Letters From Home

Readings:
Sirach 3:2–6, 12–14
Psalm 128:1–5
Colossians 3:12–21
Luke 2:41–52

Why did Jesus choose to become a baby born of a mother and father and to spend all but His last years living in an ordinary human family? In part, to reveal God’s plan to make all people live as one “holy family” in His Church (see 2 Corinthians 6:16–18).

In the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, God reveals our true home. We’re to live as His children, “chosen ones, holy and beloved,” as the First Reading puts it.

The family advice we hear in today’s readings—for mothers, fathers, and children—is all solid and practical. Happy homes are the fruit of our faithfulness to the Lord, we sing in today’s Psalm. But the Liturgy is inviting us to see more, to see how, through our family obligations and relationships, our families become heralds of the family of God that He wants to create on earth.

Jesus shows us this in today’s Gospel. His obedience to His earthly parents flows directly from His obedience to the will of His heavenly Father. Joseph and Mary aren’t identified by name, but three times are called “his parents” and are referred to separately as his “mother” and “father.” The emphasis is all on their familial ties to Jesus. But these ties are emphasized only so that Jesus, in the first words He speaks in Luke’s Gospel, can point us beyond that earthly relationship to the Fatherhood of God.

In what Jesus calls “my Father’s house,” every family finds its true meaning and purpose (see Ephesians 3:15). The Temple we read about in the Gospel today is God’s house, His dwelling (see Luke 19:46). But it’s also an image of the family of God, the Church (see Ephesians 2:19–22; Hebrews 3:3–6; 10:21).

In our families we’re to build up this household, this family, this living temple of God—until He reveals His new dwelling among us and says of every person: “I shall be his God and he will be my son” (see Revelation 21:3, 7).

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) 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 Fourth Week of Advent (Christmas Eve) by Dr. John Bergsma.

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

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent by Mr. Rob Corzine.

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

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Lecturas:
Miqueas 5, 1-4
Salmo 80, 2-3,15-16,18-19
Hebreos 5, 5-10
Lucas 1, 39-45

En este último domingo antes de Navidad, la liturgia de la Iglesia revela la verdadera identidad de nuestro Redentor: Él es, como dice la primera lectura, el gobernador…cuyos orígenes son antiguos, desde tiempos remotos. Ha de salir de Belén, donde nació David, hijo de Jesé el de Efrata, y fue ungido rey (cfr. Rt 4, 11-17; 1S 16, 1-13; 17.1; Mt 2,6).

Dios prometió que un heredero de David iba a reinar sobre su trono para siempre (cfr. 2S 7, 12-13; Sal 89; Sal 132, 11-12).

Jesús es ese heredero, de quien los profetas prometieron que restauraría a las tribus extraviadas de Israel para constituirlas un nuevo reino (cfr. Is 9,5-6; Ez 34,23-25.30; 37, 35). Él es el “pastor de Israel”, sobre quien canta el salmo de hoy. Su trono está en el cielo y ha venido a salvarnos.

La epístola de este domingo nos dice que Él es, a la vez, Hijo de David y el Hijo único de Dios, que vino “en la carne” (cfr. Sal 2,7). Él es también nuestro “sumo sacerdote”, de la orden del misterioso Melquisedec, “sacerdote de Dios Altísimo”, quien bendijo a Abraham en los albores de la historia de la salvación (cfr. Sal 110, 4; Gn 14, 18-20).

Todo esto es reconocido por Juan cuando salta de gozo en el vientre de su madre. También Isabel, también, se llena de alegría y del Espíritu Santo. Ella reconoce que, en María, la madre del Señor le ha venido a ver. Escuchamos en sus palabras otro eco del salmo citado en la epístola de este domingo (Sal 2,7). Isabel bendice a Maria por haber tenido fe en que la Palabra de Dios se cumpliría en ella.

María representa el cumplimiento, no sólo de la promesa del ángel, sino de todas las promesas de Dios en el transcurso de la historia. Dará a luz esta semana, en la Navidad. Y el fruto de su vientre debe traernos gozo, porque ella es la Madre de Nuestro Señor.

Readings:
Micah 5:1–4
Psalm 80:2–3, 15–16, 18–19
Hebrews 5:5–10
Luke 1:39–45

On this last Sunday before Christmas, the Church’s Liturgy reveals the true identity of our Redeemer:

He is, as today’s First Reading says, the “ruler . . . whose origin is from . . . ancient times.” He will come from Bethlehem, where David was born of Jesse the Ephrathite and anointed king (see Ruth 4:11–17; 1 Samuel 16:1–13; 17:1; Matthew 2:6).

God promised that an heir of David would reign on his throne forever (see 2 Samuel 7:12–13; Psalm 89; Psalm 132:11–12).

Jesus is that heir, the One the prophets promised would restore the scattered tribes of Israel into a new kingdom (see Isaiah 9:5–6; Ezekiel 34:23–25, 30; 37:35). He is “the shepherd of Israel” sung of in today’s Psalm. From His throne in heaven, He has “come to save us.”

Today’s Epistle tells us that He is both the Son of David and the only “begotten” Son of God, come “in the flesh” (see also Psalm 2:7). He is also our “high priest,” from the mold of the mysterious Melchizedek, “priest of God Most High,” who blessed Abraham at the dawn of salvation history (see Psalm 110:4; Genesis 14:18–20).

All this is recognized by John when he leaps for joy in his mother’s womb. Elizabeth, too, is filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. She recognizes that in Mary “the mother of my Lord” has come to her. We hear in her words another echo of the Psalm quoted in today’s Epistle (see Psalm 2:7). Elizabeth blesses Mary for her faith that God’s Word would be fulfilled in her.

Mary marks the fulfillment not only of the angel’s promise to her, but of all God’s promises down through history. Mary is the one they await in today’s First Reading—“she who is to give birth.” She will give birth this week, at Christmas. And the fruit of her womb should bring us joy—she is the mother of our Lord.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday of the Third Week of Advent by Mr. Clement Harrold.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com