The Lord is near.

The fourth candle of Advent is called the “Angel Candle” and symbolizes peace.

Jesus came to bring peace to our hearts and to our world!

Mary, the Mother of Jesus who is honored with the title “Ark of the Covenant!”

The Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary the good news: “Hail full of grace,

the Lord is with you….for you shall conceive the Son of God!”

 

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Micah 5:1-4a

But you,

Bethlehem Ephrathah, so small that you are hardly named among the clans of Judah,

from you shall I raise the one who is to rule over Israel. For he comes forth from of old, from the ancient times.

 

Yahweh, therefore, will abandon Israel until such time as she who is to give birth has given birth.

Then the rest of his deported brothers will return to the people of Israel.

 

He will stand and shepherd his flock with the strength of Yahweh,

in the glorious Name of Yahweh, his God. They will live safely while he wins renown to the ends of the earth. He shall be peace.

 

Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 (4)

 Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Hebrews 10:5-10

This is why, on entering the world, Christ says: You did not desire sacrifice and offering;

you were not pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings. Then I said:

"Here I am. It was written of me in the scroll. I will do your will, O God."

 

First he says: Sacrifice, offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire nor were 

you pleased with them-although they were required by the Law. Then he says: Here I am to do your will.

This is enough to nullify the first will and establish the new. Now, by this will of God,

we are sanctified once and for all by the sacrifice of the body of Christ Jesus.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 1:39-45

Mary then set out for a town in the Hills of Judah.

She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb.

 

Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and, giving a loud cry, said, "

You are most blessed among women; and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

 

How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears,

the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that the Lord's word would come true!"

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Reflection:

"You are most blessed among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"

 

Lectio Divina

 READ: Mary set out (with haste) for a town in the hill country of Judah.

She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary,

the baby in her womb leapt. Elizabeth was filled with the holy Spirit.

 

She said loudly that Mary is blessed and that the fruit of Mary's womb is also blessed.

Then she posed a question as to how it was that the mother of the Lord should come to her.

 

She explained that the moment she heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leapt joyfully.

Then Elizabeth repeated that Mary is blessed because she believed that the word of the Lord would come true.

 

REFLECT: Mary found kindness with God. She experienced God's kindness.

Consequently, she could not contain this kindness within herself alone.

Kindness, goodness and love always find their way out.

 

The natural tendency of a person who has received a favor from somebody is to reach out to others.

This is exactly what happened to the Blessed Mother

when she reached out to her cousin Elizabeth upon receiving

the good news that she would be the mother of the Son of God and upon learning

that Elizabeth also received a particular favor from God as well.

 

Mary arose and went with haste to reach out to her cousin Elizabeth

who must really have needed her service and help.

 

PRAY: On this seventh day of our Misa de Gallo, let us pray for God's grace that we may become kinder.

 

ACT: Let us reach out to an expectant mother, or to a sick person or to anyone who might need our help this time.