December 24, 2019

Dec. 24

December 24, 2019:  Tuesday, 4th week, Advent / Christmas Eve

See over 30 connections with today?
Legend below

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  • 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16  Lord to David via Nathan:  “Should you build me a house?  I chose you, have been with you, and will make you famous.  My people will dwell safely.  I'll establish a House for you, raise up your heir, make his Kingdom firm, be father to him.  Your throne shall stand forever.”
  • Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29  "For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord."  God's covenant with David will stand firm.
  • Lk 1:67-79  Zechariah prophesied:  “Blessed be God who came and freed his people, raising up a Savior from the House of David.  He promised to save, show mercy, remember his covenant, and free us to worship him.  You, John, will prepare the Lord's way, giving people knowledge of salvation by forgiveness.  In God's tender compassion, dawn shall shine on those in darkness and to guide us to the way of peace.”
PM:  Christmas vigil

  • Is 62:1-5  Nations shall behold your vindication and kings your glory.  You'll be a crown in the Lord's hand.  People will no longer call you “Forsaken” but rather “My Delight”; God will marry you and rejoice in you.
  • Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29  "For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord."  I'll maintain my covenant, my kindness, and your throne forever.  Blessed those who walk in your light; they rejoice and are exalted.
  • Acts 13:16-17, 22-25  Paul:  “God chose our ancestors, led them out of Egypt, raised up David as king, and from his descendants brought a savior, Jesus.  John heralded his coming:  ‘One is coming after me; I'm not worthy to unfasten his sandals.’”
  • Mt 1:1-25  Genealogy of Jesus, son of David, son of Abraham:  14 generations from Abraham to David, 14 from David to the Babylonian exile, 14 from the exile to Christ.  Before Mary and Joseph lived together, Mary was found with child.  Joseph was about to divorce her, but angel appeared:  “Take Mary into your home; the child was conceived through the Spirit.  Name the child Jesus; he'll save his people.”  This fulfilled the prophecy, “The virgin shall bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, God-is-with-us.”  Joseph did as the angel commanded.
Reflect
  • Creighton:  "In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death and guide our feet into the way of peace":  Zechariah prophesies this once his tongue was loosed and he came to believe in God's promise.  The dawn broke upon us in Jesus' birth just six months later.  John told the world that one is coming, already among God’s people, the light to dispel darkness and conquer death.  We celebrate again to know and to remember this ultimate truth....
  • One Bread, One Body:  "Advent pregnancy":  A mother must be pregnant about nine months to give birth; a Christian must be filled with Jesus at least a few weeks to give birth this Christmas. Have you carried the baby long enough?  Have you reached full term?  Are you ready to give birth?  Zechariah and Elizabeth went through a difficult pregnancy; afterwards Zechariah was still a deaf-mute, but he obeyed God, his mouth was opened and tongue loosed," and he gave birth to a prophecy: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; he has visited and ransomed his people...."  After hearing about David's plan of building God a house, Nathan went to sleep, then woke up laboring to give birth to the establishing of David's house forever.  Now that we've reached the full term of Advent pregnancy, expect to go into labor and deliver the prophetic Word.
  • Passionist:  "A Savior, Christ the Lord, has been born for you."  Scripture stresses we need to be saved:  “Without me, you can do nothing!”  "Apart from him, nothing came into being."  “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”  What a mistake if we think we don't need Christ!  Scripture calls Jesus Savior 24 times, and the New Testament treats the need for salvation 298 times.  The angel telling Joseph to take Mary says her Son “will save his people from their sins.”  Da Vinci's Salvator Mundi just fetched $450 million, but the real Savior is priceless!   Don't miss the excitement of “today a Savior has been born for you, Christ the Lord.”
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Nothing is impossible with God":  When the Lord comes to redeem us, he fills us with his Spirit, the source of our joy and hope.  John the Baptist was born shortly before Mary delivered her son, Jesus. When John was circumcised, his father was "filled with the Spirit" and joy.  Inspired by the Spirit, he prophesied and sang a hymn for God's redemptive work.  He foresaw that David's dynasty would endure through the coming of the Messiah.  This King would establish peace and security.  The peace the Messiah restores our broken relationship with God.  The Spirit gave Zechariah a vision for his son as prophet and forerunner to prepare the way for the Messiah.  The Spirit wants to give us vision, joy, and confidence in the knowledge of God's mercy, protection, and care.  We too are called to prepare the way that leads to Christ.  Life is a journey; we either move towards the Lord or away.  The Lord comes to visit us each day with his Word and Spirit.  Those who hunger for the Lord won't be disappointed.  In sending the Messiah, God visited his people to redeem them.  Jesus was sent into the world to redeem sinners.  At Christmas we celebrate God's gift of sending his Son to redeem us.  May the Spirit inspire us and fill us with joy and boldness to proclaim the message of the Lord's visitation and redemption.
Dress legend
  • 'Phone' tie bar:  You'll be 'called' by a new name,... (vigil 1st reading)
  • 'Car with mouth' pin:  ...pronounced by the Lord's mouth (vigil 1st reading); "my mouth shall proclaim Your faithfulness" (day psalm)
  • 'Wood block' tie pin:  David:  "Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!" (day 1st reading)
  • 'Sheep' tie bar:  "I took you from the care of the flock" (day 1st reading)
  • 'Boundless mercy' button:  He promised to show mercy (day gospel)
  • 'Helm' tie pin:  You'll prepare the Lord's way (day gospel)
  • 'Feet' pin:  I'm unworthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet (vigil 2nd reading); the dawn shall break upon us to guide our feet..." (day gospel)
  • 'Peace sign' tie bar:  "...into the way of peace" (day gospel) 
  • 'Musical notes with "joy"' pin:  Your God shall rejoice in you (vigil 1st reading); blessed those who know the joyful shout (vigil psalm);
  • 'Christmas lights' tie:  ...they walk in the light of your countenance (vigil psalm); Jesus, Light of the World
  • 'Crown' tie bar:  I'll raise up your heir and make his Kingdom firm (day 1st reading); God raised up David as king (vigil 2nd reading); kings in Jesus' genealogy (vigil gospel); you'll be a glorious crown... (vigil 1st reading)
  • 'Hand' tie pin:  ...in the Lord's hand (vigil 1st reading); he'll free us from our enemies' hand (gospel); Paul motioned with his hand (vigil 2nd reading)
  • 'Heart' pin:  I have found David a man after my own heart (vigil 2nd reading)
  • 'Castle' pin:  House of David (1st reading); Joseph taking Mary into his home (vigil gospel)
  • 'Angel' pin:  Angel appeared to Joseph in a dream (vigil gospel)
  • 'Dove' pin:  Zechariah, filled with the Spirit, prophesied (day gospel); Mary was found with child through the Spirit (vigil gospel)
  • 'Abacus' tie pin:  14 × 3 generations (day gospel)
  • 'Rock' tie pin:  "My God, the rock" (day psalm, vigil psalm)
  • 'Mary' pin:  Mary in genealogy and birth story (vigil gospel)
  • 'Peace sign' tie bar:  The dawn shall guide us to the way of peace (gospel); Jesus, Prince of Peace
  • Purple and white shirt:  Last day of Advent, Christmas vigil
  • 'Christmas trees' suspenders, button (legend):  Christmas!
  • Sandals (not shown):  John the Baptist:  ‘I'm not worthy to unfasten the sandals of the one coming after me.’ (vigil 2nd reading)
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