Weekly Readings

This week we are invited to remain deepening on the mysteries of Christ’s earthly life. He was born of the virgin Mary as our 'Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace’ (Isaiah 9:5), the one who would live out all these prophesized titles and reveal to us the way to peace through the many mysteries of his life, death and resurrection. The Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 516 tells us that “Christ's whole earthly life - his words and deeds, his silences and sufferings, indeed his manner of being and speaking - is Revelation of the Father.” How wonderful to know that our heavenly Father loves us with the same quality of love as revealed in our dear Saviour Jesus Christ and that he desires to offer us his eternal peace in exchange for our lowly sins. May we take advantage this week to surrender to Jesus whatever behaviour or attitude in us is not befitting for a child of God and receive in return our deepest dignity, i.e. to be Christ’s followers and to love all people with his tender and gentle self-giving. Day 1 Luke 2:25-35 “…Now, Master, you are letting your servant go in peace as you promised; for my eyes have seen the salvation which you have made ready in the sight of the nations; a light of revelation for the gentiles and glory for your people Israel.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 529 tells us that “the presentation of Jesus in the temple shows him to be the firstborn Son who belongs to the Lord (Exodus 13:2, 12-13). With Simeon and Anna, all Israel awaits its encounter with the Saviour-the name given to this event in the Byzantine tradition. Jesus is recognized as the long-expected Messiah, the "light to the nations" and the "glory of Israel", but also "a sign that is spoken against". The sword of sorrow predicted for Mary announces Christ's perfect and unique oblation on the cross that will impart the salvation God had "prepared in the presence of all peoples."” In prayer, imagine yourself looking upon the child Jesus like Simeon, recognising God with you in such a humble manner in order to save you. What is your reaction? How is the child Jesus inviting you to be transformed into his same humble and kind presence for those who look upon you in your home, church, workplace, social outings, etc.?

Day 2 Matthew 2:13-18 "After they had left, suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him.' So, Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt…" Catechism no. 530 says that “the flight into Egypt and the massacre of the innocents make manifest the opposition of darkness to the light: "He came to his own home, and his own people received him not" (John 1:11). Christ's whole life was lived under the sign of persecution. His own share it with him. Jesus' departure from Egypt recalls the exodus (Hosea 11:1) and presents him as the definitive liberator of God's people.” In prayer, consider whether or not you share in Jesus’ persecutions in any way, eg. have you been ridiculed for your faith, judged as unsuccessful because of your choice to share justly whatever money or material goods have been entrusted to you, taken advantage of because of your kindness, insulted because of not compromising on the truth, etc.? Allow St Joseph’s example of choosing to follow the light over the darkness to encourage you to keep opting to live for Christ’s kingdom of love, truth and goodness at whatever cost in this earthly life so that you may enjoy eternal happiness with him and all the saints and angels forever. Day 3 Romans 5:15-21 "…by one man's obedience are many to be made upright…" Catechism no. 533 reminds us that “the hidden life at Nazareth allows everyone to enter into fellowship with Jesus by the most ordinary events of daily life: “The home of Nazareth is the school where we begin to understand the life of Jesus - the school of the Gospel. First, then, a lesson of silence. May esteem for silence, that admirable and indispensable condition of mind, revive in us. . . A lesson on family life. May Nazareth teach us what family life is, its communion of love, its austere and simple beauty, and its sacred and inviolable character. . . A lesson of work. Nazareth, home of the "Carpenter's Son", in you I would choose to understand and proclaim the severe and redeeming law of human work. . . To conclude, I want to greet all the workers of the

world, holding up to them their great pattern their brother who is God” (Paul VI at Nazareth, 5 January 1964: LH, Feast of the Holy Family).” In prayer, imagine the harmony and joy of the home of the Holy family because of each member faithfully obeying God and one another. Are you an obedient member of your household or do things always need to be according to your opinion, whim, feelings, etc.? Dialogue with Jesus about how you can become more obedient to God and others in order to help build a more peaceful society beginning in your own home. Day 4 Luke 2:41-52 "…his mother said to him, 'My child, why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.'…" Catechism no. 534 states that “the finding of Jesus in the temple is the only event that breaks the silence of the Gospels about the hidden years of Jesus. Here Jesus lets us catch a glimpse of the mystery of his total consecration to a mission that flows from his divine sonship: "Did you not know that I must be about my Father's work?" (Luke 2:49). Mary and Joseph did not understand these words, but they accepted them in faith. Mary "kept all these things in her heart" during the years Jesus remained hidden in the silence of an ordinary life.” In prayer, take a moment to contemplate Jesus as a youth who is already fully dedicated to his “Father’s work”. Imagine the foundation of prayer and committed love that Mary and his foster-Father Joseph must have laid in his childhood experience. Mary and Joseph are perfect models to teach us how to care for the physical and spiritual well-being of others. Do you truly care about the well-being of those entrusted to you when they become “lost” in some way? Or do you consider your life as being an island that is independent and without influence on others? Dialogue with God about how you can become more responsible in caring for those placed in your path. Day 5 Luke 7:18-23 "…'Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind see again, the lame walk, those suffering from virulent skin-diseases are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, the good news is proclaimed to the poor…"

Catechism no. 544 explains the mystery of the proclamation of the Kingdom of God: “the kingdom belongs to the poor and lowly, which means those who have accepted it with humble hearts. Jesus is sent to "preach good news to the poor" (Luke 4:18); he declares them blessed, for "theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). To them - the "little ones" the Father is pleased to reveal what remains hidden from the wise and the learned (Matthew 11:25). Jesus shares the life of the poor, from the cradle to the cross; he experiences hunger, thirst and privation. Jesus identifies himself with the poor of every kind and makes active love toward them the condition for entering his kingdom (Matthew 25:31-46).” In prayer, spend a moment reflecting with Christ on all that his earthly life revealed about how we are meant to live as brothers and sisters belonging to the one family. In what way is Christ inviting you to be more committed to building genuine bridges of love and justice with the people he has already placed in your path? Day 6 Luke 9:28-36 "…And it happened that, as he was praying, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became sparkling white…" Catechism no. 555 also mentions the mystery of the transfiguration as a foretaste of the kingdom of God: “for a moment Jesus discloses his divine glory, confirming Peter's confession. He also reveals that he will have to go by the way of the cross at Jerusalem in order to "enter into his glory" (Luke 24:26). Moses and Elijah had seen God's glory on the Mountain; the Law and the Prophets had announced the Messiah's sufferings (Luke 24:27). Christ's Passion is the will of the Father: the Son acts as God's servant (Isaiah 42:1); the cloud indicates the presence of the Holy Spirit. "The whole Trinity appeared: the Father in the voice; the Son in the man; the Spirit in the shining cloud" (St. Thomas Aquinas, STh III, 45, 4, ad 2). You were transfigured on the mountain, and your disciples, as much as they were capable of it, beheld your glory, O Christ our God, so that when they should see you crucified they would understand that your Passion was voluntary, and proclaim to the world that you truly are the splendour of the Father (Byzantine Liturgy, Feast of the Transfiguration, Kontakion).”

In prayer, invite the Holy Trinity to become more present to you and ask to behold Christ’s glory just as his disciples did. Would you also like to one day enter into the same glory as Christ? Are you prepared to pass through the “way of the cross” as he did? Dialogue with him about your current struggles to be faithful to his ways so he can encourage you to persevere to the very end, eg. his way of truthfulness, justice, unconditional love, forgiveness, generosity, gentleness, persecution for righteousness, etc. Day 7 Matthew 21:1-11 "…Great crowds of people spread their cloaks on the road, while others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in his path. The crowds who went in front of him and those who followed were all shouting: Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heavens! And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil as people asked, 'Who is this?'…" Catechism no. 559 touches on the mystery of Jesus’ messianic entrance into Jerusalem: “Although Jesus had always refused popular attempts to make him king, he chooses the time and prepares the details for his messianic entry into the city of "his father David.” Acclaimed as son of David, as the one who brings salvation (Hosanna means "Save!" or "Give salvation!"), the "King of glory" enters his City "riding on an ass" (Psalm 24:7-10; Zech 9:9). Jesus conquers the Daughter of Zion, a figure of his Church, neither by ruse nor by violence, but by the humility that bears witness to the truth. And so the subjects of his kingdom on that day are children and God's poor, who acclaim him as had the angels when they announced him to the shepherds.” In prayer, consider how Jesus’ first and last entry into Jerusalem was profoundly humble. Do you enter into your home, workplace, conversations, decisions, meetings, etc. with the same attitude as Jesus? How is Jesus inviting you to live with a greater awareness of your true place – a creature dependant on your creator, a human being who is of equal value to all other human beings, a sinner in need of correction and repentance and mercy, etc.? Dialogue with the humble Prince-of-Peace who loves you and seeks to save your eternal life.

Prepared by the Verbum Dei Missionary Community, © Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity, Brisbane,

Website: verbumdeibrisbane.weebly.co

School of the Word

Weekly Readings

“All Things are Possible to him who Believes” (Mk 9:23)

Week 20

The Creed: “…Prince-of-Peace…”

“…and this is the name he has been given, 'Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Prince-of-

Peace'…" (Isaiah 9:5)