Letters From Home

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Monday of the Second Week of Advent by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Lecturas:
Isaías 11,1–10
Salmo 72,1–2.7–8.12–13.17
Romanos 15,4–9
Mateo 3,1–12

“Está cerca el reino de los cielos”, proclama Juan. Y la liturgia de hoy nos dibuja un vívido retrato de nuestro nuevo rey, así como del reino que Él nos ha venido a traer.

El Señor a quien Juan prepara el camino en el Evangelio de hoy, es el rey justo profetizado en la primera lectura y en el salmo de este día. Él es el hijo del rey, el hijo de David, un retoño del tronco de Jesé—el padre de David (cf. Rt 4,17).

Él será el Mesías ungido con el Espíritu Santo (cf. 2 S 23,1; 1 R 1,39; Sal 2,2), dotado con sus siete dones: sabiduría, entendimiento, consejo, fortaleza, ciencia, piedad y temor de Dios.

Gobernará con justicia, salvando a los pobres de los malvados y despiadados. Su reinado no se limitará a Israel, sino que se extenderá de mar a mar, hasta los confines de la tierra. Será una luz, una señal para todas las naciones. Y ellas lo buscarán y le rendirán homenaje.

Todas las tribus de la tierra encontrarán bendición en Él. La alianza prometida a Abraham (cf. Gn 12,3), renovada en el juramento de Dios a David (cf. Sal 89,4.28), se cumplirá en su dinastía. Y su nombre será bendito por siempre.

En Cristo, Dios confirma el juramento que hizo a los patriarcas de Israel, nos dice San Pablo en su epístola de hoy. Pero las promesas de Dios ya no están reservadas únicamente para los hijos de Abraham. También los gentiles glorificarán a Dios por su misericordia. Ellos, que alguna vez fueron extranjeros, en Cristo serán incluidos en “las alianzas de la promesa” (Ef 2,12).

Juan da ese mismo mensaje en el Evangelio. Antes el pueblo escogido de Dios fue extraído de la roca de Abraham (cf. Is 51,1–2). Ahora Dios levantará piedras vivas (cf. 1 P 2,5): hijos de Abraham nacidos no de la carne ni de la sangre, sino del Espíritu.

Este es el significado del ardiente bautismo que Él nos trae y nos hace herederos reales del reino de los cielos: la Iglesia.

Readings:
Isaiah 11:1–10
Psalm 72:1–2, 7–8, 12–13, 17
Romans 15:4–9
Matthew 3:1–12

“The kingdom of heaven is at hand,” John proclaims. And the Liturgy today paints us a vivid portrait of our new king and the shape of the kingdom He has come to bring.

The Lord whom John prepares the way for in today’s Gospel is the righteous king prophesied in today’s First Reading and Psalm. He is the king’s son, the son of David—a shoot from the root of Jesse, David’s father (see Ruth 4:17).

He will be the Messiah, anointed with the Holy Spirit (see 2 Samuel 23:1; 1 Kings 1:39; Psalm 2:2), endowed with the seven gifts of the Spirit—wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.

He will rule with justice, saving the poor from the ruthless and wicked. His rule will be not only over Israel—but will extend from sea to sea, to the ends of the earth. He will be a light, a signal to all nations. And they will seek Him and pay Him homage.

In Him, all the tribes of the earth will find blessing. The covenant promise to Abraham (see Genesis 12:3), renewed in God’s oath to David (see Psalm 89:4,28), will be fulfilled in His dynasty. And His name will be blessed forever.

In Christ, God confirms His oath to Israel’s patriarchs, Paul tells us in today’s Epistle. But no longer are God’s promises reserved solely for the children of Abraham. The Gentiles, too, will glorify God for His mercy. Once strangers, in Christ they will be included in “the covenants of promise” (see Ephesians 2:12).

John delivers this same message in the Gospel. Once God’s chosen people were hewn from the rock of Abraham (see Isaiah 51:1–2). Now, God will raise up living stones (see 1 Peter 2:5)—children of Abraham born not of flesh and blood but of the Spirit.

This is the meaning of the fiery baptism He brings—making us royal heirs of the kingdom of heaven, the Church.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Francis Xavier by Mr. Clement Harrold.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the First Week of Advent by Dr. John Bergsma.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the First Week of Advent by Ms. Joan Watson.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Feast of St. Andrew by Dr. John Bergsma.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the First Week of Advent by Dr. Shane Owens.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Monday of the First Week of Advent by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Readings:
Isaiah 2:1–5
Psalm 122:1–9
Romans 13:11–14
Matthew 24:37–44

Jesus exaggerates in today’s Gospel when He claims not to know the day or the hour when He will come again. Christ occasionally makes such overstatements to drive home a point we might otherwise miss (see Matthew 5:34; 23:9; Luke 14:26).

His point here is that the exact “hour” is not important. What is crucial is that we not postpone our repentance, that we be ready for Him—spiritually and morally—when He comes. For He will surely come, He tells us—like a thief in the night, like the flood in the time of Noah.

In today’s Epistle, Paul too compares the present age to a time of advancing darkness and night.

Though we sit in the darkness, overshadowed by death, we have seen arise the great light of our Lord who has come into our midst (see Matthew 4:16; John 1:9; 8:12). He is the true light, the life of the world. And His light continues to shine in His Church, the new Jerusalem promised by Isaiah in today’s First Reading.

In the Church, all nations stream to the God of Jacob, to worship and seek wisdom in the House of David. From the Church goes forth His word of instruction, the light of the Lord—that all might walk in His paths toward that eternal day when night will be no more (see Revelation 22:5).

By our Baptism we have been made children of the light and day (see Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5–7). It is time we start living like it: throwing off the fruitless works of darkness, rejecting the desires of the flesh, and walking by the light of His grace.

The hour is late as we begin a new Advent. Let us begin again in this Eucharist.

As we sing in today’s Psalm, “let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” Let us give thanks to His name, keeping watch for His coming, knowing that our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.