Wednesday, 26 December 2007

Daily Gospel 
Saint Stephen, feast

St. Stephen, the first martyr



Commentary of the day
Saint Caesarius of Arles : Saint Stephen, first to follow Christ’s footsteps

Reading

Acts 6,8-10.7,54-59.
Now Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and
signs among the people.
Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and
Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated
with Stephen,
but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.

When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at
him.
But he, filled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw
the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing
at the right hand of God."
But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him
together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid
down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit."


Ps 31(30),3-4.6.7.8.17.21.
incline your ear to me; make haste to rescue me! Be my rock of refuge, a
stronghold to save me.
You are my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead and guide me.
Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, faithful
God.
You hate those who serve worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD.
I will rejoice and be glad in your love, once you have seen my misery,
observed my distress.
Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your kindness.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from scheming enemies.
You keep them in your abode, safe from plotting tongues.


Mt 10,17-22.
But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you
in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness
before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what
you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking
through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children
will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end
will be saved.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Saint Caesarius of Arles (470-453), monk and Bishop
Sermons to the people, no. 37 (SC 243, p.233)

Saint Stephen, first to follow Christ’s footsteps

“Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should
follow in his footsteps,” (1Pt 2,21). Which of the Lord’s examples will we
have to follow? Is it his raising of the dead? Is it to walk on the sea?
Not in the least. But it is that of being meek and humble of heart (Mt
11,29) and of loving not only our friends but even our enemies (Mt
5,44). “So that you might follow in his footsteps,” writes St Peter. The
blessed evangelist John also says the same thing: “Whoever claims to abide
in Christ ought to walk as he has walked,” (1Jn 2,6). And how has Christ
walked? He prayed for his enemies on the cross, saying: “Father, forgive
them, they know not what they do,” (Lk 23,34). They have actually lost
their senses and are possessed by an evil spirit, and while they are
persecuting us, they themselves are undergoing a far greater persecution
from the devil. Hence we should be praying more for their deliverance than
for their condemnation. That is indeed what Blessed Stephen did, he who was
the first so gloriously to follow in the footsteps of Christ. For, when he
was struck by a hail of stones, he prayed standing for himself; but,
falling to his knees, he cried out with all his strength for his enemies:
“Lord Jesus Christ, do not hold this sin against them,” (Ac 7,60). So even
if we think we cannot imitate our Lord, let us at least imitate him who was
his servant as we are.




Manage your subscription directly at this address : www.dailygospel.org

Wednesday, 26 December 2007

Daily Gospel 
Saint Stephen, feast

St. Stephen, the first martyr



Commentary of the day
Saint Caesarius of Arles : Saint Stephen, first to follow Christ’s footsteps

Reading

Acts 6,8-10.7,54-59.
Now Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and
signs among the people.
Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and
Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated
with Stephen,
but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.

When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at
him.
But he, filled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw
the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing
at the right hand of God."
But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him
together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid
down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit."


Ps 31(30),3-4.6.7.8.17.21.
incline your ear to me; make haste to rescue me! Be my rock of refuge, a
stronghold to save me.
You are my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead and guide me.
Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, faithful
God.
You hate those who serve worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD.
I will rejoice and be glad in your love, once you have seen my misery,
observed my distress.
Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your kindness.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from scheming enemies.
You keep them in your abode, safe from plotting tongues.


Mt 10,17-22.
But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you
in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness
before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what
you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking
through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children
will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end
will be saved.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Saint Caesarius of Arles (470-453), monk and Bishop
Sermons to the people, no. 37 (SC 243, p.233)

Saint Stephen, first to follow Christ’s footsteps

“Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should
follow in his footsteps,” (1Pt 2,21). Which of the Lord’s examples will we
have to follow? Is it his raising of the dead? Is it to walk on the sea?
Not in the least. But it is that of being meek and humble of heart (Mt
11,29) and of loving not only our friends but even our enemies (Mt
5,44). “So that you might follow in his footsteps,” writes St Peter. The
blessed evangelist John also says the same thing: “Whoever claims to abide
in Christ ought to walk as he has walked,” (1Jn 2,6). And how has Christ
walked? He prayed for his enemies on the cross, saying: “Father, forgive
them, they know not what they do,” (Lk 23,34). They have actually lost
their senses and are possessed by an evil spirit, and while they are
persecuting us, they themselves are undergoing a far greater persecution
from the devil. Hence we should be praying more for their deliverance than
for their condemnation. That is indeed what Blessed Stephen did, he who was
the first so gloriously to follow in the footsteps of Christ. For, when he
was struck by a hail of stones, he prayed standing for himself; but,
falling to his knees, he cried out with all his strength for his enemies:
“Lord Jesus Christ, do not hold this sin against them,” (Ac 7,60). So even
if we think we cannot imitate our Lord, let us at least imitate him who was
his servant as we are.




Manage your subscription directly at this address : www.dailygospel.org

Tuesday, 25 December 2007

Daily Gospel 
Christmas

Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ



Commentary of the day
Blessed Guerric of Igny : "This will be a sign for you: you will find an infant... lying in a manger" (Lk 2,12)

Reading

Is 52,7-10.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad
tidings, Announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and
saying to Zion, "Your God is King!"
Hark! Your watchmen raise a cry, together they shout for joy, For they see
directly, before their eyes, the LORD restoring Zion.
Break out together in song, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the LORD comforts his
people, he redeems Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; All the
ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God.


Ps 98,1.2-3.3-4.5-6.
Sing a new song to the LORD, who has done marvelous deeds, Whose right hand
and holy arm have won the victory.
The LORD has made his victory known; has revealed his triumph for the
nations to see,
Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of
the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of
the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth; break into song; sing praise.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout with joy to the King, the
LORD.


Heb. 1,1-6.
In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors
through the prophets;
in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all
things and through whom he created the universe,
who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who
sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished
purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty
on high,
as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more
excellent than theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say: "You are my son; this day I
have begotten you"? Or again: "I will be a father to him, and he shall be a
son to me"?
And again, when he leads the first-born into the world, he says: "Let all
the angels of God worship him."


Jn 1,1-18.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be
through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe
through him.
He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the
world did not know him.
He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to
those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's
decision but of God.
And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw
his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and
truth.
John testified to him and cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said,
'The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before
me.'"
From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through
Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side,
has revealed him.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Blessed Guerric of Igny (c.1080-1157), Cistercian abbot
1st Sermon for the Nativity (cf. SC 166)

"This will be a sign for you: you will find an infant... lying in a manger" (Lk 2,12)

“A child is born to us” (Is 9,5) and the God of majesty, emptying himself
(Phil 2,7), has made himself, not only in the likeness of a mortal body,
but even as young and weak as children are… O holy and sweet child, who
restores true innocence to man! Through you every age can return to blessed
infancy (Mt 18,3) and take on the likeness of the Infant God, not according
to the smallness of his limbs but through humility of heart and gentleness
of manners… As an example to you God has willed to become the most humble
and smallest of all even though he is greater than all. It was a little
thing for him to make himself lower than the angels by taking on the
condition of our mortal nature; it was necessary for him to make himself
even smaller than men are by taking on the age and weakness of a child. Let
the devout and humble man take note of this and make it his boast. Let the
impious and proud man take note and be put to shame by it. Let them see the
infinite God become a child, a toddler to be adored… For this first
manifestation to humankind God chose to show himself beneath the features
of a little child and to appear more loveable than formidable. Thus, since
he comes to save and not to judge, he demonstrates for the time being what
might draw forth love, leaving till later what might inspire dread. So let
us, who cannot so much as think of the throne of his glory without
trembling, confidently approach the throne of grace (He 4,16). Here there
is nothing frightening or stern to fear. To the contrary, all is goodness
and gentleness to give you confidence. In truth, there is nothing easier to
appease than this child’s heart: he anticipates your offerings of peace and
satisfaction and is the first to send you messengers of peace to encourage
you to reconciliation – you, the guilty one! It suffices to want it, and to
want it wholly and entirely. Not only will he grant you his pardon but he
will overwhelm you with his grace. More than this: considering it to be by
no means an insignificant gain to have re-found his missing sheep, he will
celebrate a feast with his angels, (Lk 15,7).




Manage your subscription directly at this address : www.dailygospel.org

Monday, 24 December 2007

Daily Gospel
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Midnight Mass, solemnity

Sts. Adam & Eve, St. Adele



Commentary of the day
Julian of Vézelay : "You make this holy night radiant with the splendour of the true light" (Opening prayer of Midnight Mass)

Reading

Is 9,1-6.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who
dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, As they rejoice
before you as at the harvest, as men make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, And the rod of
their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be
burned as fuel for flames.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion
rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of
Peace.
His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, From David's throne, and over
his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains By judgment and justice, both
now and forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!


Ps 96(95),1-3.11-13.
Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD, bless his name; announce his salvation day after day.
Tell God's glory among the nations; among all peoples, God's marvelous
deeds.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills
it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them. Then let all the trees of
the forest rejoice
before the LORD who comes, who comes to govern the earth, To govern the
world with justice and the peoples with faithfulness.


Titus 2,11-14.
For the grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live
temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,
as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God
and of our savior Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse
for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.


Lk 2,1-14.
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world
should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to
the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and
family of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling
clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the
inn.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping
the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone
around them, and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you
good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is
Messiah and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in
swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
praising God and saying:
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor
rests.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Julian of Vézelay (c.1080-1160), Benedictine monk
1st Sermon for Christmas (SC 192)

"You make this holy night radiant with the splendour of the true light" (Opening prayer of Midnight Mass)

“Peaceful silence compassed everything and the night in its swift course
was half spent. Your all-powerful Word bounded from heaven’s royal throne,”
(Wis 18,14-15). This text of Scripture refers to that most holy time when
the all-powerful Word of God came to speak to us of our salvation. Leaving
the intimate depths of the Father, it descended into the breast of a
mother… Thus the Word of God came to us from his royal throne; it lowered
itself to raise us up; it made itself poor to make us rich; it made itself
human to make us divine.

It was this Word who said: Let the world be made, and the world was made.
It said: Let man come to be, and man was created. But what the Word had
created, it could not so easily recreate. It created with a command but
recreated through its death. It created by decreeing, but recreated by
suffering. “You have wearied me,” it said (Mal 2,17). In spite of all its
complexity, the universe caused me no trouble to arrange and govern, for I
“reach from end to end mightily and govern all things well,” (Wis 8,1). Man
alone, the breaker of my law, has wearied me with his sins. Therefore,
coming forth from my heavenly throne, I did not refuse to enclose myself in
the breast of a virgin and be united as one with fallen humanity. After my
birth I was wrapped in linen, I was laid in a manger because there was no
room in the inn for the world’s Creator…

“Peaceful silence compassed everything”: that is to say, between the
prophets who spoke no more and the apostles who would speak later… May the
word of the Lord come again now to those who are silent. Listen to what the
Lord speaks to us in the depths of ourselves. May all inappropriate
movements and cries of our flesh fall quiet; may the disorderly images of
our interior sight keep silence, so that our attentive ears may freely hear
what the Spirit says and may hear the voice that is above the firmament.





Manage your subscription directly at this address : www.dailygospel.org

Tuesday, 25 December 2007

Daily Gospel 
Christmas

Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ



Commentary of the day
Blessed Guerric of Igny : "This will be a sign for you: you will find an infant... lying in a manger" (Lk 2,12)

Reading

Is 52,7-10.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad
tidings, Announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and
saying to Zion, "Your God is King!"
Hark! Your watchmen raise a cry, together they shout for joy, For they see
directly, before their eyes, the LORD restoring Zion.
Break out together in song, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the LORD comforts his
people, he redeems Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; All the
ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God.


Ps 98,1.2-3.3-4.5-6.
Sing a new song to the LORD, who has done marvelous deeds, Whose right hand
and holy arm have won the victory.
The LORD has made his victory known; has revealed his triumph for the
nations to see,
Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of
the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. All the ends of
the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth; break into song; sing praise.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout with joy to the King, the
LORD.


Heb. 1,1-6.
In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors
through the prophets;
in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all
things and through whom he created the universe,
who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who
sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished
purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty
on high,
as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more
excellent than theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say: "You are my son; this day I
have begotten you"? Or again: "I will be a father to him, and he shall be a
son to me"?
And again, when he leads the first-born into the world, he says: "Let all
the angels of God worship him."


Jn 1,1-18.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be
through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe
through him.
He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the
world did not know him.
He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to
those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's
decision but of God.
And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw
his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and
truth.
John testified to him and cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said,
'The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before
me.'"
From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through
Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side,
has revealed him.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Blessed Guerric of Igny (c.1080-1157), Cistercian abbot
1st Sermon for the Nativity (cf. SC 166)

"This will be a sign for you: you will find an infant... lying in a manger" (Lk 2,12)

“A child is born to us” (Is 9,5) and the God of majesty, emptying himself
(Phil 2,7), has made himself, not only in the likeness of a mortal body,
but even as young and weak as children are… O holy and sweet child, who
restores true innocence to man! Through you every age can return to blessed
infancy (Mt 18,3) and take on the likeness of the Infant God, not according
to the smallness of his limbs but through humility of heart and gentleness
of manners… As an example to you God has willed to become the most humble
and smallest of all even though he is greater than all. It was a little
thing for him to make himself lower than the angels by taking on the
condition of our mortal nature; it was necessary for him to make himself
even smaller than men are by taking on the age and weakness of a child. Let
the devout and humble man take note of this and make it his boast. Let the
impious and proud man take note and be put to shame by it. Let them see the
infinite God become a child, a toddler to be adored… For this first
manifestation to humankind God chose to show himself beneath the features
of a little child and to appear more loveable than formidable. Thus, since
he comes to save and not to judge, he demonstrates for the time being what
might draw forth love, leaving till later what might inspire dread. So let
us, who cannot so much as think of the throne of his glory without
trembling, confidently approach the throne of grace (He 4,16). Here there
is nothing frightening or stern to fear. To the contrary, all is goodness
and gentleness to give you confidence. In truth, there is nothing easier to
appease than this child’s heart: he anticipates your offerings of peace and
satisfaction and is the first to send you messengers of peace to encourage
you to reconciliation – you, the guilty one! It suffices to want it, and to
want it wholly and entirely. Not only will he grant you his pardon but he
will overwhelm you with his grace. More than this: considering it to be by
no means an insignificant gain to have re-found his missing sheep, he will
celebrate a feast with his angels, (Lk 15,7).




Manage your subscription directly at this address : www.dailygospel.org

Monday, 24 December 2007

Daily Gospel
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Midnight Mass, solemnity

Sts. Adam & Eve, St. Adele



Commentary of the day
Julian of Vézelay : "You make this holy night radiant with the splendour of the true light" (Opening prayer of Midnight Mass)

Reading

Is 9,1-6.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who
dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, As they rejoice
before you as at the harvest, as men make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, And the rod of
their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be
burned as fuel for flames.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion
rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of
Peace.
His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, From David's throne, and over
his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains By judgment and justice, both
now and forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!


Ps 96(95),1-3.11-13.
Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD, bless his name; announce his salvation day after day.
Tell God's glory among the nations; among all peoples, God's marvelous
deeds.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills
it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them. Then let all the trees of
the forest rejoice
before the LORD who comes, who comes to govern the earth, To govern the
world with justice and the peoples with faithfulness.


Titus 2,11-14.
For the grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live
temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,
as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God
and of our savior Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse
for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.


Lk 2,1-14.
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world
should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to
the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and
family of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling
clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the
inn.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping
the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone
around them, and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you
good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is
Messiah and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in
swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
praising God and saying:
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor
rests.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Julian of Vézelay (c.1080-1160), Benedictine monk
1st Sermon for Christmas (SC 192)

"You make this holy night radiant with the splendour of the true light" (Opening prayer of Midnight Mass)

“Peaceful silence compassed everything and the night in its swift course
was half spent. Your all-powerful Word bounded from heaven’s royal throne,”
(Wis 18,14-15). This text of Scripture refers to that most holy time when
the all-powerful Word of God came to speak to us of our salvation. Leaving
the intimate depths of the Father, it descended into the breast of a
mother… Thus the Word of God came to us from his royal throne; it lowered
itself to raise us up; it made itself poor to make us rich; it made itself
human to make us divine.

It was this Word who said: Let the world be made, and the world was made.
It said: Let man come to be, and man was created. But what the Word had
created, it could not so easily recreate. It created with a command but
recreated through its death. It created by decreeing, but recreated by
suffering. “You have wearied me,” it said (Mal 2,17). In spite of all its
complexity, the universe caused me no trouble to arrange and govern, for I
“reach from end to end mightily and govern all things well,” (Wis 8,1). Man
alone, the breaker of my law, has wearied me with his sins. Therefore,
coming forth from my heavenly throne, I did not refuse to enclose myself in
the breast of a virgin and be united as one with fallen humanity. After my
birth I was wrapped in linen, I was laid in a manger because there was no
room in the inn for the world’s Creator…

“Peaceful silence compassed everything”: that is to say, between the
prophets who spoke no more and the apostles who would speak later… May the
word of the Lord come again now to those who are silent. Listen to what the
Lord speaks to us in the depths of ourselves. May all inappropriate
movements and cries of our flesh fall quiet; may the disorderly images of
our interior sight keep silence, so that our attentive ears may freely hear
what the Spirit says and may hear the voice that is above the firmament.





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Sunday, 23 December 2007

Daily Gospel
Fourth Sunday of Advent

St. John of Cantius



Commentary of the day
Aelred of Rievaulx : “They shall name him Emmanuel”

Reading

Is 7,10-14.
Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world,
or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered, "I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!"
Then he said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary
men, must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be
with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.


Ps 24(23),1-2.3-4.5-6.
A psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S and all it holds, the world and
those who live there.
For God founded it on the seas, established it over the rivers.
Who may go up the mountain of the LORD? Who can stand in his holy place?
"The clean of hand and pure of heart, who are not devoted to idols, who
have not sworn falsely.
They will receive blessings from the LORD, and justice from their saving
God.
Such are the people that love the LORD, that seek the face of the God of
Jacob." Selah


Rm 1,1-7.
Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for
the gospel of God,
which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy scriptures,
the gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh,
but established as Son of God in power according to the spirit of holiness
through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him we have received the grace of apostleship, to bring about the
obedience of faith, for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles,
among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;
to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy. Grace to you and
peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


Mt 1,18-24.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary
was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found
with child through the holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose
her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him
in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary
your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child
has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save
his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall
name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us."
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and
took his wife into his home.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-1167), Cistercian monk
Sermon for the Annunciation

“They shall name him Emmanuel”

“Emmanuel, which means ‘God with us’.” Yes, God with us! Until now it was
“God above us” or “God before us”, but today he is “Emmanuel”. Today he is
God with us in our nature, with us in his grace; with us in our weakness,
with us in his goodness; with us in our wretchedness, with us in his pity;
with us through love, with us through familial tie, with us through
tenderness, with us through compassion… God with us! You were not able, O
sons of Adam, to climb to heaven to be with God; it is God who descends
from heaven to be our Emmanuel, God-with-us. He comes to us to be Emmanuel,
God-with-us, yet we fail to go to God to be in him! “Men of rank, how long
will you be dull of heart? Why do you love what is vain and seek after
falsehood?” (Ps 4,3). Behold, the truth has come; “why love what is vain
and seek after falsehood?” Behold, the true and unchanging word has come;
“why seek after falsehood?” Behold Emmanuel, behold God-with-us. How could
he be with me any more than he is? Small as I am, weak as I am, naked as I
am, poor as I am… he has become like me in all things, taking what is mine
and giving me what is his. I was lying dead, without voice, without
consciousness; not even the light of my eyes was with me any more. He came
down today, this greatest of men, “this prophet mighty in deed and word,”
(Lk 24,19). He placed his face on my face, his mouth on my mouth, his hands
on my hands (cf. 2Kgs 4,34) and he became Emmanuel, God-with-us!




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Sunday, 23 December 2007

Daily Gospel
Fourth Sunday of Advent

St. John of Cantius



Commentary of the day
Aelred of Rievaulx : “They shall name him Emmanuel”

Reading

Is 7,10-14.
Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world,
or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered, "I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!"
Then he said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary
men, must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be
with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.


Ps 24(23),1-2.3-4.5-6.
A psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S and all it holds, the world and
those who live there.
For God founded it on the seas, established it over the rivers.
Who may go up the mountain of the LORD? Who can stand in his holy place?
"The clean of hand and pure of heart, who are not devoted to idols, who
have not sworn falsely.
They will receive blessings from the LORD, and justice from their saving
God.
Such are the people that love the LORD, that seek the face of the God of
Jacob." Selah


Rm 1,1-7.
Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for
the gospel of God,
which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy scriptures,
the gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh,
but established as Son of God in power according to the spirit of holiness
through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him we have received the grace of apostleship, to bring about the
obedience of faith, for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles,
among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;
to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy. Grace to you and
peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


Mt 1,18-24.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary
was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found
with child through the holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose
her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him
in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary
your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child
has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save
his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall
name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us."
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and
took his wife into his home.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-1167), Cistercian monk
Sermon for the Annunciation

“They shall name him Emmanuel”

“Emmanuel, which means ‘God with us’.” Yes, God with us! Until now it was
“God above us” or “God before us”, but today he is “Emmanuel”. Today he is
God with us in our nature, with us in his grace; with us in our weakness,
with us in his goodness; with us in our wretchedness, with us in his pity;
with us through love, with us through familial tie, with us through
tenderness, with us through compassion… God with us! You were not able, O
sons of Adam, to climb to heaven to be with God; it is God who descends
from heaven to be our Emmanuel, God-with-us. He comes to us to be Emmanuel,
God-with-us, yet we fail to go to God to be in him! “Men of rank, how long
will you be dull of heart? Why do you love what is vain and seek after
falsehood?” (Ps 4,3). Behold, the truth has come; “why love what is vain
and seek after falsehood?” Behold, the true and unchanging word has come;
“why seek after falsehood?” Behold Emmanuel, behold God-with-us. How could
he be with me any more than he is? Small as I am, weak as I am, naked as I
am, poor as I am… he has become like me in all things, taking what is mine
and giving me what is his. I was lying dead, without voice, without
consciousness; not even the light of my eyes was with me any more. He came
down today, this greatest of men, “this prophet mighty in deed and word,”
(Lk 24,19). He placed his face on my face, his mouth on my mouth, his hands
on my hands (cf. 2Kgs 4,34) and he became Emmanuel, God-with-us!




Manage your subscription directly at this address : www.dailygospel.org

Saturday, 22 December 2007

Daily Gospel 
Saturday of the Third week of Advent

Sts. Chaeremon & Ishyrion



Commentary of the day
Saint Ambrose : “Glorify the Lord with me” (Ps 34 [33],4)

Reading

1 Sam. 1,24-28.
Once he was weaned, she brought him up with her, along with a
three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented
him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh.
After the boy's father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother,
approached Eli
and said: "Pardon, my lord! As you live my lord, I am the woman who stood
near you here, praying to the LORD.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be
dedicated to the LORD." She left him there;


1 Sam. 2,1.4-5.6-7.8.
and as she worshiped the LORD, she said: "My heart exults in the LORD, my
horn is exalted in my God. I have swallowed up my enemies; I rejoice in my
victory.
The bows of the mighty are broken, while the tottering gird on strength.
he well-fed hire themselves out for bread, while the hungry batten on
spoil. The barren wife bears seven sons, while the mother of many
languishes.
"The LORD puts to death and gives life; he casts down to the nether world;
he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich, he humbles, he also exalts.
He raises the needy from the dust; from the ash heap he lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles and make a glorious throne their heritage. He
gives to the vower his vow, and blesses the sleep of the just. "For the
pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he has set the world upon them.


Lk 1,46-56.
And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will
all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and
heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.

The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away
empty.
He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,
according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his
descendants forever."
Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Saint Ambrose (c.340-397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church
Commentary on St Luke’s Gospel, 2, 26-27 (SC 45)

“Glorify the Lord with me” (Ps 34 [33],4)

If only Mary’s soul might dwell in us all to praise the Lord; if only
Mary’s spirit might dwell in us all to exult in God. If, physically
speaking, there is only one Mother of Christ, Christ is the fruit of all of
us through faith since every soul receives the Word of God provided it
remains without fault, preserved from evil and sin, guarding its chastity
in uncorrupted purity. For every soul to attain this state exalts the Lord
just as Mary’s soul exalted the Lord and as her spirit rejoiced in God her
Saviour. The Lord is indeed glorified, as you have read elsewhere: “Glorify
the Lord with me” (Ps 34 [33],4). Not that human words can add anything to
the Lord but because he is growing greater in us. For “Christ is the image
of God” (2Cor 4,4) and therefore the soul who does something righteous and
holy glorifies that image of God in the likeness of which it has been
created. Thus too, by glorifying it, the soul participates in a certain
manner in its greatness and is raised up by it. It seems to reproduce this
image in itself through the brilliant colours of its good works and to
imitate it in a certain way by its virtues.




Manage your subscription directly at this address : www.dailygospel.org

Saturday, 22 December 2007

Daily Gospel 
Saturday of the Third week of Advent

Sts. Chaeremon & Ishyrion



Commentary of the day
Saint Ambrose : “Glorify the Lord with me” (Ps 34 [33],4)

Reading

1 Sam. 1,24-28.
Once he was weaned, she brought him up with her, along with a
three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented
him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh.
After the boy's father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother,
approached Eli
and said: "Pardon, my lord! As you live my lord, I am the woman who stood
near you here, praying to the LORD.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be
dedicated to the LORD." She left him there;


1 Sam. 2,1.4-5.6-7.8.
and as she worshiped the LORD, she said: "My heart exults in the LORD, my
horn is exalted in my God. I have swallowed up my enemies; I rejoice in my
victory.
The bows of the mighty are broken, while the tottering gird on strength.
he well-fed hire themselves out for bread, while the hungry batten on
spoil. The barren wife bears seven sons, while the mother of many
languishes.
"The LORD puts to death and gives life; he casts down to the nether world;
he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich, he humbles, he also exalts.
He raises the needy from the dust; from the ash heap he lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles and make a glorious throne their heritage. He
gives to the vower his vow, and blesses the sleep of the just. "For the
pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he has set the world upon them.


Lk 1,46-56.
And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will
all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and
heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.

The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away
empty.
He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,
according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his
descendants forever."
Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Saint Ambrose (c.340-397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church
Commentary on St Luke’s Gospel, 2, 26-27 (SC 45)

“Glorify the Lord with me” (Ps 34 [33],4)

If only Mary’s soul might dwell in us all to praise the Lord; if only
Mary’s spirit might dwell in us all to exult in God. If, physically
speaking, there is only one Mother of Christ, Christ is the fruit of all of
us through faith since every soul receives the Word of God provided it
remains without fault, preserved from evil and sin, guarding its chastity
in uncorrupted purity. For every soul to attain this state exalts the Lord
just as Mary’s soul exalted the Lord and as her spirit rejoiced in God her
Saviour. The Lord is indeed glorified, as you have read elsewhere: “Glorify
the Lord with me” (Ps 34 [33],4). Not that human words can add anything to
the Lord but because he is growing greater in us. For “Christ is the image
of God” (2Cor 4,4) and therefore the soul who does something righteous and
holy glorifies that image of God in the likeness of which it has been
created. Thus too, by glorifying it, the soul participates in a certain
manner in its greatness and is raised up by it. It seems to reproduce this
image in itself through the brilliant colours of its good works and to
imitate it in a certain way by its virtues.




Manage your subscription directly at this address : www.dailygospel.org

Friday, 21 December 2007

Daily Gospel 
Friday of the Third week of Advent

St. Peter Canisius



Commentary of the day
Saint Bernard : “Blessed is she who has believed”

Reading

Song 2,8-14.
Hark! my lover-here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across
the hills.
My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Here he stands behind our wall,
gazing through the windows, peering through the lattices.
My lover speaks; he says to me, "Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and
come!
"For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the dove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give forth
fragrance. Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come!
"O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff,
Let me see you, let me hear your voice, For your voice is sweet, and you
are lovely."


Ps 33(32),2-3.11-12.20-21.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; on the ten-stringed lyre offer praise.

Sing to God a new song; skillfully play with joyful chant.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever, wise designs through all
generations.
Happy the nation whose God is the LORD, the people chosen as his very own.
Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and shield.
For in God our hearts rejoice; in your holy name we trust.


Lk 1,39-45.
During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to
a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and
Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and
blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to
me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in
my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would
be fulfilled."


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Saint Bernard (1091-1153), Cistercian monk and Doctor of the Church
Sermon for the Octave of the Assumption, On the twelve prerogatives of Mary

“Blessed is she who has believed”

Mary is blessed, as her cousin Elizabeth has said to her, not simply
because God has looked on her, but because she believed. Her faith is the
most beautiful of the fruits of divine goodness. But it required the
inexpressible art of the Holy Spirit to take place in her if such greatness
of soul was to be united to such humility in the intimacy of her virginal
heart. Mary’s humility and greatness of soul, like her virginity and
fruitfulness, are like two stars shining on each other. For, in Mary, the
depth of her humility does not in the least retract from the generosity of
her soul, and vice versa. Even though Mary had so lowly an estimate of
herself, she was no less generous in her faith in the promise made her by
the angel because of it. She, who looked upon herself entirely as a poor
and insignificant servant, in no way doubted herself to be called to this
incomprehensible mystery, this tremendous union, this unfathomable secret.
And she believed instantly that she was truly about to become the mother of
God-made-man.

It is God’s grace that produces this marvel in the hearts of the elect;
humility does not make them fearful and timorous any more than their
generosity of soul makes them proud. To the contrary, where the saints are
concerned, these two virtues reinforce one another. Greatness of soul not
only does not open the door to any pride, but it is this above all that
allows it to penetrate the mystery of humility even further. Indeed, those
who are the most generous in their service of God are also the most
penetrated by the fear of the Lord and the most grateful for the gifts they
have received. Similarly, when it is a question of humility, no trace of
cowardice insinuates into the soul. The less someone is accustomed to
presume on his own strength, even in the smallest things, the more he
entrusts himself to the power of God, even in the greatest.

Manage your subscription directly at this address : www.dailygospel.org

Friday, 21 December 2007

Daily Gospel 
Friday of the Third week of Advent

St. Peter Canisius



Commentary of the day
Saint Bernard : “Blessed is she who has believed”

Reading

Song 2,8-14.
Hark! my lover-here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across
the hills.
My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Here he stands behind our wall,
gazing through the windows, peering through the lattices.
My lover speaks; he says to me, "Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and
come!
"For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the dove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give forth
fragrance. Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come!
"O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff,
Let me see you, let me hear your voice, For your voice is sweet, and you
are lovely."


Ps 33(32),2-3.11-12.20-21.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; on the ten-stringed lyre offer praise.

Sing to God a new song; skillfully play with joyful chant.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever, wise designs through all
generations.
Happy the nation whose God is the LORD, the people chosen as his very own.
Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and shield.
For in God our hearts rejoice; in your holy name we trust.


Lk 1,39-45.
During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to
a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and
Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and
blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to
me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in
my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would
be fulfilled."


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Saint Bernard (1091-1153), Cistercian monk and Doctor of the Church
Sermon for the Octave of the Assumption, On the twelve prerogatives of Mary

“Blessed is she who has believed”

Mary is blessed, as her cousin Elizabeth has said to her, not simply
because God has looked on her, but because she believed. Her faith is the
most beautiful of the fruits of divine goodness. But it required the
inexpressible art of the Holy Spirit to take place in her if such greatness
of soul was to be united to such humility in the intimacy of her virginal
heart. Mary’s humility and greatness of soul, like her virginity and
fruitfulness, are like two stars shining on each other. For, in Mary, the
depth of her humility does not in the least retract from the generosity of
her soul, and vice versa. Even though Mary had so lowly an estimate of
herself, she was no less generous in her faith in the promise made her by
the angel because of it. She, who looked upon herself entirely as a poor
and insignificant servant, in no way doubted herself to be called to this
incomprehensible mystery, this tremendous union, this unfathomable secret.
And she believed instantly that she was truly about to become the mother of
God-made-man.

It is God’s grace that produces this marvel in the hearts of the elect;
humility does not make them fearful and timorous any more than their
generosity of soul makes them proud. To the contrary, where the saints are
concerned, these two virtues reinforce one another. Greatness of soul not
only does not open the door to any pride, but it is this above all that
allows it to penetrate the mystery of humility even further. Indeed, those
who are the most generous in their service of God are also the most
penetrated by the fear of the Lord and the most grateful for the gifts they
have received. Similarly, when it is a question of humility, no trace of
cowardice insinuates into the soul. The less someone is accustomed to
presume on his own strength, even in the smallest things, the more he
entrusts himself to the power of God, even in the greatest.

Manage your subscription directly at this address : www.dailygospel.org

Thursday, 20 December 2007

Daily Gospel
Thursday of the Third week of Advent

Sts. Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob

Commentary of the day
Saint Amadeus of Lausanne : The Holy Spirit draws forth the new creation from Mary

Reading

Is 7,10-14.
Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world,
or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered, "I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!"
Then he said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary
men, must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be
with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.


Ps 24(23),1-2.3-4.5-6.
A psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S and all it holds, the world and
those who live there.
For God founded it on the seas, established it over the rivers.
Who may go up the mountain of the LORD? Who can stand in his holy place?
"The clean of hand and pure of heart, who are not devoted to idols, who
have not sworn falsely.
They will receive blessings from the LORD, and justice from their saving
God.
Such are the people that love the LORD, that seek the face of the God of
Jacob." Selah


Lk 1,26-38.
In the sixth month, 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, favored one! 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.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Saint Amadeus of Lausanne (1108-1159), Cistercian monk, then Bishop
Third Marian homily (SC 72)

The Holy Spirit draws forth the new creation from Mary

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you.” He will arise within you, Mary. In
some saints he has come; in others he will come; but in you he will arise…
He will arise by means of the fertility, the abundance, the fullness of his
outpouring in your being. Even when he has filled you, he will yet be upon
you; he will sweep over your waters to create in you a work greater and
more admirable than when, hovering over the waters at the beginning, he
brought created substance into being in all its various forms (Gn 1,2).
“And the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Christ, the power and
wisdom of God, will overshadow you. Then he will take human nature from you
while keeping the fullness of God, which you are unable to bear, even as he
assumes our flesh. He will take you beneath his shadow because the humanity
to be taken by the Word is to be a screen for the inaccessible light of
God. This light, filtered by its screen, will penetrate your most chaste
womb… We therefore pray you, Sovereign Lady, most worthy Mother of God, do
not despise today those who ask with fear, who seek with devotion, who
knock with love. We pray you, tell us what feelings moved you, what love
seized you… when this was accomplished in you, when the Word took flesh
from you? In what state was your soul, your heart, your spirit, your
senses, your mind? You burst into flame like the bush that was shown to
Moses long ago and you did not burn, (Ex 3,2). You dissolved away in God
but were not consumed. Burning, you melted beneath the fire from on high
yet regained strength from that fire divine to burn again and dissolve once
more in him… You became more virgin still – and more than virgin because
both virgin and mother. Therefore we greet you, full of grace: the Lord is
with you. You are blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your
womb.




Manage your subscription directly at this address : www.dailygospel.org

Thursday, 20 December 2007

Daily Gospel
Thursday of the Third week of Advent

Sts. Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob

Commentary of the day
Saint Amadeus of Lausanne : The Holy Spirit draws forth the new creation from Mary

Reading

Is 7,10-14.
Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world,
or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered, "I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!"
Then he said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary
men, must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be
with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.


Ps 24(23),1-2.3-4.5-6.
A psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S and all it holds, the world and
those who live there.
For God founded it on the seas, established it over the rivers.
Who may go up the mountain of the LORD? Who can stand in his holy place?
"The clean of hand and pure of heart, who are not devoted to idols, who
have not sworn falsely.
They will receive blessings from the LORD, and justice from their saving
God.
Such are the people that love the LORD, that seek the face of the God of
Jacob." Selah


Lk 1,26-38.
In the sixth month, 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, favored one! 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.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Saint Amadeus of Lausanne (1108-1159), Cistercian monk, then Bishop
Third Marian homily (SC 72)

The Holy Spirit draws forth the new creation from Mary

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you.” He will arise within you, Mary. In
some saints he has come; in others he will come; but in you he will arise…
He will arise by means of the fertility, the abundance, the fullness of his
outpouring in your being. Even when he has filled you, he will yet be upon
you; he will sweep over your waters to create in you a work greater and
more admirable than when, hovering over the waters at the beginning, he
brought created substance into being in all its various forms (Gn 1,2).
“And the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Christ, the power and
wisdom of God, will overshadow you. Then he will take human nature from you
while keeping the fullness of God, which you are unable to bear, even as he
assumes our flesh. He will take you beneath his shadow because the humanity
to be taken by the Word is to be a screen for the inaccessible light of
God. This light, filtered by its screen, will penetrate your most chaste
womb… We therefore pray you, Sovereign Lady, most worthy Mother of God, do
not despise today those who ask with fear, who seek with devotion, who
knock with love. We pray you, tell us what feelings moved you, what love
seized you… when this was accomplished in you, when the Word took flesh
from you? In what state was your soul, your heart, your spirit, your
senses, your mind? You burst into flame like the bush that was shown to
Moses long ago and you did not burn, (Ex 3,2). You dissolved away in God
but were not consumed. Burning, you melted beneath the fire from on high
yet regained strength from that fire divine to burn again and dissolve once
more in him… You became more virgin still – and more than virgin because
both virgin and mother. Therefore we greet you, full of grace: the Lord is
with you. You are blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your
womb.




Manage your subscription directly at this address : www.dailygospel.org

Wednesday, 19 December 2007

Daily Gospel
Wednesday of the Third week of Advent

Bl. Urban V

Commentary of the day
John Tauler : "Now you will be speechless"

Reading

Judges 13,2-7.24-25.

There was a certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren and had borne no children. An angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and bear a son. Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink and to eat nothing unclean. As for the son you will conceive and bear, no razor shall touch his head, for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb. It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel from the power of the Philistines." The woman went and told her husband, "A man of God came to me; he had the 
appearance of an angel of God, terrible indeed. I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name. But he said to me, 'You will be with child and will bear a son. So take neither wine nor strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. For the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb, until the day of his death.'" The woman bore a son and named him Samson. The boy grew up and the LORD blessed him; the spirit of the LORD first stirred him in Mahaneh-dan, which is between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Ps 71(70),3-4.5-6.16-17.

Be my rock and refuge, my secure stronghold; for you are my rock and fortress. My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the clutches of the violent. You are my hope, Lord; my trust, GOD, from my youth. On you I depend since birth; from my mother's womb you are my strength; my hope in you never wavers. I will speak of the mighty works of the Lord; O GOD, I will tell of your singular justice. God, you have taught me from my youth; to this day I proclaim your wondrous deeds.

Lk 1,5-25.

In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced
in years. Once when he was serving as priest in his division's turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of (the) Lord. He will drink neither wine
nor strong drink. 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. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord." Then 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 said to him in reply, "I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time." Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB

Commentary of the day

John Tauler (c.1300-1361), Dominican at Strasbourg

Sermon for the Feast of Christmas

"Now you will be speechless" At Christmas we celebrate a threefold birth… The first and most sublime birth is that of the only-begotten Son by the heavenly Father in the divine essence and in the distinction of Persons. The second birth is that which was fulfilled by a mother who guarded the perfect purity of her virginal chastity even in her childbearing. The third is that by which God, at all times and seasons, is truly and spiritually born, through grace and love,
in worthy souls… For this third kind of birth we need only have within us a simple and pure seeking for God, no longer having any other desire for what is our own…, only wanting to be his, to make room for him to the highest degree, the greatest intimacy with him, so that he can accomplish his work and be born in us without hindrance on our part… That is why Saint
Augustine says to us: “Empty yourself that you may be filled; come out if you would enter in,” and elsewhere: “O thou noble soul, precious creature, why search outside yourself for what is wholly within yourself in the truest and most manifest way possible? And since you participate in the divine nature, what do created things matter to you or what do you have to do with them?” If only man would thus prepare a place deep within himself, God would undoubtedly be constrained to fill him to the brim, otherwise heaven itself would break open to fill the void. God cannot leave things empty; that would be to contradict his own nature and justice. Therefore 
you must be silent. Then the Word of this birth can be spoken in you and you will be able to hear him. But be certain of this: if you try to speak then he must be silent. There is no better way of serving the Word than in being silent and listening. So if you come out of yourself completely, God will wholly enter in; to the degree you come out, to that degree will he enter, neither more nor less. 

Manage your subscription directly at this address : www.dailygospel.org

----------------------------------------

The DGO is sent every day to more than 255.000 subscribers ! Do you want to help us maintain this free service? Daily Gospel is free of charge, it is not free of cost. Make a tax-deductible donation directly at "The Daily Gospel", PO BOX 16, New Hope, KY 40052. USA. Thank you and God bless you.

Wednesday, 19 December 2007

Daily Gospel
Wednesday of the Third week of Advent

Bl. Urban V

Commentary of the day
John Tauler : "Now you will be speechless"

Reading

Judges 13,2-7.24-25.

There was a certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren and had borne no children. An angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and bear a son. Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink and to eat nothing unclean. As for the son you will conceive and bear, no razor shall touch his head, for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb. It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel from the power of the Philistines." The woman went and told her husband, "A man of God came to me; he had the 
appearance of an angel of God, terrible indeed. I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name. But he said to me, 'You will be with child and will bear a son. So take neither wine nor strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. For the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb, until the day of his death.'" The woman bore a son and named him Samson. The boy grew up and the LORD blessed him; the spirit of the LORD first stirred him in Mahaneh-dan, which is between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Ps 71(70),3-4.5-6.16-17.

Be my rock and refuge, my secure stronghold; for you are my rock and fortress. My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the clutches of the violent. You are my hope, Lord; my trust, GOD, from my youth. On you I depend since birth; from my mother's womb you are my strength; my hope in you never wavers. I will speak of the mighty works of the Lord; O GOD, I will tell of your singular justice. God, you have taught me from my youth; to this day I proclaim your wondrous deeds.

Lk 1,5-25.

In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced
in years. Once when he was serving as priest in his division's turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of (the) Lord. He will drink neither wine
nor strong drink. 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. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord." Then 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 said to him in reply, "I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time." Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB

Commentary of the day

John Tauler (c.1300-1361), Dominican at Strasbourg

Sermon for the Feast of Christmas

"Now you will be speechless" At Christmas we celebrate a threefold birth… The first and most sublime birth is that of the only-begotten Son by the heavenly Father in the divine essence and in the distinction of Persons. The second birth is that which was fulfilled by a mother who guarded the perfect purity of her virginal chastity even in her childbearing. The third is that by which God, at all times and seasons, is truly and spiritually born, through grace and love,
in worthy souls… For this third kind of birth we need only have within us a simple and pure seeking for God, no longer having any other desire for what is our own…, only wanting to be his, to make room for him to the highest degree, the greatest intimacy with him, so that he can accomplish his work and be born in us without hindrance on our part… That is why Saint
Augustine says to us: “Empty yourself that you may be filled; come out if you would enter in,” and elsewhere: “O thou noble soul, precious creature, why search outside yourself for what is wholly within yourself in the truest and most manifest way possible? And since you participate in the divine nature, what do created things matter to you or what do you have to do with them?” If only man would thus prepare a place deep within himself, God would undoubtedly be constrained to fill him to the brim, otherwise heaven itself would break open to fill the void. God cannot leave things empty; that would be to contradict his own nature and justice. Therefore 
you must be silent. Then the Word of this birth can be spoken in you and you will be able to hear him. But be certain of this: if you try to speak then he must be silent. There is no better way of serving the Word than in being silent and listening. So if you come out of yourself completely, God will wholly enter in; to the degree you come out, to that degree will he enter, neither more nor less. 

Manage your subscription directly at this address : www.dailygospel.org

----------------------------------------

The DGO is sent every day to more than 255.000 subscribers ! Do you want to help us maintain this free service? Daily Gospel is free of charge, it is not free of cost. Make a tax-deductible donation directly at "The Daily Gospel", PO BOX 16, New Hope, KY 40052. USA. Thank you and God bless you.

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