Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Meditation
Isaiah 7:10-14

King Ahaz of Judah was in a quandary. The nations of Aram, Ephraim, and Israel were all joining forces against him. But God spoke to him through the prophet Isaiah, telling him to stand firm. These nations would not overthrow Judah. Instead, in time, they would even cease to exist. Isaiah then encouraged Ahaz to ask the Lord for a sign to confirm this word. Being an ungodly man who had no intention of doing God’s will, King Ahaz refused. In spite of his rebellion, the Lord gave him a sign anyway: A young woman would conceive and bear a son, whom the people would call Immanuel.

This sign had a double meaning. The first would be fulfilled through the reign of Ahaz’s son, Hezekiah. He was the son born of the young woman for Isaiah’s time, and he did become a sign of God’s presence. Unlike his father, Hezekiah trusted in God, cleansed the nation from idol worship, and gained independence from the powerful nations surrounding them. To the Jews, Hezekiah became a messiah figure, a symbol of God’s favor for his people—and of the people’s call to faithfulness to Yahweh.

At the same time, this prophecy from Isaiah also prefigured Jesus Christ, God’s ultimate Messiah. He too was born of a young woman and he was called Immanuel, God is with us. He came to save his people from much more than invading armies. He came to save us from sin and death.

God always delivers on his promises. Do you believe that? Jesus assured us that he will be with us always, even to the end of the age, and through the Eucharist, he has fulfilled that promise (Matthew 28:20). No matter what we may be feeling on a given day, no matter how harried and hectic our lives may become, no matter how unworthy we may feel—no matter what, Jesus offers us his own body and blood to help us. He is still God with us, the one who can fill us with peace, give rest to our hearts, and assure us of his mercy. Jesus is waiting to feed us. With joy, hope, and immense expectation, let’s join our brothers and sisters around the table of the Lord.

Thank you, heavenly Father, for your faithfulness. I surrender my life into your hands and trust that you will deliver on every word you have spoken to me.

Psalm 24:1-6; Luke 1:26-38

Vespers -- Evening Prayer

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 125 (126)
Gladness and hope in the Lord
When the Lord gave Sion back her captives, we became like dreamers. Our mouths were filled with gladness and our voices cried in exultation. Among the Gentiles they were saying, “By his deeds the Lord has shown himself great”. The Lord’s deeds showed forth his greatness, and filled us with rejoicing. Give us back our captives, O Lord, as you renew the dry streams in the desolate South. Those who sow in tears will rejoice at the harvest. They wept as they went, went with seed for the sowing; but with joy they will come, come bearing the sheaves. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 125 (126)

Gladness and hope in the Lord

When the Lord gave Sion back her captives, we became like dreamers.
Our mouths were filled with gladness and our voices cried in exultation.
Among the Gentiles they were saying,
“By his deeds the Lord has shown himself great”.
The Lord’s deeds showed forth his greatness,
and filled us with rejoicing.

Give us back our captives, O Lord,
as you renew the dry streams in the desolate South.
Those who sow in tears will rejoice at the harvest.

They wept as they went, went with seed for the sowing;
but with joy they will come, come bearing the sheaves.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Psalm 126 (127)
Without the Lord, we labour in vain
If the Lord does not build the house, its builders labour in vain. If the Lord does not watch over a city, its workmen guard it in vain. It is vain for you to rise before the dawn and go late to your rest, eating the bread of toil – to those he loves, the Lord gives sleep. The Lord bestows sons as an heirloom, the fruit of the womb as a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior – so are the sons of one’s youth. Happy the man who fills his quiver thus: when he disputes with his enemies at the gate, he will not be the loser. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 126 (127)

Without the Lord, we labour in vain

If the Lord does not build the house,
its builders labour in vain.
If the Lord does not watch over a city,
its workmen guard it in vain.

It is vain for you to rise before the dawn
and go late to your rest,
eating the bread of toil –
to those he loves, the Lord gives sleep.

The Lord bestows sons as an heirloom,
the fruit of the womb as a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior –
so are the sons of one’s youth.
Happy the man who fills his quiver thus:
when he disputes with his enemies at the gate,
he will not be the loser.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Canticle	(Colossians 1)
Christ, firstborn of all creatures and firstborn from the dead
Let us give thanks to God the Father, who has made us worthy to share in the light that is the saints’ inheritance. He has rescued us from the power of the shadows and brought us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation, for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, thrones and dominations, principalities and powers. All things were created through him and for him: he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the Church. He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, and so he is pre-eminent above all. For it was the Father’s will that the fullness of God should dwell in him, and that through him all things should be reconciled to himself. Through the blood of the Cross he brought peace to all things, both on Earth and in the heavens. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Canticle

(Colossians 1)

Christ, firstborn of all creatures and firstborn from the dead

Let us give thanks to God the Father, who has made us worthy to share in the light that is the saints’ inheritance.
He has rescued us from the power of the shadows and brought us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation,
for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
thrones and dominations, principalities and powers.

All things were created through him and for him: he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

And he is the head of the body, the Church. He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, and so he is pre-eminent above all.
For it was the Father’s will that the fullness of God should dwell in him, and that through him all things should be reconciled to himself.
Through the blood of the Cross he brought peace to all things, both on Earth and in the heavens.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Short reading	(1 Corinthians 1:7-9) ©
We are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed; and he will keep you steady and without blame until the last day, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, because God by calling you has joined you to his Son, Jesus Christ; and God is faithful.

Canticle	Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour – me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from their thrones; but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Canticle

Magnificat

My soul rejoices in the Lord

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.
For he has shown me such favour –
me, his lowly handmaiden.
Now all generations will call me blessed,
because the mighty one has done great things for me.
His name is holy,
his mercy lasts for generation after generation
for those who revere him.

He has put forth his strength:
he has scattered the proud and conceited,
torn princes from their thrones;
but lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Prayers and Intercessions

Christ, our redeemer and Lord, will come in glory at the end of time. Dear brethren, let us joyfully call on him: - Come, Lord Jesus.
Our redeemer and Lord, you were born in flesh and lifted from us the yoke of the Law:: grant that we may benefit from your righteousness.
In your incarnation, you took on all that was good in human nature:: as much as is possible, share your divine nature with us.
We long to see you: grant our longing,: ignite our hearts with the flame of your love.
We serve you with a pure conscience and in faith:: let us rejoice with you in your glory.
May the spirits of all who have died: be refreshed with the dew of your righteousness.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

God, the immaculate Virgin heard the message of your angel.
She consented to receive your eternal Word and became filled with the light of the Holy Spirit.
We ask that her example may make us humble obeyers of your will.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Amen.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N