Sunday Scripture Readings

Printer-friendly versionSend to friend FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 21 Micah 5:1-4; Psalm 80; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45 OUR GOOD NEWS: We greet the promised Davidic Messiah with faith and peace. The Visitation story (today’s Gospel) completes the Old Testament by transforming it. The angel of the Annunciation had just proposed Elizabeth’s pregnancy as confirmation for Mary’s even more miraculous conception of Israel’s long-awaited Messiah. Divine signs are not lightly ignored, and thus Mary expressed faith and trust when she promptly "rose up in haste and journeyed" to witness Elizabeth’s good fortune. The same God who had given a child to the barren wives of Abraham and Isaac now bestowed even more marvelous blessings of fertility. In Mary, who went to Elizabeth rather than receiving her in Nazareth, the New Testament reached out to Judaism and began to change it. Mary’s formal salutation elicited both a prophetic gesture and a prophetic oracle. Elizabeth’s unborn child leaped in recognition of final-age joy. Elizabeth then prophetically interpreted this event, pointing away from her own motherhood and to reveal the hidden identity of her visitor and the baby she carried. Elizabeth’s loud shot of praise echoed John’s Messianic-Age excitement. But there was newness in fulfillment. Elizabeth’s being "filled with the Holy Spirit" alludes to God’s unique presence, heretofore reserved for the Jerusalem temple, as well as indicating possession of the prophetic spirit after centuries of silence. "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb." In the Bible, God is praised for concrete expressions of praiseworthy deeds done, rather than abstractly and in himself. Elizabeth glorifies God by pronouncing a double blessing: Mary, because He graciously willed to make her mother of His Messiah; and her son, for his role as Israel’s Savior. Jesus’ pre-eminence over John is thus affirmed both by the unborn baby in his mother’s womb (who rises to greet his superior), as well as by Elizabeth herself. The passage concludes with a beatitude pronounced over Mary. Having been blessed and favored, she is now in a blessed and happy condition. Mary is the true believer, model of faith and first among her son’s disciple-followers. Her faith is genuine because it is forward-looking: "Fortunate is she who believed, for she will find the Lord’s words fulfilled." This story teaches us the importance of mutual ministry. Each of us has a unique call, with no reason for envy. Mary brought the Savior; John recognized and identified Him; and Elizabeth gave prophecy, mediating God’s word by interpreting this event. The other readings fit into the Gospel passage. The prophet Micah insists that God chooses what is humanly insignificant and unpromising to bring about His own loving purposes. Because He exercises His shepherd-kingship through His Son, there is no reason to despair, since we have the divine power to protect and care for us. The second reading reminds us that God, like any loving parent, wants us to do His will. Prayer and hard work by themselves are no substitute. And because God’s plans and purposes exceed human predictability, we ought never be anxious since we can never grasp the full picture. HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH DECEMBER 28 Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128; Colossians 3:12-21; Luke 2:41-52 OUR GOOD NEWS: How holy is our family? Like all other Old Testament laws, the commandment to honor father and mother is addressed primarily to adults (first reading). It prescribes lifelong reverence and respect toward parents, particularly after their offspring have grown up and become independent. Children are under grave obligation to provide physical care and material support, as well as comfort and happiness, through attentive concern. Implied also is community responsibility to furnish dignified living conditions for its elderly and to maintain and enhance health through adequate medical care. Parents should thus enjoy "honor and authority" throughout their lives and particularly in old age. This respect moreover is inalienable and not given according to what is due — the Bible does not limit our obligation to worthy or good parents. Two personal advantages accrue from such behavior. First, this can be our way of making up for childhood sins of insensitivity, thoughtlessness and disobedience ("he who honors his father atones for sins"). Secondly, we set a good example for our own children — a good investment toward one’s own old age and opportunity to "store up riches" of filial love, fulfilling the promise of "a long life." The author’s advice in the second part is direct, up-to-date and may be painful to us who hear this reading. Even and especially in senility the parent must be carefully respected and reverenced. Sirach calls for "consideration and kindness" as well as material support. We "grieve" our aged parents through callous uncaring and "revile them" by concentrating on their imperfections. Sirach invites us to an honest self-examination, followed by concrete action. What are our individual, parish and community obligations toward the elderly? Today’s is the only Gospel story about Jesus between birth and public ministry. It describes a significant moment when He stood poised on the threshold of maturity, still a boy but already being prepared by His pious parents to assume adult religious responsibilities at His next (13th) birthday. The tale is suffused with mystery rather than the miraculous. The boy’s relationship with the teachers is complex. On the one hand, He seems presented as the ideal student, sitting on the floor before assembled religious experts, eagerly "listening" to their explanation and learned discussions, "asking them questions" for clarification. His "comprehension and answers" are clear evidence of the lad’s absorbing interest and skill in interpreting the Mosaic Law. There is also a hint that He who now "sits in the middle of the teachers" anticipates the future, Final-Age Teacher who brings fullness of wisdom to Israel. Jesus’ reply to Mary’s inquiry in effect cleared Him of any fault. His heavenly Father had prior claim over the earthly father and mother addressing Him as "Son." If they wanted to find Him, they should have known where to look. Meanwhile, Jesus, "born under the Mosaic Law" (Gal 4:4), showed that obedience to His divine Father was to be exercised through earthly parents.

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