(Optional Memorial for Saint Peter Canisius, Priest,
Doctor)
 |
| “Annunciation and Nativity” by Petrus Christus, 1452 |
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1
First Option: Song
of Songs 2:8-14
Hark! my lover–here he comes
springing across the
mountains,
leaping across the hills.
My lover is like a gazelle
or a young stag.
Here he stands behind our
wall,
gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattices.
My lover speaks; he says to
me,
“Arise, my beloved, my dove,
my beautiful one,
and come!
“For see, the winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.
The flowers appear on the
earth,
the time of pruning the vines
has come,
and the song of the dove is
heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its
figs,
and the vines, in bloom, give
forth fragrance.
Arise, my beloved, my
beautiful one,
and come!
“O my dove in the clefts of
the rock,
in the secret recesses of the
cliff,
Let me see you,
let me hear your voice,
For your voice is sweet,
and you are lovely.”
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Commentary on Sg 2:8-14
From the Song of
Songs we are given a love song, in this instance the bride seeing her love
approach. The time of their meeting draws near and she begs for the time they
can be together; “Let me see you, let me hear
your voice, for your voice is sweet, and you are lovely." This reading is a favorite at weddings for
obvious reasons. Placed here, on the
verge of Christmastide, we see a more complete purpose as the Church rejoices
in the coming of her bridegroom, Christ.
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OR
Second Option: Zephaniah
3:14-18a
Shout for joy, O daughter
Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all
your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem
The LORD has removed the
judgment against you,
he has turned away your
enemies;
The King of Israel, the LORD,
is in your midst,
you have no further
misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said
to Jerusalem
Fear not, O Zion, be not
discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in
your midst,
a mighty savior;
He will rejoice over you with
gladness,
and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because
of you,
as one sings at festivals.
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Commentary on Zep 3:14-18a
The Prophet Zephaniah begins this
passage with an exaltation of praise to God. His invitation sounds in the
present tense, but then he says: “On that day, it shall be said to
Jerusalem…” which places the event, the rejoicing over the Lord God being
in their midst, in the future. In effect, this is a prediction of events to
come. Zephaniah also includes the effects of God’s presence as he continues: “a
mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his
love.”
We hear the expectation of the
Messiah: “The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst.” In this case
the effects of the Messiah on the people are the focus. The prophet
proclaims a renewal of God's loving adoption and the joy felt by the Father at
his favorite creation.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm
33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21
R. (1a; 3a) Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him
a new song.
Give thanks to the LORD on
the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre
chant his praises.
Sing to him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully,
with shouts of gladness.
R. Exult, you just, in the
Lord! Sing to him a new song.
But the plan of the LORD
stands forever;
the design of his heart,
through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God
is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for
his own inheritance.
R. Exult, you just, in the
Lord! Sing to him a new song.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our
shield,
For in him our hearts
rejoice;
in his holy name we trust.
R. Exult, you just, in the
Lord! Sing to him a new song.
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Commentary on Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21
This hymn of
praise is an invitation for those who follow the Lord to rejoice in His grace.
The theme of breathless anticipation is again expressed as the psalmist sings: “Our soul waits for the Lord, who is our
help and our shield.” The sense of renewed passion for the Lord is captured
in the response which is taken from the first verse of this psalm.
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Gospel: Luke
1:39-45
Mary set out in those days
and traveled to the hill
country in haste
to a town of Judah
where she entered the house
of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth
When Elizabeth
the infant leaped in her
womb,
and Elizabeth
cried out in a loud voice and
said,
“Most blessed are you among
women,
and blessed is the fruit of
your womb.
And how does this happen to
me,
that the mother of my Lord
should come to me?
For at the moment the sound
of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped
for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you
by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
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Commentary on Lk
1:39-45
St. Luke’s nativity story
continues with Mary’s journey to visit Elizabeth. In this passage, we see the
first meeting between John the Baptist (the child in Elizabeth’s womb) and
Jesus (now growing in Mary’s womb). Here also is one of the foundational
scripture passages for the “Hail Mary” prayer: “Most blessed are you among
women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” This greeting of Elizabeth’s
sets the stage for the beautiful Canticle of Mary which follows immediately.
CCC: Lk 1:41 523, 717, 2676; Lk
1:43 448, 495, 2677; Lk 1:45
148, 2676
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Reflection:
Every evening, those who pray
the Liturgy of the Hours join millions around the world in remembering the
words of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. We recall her example of faith to which the
whole Church aspires. When we pray the Canticle of Mary at each Evening Prayer,
the first words, as we make the sign of the cross, seem to fill us up: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the
Lord."
We can feel her emotion as we
say: "My spirit rejoices in God my
savior." And the truth of: "He
has looked with favor on his lowly servant." The song is so filed with
quiet grace and confidence in God that it imparts that same feeling to those of
us who have echoed its words down through the millennia.
And on this day, as we
approach the Nativity of the Lord and the completion of Mother Mary’s first
blessing for being the vessel of the Lord,
we see in her attitude perfect obedience to God’s will. If we could reach the faith of Mary our
Mother, we would find indwelling peace that the grace of Christ’s presence
gives to us. We would also find glorious serenity that places all of the cares
and sorrows of our world in the hands of God and would let our spirits soar.
Ah, but that is hard. Mary,
who was graced with a character so pure of sin that even original sin never
spoiled that exemplar of God’s love and fidelity, was given such a special
place and grace that her cousin Elizabeth cried out: "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your
womb."
What can we do? All we have
found that gets us close to her peace and serenity is the marvelous Canticle of
Mary, the Magnificat. We look forward
to it each day and find ourselves praying the first few lines during the day
when we feel the work we have accomplished is indeed to the greater glory of
God. And there is a reason the Archangel Gabriel’s words begin the most common
prayer of our faith: "Hail Mary,
full of grace...” The words bring us comfort and remind us of the beauty,
obedience and sincere worship expressed by The Mother of God, and our hope that
we might emulate her faith by word, action, and thought.
The nativity of the Lord is
nearly here and we join with Holy Mary in her expectation of the blessed event
of the Lord’s birth, and his return in glory.
Pax
O Antiphon for this date:[4]
O Radiant Dawn,
splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
Come, shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death.
O Oriens,
splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:
veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris,
et umbra mortis.
[1]
The picture is “Annunciation and Nativity” by Petrus Christus, 1452
[3]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the
Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for
English in Liturgy (ICEL). This
re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[4]
The Roman Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least
the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle
of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that
uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old
Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old
Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative
"Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah. (USCCB)
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