24 December 2017
Fourth Sunday of Advent
1st: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12,14,16
Psalm: 88:2-5, 27, 29
2nd: Romans 16:25-27
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.’ ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’ And the angel left her.
Ask in Prayer
God wants us to ask for the things he promises. This is certainly why He starts by promising mostly what he has already decided to give us: the promise awakens our piety, and prayer makes us deserve what we will receive gratuitously… The Virgin had understood this, for to the gift of the gratuitous promise she added the merit of her prayer: “May it be done to me according to your word. May the eternal Word do to me what your word tells me today. May the Word that was with God from the beginning become flesh of my flesh according to your word…May this Word be not only perceptible to my ears, but also visible to my eyes, palpable to my hands, and that I may carry it in my arms. May it be not a written and mute word, but the incarnate and living Word; not lifeless signs traced on a withered parchment, but a living Word, in the form of a man, stamped alive in my womb…”In times past, God spoke often and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets” (Heb 1:1); his word was given to them to be listened to, to be proclaimed or to be acted on… For me, I ask that it may be put in my womb… I call to the Word, silently blown into me, incarnate in a person, physically united to my flesh… May it come in me for the whole world.”
Saint Bernard (1091-1153), Praises to the Virgin Mary
This week’s feasts
Mon 25 Christmas Day
Tue 26 St. Stephen, Martyr
Wed 27 St. John, Apostle, Evangelist
Thu 28 The Holy Innocents, Martyrs
Fri 29 St. Thomas Becket, Bishop, Martyr
Sun 31 The Holy Family
Mon 1 Mary Mother of God, Solemnity
Psalter Week IV
Readings for Christmas
at the Mass during the day
1st: Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm: 97:1-6
2nd: Hebrews 1:1-6
Gospel: John 1:1-18
The Holy Innocents
As happens with many Biblical events, the exact date of the massacre of the Innocents is unknown; all we know is that it took place within two years after the Magi saw the star rising (cf. Mt 2:2). However, these infant martyrs have been venerated at least since the fourth century and several churches even claim to have relics of these Flores Martyrum, or first buds of the Church who “died not only for Christ, but in his stead,” (St. Augustine). The feast is kept within the octave of Christmas because these children gave their lives to save the newborn Saviour. Jeremias speaks of the lamentation of Rachel, a matriarch of the house of Israel: “A voice is heard in Ramah … it is Rachel weeping for her children…” (Jer 31:15). Rachel’s tomb is at Ramah (near Bethlehem) where the remnants of the nation were gathered to be taken captive into Babylon. As Rachel wept from her tomb for the children of Ephraim, so now she weeps for the children of Bethlehem. The ruin of her people, led away into slavery, prefigured the ruin which falls on her children now, when the newborn Messiah is forced to flee from His own nation to escape Herod’s sword. The slaughter of the Holy Innocents and the banishment of the infant Christ, announce the downfall of Jerusalem.
Holy Innocents, pray for us.
Christmas greeting from our Parish Priest
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“Hail Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with you”… “you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus… Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Cf. St. Lk 1:28-38)
This beautiful greeting is what we pray every time in the Hail Mary recalling the Mysteries of the Annunciation and the Incarnation of the Son of God. It is so simple and so transcendent, so full of Faith, commitment and deep joy in the Spirit of God. It is a dialogue so full of true Love of God and love of neighbour, revealing to us that Charity which made God become flesh and dwell among us.
Knowing the Love of God, believing in it and accepting His will, is what made the Virgin Mary the Mother of God. Her Faith and her humility attracted God’s sight. May she be our model this Christmas and intercede for us that we may receive Jesus Christ in our hearts like she did. God’s will is to be with us. The GOOD NEWS IS: “THE EMMANUEL IS HERE, GOD IS AMONG US” (cf. St. Lk 2: 10-11). Many blessings in this Christmas for all of you!
Many blessings for the year 2018 and that all your good wishes may become true! God bless you all!
Christmas Vigil Mass 24 December. We begin with Christmas Carols at 9pm followed by Holy Mass. Christmas Day Masses as on Sundays..
Mary Mother of God Solemnity Monday 1 January, Mass will be at 12noon and it is also the 2018 World Day of Prayer for Peace
CARITAS urgently needs Christmas presents for children up to 16 yrs. (Unwrapped please) Thanks for your prayers and support!
Mass Times HERE