DAILY GOSPEL Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. John 6:68 Tuesday, 02 December 2014 Tuesday of the First week of Advent Saint(s) of the day : St. Bibiana, Virgin and Martyr (4th century) See commentary below or click here Saint Augustine : Many prophets and kings desired to see what you see Book of Isaiah 11:1-10. On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD. Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, But he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the lands afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips. Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobras den, and the child lay his hand on the adders lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD, as water covers the sea. On that day, The root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, The Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious. Psalms 72(71):1-2.7-8.12-13.17. O God, with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the kings son; He shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment. Justice shall flower in his days, and profound peace, till the moon be no more. May he rule from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, And the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; The lives of the poor he shall save. May his name be blessed forever; As long as the sun his name shall remain. In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed; All the nations shall proclaim his happiness. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 10:21-24. Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. Turning to the disciples in private he said, Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it. Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB Commentary of the day : Saint Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church Discourses on the Psalms, Ps 118, no.20 Many prophets and kings desired to see what you see « Lord, my soul pines for your salvation » (Ps 118[119],81), that is to say in its expectation. Happy the weakness that expresses desire for a good that has not been gained but yet is passionately sought after. So who do these words refer to if not, from the origins of humankind to the world’s end, to the “chosen race, the royal priesthood, the people set apart” (1Pt 2,9), to every person who lived, lives or will live in desire for Christ, each in their own time? The witness to this expectation is the holy old man Simeon, who exclaimed as he took the child into his arms : « Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation” (Lk 2,29-30). For he had received God’s promise that he would not taste death until he had seen Christ, the Lord. This old man’s desire – as we believe – was that of all the saints during the time that went before. This is why our Lord said to his disciples: “Many prophets and kings desired to see what you see and did not see it, to hear what you hear and never heard it.” Therefore all these people must also be counted amongst those who sing : « My soul wastes away on account of your salvation”. Never, in those days, was this desire of the saints set to rest, and from now on it will never be set at rest in Christ’s body, his Church, until the end of the world, until there comes “the Desire of all nations” promised by the prophet (Hag 2,8 Vg)… The desire we are talking about comes from loving “Christ’s appearing” like the apostle Paul. It is of this that he said: “When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory” (Col 3,4). The Church in times of old, before the Virgin’s childbearing, included saints who desired Christ’s coming in the flesh. Today it includes other saints who desire Christ’s manifestation in his glory. From the beginning of the world to the end of time this desire of the Church will have no respite.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 03:05:33 +0000
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