Sunday 25 December
Christmas Day Gospel - John 1:1-5,9-14 “He was in the world that had its being through him, and the world did not know him”. We see a tension between God and man. God who wants to stay in our midst and who is in our midst. And man, who does not recognize that presence. Because God in our midst is a serious reality which is a gift at the same time a big responsibility. God in our midst is not something to be afraid. Actually, it’s a liberation. God in our midst becomes a reality of fear when you want to close yourself, when you want to make your projects avoiding God, when you want to make your projects excluding others. God in our midst becomes a blessing when you want to open yourself up to God, when you want to be completely guided by God, when you want to make projects bigger than yourself. Let’s reflect: God in our midst, is a blessing, it is our liberation to become children of God.
Saturday 24 December
Gospel - Luke 1:67-79 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel for he has visited his people, he has come to their rescue, and he has raised up for us a power for salvation”. God visited us. He came to rescue us. He has given us a power for salvation. Zechariah clearly inspired by the Holy Spirt sees the relationship of God with us. The whole song of Zechariah is an explanation of who God is for us. Whatever we are, He will visit us! Wherever we are, He will rescue us! He will rescue us from all our enemies and from all who hate us. God is a saving God, God with tender mercy, who brings light to darkness. Advent is the time to experience God in His tender mercy.
Friday 23 December
23 December O Emmanuel! Gospel - Luke 1:57-66 “His name is John”. All others wanted to call him Zechariah after his father. But Elizabeth and Zechariah knew that it is not the name that should be given to the child. Because they received the grace of God, experienced the grace of God and lived the grace of God. So, for them, it is not the relatives that decide but it’s the grace that dictates their decision. It is not anymore, the traditions that lead them but it’s the faith. Elisabeth is speaking up. She has the courage to go against the current because she lived the grace. Zechariah is asking for a writing-tablet. He does not want to go wrong, because he internalized the grace. “His name is John”. Advent is the time to live the grace and make changes against all the pressures on us.
Thursday 22 December
22 December O Rex géntium Gospel - Luke 1:46-56 While the cry of Elizabeth at the encounter with Mother Mary was a cry of liberation, the Magnificat of Mother Mary is the song of a person who is not only liberated but also sees the God’s intervention in our daily life. Mary understands and proclaims how God is intervening in the history of humanity. She is living that experience in her in a profound and unique way. She not only sees the intervention of God in her life but also sees the intervention of God in the life of each person. What Mary says is that life becomes beautiful with God. Everything gets a new perspective. Advent is the time to see the intervention of God in our life along with those in the life of each person.