Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 12-02-14

Information: St. Bibiana

Feast Day: December 2

Born: 4th century in Rome

Died: 361

Patron of: against epilepsy, against hangovers, against headaches, against insanity, against mental illness, epileptics, mentally ill people, single laywomen, torture victims

Luke
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Luke 10
21.	In that same hour, he rejoiced in the Holy Ghost, and said: I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little ones. Yea, Father, for so it hath seemed good in thy sight.	In ipsa hora exsultavit Spiritu Sancto, et dixit : Confiteor tibi Pater, Domine cæli et terræ, quod abscondisti hæc a sapientibus et prudentibus, et revelasti ea parvulis. Etiam Pater : quoniam sic placuit ante te.	εν αυτη τη ωρα ηγαλλιασατο τω πνευματι ο ιησους και ειπεν εξομολογουμαι σοι πατερ κυριε του ουρανου και της γης οτι απεκρυψας ταυτα απο σοφων και συνετων και απεκαλυψας αυτα νηπιοις ναι ο πατηρ οτι ουτως εγενετο ευδοκια εμπροσθεν σου
22.	All things are delivered to me by my Father; and no one knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and to whom the Son will reveal him.	Omnia mihi tradita sunt a Patre meo. Et nemo scit quis sit Filius, nisi Pater : et quis sit Pater, nisi Filius, et cui voluerit Filius revelare.	και στραφεις προς τους μαθητας ειπεν παντα μοι παρεδοθη υπο του πατρος μου και ουδεις γινωσκει τις εστιν ο υιος ει μη ο πατηρ και τις εστιν ο πατηρ ει μη ο υιος και ω εαν βουληται ο υιος αποκαλυψαι
23.	And turning to his disciples, he said: Blessed are the eyes that see the things which you see.	Et conversus ad discipulos suos, dixit : Beati oculi qui vident quæ vos videtis.	και στραφεις προς τους μαθητας κατ ιδιαν ειπεν μακαριοι οι οφθαλμοι οι βλεποντες α βλεπετε
24.	For I say to you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things that you hear, and have not heard them.	Dico enim vobis quod multi prophetæ et reges voluerunt videre quæ vos videtis, et non viderunt : et audire quæ auditis, et non audierunt.	λεγω γαρ υμιν οτι πολλοι προφηται και βασιλεις ηθελησαν ιδειν α υμεις βλεπετε και ουκ ειδον και ακουσαι α ακουετε και ουκ ηκουσαν

21. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth that you have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in your sight.
22. All things are delivered to me of my Father and no man knows who the Son is, but the Father and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

THEOPHYL. As a loving father rejoices to see his sons do right, so Christ also rejoices that His Apostles were made worthy of such good things. Hence it follows, In that hour, &c.

CYRIL; He saw in truth that through the operation of the Holy Spirit, which He gave to the holy Apostles, the acquisition of many would be made, (or that many would be brought to the faith.) He is said therefore to have rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, that is, in the results which came forth through the Holy Spirit. For as one who to be mankind He considered the conversion of sinners to be a subject for rejoicing, for which He gives thanks. As it follows, I give thanks to you, O Father.

THEOPHYL; Confessing does not always signify penitence, but also thanks airing, as is frequently found in the Psalms.

CYRIL; Now here, say they whose hearts are perverted, the Son gives thanks to the Father as being inferior But what should prevent the Son of the same substance with the Father from praising His own Father, who saves the world by Him? But if you think that because of His giving thanks He shows Himself to be inferior, observe, that He calls Him His Father, and the Lord of heaven and earth.

TIT. BOST. For all other things have been produced by Christ from nothing, but He alone was incomprehensibly begotten of His Father, Who therefore of the Only-begotten alone, as a true Son, is by nature the Father. Hence He alone says to His Father, I give thanks to you, O Father, Lord, &c. that is, I glorify you. Marvel not that the Son glorifies the Father. For the whole substance of the Only-begotten is the glory of the Father. For both those things which were created, and the Angels, are the glory of the Creator. But since these are placed too low in respect of His dignity, the Son alone, since He is perfect God like His Father, perfectly glorifies His Father.

ATHAN. We know also that the Savior often speaks as man. For His divine nature has human nature joined to it, yet you would not, because of His clothing Himself with a body, be ignorant that He was God. But what do they answer to this, who wish to make out a substance of evil, but form to themselves another God, other than the true Father of Christ? And they say that he is unbegotten, the creator of evil and prince of iniquity, as well as the maker of the world's fabric. Now our Lord, affirming the word of Moses, says, I give thanks to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.

EPIPH. But a Gospel composed by Marcion has, "I give thanks to You, O Lord," being silent as to the words of heaven and earth, and the word Father, lest it should be supposed that He calls the Father the Creator of the heaven and the earth.

AMBROSE; Lastly, he unveils the heavenly mystery by which it pleased God to reveal His grace, rather to the little ones than the wise of the world. Hence it follows, That you have hid these things from the wise and prudent.

THEOPHYL. The distinction may be, that it is said, the wise, meaning, the Pharisees and Scribes who interpret the law, and the prudent, meaning those who were taught by the Scribes, for the wise man is he who teaches, but the prudent man he who is taught; but the Lord calls His disciples babes, whom He chose not from the teachers of the law, but out of the multitude, and by calling, fishermen; babes, that is, as devoid of malice.

AMBROSE; Or by a babe we should here understand one who knew nothing of exalting himself, and of boasting in proud words of the excellence of his wisdom, as the Pharisees often do.

THEOPHYL; He therefore gives thanks that He had revealed to the Apostles as to babes the sacraments of His coming, of which the Scribes and Pharisees were ignorant, who think themselves wise, and are prudent in their own sight.

THEOPHYL. The mysteries then were hid from those who think themselves wise, and are not; for if they had been, these would have been revealed to them.

THEOPHYL; To the wise and prudent then He opposed not the dull and foolish, but babes; that is, the humble, to show that He condemned pride, not quickness of mind.

ORIGEN; For a feeling of deficiency is the preparation for coming perfection. For whoever by the presence of the apparent good perceives not that he is destitute of the true good, is deprived of the true good.

CHRYS. Now He does not rejoice and give thanks because the mysteries of God were hid from the Scribes and Pharisees (for this were not a subject of rejoicing, but of lament,) but for this cause gives He thanks, that what hat the wise knew not, babes knew. But moreover He gives thanks to the Father together with whom He Himself does this, to show the great love wherewith He loves us. He explains in the next place, that the cause of this thing was first His own will and Father's, who of His own will did this. As it follows, Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in your sight.

GREG. We receive these words as an example of humility, that we Moral should not rashly presume to scan the heavenly counsel, concerning the calling of some, and the rejection of others; for that cannot be unjust which seemed good to the Just One. In all things therefore, externally disposed, the cause of the visible system is the justice of the hidden will.

CHRYS. But after He had said, I thank you that you have revealed them to babes, lest you should suppose that Christ was destitute of the power to do this, He adds, All things are delivered to me of my Father.

ATHAN. The followers of Arius, not rightly understanding this, rave against our Lord, saying, If all things were given to him, that is, the dominion of the creatures, there was as a time when He had them not, and so was not of the substance of the Father. For if He had been, there would be no need for Him to receive. But hereby is their madness the rather detected. For if before He had received them, the creature was independent of the Word, how will that verse stand, In him all things consist? But if as soon as the creatures were made, they were all given to Him, where was the need to give, for by him were all things made? The dominion of the creation is not then, as they think, here meant, but the words signify the dispensation made in the flesh. For after that man sinned, all things were confounded; the Word then was made flesh, that He might restore all things. All things therefore were given Him, not because He was wanting in power, but that as Savior He should repair all things; that as by the Word all things at the beginning were brought into being, so when the Word was made flesh, He should restore all things in Himself.

THEOPHYL; Or by the words, All things are delivered to me, He means not the elements of the world, but those babes to whom by the Spirit the Father made known the Sacraments of His Son; and in whose salvation when He here spoke He was rejoicing.

AMBROSE; Or, when you read all things, you acknowledge the Almighty, not the Son lower than the Father; when you read delivered, you confess the Son, to whom by the nature of one substance all things rightly belong, not conferred as a gift by grace.

CYRIL; Now having said that all things were given Him by His Father, He rises to His own glory and excellence showing that in nothing He is surpassed by His Father. Hence He adds, And no one knows who the Son is but the Father, &c. For the mind of the creatures is not able to comprehend the manner of the Divine substance, which passes all understanding, and His glory transcends our highest contemplations. By Itself only is known what the Divine nature is. Therefore the Father, by that which He is, knows the Son the Son, by that which He is, knows the Father, no difference intervening as regards the Divine nature. And in another place. For that God is, we believe, but what he is by nature, is incomprehensible. But if the Son was created, how could He alone know the Father, or how could He be known only by the Father. For to know the Divine nature is impossible to any creature, but to know each created thing what it is, does not surpass every understanding, though it is far beyond our senses.

ATHAN. But though our Lord says this, it is plain that the Arians object to Him, saying that the Father is not seen by the Son. But their folly is manifest, as if the Word did not know Itself which reveals to all men the knowledge of the Father and Itself; for it follows, And to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

TIT. BOST. Now a revelation is the communication of knowledge in proportion to each man's nature and capacity; and when indeed the nature is congenial, there is knowledge without teaching; but here the instruction is by revelation.

ORIGEN; He wishes to reveal as the Word, not without the exercise of reason; and as Justice, who knows rightly both the times for revealing, and the measures of revelation; but He reveals by removing the opposing veil from the heart, and the darkness which He has made His secret place. But since upon this men who are of another opinion think to build up their impious doctrine, that in truth the Father of Jesus was sent down to the ancient saints, we must tell them that the words, To whomsoever the Son will reveal him, not only refer to the future time, after our Savior uttered this, but also to the past time But if they will not take this word reveal for what is past, the must be told, that it is not the same thing to know and to believe. To one is given by the Spirit the word of knowledge; to another faith by the same Spirit. There were then those who believed, but did not know.

AMBROSE; But that you may know that as the Son revealed the Father to whom He will, the Father also reveals the Son to whom He will, hear our Lord's words, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood have not revealed it to you, but my Father which is in heaven.

23. And he turned him to his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see:
24. For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them.

THEOPHYL. Having said above, No one knows who the Father is but the Son, and to whomsoever the Son will reveal him; He pronounces a blessing upon His disciples, to whom the Father was revealed through Him. Hence it is said, And he turned him to his disciples, and said, Blessed &c.

CYRIL; He turns to them indeed, since He rejected the Jews, who were deaf, with their understandings blinded, and not wishing to see, and gives Himself wholly to those who love Him; and He pronounces those eyes blessed which see the things no others had seen before. We must however know this, that seeing does not signify the action of the eyes, but the pleasure which the mind receives from benefits conferred. For instance, if any one should say, He has seen good times, that is, he has rejoiced in good times, according to the Psalm, You shall see the good of Jerusalem. For many Jews have seen Christ performing, divine works, that is to say, with their bodily sight, yet all were not fitted to rereceive the blessing, for they believed not; but these saw not His glory with their mental sight. Blessed then are our eyes, since we see by faith the Word who is made man for us, shedding upon us the glory of His Godhead, that He may make us like to Him by sanctification and righteousness.

THEOPHYL. Now He blesses them, and all truly who look with faith, because the ancient prophets and kings desired to see and hear God in the flesh, as it follows; For I say to you, that many prophets and kings have desired, &c.

THEOPHYL; Matthew more clearly calls them prophets, and righteous men. For those are great kings, who have known how, not by yielding to escape from the assaults of temptations, but by mastering to gain the rule over them.

CHRYS. Now from this saying many imagine that the prophets were without the knowledge of Christ. But if they desired to see what the Apostles saw, they knew that He would come to men, and dispense those things which He did. For no one desires what he has no conception of; they therefore knew the Son of God. Hence He does not merely say, They desired to see me, but those things which you see, nor to hear me, but those things which you hear. For they saw Him, but not yet Incarnate, nor thus conversing with men, nor speaking with such authority to them.

THEOPHYL; For those looking afar off saw Him in a glass and darkly, but the Apostles having our Lord present with them, whatever things they wished to learn had no need to be taught by angels or any other kind of vision.

ORIGEN; But why does he say that many prophets desired, and not all? Because it is said of Abraham, That he saw the day of Christ and was glad, which sight not many, but few attained to; but there were other prophets and just men not so great as to reach to Abraham's vision, and the experience of the Apostles, who, He says, saw not, but desired to see.

Catena Aurea Luke 10

Last Judgment

Giotto di Bondone

1306
Fresco, 1000 x 840 cm
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

The Last Judgment

Lucas van Leyden

1527
Stedelijk Museum De Lakenhal, Leiden, Holland

Christ and saints

between AD 817 and 824
Rome, Santa Prassede, apse mosaic

Interactive Saints for Kids

St. Bibiana

Feast Day: December 02
Born:(around)330 :: Died:361

Bibiana's father Flavian was a prefect of the city of Rome in early Christian times. He and his wife Dafrosa were good Christians and everyone knew it. So when Emperor Julian left the Catholic Church, he began harassing the Catholics.

Flavian was arrested, branded on the face with a hot iron and sent away from the country. After he died, his wife Dafrosa was also made a prisoner in her own house. This was only because of her good Christian life. Then she, too, was put to death.

Left alone with her sister, Demetria, Bibiana tried with all her heart to trust in God and pray. Everything they had was being taken from these young women. Then they were taken to court.

Poor Demetria was so frightened that she dropped dead at the judge's feet. Bibiana was handed over to a sinful woman, who was supposed to make her as evil as she was.

This woman tried by sweet words and many clever tricks to make Bibiana do wrong. But the saint refused. She was imprisoned in a madhouse and then brought back to court and beaten. Yet she held to her faith and purity as strongly as ever.

St. Bibiana was beaten to death with leaden scourges and her body was left to the dogs but none came near her. Two days later, a priest buried her at night beside her mother and sister.

A church was built over her grave. In the church garden, there grew a herb (plant) that cured headaches and epilepsy.

I am fascinated by this painting. I wish I knew more about it. I have tried goggling, but not really coming up with what I want to know.

Does anyone know of a forum where ideas can be discussed without the usual BS, that goes on here? Just wondering. Catholic Forum preferably.

CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Tuesday, December 2

Liturgical Color: Violet

Today the Church honors Bl. Liduina
Meneguzzi. At age 24, she joined the
Sisters of the Congregation of St. Francis
de Sales and was sent to work as a nurse
in Ethiopia. She displayed great courage
helping the injured during World War II.

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for:December 02, 2014
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: Look with favor, Lord God, on our petitions, and in our trials grant us your compassionate help, that, consoled by the presence of your Son, whose coming we now await, we may be tainted no longer by the corruption of former ways. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

RECIPES

o Pepparkakor (Ginger Cookies)

ACTIVITIES

o Religion in the Home for Elementary School: December

o Religion in the Home for Preschool: December

PRAYERS

o December Devotion: The Immaculate Conception

o Collect for Feast of St. Bibiana

o Book of Blessings: Blessing Before and After Meals: Advent (1st Plan)

o Novena to the Immaculate Conception

o Novena to St. Francis Xavier - The Novena of Grace

· Advent: December 2nd

· Tuesday of the First Week of Advent

Old Calendar: St. Bibiana, virgin and martyr

According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of St. Bibiana who was martyred at Rome under Julian the Apostate in 363.

Jesse Tree ~ Fall of Man

St. Bibiana
St. Bibiana was a Roman who was martyred during the time of Julian the Apostate. A legend states that Bibiana's parents, Flavian and Dafrosa, were devout Christians as well. Dafrosa was beheaded, and Flavian, who was a former Roman prefect, had his face burned with a hot iron and was exiled. Bibiana and Demetria, her sister, were forced to remain in their house after all their possessions had been taken from them. For five months the two sisters fasted and prayed. When they appeared in court, Demetria died on the spot, and the judge handed Bibiana over to a woman named Fufina. This woman tried to tempt Bibiana to be unfaithful to Christ, but her efforts were in vain. Bibiana was scourged to death with whips that were loaded with lead. Her corpse was left out in the open for dogs to eat, but no dogs touched it, and fter two days a priest named John took the body at night and buried it. St. Bibiana is one of the three virgin martyrs particularly venerated in Rome, the other two being St. Cecilia and St. Agnes.

Patron: Diocese of Los Angeles, California; epilepsy; epileptics; hangovers; headaches; insanity; mental illness; mentally ill people; single laywomen; torture victims.

Symbols: pillar; branch of a tree; dagger; scourge; column and scourge with leaded thongs.

Things to Do:

Saint Bibiana lost everything except her faith. Say a prayer for those you know who are grieving the loss of loved ones, homes, jobs, health or some other tragedy.
In imitation of St. Bibiana, resolve, with the help of God's grace, that no human considerations or advantages, no human ties and affections, will ever move you to surrender your Catholic faith, to deflect from God's commandments, to defile yourself with mortal sin or to lose the priceless pearl of chastity.
Say this prayer in honor of St. Bibiana: O God, the giver of all good gifts, who didst bestow on thy servant Bibiana both the flower of virginity and the palm of martyrdom; we pray thee, that, by her intercession, our hearts may in such wise be joined in charity unto thee; that we, being defended against all dangers, may attain unto the rewards of everlasting salvation. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Isaiah 11:1-10

1st Week of Advent

He shall judge the poor with justice. (Isaiah 11:4)

Maybe there should be a “scary prayers” section in devotional books. It would include Jesus’ words to the Father, “Not my will but yours” (Luke 22:42) and the prayer of St. Ignatius: “Take, O Lord, and receive all my memory …” There would be fill-in-the-blank prayers like “Lord, teach me patience [or your virtue of choice].” And there would be the Advent refrain: “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Did you raise an eyebrow at that last suggestion? Should this prayer make you quake? Yes, because it asks for the whole Jesus, not just the baby but the Lord who comes to establish justice. You can’t stay at the Christmas crèche in peaceful, private contemplation of God’s love. You also have to respond to that love (here’s the scary part) by taking up God’s call for justice and peace.

“Social justice” is what the prophets and psalmists meant when they paired the Hebrew words for “judgment” and “justice” (Isaiah 11:4; Psalm 72:2). It’s almost like a mathematical formula: judgment plus justice equals social justice. This consistent, systematic care for people in need is what the Messiah-King was going to bring about.

As Christians we believe that this King has come! So Advent is a good time to examine how much we share Jesus’ concern for the poor and weak. It’s also a good time to deepen our understanding of the Church’s teachings on social justice. For a good starting point, see sections 1928–1938 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Look at your relationships: in your family, at work, in your religious order, in your classroom and neighborhood, and whatever groups you belong to. Are you treating everyone with honor, especially those who tend to get overlooked? Consider your broader role as a citizen with a vote. Do you stay informed and work toward a society that improves the situation of people who are homeless, frail, in the womb, or otherwise vulnerable? It may be uncomfortable, inconvenient, and even scary to stand up for these neglected ones. Although it may cost us something, it also brings great blessings. For when we care for them, we are also caring for Jesus in disguise.

“Come, Lord Jesus! Give me the wisdom and courage to build your kingdom and work for your justice.”

Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
Luke 10:21-24

Marriage=One Man and One Woman 'Til Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for December 2, 2014:

Have you blessed your Advent wreath yet? There is a simple prayer service to do at home available on the USCCB website, www.usccb.org: search for “Advent.”

Regnum Christi

God’s Ways

U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

December 2, 2014. Tuesday of the First Week of Advent

Luke 10: 21-24

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,
but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

Introductory Prayer: Christ, I believe that you can put my talents to good use. I hope that you will allow me to come to know you better each day. I love you and trust that you are guiding me through life. Not only are you guiding me in my life; you are also letting others be edified by my example.

Petition: Lord, help me to trust in you through every circumstance of life.

1. God Reveals Himself to the Childlike: We long to know Christ better. How we yearn to understand a little more about God and his infinite love! Our small intellects can barely lay hold of any notion or attribute of the Divine Persons. Even if we were to study long hours, we would come to the conclusion that our learning is nothing. True knowledge of Christ and of God doesn’t come by learning from books. True knowledge of Christ and of God is revealed to those who learn to quiet their souls in prayer. We need to imitate the resourceful little child who falls on the ground and then runs to his mother to be scooped up in a loving embrace. If we can remember our littleness on one hand and God’s pure, loving benevolence on the other, we’ll permit—even delight in—his wiping away from our faces the blood and tears caused by our sins. Only when we surrender ourselves into God’s forgiving, tender hands can we say that we know him.

2. God Chooses the Childlike: Christ singles out each one of us for a particular mission in life. We might think of the many people around us––educated, wise, learned people––who would surely be better suited for the calling at hand, who could do a far better job than we could. However, Christ isn’t looking always for the cleverest person, the one with the quickest wit, or the one with the best education. Many times he scrutinizes the corners of the globe for the soul that is innocent, open to his plan, and willing to carry it out. Simplicity and humility are the key words when it comes to being chosen by God to participate more actively in his plan of redemption.

3. The Childlike Can Entrust the Bigger Picture to God: How many prophets and kings longed for the time of Christ, when the work of salvation would be fulfilled! During their time of waiting they left us an example of constancy and dedication to the things of God, despite never seeing many of the things promised them. They played an active role in leading and guiding the people of their time, but they didn’t see the fulfillment of all God’s entire design. God asks us to be like them, planting the seeds of redemption that may not sprout for years. We, like the prophets, aren’t always given the grace to see the entire picture. That is part of being childlike: trusting that God our Father knows what he is doing. Cardinal John Henry Newman prayed in his famous poem, The Pillar of the Cloud:

“Keep thou my feet: I do not ask to see
the distant scene – one step enough for me”.

Do I entrust the big picture of my life to God my Father, or do I try to yank the “video control” from his loving hands?

Conversation with Christ: Christ, I don’t ask for great understanding or knowledge. Help me to accept with the simplicity and trust of a child all that you want to do in me. I don’t ask for great insight into the depths of your divine attributes. I just want to grow in friendship with you, and I know that means I need an unshakeable confidence in your infinite love for me. I want to allow you to love me and direct me according to your good will.

Resolution: I will open my heart more widely to God’s plan for my life.

By Father Jon Budke, LC

Homily of the Day

December 2, 2014

In the first reading, Isaiah speaks about a time when all men will live in peace with one another. Using animals to depict all kinds of people, he says that the wolf will live with the lamb, the panther with kid, the cow with the bear, the lion with the ox, etc. and there will be a little boy who will lead them. Of course, this little boy is Jesus who will inaugurate the messianic kingdom when he comes to our world and is born as an infant in the manger. With Jesus comes peace and harmony for all men of goodwill.

In the gospel, Jesus blesses His Father for all the miracles he is doing in the lives of his disciples, for revealing things of the spirit to them. How do men know the Father? It is through the Son. This is a gift given to whomever Jesus chooses to give it. Human wisdom and intelligence are not the only qualities needed to attain this knowledge. In fact, they may become more of an obstacle. We often tend to rely more on logic than faith.

We make decisions based on what is conformable, comfortable or advantageous to us. Hence Jesus blesses and chooses the childlike to whom he reveals his Father. They are the ones who can follow him without prejudices or doubts because they trust in the Lord’s goodness and love. To them is promised the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This Advent let us aspire for the riches that do not fade away or get eaten by moths or get rusted. Advent reminds us that we have a heavenly homeland together with Christ.

One Bread, One Body

Language: English | Español

All Issues > Volume 31, Issue 1

<< Tuesday, December 2, 2014 >>

Isaiah 11:1-10
View Readings

Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

Luke 10:21-24
Similar Reflections

GOD MAKES ALL THINGS NEW

"Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra's den, and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all My holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord." —Isaiah 11:6-9

Can you picture this image? The Republican is a guest of the Democrat. The baby in the womb and the abortionist are friends; the liberal and the conservative dine together in harmony. Palestinians and Israelis send their border patrols home. There is no need for mandatory child protection training. Divorce is unheard of, because all husbands and wives are living in joy and peace.

This scene is what we await as Christians. We believe God will bring about His kingdom of peace, in which people are so transformed in Jesus that mortal enemies become friends and co-workers. Those who prey on others shall have a totally new and different nature in Jesus (Gal 6:15). Lest we become skeptical, the above scenario has happened throughout salvation history (see e.g. Acts 9:18, 26-28; 10:13-15, 25ff; Mt 9:9-10; Jn 4:9, 39-42).

Skepticism melts in the glory that is fear of the Lord. Stand amazed at the omnipotent, almighty, loving-kindness of our God. Delight in the fear of the Lord (Is 11:3). Receive a new nature in Jesus (2 Cor 5:17).

Prayer: Lord, You have overcome the world (Jn 16:33). May I be overcome by awe in Your presence and never doubt You again.

Promise: "Many prophets and kings wished to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." —Lk 10:24

Praise: Alice has built her life around Jesus and has received Him daily in the Eucharist for forty years.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." ~Jeremiah 1:5

What would you like to know?

Giotto's composition follows the canonical Byzantine icon of Second Coming of Christ, also in the West called the Last Judgment. You can see several examples in Last Judgment, see especially the Iconography section.

Have you visited forums.catholic.com?

I might have a long time ago. I goggled of course. I am looking for a spiritual place, not one full of trolls. I will check it out. Thanks.