Fourth Week of Advent

Zeph. 3:14-18 & Lk. 1:39-45

Two pregnant women greeted each other in the hill country of Judea. Almost no one noticed or cared. At that moment big events dominated. Augustus was Caesar in Rome. His very name means majestic. His empire extended to virtually every corner of the known world. His armies marched and the earth trembled. These were the things that people noticed – big things, noisy things, powerful things!

2 Sam. 7:1-5,8-12,14,16 & Lk. 1:67-79

Does the proclamation of the Gospel fill you with joy and hope? When the Lord comes to redeem us He will fill us with His Holy Spirit, the source of our joy and hope in the promises of God.

2 Sam. 7:1-5,8-12,14,16 & Lk. 1:67-79

Does the proclamation of the Gospel fill you with joy and hope? When the Lord comes to redeem us He will fill us with His Holy Spirit, the source of our joy and hope in the promises of God.

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24 & Lk. 1:57-66

Elizabeth’s and Zechariah’s relatives and neighbours at the end of the naming ceremony of their son John asked the question, “What shall this child be?” We of course know the answer. The prophet Malachi also knew, and tells us that he is to be the messenger who prepares a way before the Lord. That little baby boy became John the Baptist, a spiritual giant, a man of whom Jesus said, “Of all men born of women there is none greater than John the Baptist.” What went into the making of this great saint?

1 Sam. 1:24-28 & Lk. 1:46-56

In today’s first reading we see how grateful Hannah is to God for Samuel’s birth. She offers a sacrifice in thanksgiving.

Almost everyone young and old remembers and loves the story of Cinderella. She was the young woman who had to cook, clean and scrub while her stepsisters had a good time. But in the end she was the one chosen to marry the Prince. We enjoy this story because we are happy to see the proud cast down and the humble lifted. We like to support the underdog.

Zeph. 3:14-18 & Lk. 1:39-45

Two pregnant women greeted each other in the hill country of Judea. Almost no one noticed or cared. At that moment big events dominated. Augustus was Caesar in Rome. His very name means majestic. His empire extended to virtually every corner of the known world. His armies marched and the earth trembled. These were the things that people noticed – big things, noisy things, powerful things!

Neh. 8:2-6, 8-10; Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21

Mt. 1: 18-25

The obvious theme of today’s Mass could be summed up in one word, ‘Signs’. The prophet Isaiah told Ahaz that the Lord would give him a sign that “the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel, a name which means ‘God-is-with-us’”. St. Paul wrote about the Good News from God that came to us through Jesus. He is the sign of our salvation, of our call to be saints. In the Gospel, Joseph receives a sign through his dream that Mary’s Son is the “One to save His people from their sins.”

2 Sam. 7:1-5,8-12,14,16 & Lk. 1:67-79

Does the proclamation of the Gospel fill you with joy and hope? When the Lord comes to redeem us He will fill us with His Holy Spirit, the source of our joy and hope in the promises of God.

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24 & Lk. 1:57-66

Elizabeth’s and Zechariah’s relatives and neighbours at the end of the naming ceremony of their son John asked the question, “What shall this child be?” We of course know the answer. The prophet Malachi also knew, and tells us that he is to be the messenger who prepares a way before the Lord. That little baby boy became John the Baptist, a spiritual giant, a man of whom Jesus said, “Of all men born of women there is none greater than John the Baptist.” What went into the making of this great saint?