Monday 19 December
19 December O radix Iesse, Gospel - Luke 1:5-25 “Then there appeared to him the angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense. The sight disturbed Zechariah and he was overcome with fear.” The sign of the presence of the angel at the altar disturbed Zechariah and he became afraid and then he doubted the words of the Angel. Here we see fear and doubt taking over Zechariah in the presence of the Angel. This also happens to us. Fear and doubts overshadow our prayers and spiritual life. Then it’s difficult to understand and accept the Word of God. We don’t accept the message of God with the due respect and love. This fear starts from not understanding the presence of God in different situations and through different persons. When we don’t understand, there starts the fear and doubts. Advent is the time to overcome the fears and doubts so that we can understand the message of God.
Sunday 18 December
4th Sunday of Advent Gospel - Matthew 1:18-24 O Adonai! “Joseph son of David do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit”. Joseph accepted the maternity of Mary as an action of the Holy Spirit as he accepted his paternity as an action of the Holy Spirit. This is a great mystery which elevates the nature to be at the service of the plan of salvation of the humanity. This mystery works in a perfect collaboration between grace and nature, between God and man. Here comes the role of Mother Mary and Joseph. There is an intrinsic relationship between the full disposition of Mary and Joseph and the full action of the Holy Spirit in them. It’s their full and free consent that welcome the action of the Holy Spirit into their life. Their cooperation to the will of God is full. Angel of the Lord is encouraging Joseph not to have any fears for this full and free consent to the action of the Holy Spirit in his life as he like every one of us was surrounded by elements of fear and questions. Advent is the time to give full and free consent to the action of the Holy Spirit in our life.
I am the bright morning star (Rev. 22:16)
epiphany The Revelation of John is the last book in the New Testament. It is about the future of the world and therefore also about my future. The world will pass away, God will appear in his glory. In this context there are two wonderful metaphors about Jesus in the last chapter: I am the root and the Origin of David, the bright morning star (Rev. 22:16). Both pictures fit well into the time of Advent. For our last monthly lecture, I chose the second image: the bright morning star. The morning star in the liturgy A Spiritual Exercise for Advent: Look for prayers, texts, and songs that feature the morning star. That shouldn't be difficult in Advent. Advent liturgy O-Antiphon (Vespers from December 17): You morning star (December 22) Morning Star Songs The night has advanced (GL 220) God holy creator of all stars (GL 230) How beautifully the morning star shines on us (GL 357) Morning star of the dark night (GL 372 Hymn of Lauds (Sunday 1st week) O eternal creator of all the world, reigns day and night, you set the times their time give change in the course of time. The rooster, the herald of the day, calls, the guardian in the dark. His cry separates the night from the night, a light to the wanderer at night. Then the morning star rises illuminates the black firmament, then the crowd of dark powers gives way shy away from the path of evil. Then the skipper feels new strength, the surf of the sea softens, the rock of the church, Peter, weeps, regrets the guilt at cockcrow. So, get up quickly from sleep: The rooster wakes up everyone who is still dreaming. The rooster harasses the tardy, the rooster accuses the deniers. hope awakens at cockcrow, and relief will flow to the sick. The robber abandons his actions, Fallen trust again. Lord when we fall, look at us and heal us through your gaze. Your look erases error and sin, our guilt dissolves in tears. You light, penetrate our spirit, drive sleep away from our hearts, the first word is dedicated to you, our morning praise praise you. Amen. More than a fixed star When we talk about the morning star (or evening star), we like to look for a fixed star in the evening or morning sky. But the liturgical texts and songs mean more than a fixed star in the sky with the image of the morning star. It's about experiencing the dawning day and the associated light after experiencing the darkness of the night. orientation Then the morning star rises, illuminates the black firmament... Then the skipper feels new strength, the waves of the sea soften, ... I quickly become disoriented in the dark, I can't find my way, I'm unsure. As soon as the light appears, I can find my way around, orient myself, security comes back. Spiritual Exercise: How do I orientate myself in my life? Hope Hope awakens at the crowing of the cock, and relief streams to the sick. The robber lets the fallen trust in his deeds anew. Many are afraid of the dark. Children in front of the "black man" (whoever that might mean). Old people no longer dare to go out at night for fear of being mugged. And after a night of pain, the sick long for the new morning. forgiveness The liturgy knows another night: the night of sin and guilt. The Advent song “The night has advanced” describes wonderfully how God deals with our guilt. The night is already fading, make your way to the stable! You shall find salvation there, the course of all times Proclaimed from the beginning, since your sin happened. Now you have an alliance, whom God himself has chosen. This night is also mentioned in the ‘Exsultet’ of the Easter Vigil. But guilt has found a redeemer. It is no coincidence that the ‘Exsultet’ ends with a reference to the “morning star that does not set”, to Jesus Christ. Prelate Dr. Stefan Dybowski