in the wilderness of this world, and He wishes to give His benefits to all of faith. Near indeed is His salvation to those who fear Him.

Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the dumb will sing, prophesies Isaiah. And Jesus says to the paralyzed man, Get up! Take your mat with you and return to your house. And what did the man do? He picked up the mat he had been lying on and went home praising God. We have seen incredible things today! the crowd exclaims in awe, for the great vision of the prophet Isaiah has come to pass before their eyes: before them is being set the path to paradise.

Hear what the Lord proclaims, brothers and sisters: Justice shall walk before Him, and salvation, along the way of His steps. Along His holy way the redeemed will walk. Those whom the Lord has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy. All those forgiven their sins will enter their homes praising God. Yes, the desert and the parched land. will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. We once paralyzed in our sin, by His hand, by His word, along His holy way, shall walk once again.

He has come. Here is your God, He comes with vindication; with divine recompense He comes to save you. In Him kindness and truth. meet, justice and peace. kiss. In Him we are made whole by the breath of His mouth, by the words from His lips. And now we have a journey to make. Now there is a way to walk. Let us remain upon this highway. Let us preserve the healing He has brought to our bones. Let us now live in faith with our Lord.

A. I. 2. Tues.

Tuesday

(Is.40:1-11; Ps.96:1-3,10-13,Is.40:10; Mt.18:12-14)

Like a shepherd He feeds His flock; in His arms He gathers His lambs.

His is the voice which speak[s] tenderly to Jerusalem. It is He who give[s] comfort to [His] people. For it is no part of [the] heavenly Father’s plan that a single one of these little ones shall ever come to grief.

Like a shepherd He leads us. With great concern He watches over His flock, careful that none is led astray. And diligent is He in finding the one who wanders away. This is indeed good news. These are indeed glad tidings, which make even the trees of the forest exult. For He cares about each one of the many of His creatures, and shall bring all back to Him by the sound of His gentle voice.

And of His sweet voice we must cry out. Sing to the Lord; bless His name; announce His salvation day after day. For all the earth must know that He shall rule the world with justice and His peoples with constancy. And so a voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the Lord! May all hearts be ready to meet Him. When every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low. then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all mankind shall see it together. O that that glorious day might come!

Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God stands forever. And so He stands behind us, whispering into our ears of the way we should walk. And so He calls to our hearts, carrying us in His bosom with care. And so His eternal presence ever comes to our tired bodies, our fading souls, and gives them life, and brings them back from their straying paths upon this dying earth. And so it is that all exult before the Lord, for He comes; He comes to rule the earth.

It is only in His eternity that we shall find a home, brothers and sisters. And into these arms He now gathers us. And with His food He now feeds us. Let us partake of His presence in Word and in Sacrament as we await His coming.

A. I. 2. Wed.

Wednesday

(Is.40:25-31; Ps.103:1-4,8,10; Mt.11:28-30)

My yoke is easy and my burden light.

How we do become weary and find life burdensome. How we can faint and grow weary, stagger and fall from the burden of sin and our inherent weakness. But oh how He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak He makes vigor abound. For indeed He is the creator of the universe-by His great might and the strength of His power all things come to be-and His Son is the redeemer of our souls. The Lord is the eternal God and they that hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar as with eagles’ wings. Trust in Him who pardons all your iniquities and heals all your ills.

What a promise Jesus holds forth for those who come to His gentle and humble heart: Your souls will find rest. We know that the great St. Augustine has told us that only in God do our souls find rest. How we wander aimlessly in trackless wastes seeking comfort for our souls, rest for our weary bodies, taking refuge in the various attractions of the world and the vain promise they hold. How late in life all of us come to the fulfilling promise of Jesus, for any time spent apart from Him is but wasted.

And thank the Lord that He is merciful and gracious. Thank Him that not according to our sins does He deal with us. For what hope would we have then? But this great God who has no equal, who holds the world in His hand, redeems your life from destruction, He crowns you with kindness and compassion despite your sins, if you but come to Him as He calls.

How patiently Jesus waits for each of us, this only Son of God, this image of the Father and embodiment of His love. How gracious He is toward us poor creatures. Will you not take His yoke upon your shoulders and learn from Him? Will you not find refreshment from all your sins and forgiveness of all your crimes? Will you continue to turn your face away from Him who watches over all and weigh yourself down with anxiety? Or will you come to Him, your only hope? Take the light burden of His gracious Word upon your souls and do His will in this world.

A. I. 2. Thurs.

Thursday

(Is.41:13-20; Ps.145:1,8-13; Mt.11:11-15)

I will make you a threshing sledge, sharp, new, and double-edged.

A worm and a maggot are we. We are the afflicted and the needy [who] seek water in vain, [our] tongues. parched with thirst. But holding our right hand, the Lord speaks to us: Fear not, I will help you. I will open up rivers on the bare heights. I will turn the desert into a marshland, and the dry ground into springs of water. And has not John the Baptizer come, into the desert, into the wilderness, and there poured the water of God’s compassion upon us for the forgiveness of sins?

Lush trees now grow in the desert: we who were once empty are now filled with God’s grace. And yes, the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it. For all these wonders accomplished in our midst are but to make known to men [His] might and the glorious splendor of [His] kingdom. Indeed, we now thresh the mountains and crush them, to make the hills like chaff, but all this is done in His power.

And how then do we understand Jesus’ words: From John the Baptizer’s time until now the kingdom of God has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force? We know that John spoke boldly in the name of God; unafraid of his oppressors, he called all to repentance. We should all learn from the power of God he displayed in crying out in the wilderness. We know also that at the time Jesus spoke the above words, John was imprisoned in Herod’s dungeon, suffering genuinely the violence of this generation. We know Jesus Himself will be crucified. We know all the apostles (save John) will be martyred for the faith-all His children suffer under the weight of the cross imposed by the violent of this world.

But we know also that this very cross is the means God has chosen to most poignantly reveal His powerful hand at work. For the nails which fix our hands to the wood have no power over us, and so by the humble acceptance of the violence of this age we do most dramatically destroy, crush into dust, the mountains of this world. And we upon whom the greatest violence is inflicted indeed effect the greater violence upon our oppressors, for by this sacrifice wickedness is destroyed and the righteous enter the kingdom of heaven. Let us act with such strength from God, brothers and sisters, for the sake of the kingdom.

A. I. 2. Fri.

Friday

(Is.48:17-19; Ps.1:1-4,6,Jn.8:12; Mt.11:16-19)

Time will prove where wisdom lies.

No doubt it lies with God. It lies with the Son of Man, come for our salvation.

I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go. Is it not our essential call to obey His Word, to listen for His voice and follow in His way? Are they not happy who hear the Word of God and keep it? Is this not wisdom, to walk in the way of our Creator, with the One who loves us above all? Does not all our misery stem from disobedience to His sacred commandments? Do we not in this way of our own making not simply lose all love in our hearts? Does this not bring our death?

If we would but follow the Lord, our prosperity would be like a river, no doubt. Our descendants would be like the sand, for like a tree planted near running water we would flourish with the wisdom which comes from the font of life which is the Lord, and one would we become with all the children of His eternal kingdom.

We cannot expect the Lord to dance to the tune we pipe or wail to the dirge we sing. It is the height of foolishness for the creature to attempt to impose its will on the Creator. But such is our pride, the source of our wickedness. And so, deaf, blind, and empty are we when we seek to turn the order of the universe back upon our God. For like chaff which the wind drives away our own foolish counsels can all but come to naught. The branch cannot grow apart from the vine, nor can the tree bear fruit without the water which gives it life.

Happy the man who. delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on His law day and night. For then the nourishing waters are upon him; then the light of wisdom fills him-then he shall bear fruit a hundredfold and never taste of death. For the Hand of God will be upon him to lead him to the eternal kingdom, where His wisdom will be proven true.

A. I. 2. Sat.

Saturday

(Sir.48:1-4,9-11; Ps.80:2-4,15-16,18-19; Mt.17:10-13)

Like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah whose words were as a flaming furnace.

Elijah has come, to restore everything. The word has fallen like fire from heaven to prepare a path for the Lord to tread. The Baptist has cried out as a voice in the wilderness for us to make our hearts ready for the coming of the Lord.

But, sadly, they did not recognize him and they did as they pleased with him. They rejected the voice crying to them and attempted to cover over the way the word had cleared before them. He who came to turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons, and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob, was himself turned back; and they cast him into prison and beheaded the great prophet.

Yet the way remains open to us. He whom the prophet hailed has come into our midst, and His presence cannot be taken away-even to the end of the age (which is upon us). And we must join with our psalmist today in calling upon Him to come to save us, to look down from heaven, and see, to take care of this vine planted by His right hand. Give us new life, and we will call upon your name, must be our prayer, especially in this Advent season, for we must awaken and enliven the path to God the Baptist has served to blaze in our hearts. We must know now Him whom he has hailed.

And, yes, with this Elijah and with the Son of Man, we too will suffer at the hands of those who would silence the Word, who would extinguish the fire set upon the earth. But the fire is eternal and its light and power cannot be dimmed, much less extinguished. It will purify those who seek the face of God and destroy those who turn from Him. It cannot be otherwise. Now that the Lord has come, His angels wait in expectation to purge the world. Once more only the prophet Elijah will appear and the flaming furnace his words prepare will be fulfilled in God’s eternity by the return of the Son of Man. In absolute glory the Lord will reign.

A. I. 3. Sun. (A)

Third Week

Sunday (A)

(Is.35:1-6,10; Ps.146:6-10,Is.35:4; Jas.5:7-10; Mt.11:2-11)

Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Hope. What hope have we. And so we should be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. Indeed, we must endure the early and the late rains-having been converted to the Lord we shall be purged of all sin on the last day-but, though hardship be with us now, our hope should be firm in Him who comes, in Him who is standing before the gates even now.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the vision given Isaiah and the salvation sung of by our psalmist. By Him, 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. Should not He who has power over all maladies, and even death, bring us hope in the kingdom to come? Should not our seeing these wonders wrought by Jesus instill great faith in our hearts? Should we not even rejoice now in our suffering, knowing well that sorrow and mourning will flee away when He comes, that the very suffering we experience now will then be no more? Patience. Indeed, patience brings us hope, enables us to endure all, even joyfully.

And does Jesus not seek to encourage greater hope, greater faith in our hearts by His words about John the Baptist? What did you go out to the desert to see? He asks the crowds, addressing their longing for truth, their desire for hope, and confirms that the prophet they sought was indeed greater than all among those born of women. But He does not stop there. How much farther He leads them: The least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Remarkable. What hope have we, to be greater than the Baptist. For the Baptist is himself a man, who himself suffers and struggles, inquiring if Jesus is the one who is to come, and must himself be assured by the Lord. But in heaven no question will remain. This desert in which we seek the Lord will come to full bloom with abundant flowers.

Keep the faith in joy, brothers and sisters. We have every reason for hope; we have firm witness of His grace, at work in us even now.

A. I. 3. Sun. (B)

Sunday (B)

(Is.61:1-2,10-11; Lk.1:46-50,53-54; 1Thes.5:16-24; Jn.1:6-8,19-28)

A man named John was sent from God.

Here is the one of whom the prophet speaks, and who can rightly proclaim the words inscribed by Isaiah: The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. Here is he who has come to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God. The Spirit is upon him and he speaks of the coming Messiah. He has been sent by God to testify to the light.

But who heeds his proclamation? Who is able to hear this voice crying and find the joy of the path it would blaze in their hearts? How many are still as the priests and Levites and Pharisees of today’s gospel, inquiring so blindly, Who are you? How many are as the commentators of the missal I read, who term the prophecy of Isaiah a poem, and state that the Canticle of Mary is a song that Luke put into the mouth of Mary? How many have no sense of prophecy, or the Spirit, or God Himself? How many are deaf to John’s cry?

Our brother Paul instructs us: Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. And yet the greatest of all prophetic utterances are watered down in ankle-deep wisdom. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, Mary declares. The Spirit wells up in her spirit and she cannot but rejoice in God [her] Savior. These are not words put into her mouth by any man; her prophecy does not come from the pen of a scribe but from the very Spirit of God!

The Word of God cannot be chained; the voice crying out in the desert cannot be tamed by those not worthy to untie the mysteries hidden in sacred Scripture. Paul will be put under house arrest; the Baptist Herod will cast into his dungeon; the Christ shall be crucified-but the Word of God will go forth, and nothing shall silence its voice. The testimony to the light must be heard, so that all might believe through Him; there will ever be proclaimed liberty to captives and release to the prisoners by the power of Jesus Christ, until all hear of the mercy He has on those who fear Him.

A man named John was sent, not to testify to himself, but to prophesy the grace of God; and his voice will cry out the way to the ends of the earth and to the end of time.

A. I. 3. Sun. (C)

Sunday(C)

(Zep.3:14-18a; Is.12:2-6; Phil.4:4-7; Lk.3:10-18)

"Rejoice in the Lord always.

I shall say it again: Rejoice!"

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! Zephaniah exclaims. Shout with exultation, O city of Zion! Isaiah urges. And Paul is overwhelmed with the spirit of rejoicing. Why such joy? Whence such celebration? The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior, Zephaniah declares. Great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel! Isaiah proclaims. And Paul tells us simply: The Lord is near. What could bring greater joy than such a prospect?

And so we have no further misfortune to fear. And so we should be confident and unafraid. And so we should have no anxiety. For the Lord will renew [us] in His love. Our strength and [our] salvation is the Lord, and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard [our] hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Why should we not be joyful if He Himself will rejoice over [us] with gladness, if because of us He sings as one sings at festivals." Should we not match His joy poured out for our sakes and sing the song of salvation?

And it is John the Baptist who hails most clearly the song of salvation coming into our midst. It is he who preached good news to the people with all the power of God, exhorting them to holiness that they might be gathered as wheat into His barn. By him the people were filled with expectation; by him and by his pronouncement of the coming of Him who will baptize [them] with the Holy Spirit and fire, the song of joy is ignited in their hearts. He calls us all, by the Spirit that filled Isaiah, to give thanks to the Lord, [and] acclaim His name. It is he who among the nations make[s] known His deeds, [who] proclaim[s] how exalted is His name. And the souls of even tax collectors and soldiers turn to him in anxious anticipation.

And yes, what about us, brothers and sisters? Is the joy of Christ brimming over in our hearts, despite any situation? Do we hear the voice of the Baptist-and the prophets and the apostles-crying out His way of peace? And do we follow as the voice instructs? Indeed, the Lord is near; He is in our midst. Let us welcome Him with the purest ofjoy.

A. I. 3. Mon.

Monday

(Nm.24:2-7,15-17; Ps.25:4-9; Mt.21:23-27)

A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel.

And the light of that star is reflected in the eyes of Balaam, who, though a pagan, is gifted by God with the clear vision to see the beauty and wonder of Israel encamped, tribe by tribe, like gardens beside a stream, like the cedars planted by the Lord. And as He is seen in the nation of Israel blessed by the Lord, so His glory is reflected in the heart and words and actions of everyone who believes and proclaims in truth that Jesus is that star, that Jesus is the Son of God.

Those who remain close to the teaching of Jesus, and to His ways, shall have the sea within reach. There shall be an abundance of wisdom at the ready for those who are graced with ears to hear His words. He teaches the humble His way, yes, and guides us on straight paths which lead directly to the Most High. And with eyes unveiled we shall gaze not only on His reflection in the fields of this earthly existence, but on Him Himself as He is in heaven.

The teaching of Jesus is divine and He Himself is divine, above whose authority there is no other. But His light can only be seen, His words can only be understood by those whose hearts are open to truth and willing to walk the path He sets. If the chief priests and elders of the people closed themselves off from Him in a political quandary, we must not do so. Instead we must be as His apostles, in whom the tribes of Israel are truly aligned perfectly, and have as ready a response as we know Peter had on the shores of Galilee, as Thomas had when He appeared in their midst: He is our Lord, our God. This we must see. This we must know. And this we must proclaim.

The star has risen in our midst; the Savior has come. Now we await the fulfillment of that light and must bring it to bear in this generation. Now we must follow that star where it leads.

A. I. 3. Tues.

Tuesday

(Zep.3:1-2,9-13; Ps.34:2-3,6-7,17-19,23; Mt.21:28-32)

I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord.

All have been rebellious and polluted; all have been as she who hears no voice and accepts no correction. But the Lord now comes to change and purify the lips of the peoples, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord. Who is it who hears the voice of the Lord to not be ashamed of all [our] deeds, [our] rebellious acts against [Him]?

Let me make it clear that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you, Jesus states simply and directly to the chief priests and elders. These lowest of society, these most polluted, have put faith in John’s preaching of a way of holiness, but those most esteemed, the elder son whose words bear the stamp of God but whose actions are far from Him, are held