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