Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress": Dec. 23

See 14 connections with today?
Legend below

Listen

For 1st reading

Thus saith the Lord/But who may abide the day of His coming, from Messiah/ Handel: traditional, "soulful"

For Psalm 25

For today's O Antiphon

For the gospel

What child is this?/ Dix: about Jesus, but in today's gospel, people asked the same about John the Baptist

Advent

Read

Mal 3:1-4, 23-24 I'm sending my messenger to prepare the way. The Lord will come to the temple, but who will endure that day? He, like the refiner’s fire, will purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer sacrifice pleasing to the Lord. I'll send you Elijah to turn fathers' hearts to children and children's to fathers.

Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-10, 14 "Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand." Teach me your paths. God shows sinners the way, guides and teaches the humble, is friend to those who fear him.

Lk 1:57-66 Elizabeth bore a son; friends and family rejoiced. She said he was to be named John; when Zechariah confirmed, his mouth was opened. They said, “What will this child be? God's hand was with him.”

Reflect

Fr. Chidi Ekpendu homily video: Make miracles happen: pray; do works of mercy....

Today's O Antiphon: O Emmanuel, King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God! Reflection

Creighton: John the Baptist was Elizabeth’s miracle baby, the child she was never supposed to have. She had good reason not to name him after his father or other relatives, so why was it such a big deal that God restored Zechariah's speech? She was thanking God for her gift; 'John' is Hebrew for “God is gracious.” Reflect on the gifts God has given you, perhaps in a family “God is gracious” time-out this week....

Passionist: Many remarkable things happened with John’s birth: the message to Zechariah in the Temple, Zechariah being struck mute, "barren" Elizabeth giving birth, Zechariah's tongue being loosed to praise God. People wonder who the child will be. May these extraordinary things remind us of the remarkable things God has done in our lives: our very life, the mystery of salvation.... We're called to prepare the way of the Lord, to help turn parents' and children's hearts toward each other. Nothing will be impossible for God!

DailyScripture.net: "What will this child be?" Elizabeth and Zechariah are firm in the face of family arguments about the naming of their son as John ('the Lord is gracious'). In the births of John the Baptist and Jesus God's grace breaks forth into a broken world. Malachi foretold the return of Elijah to announce the Messiah's coming. John fulfills Elijah's role; his miraculous birth shows God's favor in preparing his people for Jesus' coming. When we trust the Lord, he fills us with the joy of the Spirit and renews our hope and gratitude....

Universalis: St. John of Kęty, priest, physicist, theologian, example of charity towards others; see also Wikipedia.

Dress legend

The Last Judgment/ Michelangelo
(surprising to see just before Christmas, but
in line with today's 1st reading)

'Cars on roads' tie: The Lord shows sinners the way; the Lord's paths are kindness and constancy (psalm)

Silver- and gold-colored accessories: The Lord will refine the sons of Levi like gold or silver (1st reading)

'Heart' pin: I'll send Elijah to turn fathers' and children's hearts to each other (1st reading); all who heard these things took them to heart (gospel)

'Hand' tie pin: Your redemption is at hand (psalm); "surely the Lord's hand was with him” (gospel)

'Tablet' pin: Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name” (gospel re tablet, O Antiphons re law)

"Boundless mercy" button: They heard the Lord had shown great mercy toward her... (gospel)

Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress"