Category: Liturgy
Two simple rules for the Mass
There remains no sacrifice for sins, for those who miss the Mass
FRED May 27, 2015 at 6:53 am
For those interested in the truth of the early church and how they meticulously maintained their categories , seeTim Kauffmans blog and one fold blog. ….
For those interested in the truth, that’s the last place they should go. If you’re interested in the truth of the early Church, go to staycatholic.com
Hebrews is clear and cannot be refuted,
That is true. Keep reading.
Hebrews 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Oh look! A description of baptism which says that when we are washed with pure water we are actually washed in Christ’s blood.
But I actually wanted to show you what follows:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together
We call that the Mass. He says, don’t neglect to meet together for the Mass. Why? He’ll tell us next.
as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Because neglecting to meet together for the Mass is the same thing as rejecting Christ’s sacrifice. It amounts to a deliberate sin against Christ.
This is why missing the Mass is considered a mortal sin in the Catholic Church. Now, you see that you reject the Mass, wilfully and therefore, can you be saved? It is a very grave sin.
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Those who miss the Mass are considered God’s enemies.
28 A man who refused to obey the laws given by Moses was killed without mercy if there were two or three witnesses to his sin. 29 Think how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who have trampled underfoot the Son of God and treated his cleansing blood as though it were common and unhallowed,
Why is missing the Mass considered to be a trampling underfoot of the Son of God? Why is it considered to be an insult to the cleansing blood of Christ?
Let’s cross reference with 1 Cor 11:27 So if anyone eats this bread and drinks from this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, he is guilty of sin against the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 That is why a man should examine himself carefully before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. 29 For if he eats the bread and drinks from the cup unworthily, not thinking about the body of Christ and what it means, he is eating and drinking God’s judgment upon himself; for he is trifling with the death of Christ. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick, and some have even died.
and insulted and outraged the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to his people.
It is such a wicked sin that St. Paul equates it with the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit:
Mark 3:28 “I solemnly declare that any sin of man can be forgiven, even blasphemy against me; 29 but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven. It is an eternal sin.”
This one convicts you of blasphemy, Buckeee.
30 For we know him who said, “Justice belongs to me; I will repay them”; who also said, “The Lord himself will handle these cases.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Mhm. Yep. The bible convicts you and all Protestants. The Bible Teaches Catholic Doctrine.
He offered himself once and it put sin away. Hebrews 10:18 ” There remains NO more sacrifices for sin.”
Because the only sacrifice for sin is in the Mass. And you reject the Mass, thereby trampling underfoot the Body of Christ which was sacrificed for your sins and insulting the Blood of Christ which was shed for you. Thus, you blaspheme the Holy Spirit of God which pours out His grace to all who partake of the Holy Eucharist with faith.
Against the Romish church and it’s idolatry of transubstantiation , an invention of the human brain. Let Him off the cross Catholics, HE IS RISEN!!!!!!! K
Again, you have not understood the Teaching of the Scripture:
1 Corinthians 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
Yeah, unbelievers, like yourself, don’t understand that Christ died for us to be saved. Therefore, we don’t take Christ off the Cross. We join Him upon it:
Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Yeah, we obey Christ.
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
We take up our Cross and follow Him:
Matthew 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
In order that we may find merit in His eyes and be saved. And you don’t. What do the words, “worthy of me” mean, Fred?
Why the Mass is important, according to Scripture
I recently argued with an anti-Catholic who considers the Eucharist a hoax and blasphemous idol worship. Here’s how the conversation went. Response to Ed #818 in the Immaculate Conception in Scripture:
ED SAYS, “The word sacrifice shouldn’t be mentioned with the breaking of bread which you call the Eucharist.
It is the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving which Melchizedek prefigured many centuries prior:
Genesis 14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
Genesis 31:54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
Leviticus 7:12 If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.
The living Bible in (1Cor.10:14-16) states, “So, dear friends, carefully avoid idol-worship of every kind” Which is what you are doing when you make the Host an idol and place it into a monstrance and genuflect to it.
Read further:
15 You are intelligent people. Look now and see for yourselves whether what I am about to say is true. 16 When we ask the Lord’s blessing upon our drinking from the cup of wine at the Lord’s Table, this means, doesn’t it, that all who drink it are sharing together the blessing of Christ’s blood? And when we break off pieces of the bread from the loaf to eat there together, this shows that we are sharing together in the benefits of his body. 17 No matter how many of us there are, we all eat from the same loaf, showing that we are all parts of the one body of Christ. 18 And the Jewish people, all who eat the sacrifices, are united by that act.
19 What am I trying to say? Am I saying that the idols to whom the heathen bring sacrifices are really alive and are real gods, and that these sacrifices are of some value? No, not at all. 20 What I am saying is that those who offer food to these idols are united together in sacrificing to demons, certainly not to God. And I don’t want any of you to be partners with demons when you eat the same food, along with the heathen, that has been offered to these idols. 21 You cannot drink from the cup at the Lord’s Table and at Satan’s table, too. You cannot eat bread both at the Lord’s Table and at Satan’s table.
St. Paul is distinguishing between the idol worship of the pagans and the true worship of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church.
The 2nd Commandment prohibits idols and bowing down to them.
True.
v16 “When we ask the Lord’s blessing upon our drinking from the cup of wine at the Lord’s table, this means, doesn’t it, that all who dink it are sharing together the blessing of Christ’s Blood? And when we break off pieces of the bread from the loaf to eat there together, this shows that we are sharing together in the benefits of His body.”
Read further:
23 You are certainly free to eat food offered to idols if you want to; it’s not against God’s laws to eat such meat, but that doesn’t mean that you should go ahead and do it.
Nothing will happen to you, good or bad, if you eat the meat offered to idols. But now keep reading:
23 For this is what the Lord himself has said about his Table, and I have passed it on to you before: That on the night when Judas betrayed him, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks to God for it, he broke it and gave it to his disciples and said, “Take this and eat it. This is my body, which is given[e] for you. Do this to remember me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new agreement between God and you that has been established and set in motion by my blood. Do this in remembrance of me whenever you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you are retelling the message of the Lord’s death, that he has died for you. Do this until he comes again.
27 So if anyone eats this bread and drinks from this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, he is guilty of sin against the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 That is why a man should examine himself carefully before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. 29 For if he eats the bread and drinks from the cup unworthily, not thinking about the body of Christ and what it means, he is eating and drinking God’s judgment upon himself; for he is trifling with the death of Christ.
If the bread and cup were mere idol worship, nothing would happen to us. That is according to the Teaching of Scripture. But it is the true Body and true Blood of Christ. Those who partake of this Sacrament but do not believe in it, will die because they have blasphemed the Body of Christ and the Blood which sanctified them.
But, now, what will happen to those, who like all Protestants, refuse to partake even in the celebration of the Eucharist? Let’s go to another book for that answer:
Hebrews 10:21 And since this great High Priest of ours rules over God’s household, 22 let us go right in to God himself, with true hearts fully trusting him to receive us because we have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean and because our bodies have been washed with pure water.
Oh look! A description of baptism which says that when we are washed with pure water we are actually washed in Christ’s blood. Hm. I’d better file this one in my memory banks.
But I actually wanted to show you what follows:
25 Let us not neglect our church meetings,
We call that the Mass. He says, don’t neglect to meet together for the Mass. Why? He’ll tell us next.
as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.
26 If anyone sins deliberately by rejecting the Savior after knowing the truth of forgiveness, this sin is not covered by Christ’s death; there is no way to get rid of it.
Because neglecting to meet together for the Mass is the same thing as rejecting Christ’s sacrifice. It amounts to a deliberate sin against Christ.
This is why missing the Mass is considered a mortal sin in the Catholic Church. Now, you see that you reject the Mass, wilfully and therefore, can you be saved? It is a very grave sin.
27 There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible punishment of God’s awful anger, which will consume all his enemies.
Those who miss the Mass are considered God’s enemies.
28 A man who refused to obey the laws given by Moses was killed without mercy if there were two or three witnesses to his sin. 29 Think how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who have trampled underfoot the Son of God and treated his cleansing blood as though it were common and unhallowed,
Why is missing the Mass considered to be a trampling underfoot of the Son of God? Why is it considered to be an insult to the cleansing blood of Christ?
Let’s go back to 1 Cor 11:27 So if anyone eats this bread and drinks from this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, he is guilty of sin against the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 That is why a man should examine himself carefully before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. 29 For if he eats the bread and drinks from the cup unworthily, not thinking about the body of Christ and what it means, he is eating and drinking God’s judgment upon himself; for he is trifling with the death of Christ. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick, and some have even died.
and insulted and outraged the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to his people.
It is such a wicked sin that St. Paul equates it with the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit:
Mark 3:28 “I solemnly declare that any sin of man can be forgiven, even blasphemy against me; 29 but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven. It is an eternal sin.”
You might want to go search for another Bible that doesn’t teach Catholic Doctrine, Bucky. This one convicts you of blasphemy.
30 For we know him who said, “Justice belongs to me; I will repay them”; who also said, “The Lord himself will handle these cases.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Mhm. Yep. This bible convicts you and all Protestants. Maybe you can find another more to your liking. One that Protestants have totally rewritten to mean something totally different than what Christ teaches. This one Teaches Catholic Doctrine.
January 4, 2015 – The Epiphany of the Lord
We continue in the book of Isaiah. He prophesies of the forgiveness and mercy of God.
Reading 1 IS 60:1-6
Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.
God has forgiven Jerusalem their iniquities and shown mercy upon them. He has freed them from the oppression of the Gentiles. Therefore, Isaiah is prophesying the good news to the Jews. It is both, the good news of their liberation from the Babylonians. And the good news of the coming of the Messiah.
Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
This is prophetic in more than one way. Our heart shall throb because God will write His commandments in our heart and give us a heart of flesh to replace our heart of stone. And overflow because God shall pour the grace of the Holy Spirit into our hearts when we are born again in Baptism. Now, the Latin word for “sea” is “mar” and Mary’s womb shall be emptied out when she brings for the Messiah.
The wealth of the nations is the Pearl of great price and His name is Jesus Christ, who shall be made manifest, the mystery which has been kept secret from of Old.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
This, of course, prophecies the coming of the Three Kings or Magi from the Orient. But it is a veiled prophecy of the inclusion of the Gentiles, who will, in the New Testament times, convert in great numbers when the Gospel is proclaimed to them.
Acts 13:46 (NABRE)
46 Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
Responsorial Psalm PS 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13.
R. (cf. 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
This prefigures the coming of the Gentiles into covenant with God in the New Testament era.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
This speaks of King Solomon, who was given wisdom to judge the people of God. His wisdom was such that no other man before or since could compare. But, Jesus Christ, the Son of David, was prefigured by King Solomon. Jesus Christ is Wisdom Itself, because He is the Word of God made flesh.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
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.
Solomon’s rule was great. But it was nothing compared to the worldwide rule of the Catholic Church through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.
Today, there is hardly a nation upon this earth that does not have a representative of the Catholic Church within its borders, worshipping Jesus Christ.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
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.
This is so hard for me to understand. Because I still see so many poor and helpless who are crying out for God and yet are still suffering on this earth. But I am comforted by the fact that Scripture says that those who suffer are sons of God and only through suffering will we receive the inheritance of the glory of God with Jesus Christ, who suffered and died upon the Cross to give us an example to follow.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Reading 2 EPH 3:2-3A, 5-6
Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
What is this mystery of which St. Paul so often speaks? It is the mystery of the revelation of Christ. The mystery that Christ is hidden in the Old Testament and revealed in the New. The mystery that all humankind is called to live the Commandments and do the will of God. The mystery that we are, all humankind, united in Christ.
Alleluia MT 2:2
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Have you ever wondered, “what is this star?”, that the Three Magi saw? It is one of those mysteries. It is the “Rising Star.” It is the “Light of the Nations.”
Isaiah 42:6 I, the Lord, have called you for justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,
2 Peter 1:19 Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
This Rising Star is Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit informed Three Magi that He was soon to be born and in the form of a star, led them to His birthplace.
Gospel MT 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
The Three Kings or Magi, were Gentiles. Yet, the Holy Spirit had informed them of the coming of the Messiah, the King of the Jews, and they were the first Gentiles to give Him worship.
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
King Herod was troubled because that newborn King was His competition. Jerusalem was troubled because the Jews were awaiting the coming of the Messiah which was prophecied in the Old Testament.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
King Herod knew the customs of the Jews and had heard of the Messiah. So, he got the Jewish leaders together and found out where they expected the King of the Jews to be born. And they informed him that it was prophecied it would be Bethlehem. The city of Bread.
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
So, Herod found the Three Magi and tried to use them to find the newborn King.
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
And the Star which they had been following, rose again and led them to the place where the Messiah was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They were very happy. And they entered the place and saw the newborn King with His mother, Mary.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.
They worshipped Him and gave Him gifts. But they did not return to Herod, as they had promised, because they had been warned, in a dream, that he meant to do harm to the child. So, they departed in secret by another way.
January 1, 2015 Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
The Octave Day of Christmas
Scripture proclaims Mary the Mother of God:
Luke 1:43
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
And so she is. She is the mother of Jesus. Jesus is God. Therefore, she is the Mother of God.
Read more about the Mother of God. And more.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me…eight maids a milking.
The eight maids a milking symbolize the eight beatitudes of Jesus Christ. The beatitudes come from the heart of the Church which is the bride of Christ.
Isaiah 66:10-12
King James Version (KJV)
10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
12 For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
Lectionary: 18
Reading 1 from the Holy Book of Numbers
Nm 6:22-27
The LORD said to Moses:
“Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:
This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites,
and I will bless them.”
The Lord recited a prayer to Moses and instructed him to teach it to Aaron and his sons. Who is Aaron? Aaron is Moses’ elder brother. He is the first High Priest of God, appointed by God. Both Moses and Aaron are from the tribe of Levi.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
R. (2a) May God bless us in his mercy.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
On this day, we must understand, that the blessing of God, came to us through Mary, the Mother of God. The blessing of God, is God made man, Jesus Christ.
Reading 2 from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galations.
Gal 4:4-7
Brothers and sisters:When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,born of a woman, born under the law,to ransom those under the law,so that we might receive adoption as sons.
The key words I focus upon, on this day, are BORN OF A WOMAN. And what a woman! Conceived without sin, united to the Holy Spirit from the moment of her conception. Lived her entire life without committing a sin.
We received the blessing of God, through this wonderful woman.
As proof that you are sons,
God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying out, “Abba, Father!”
So you are no longer a slave but a son,
and if a son then also an heir, through God.
We are sons of God. Born of the same mother. Mary is the mother of all who keep the testimony of Jesus Christ and the Commandments of the Father.
Revelation 12:17
King James Version (KJV)
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Alleluia HEB 1:1-2
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke
Lk 2:16-21
The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
Having heard the message of the Angels, the shepherds hurried to witness the heavenly news they had received.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
When the shepherds arrived, they reported what the Angels from heaven had told them.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
And Mary treasured all this information in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.
Then the shepherds returned to their fields, praising God for all they had heard and seen that night.
When eight days were completed for his circumcision,
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.
And in eight days, the family took the child to the Temple in obedience to the Law of Moses.
December 25, 2014 – Christmas Mass during the Day
Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Lectionary: 16
Reading 1 IS 52:7-10
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings glad tidings,
announcing peace, bearing good news,
announcing salvation, and saying to Zion,
“Your God is King!”
Hark! Your sentinels raise a cry,
together they shout for joy,
for they see directly, before their eyes,
the LORD restoring Zion.
Break out together in song,
O ruins of Jerusalem!
For the LORD comforts his people,
he redeems Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations;
all the ends of the earth will behold
the salvation of our God.
Jesus Christ is the King of Kings. God has made himself visible to his people. He has come to save all who were lost.
Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6
R. (3c) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
his right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The Catholic Church has taught the saving power of Jesus Christ throughout the world. It is by the faith of the saints who preceded us that the gospel has been preached to alter world. We owe them a great debt.
Reading 2 HEB 1:1-6
Brothers and sisters:
In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways
to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son,
whom he made heir of all things
and through whom he created the universe,
who is the refulgence of his glory,
the very imprint of his being,
and who sustains all things by his mighty word.
Christ is the image of God. He is God in the flesh.
When he had accomplished purification from sins,
When he had established the sacraments. When he had established the sacraments. When he had shed his blood upon the cross for the forgiveness of sins, he established the sacraments to which the grace which he released by his death upon the cross is applied to the faithful.
he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
as far superior to the angels
as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
And then he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.
For to which of the angels did God ever say:
You are my son; this day I have begotten you?
Or again:
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me?
And again, when he leads the firstborn into the world, he says:
Let all the angels of God worship him.
And he takes his place upon the throne at the right hand of the Father. Let all creation worship him.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A holy day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.
For today a great light has come upon the earth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel JN 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
Jesus is the Word. And from eternity he is at the right hand of the Father. Because Jesus is God, the second person of the holy Trinity.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
All things were created through Christ. He is he in whom we live, move, and have our existence.
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
Christ is life. He gave us our human life. And extends to us the hope of eternal life.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.
St. John the Baptist announced into the world the coming of the Savior. But the world rejected their Savior.
But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but of God.
But some in the world, we ejected the world, and accepted Jesus Christ. These are they who were born again of the Spirit in the sacrament of baptism.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and cried out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said,
‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him.
The law was given to Moses for our benefit. The sacraments were given to Jesus for our benefit. It is two sacraments there we receive the grace of eternal life.
No need for further commentary on the alternate reading which follows.
Or JN 1:1-5, 9-14
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but of God.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
December 25, 2014 – Mass at Dawn
Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Lectionary: 15
Reading 1 IS 62:11-12
See, the LORD proclaims
to the ends of the earth:
say to daughter Zion,
your savior comes!
Daughter Zion is a reference to Jerusalem. And Isaiah is prophesying to Jerusalem the coming of the Savior.
Here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.
There is a reference to the end times, when Jesus Christ will come in power to judge the living and the dead (Rev 22:12-15).
They shall be called the holy people,
the redeemed of the LORD,
and you shall be called “Frequented,”
a city that is not forsaken.
At that time, the elect of Christ will be gathered in the heavenly Jerusalem.
Responsorial Psalm PS 97:1, 6, 11-12
R. A light will shine on us this day: the Lord is born for us.
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. A light will shine on us this day: the Lord is born for us.
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. A light will shine on us this day: the Lord is born for us.
Alleluia! The King of Kings is born! Let all creation rejoice!
Reading 2 TI 3:4-7
Beloved:
When the kindness and generous love
of God our savior appeared,
not because of any righteous deeds we had done
but because of his mercy,
This, is what St. Paul is talking about when he says that it came about without all works. It being our justification through Christ. God, our Savior, took flesh and became man to save us from our sins. There is no work that any man could do to bring this about.
He saved us through the bath of rebirth
and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
whom he richly poured out on us
through Jesus Christ our savior,
so that we might be justified by his grace
and become heirs in hope of eternal life.
And this, is what St. Paul is talking about when he says that we are justified by grace. He is talking about the sacraments. Especially, in this verse where he mentions the “bath of rebirth”, which is a euphemism for “baptism”. When we present ourselves for baptism, we ask God for his grace out upon us. And we do so in a proper disposition of faith alone. There is nothing that we can do to wash our souls. God alone cleanses us of sin in the sacrament of baptism. It is his work
Alleluia LK 2:14
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to those
on whom his favor rests.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 2:15-20
When the angels went away from them to heaven,
the shepherds said to one another,
“Let us go, then, to Bethlehem
to see this thing that has taken place,
which the Lord has made known to us.”
So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.
God our Savior took upon himself our flesh. This is what the shepherds saw. This is what the shepherds announced to the world.
December 25, 2014 – Mass at Night, Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Reading 1 IS 9:1-6
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
This is a very deep verse which has many spiritual meanings. The people walked in darkness could be the misbehaving Jews which God had punished the time of Isaiah. It could also be sinners who have repented. Or it could be the Gentiles who had seen the son of God in the time of Jesus.
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
Similarly, the land of gloom could be the land of the Gentiles where the Jews were punished and exiled.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
The harvest could be a reference to the harvest at the end of time. When God will harvest the souls of the righteous. And destroy the souls of the wicked. Or, it could be a reference to the joy which people have when they harvest their crops.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
The yoke which burdened them could be a reference to Satan’s oppression. Or it could be a reference to the Babylonians enslavement of the Jews where they were exiled by God.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for flames.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!
This of course, is a very famous prophecy of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Responsorial Psalm PS 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13
R. (Lk 2:11) Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
They shall exult before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Joy to the world the Lord is come. Let Earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare him room. Joy to the world!
Reading 2 TI 2:11-14
Beloved:
The grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires
and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,
as we await the blessed hope,
the appearance of the glory of our great God
and savior Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness
and to cleanse for himself a people as his own,
eager to do what is good.
This is probably the best summary of the Gospel. Jesus Christ did not die on the cross in order that we would continue to live in our same sinful ways. Jesus Christ died for all in order that those who live would turn to him who died for us.
Alleluia LK 2:10-11
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I proclaim to you good news of great joy:
today a Savior is born for us,
Christ the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 2:1-14
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment,
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth
to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there,
the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields
and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
December 25, 2014 | Vigil Mass The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
The Vigil Mass is held on the night before Christmas. It is the evening Mass celebrated on December 24th between 4pm and midnight.
Reading 1 IS 62:1-5
For Zion’s sake I will not be silent,
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
until her vindication shines forth like the dawn
and her victory like a burning torch.
Zion and Jerusalem are the same thing. Zion stands for Mount Zion which is right outside of Jerusalem. Therefore, Isaiah is saying that he will speak out until Jerusalem is saved.
Nations shall behold your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
you shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of the LORD.
The new name for Jerusalem is the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is the new Jerusalem, the bride of Christ, the body of Christ. The whole world has seen the Catholic Church because she is active in spreading the word of Christ throughout the world.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD,
a royal diadem held by your God.
No more shall people call you “Forsaken,”
or your land “Desolate,”
but you shall be called “My Delight,”
and your land “Espoused.”
For the LORD delights in you
and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin,
your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
so shall your God rejoice in you.
I think it is more beautifully stated in
Ephesians chapter 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Responsorial Psalm PS 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29
R. (2a) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
He shall say of me, “You are my father,
my God, the rock, my savior.”
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
We are sons in the Son. We call God, “Abba, Father”. Therefore let us always sing the goodness of the Lord sent his only begotten son to sacrifice himself so we may be united to him.It’s
Reading 2 ACTS 13:16-17, 22-25
When Paul reached Antioch in Pisidia and entered the synagogue,
he stood up, motioned with his hand, and said,
“Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing, listen.
The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors
and exalted the people during their sojourn in the
land of Egypt.
With uplifted arm he led them out of it.
Then he removed Saul and raised up David as king;
of him he testified,
‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.’
From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’”
St. Paul recalled the salvation history of the Jews. He recalled the salvation of the Jews from the captivity of Egypt. And we called the time of Saul being replaced by David. And recalled the promise which God made to David. And then he recalled the coming of Christ, the son of David.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Tomorrow the wickedness of the earth will be destroyed:
the Savior of the world will reign over us.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT 1:1-25
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ,
the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham became the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah,
whose mother was Tamar.
Perez became the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab.
Amminadab became the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz,
whose mother was Rahab.
Boaz became the father of Obed,
whose mother was Ruth.
Obed became the father of Jesse,
Jesse the father of David the king.
David became the father of Solomon,
whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.
Solomon became the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asaph.
Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,
Joram the father of Uzziah.
Uzziah became the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amos,
Amos the father of Josiah.
Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers
at the time of the Babylonian exile.
After the Babylonian exile,
Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel the father of Abiud.
Abiud became the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
Azor the father of Zadok.
Zadok became the father of Achim,
Achim the father of Eliud,
Eliud the father of Eleazar.
Eleazar became the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Thus the total number of generations
from Abraham to David
is fourteen generations;
from David to the Babylonian exile,
fourteen generations;
from the Babylonian exile to the Christ,
fourteen generations.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.
St. Joseph did not know how the Virgin Mary had become pregnant. So he had decided to divorce her quietly. But Angel of God came to him in a dream informed him that the child which would be born would be the son of God.
The alternate gospel is a subset of the first. No commentary necessary.
Or MT 1:18-25
Or MT 1:18-25
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe – December 12, 2014
Reading 1 ZEC 2:14-17
Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
O daughter Zion, is a veiled reference to the faithful Woman who would bear the Christ child. Mary is an image of the immaculate and faithful Zion (i.e. nation of Israel). Zion is a mountain near Jerusalem which is frequently used as a symbol of Israel.
Is that confusing?
1. Jesus was born of Mary. He descended from her.
2. Jesus was born from Zion, He descended from the Jews. Mary was a Jewish woman.
3. Mary is the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God.
4. Israel is frequently depicted as a woman and as the spouse of God.
5. Although Zion is frequently depicted as unfaithful, she is also depicted as being purified by God and saved in the end.
This verse then, prophecies the coming of the faithful Woman, Mary. And indirectly the coming of Christ.
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day,
and they shall be his people,
and he will dwell among you,
and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
The LORD will possess Judah as his portion in the holy land,
and he will again choose Jerusalem.Now the coming of Christ is prophecied and the redemption of the Gentiles also.
Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the LORD!For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling.
And the whole world is warned that it is time to focus on the Lord. For He has done a new thing upon the earth. God walks among His people.
Or RV 11:19A; 12:1-6A, 10AB
God’s temple in heaven was opened,
and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.The Ark of the Covenant is a pre-figuring of the Mother of God. Why?
1. The Ark of the Covenant contained the Manna or the Bread of Heaven.
Mary contained, in her womb, Jesus the True Bread of Heaven.
2. The Ark of the Covenant contained staff of Aaron which symbolized the Asronic His Priesthood.
Mary contained, in her womb, the eternal High Priest, Jesus.
3. The Ark of the Covenant contained the Word of God carved by the finger of God into stone tablets.
Mary contained, in her womb, the Word of God made flesh.
That is why Mary is called the Ark of the New Covenant.
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.
This is the sign which was given to St. Juan Diego. Along with the Shroud, the Mantle of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a powerful sign given us by God.
It also confirms the doctrines of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the Crowning of the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and the Virgin Mary as Mother of God.
Then another sign appeared in the sky;
it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,
and on its heads were seven diadems.
Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky
and hurled them down to the earth.This dragon is Satan, who is attempting to kill the Christ.
Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth,
to devour her child when she gave birth.
She gave birth to a son, a male child,
destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.
Her child was caught up to God and his throne.Jesus, although He was killed on the Cross, overcame death and was ascended into heaven.
The woman herself fled into the desert
where she had a place prepared by God.In his prophetic way of speaking, St. John goes back and forth in time. Here he mentions the evacuation of Mary with Jesus and Joseph to the desert of Egypt. Egypt is a desert literally speaking and spiritually, because it was a land of gentiles where God was not recognized.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.”And when the Dragon was defeated, the voice of an Angel rang out in heaven to declare the victory.
Responsorial Psalm JDT 13:18BCDE, 19
R. (15:9d) You are the highest honor of our race.
Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God,
above all the women on earth;
and blessed be the LORD God,
the creator of heaven and earth.
R. You are the highest honor of our race.
Your deed of hope will never be forgotten
by those who tell of the might of God.
R. You are the highest honor of our race.
Judith is a book about a woman of the Old Testament who overcame an evil King and saved her people. She is another woman who is declared to be blessed in the Bible. The other, is the Virgin Mary as you shall read below. There is so much that we can learn from this section of the Gospel and I’ve written about it before. So, rather than do it again, I’ll refer you to that article, here.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise;
from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
God sent an Angel to praise Mary.
Let’s break this down:
ANGEL GABRIEL
1. an angel is a messenger of God. That is what the word, angel, means.
2. this angel, Gabriel, is one of the four angels that stands before the throne of God.
WAS SENT FROM GOD
1. God sent this angel to Mary.
2. Since this angel is a messenger of God’s, God sent Him to deliver a message.
3. Therefore, the angel was not speaking on his own, but was communicating God’s message to Mary.
4. If we skip down to verse 28, we see that this was a message of praise (i.e. blessed art thou).
5. Therefore God praised Mary through His Angel.
That is great praise indeed. Do you know of any man whose praise is worth more than God’s? In other words, what do you value more highly, the praise of man or the praise of God?
But, there’s more. God sent the Angel to do His Will. What is His Will. Obviously, God sent the Angel to deliver a message of praise. Therefore it is God’s will that the Angels praise Mary.
And there’s yet more. Because the Holy Spirit inspired a holy woman to exclaim, “”Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ”
Or LK 1:39-47
Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”
God, speaking through His Saint, praises Mary.
1. The Holy Spirit is God the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.
2. Therefore, God inspired Elisabeth to praise Mary.
3. This praise is inscribed in the Word of God for all generations.
4. Since Elisabeth is a member of the human race, then it is safe to conclude that God wills that men praise Mary.
5. And we find, again, that God praised Mary through His Saint. Saint Elisabeth praised Mary when she was inspired by the Holy Spirit to do so. That means that it is the Holy Spirit’s praise which she passed on. That is why Scripture is called the Word of God. Because it is inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, God wills that the Angels and the Saints, praise Mary.
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