Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 12-13-03, Memorial, St. Lucy, virgin & martyr

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 12-13-03 | New American Bible

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December 13, 2003
Memorial of Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr

Psalm: Saturday 52 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel

Reading I
Sir 48:1-4, 9-11

In those days,
like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah
whose words were as a flaming furnace.
Their staff of bread he shattered,
in his zeal he reduced them to straits;
By the Lord's word he shut up the heavens
and three times brought down fire.
How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!
Whose glory is equal to yours?
You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire,
in a chariot with fiery horses.
You were destined, it is written, in time to come
to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD,
To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons,
and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob.
Blessed is he who shall have seen you
and who falls asleep in your friendship.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19

R (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power.
R Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
Take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
R Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Gospel
Mt 17:9a, 10-13

As they were coming down from the mountain,
the disciples asked Jesus,
"Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
He said in reply, "Elijah will indeed come and restore all things;
but I tell you that Elijah has already come,
and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased.
So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands."
Then the disciples understood
that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

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For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments and discussion.

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Alleluia Ping!

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Advent Reflections for All -- 2003 -- #41 and 42

The Advent Calendar -- #29

The Advent Wreath

The Jesse Tree

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Saint Lucy [Martyr]

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From: Matthew 17:9a, 10-13

The Transfiguration (Continuation)

---

[9] And as they were coming down the mountains, [10] (And) the disciples
asked Him (Jesus), "Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come?"
[11] He replied, "Elijah does come, and he is to restore all things; [12]
but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not know him, but
did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will suffer at
their hands." [13] Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to
them of John the Baptist.

---

Commentary:

10-13. Malachi 4:5 (3:23 in the Hebrew) speaks of the coming of Elijah
the prophet before "the great and terrible day of the Lord", the
Judgment Day. When Jesus says that Elijah has already come, He is
referring to St. John the Baptist, whose mission it was to prepare the
way for the First Coming of the Lord, the same as Elijah will have to
do prior to His last coming. The scribes failed to grasp the meaning
of the prophecy of Malachi; they thought it referred simply to the
coming of the Messiah, the First Coming of Christ.

---

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

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FEAST OF THE DAY

St. Lucy is one of the more popular saints of the Church, but there is
little historical data about her. She is mentioned in the First
Eucharistic prayer and there are many cities, towns, churches and
other things that are named after her throughout the world.

St. Lucy was a Christian living in pagan Sicily during the end of the
third century. Lucy was misunderstood by the people around her
especially when she decided to devote her life to Jesus by remaining
a virgin and never marrying. Her mother tried to force her into
marriage, but ceased when an illness of her was cured due to the
prayers of Lucy to St. Agatha. Although her mother no longer tried to
force her into marriage, her bridegroom was still expecting to marry
her.

When the groom found out that Lucy would never marry him, he
turned her over to the Roman authorities as a Christian, and she was
arrested. The governor tried to force her into prostitution but when
the guards tried to take her away she was completely immovable,
even the force of a team of oxen could not budge her from her spot.
The governor was furious and ordered her to be tortured and killed.
During her torture, her eyes were poked out, but she regained use of
them before she died. Lucy was sentenced to death by burning at
the stake but the fires would not light to burn her. Finally, she was
executed by being stabbed in the throat. Lucy died around the year
304, and is the patron of those with eye problems, and of Syracuse
and Sicily.


QUOTE OF THE DAY

Those whose hearts are pure are temples of the Holy Spirit. -St. Lucy


TODAY IN HISTORY

1545 Council of Trent opens


TODAY'S TIDBIT

The Council of Trent, the 19th ecumenical council of the Church, was
originally convened by Pope Paul III and held twenty-five sessions
before ending on December 4, 1563. This council is considered by
many historians as one of the greatest ecumenical councils held in
the West and is often seen as the Catholic response to the questions
raised by the Protestant Reformation.


INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray, through the intercession of St. Lucy, for all who are
blind. Please pray for all who are blinded by habitual sin, that Lucy
may help them see the Grace of God.

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thought for the Day

Paradox: Sanctity is more attainable than learning. But it is easier to be a scholar than to be a Saint.

 -- St. Josemaria Escriva

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The Word Among Us

Saturday, December 13, 2003 Meditation Matthew 17:10-13 What a way to go! Just picture it: the prophet Elijah ascending from the earth in a fiery chariot! After a powerful ministry during the reign of King Ahab and his wicked queen, Jezebel (874-853 b.c.)—which included rousing Israel from its apostasy in a dramatic confrontation with the false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:17-40)—Elijah “went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11). Four centuries later, Malachi prophesied about God’s intervention in human history: “Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me” (Malachi 3:1). According to Scripture and popular Jewish belief, Elijah was to return to usher in the messianic age: “I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes” (4:5). Thus, in the minds of the Jews of Jesus’ time, Elijah’s return was linked to the coming of the Messiah. They believed that the “anointed one” (in Hebrew, Meshiach) would carry out God’s promise to restore Israel—and they expected his advent to be announced by Elijah. Even today, at the Jewish Passover meal, an extra cup of wine is poured for Elijah, an empty chair is drawn up at the table for him, and the door is flung open to let him in. This anticipation of the prophet’s return marks an ardent longing, too, for the Messiah. When he foretold John the Baptist’s birth to his father, Zechariah, the angel Gabriel declared that John would go before the Lord “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17). His mission would be to preach a message of repentance to prepare people for the coming of their Savior. When Jesus later identified John the Baptist as Elijah—not literally, but functionally as the messenger and herald foretold by Malachi (Matthew 11:10,14; 17:11-13)—he was also identifying himself as the Messiah. God wants to give us just as much of a yearning for Jesus’ return as faithful Jews have for Elijah’s. When Jesus comes again, our full restoration will take place. Every tear will be wiped away, and sin and death will be no more (Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 21:4). May our hearts long for that day! “Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus! We long for your return, when you will make all things new. Come and reign over us, Lord!”

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One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

<< Saturday, December 13, 2003 >>

St. Lucy

Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11

Psalm 80

Matthew 17:10-13

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A BIG JOB IN A SHORT TIME

“I assure you, though, that Elijah has already come, but they did not recognize him and they did as they pleased with him.” —Matthew 17:12

Traditionally, Elijah, John the Baptist, Joseph, and Mary have been the major leaders in preparing us to meet Christ at Christmas. This is a very formidable team that has prepared the way for some of the most important events in God’s plan of salvation. This team is called in for the “big jobs.” Thus, our Advent preparation for Christmas must be a “big job.” Because of our sins, we are so unprepared for Christ’s great coming this Christmas that great works need to be done in us in a short time to prepare us for Christmas.

Through Elijah, we need restoration (see Mt 17:11) through reconciliation, especially reconciliation between fathers and sons (Sir 48:10). To meet Christ at Christmas, we also need John the Baptist’s baptism in repentance, that is, an immersion in repentance (Mk 1:4). Furthermore, we need Joseph’s faith to receive the graces of Christmas. Finally, we need the holiness of Mary to receive the Holy Spirit, the only true Christmas Spirit.

The Lord has a short time to do a great work in our lives before Christmas. Live fully every moment of Advent.

Prayer: Father, do the miracle of Advent in me.

Promise: “You are destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the Lord, to turn the hearts of fathers toward their sons.” —Sir 48:10

Praise: St. Lucy vowed herself to virginity at an early age and remained faithful to Christ even to the point of giving up her life as a martyr.