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.




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