MASS READINGS & SAINT QUOTE OF THE DAY : Friday - December 24, 2021 - CHRISTMAS EVE

Friday - December 24, 2021 - CHRISTMAS EVE

December 24, 2021

Friday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Mass in the Morning
Lectionary: 200

 

Reading 1                                                                 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

When King David was settled in his palace,

and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,

he said to Nathan the prophet,

“Here I am living in a house of cedar,

while the ark of God dwells in a tent!”

Nathan answered the king,

“Go, do whatever you have in mind,

for the LORD is with you.”

But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:

“Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD:

Should you build me a house to dwell in?

 

“‘It was I who took you from the pasture

and from the care of the flock

to be commander of my people Israel.

I have been with you wherever you went,

and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.

And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.

I will fix a place for my people Israel;

I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place

without further disturbance.

Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,

since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.

I will give you rest from all your enemies.

The LORD also reveals to you

that he will establish a house for you.

And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,

I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,

and I will make his Kingdom firm.

I will be a father to him,

and he shall be a son to me.

Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me;

your throne shall stand firm forever.’”

 

Responsorial Psalm                                              89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29

 

R.    (2)  For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

 

The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;

    through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.

For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;

    in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.

R.    For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,

    I have sworn to David my servant:

Forever will I confirm your posterity

    and establish your throne for all generations.”

R.    For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,

    my God, the rock, my savior.’

Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,

    and my covenant with him stands firm.”

R.    For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

 

Alleluia                                                                     

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

O Radiant Dawn,

splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:

come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel                                                                       Lk 1:67-79

Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:

 

    “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;

        for he has come to his people and set them free.

    He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,

        born of the house of his servant David.

    Through his prophets he promised of old

        that he would save us from our enemies,

        from the hands of all who hate us.

    He promised to show mercy to our fathers

        and to remember his holy covenant.

    This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

        to set us free from the hand of our enemies,

        free to worship him without fear,

        holy and righteous in his sight

            all the days of our life.

    You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,

        for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

        to give his people knowledge of salvation

        by the forgiveness of their sins.

    In the tender compassion of our God

        the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

        to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,

        and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

 

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Called to be Heralds of Faith

In this final day of Advent, the Church gives us Zechariah's prophecy about John the Baptist to remind us that Jesus is the reason for the season, and because John is an example of who we are. We are not the Savior, but we do carry the Savior within us. We all share the responsibility of helping others have faith in Jesus.

 

We're not able to rescue people from darkness; that's the Savior's role. God did not give us the ability to bring lost, inactive Catholics back to church; only the Good Shepherd can do that. We were not created with the power to heal the sick, free addicts from slavery to whatever drugs them, or give sight and understanding to those who are blind to the teachings of the Church; these are gifts that only the Son of God can provide.

 

We are heralds of the good news that Jesus provides these gifts. This is the calling of all Christians: We are sent forth from our own personal experiences of faith to proclaim the truth about Jesus with our lives and, when the Spirit leads, with our words. We have an extremely important responsibility to let others know that Jesus helps all those who seek him.

 

To the extent that we've allowed our faith in Christ to help us and redeem us in the midst of our problems, that's the extent to which we can inspire others so that they want to turn to him, too. We are evangelizers whenever we let others know that our faith makes a difference.

 

It's the glow of our faith in Christ that enlightens the faith of others like the dawn from on high, shining on those who dwell in darkness, guiding our feet into the way of peace. We are like the words on a sign; first people have to see the sign before they will read the message. Our actions prove our faith in Jesus; these are what get people's attention.

 

As heralds, we prepare a way into people's hearts for the Lord to enter - but not by words alone. Words are not enough to convince people that they need to come to church to worship Jesus and receive him. If we have no joy, our faith seems to be a burden instead of a gift. If we do not love as Jesus loves, our faith seems pointless.

 

We give people knowledge of salvation and forgiveness of their sins only if the overcoming of our own sins increases our faith in the tender mercy of God. Our faith in Christ, when publicly visible, is proof that he guides our feet onto the path of peace and helps us escape from the marathon journey of darkness, cynicism, and unhealed sufferings.

 

That's how Christ is born more fully into the world. That's how the Savior beams his light of truth into the darkness of others, picks them up and carries them safely in his arms to healing and freedom and forgiveness.

 

How much effort do you put into your responsibility as a herald of good news? It's critically important. It has eternal significance. Let the gift of the Lord's love shine from you with the ever-increasing confidence of faith, which is only possible if you keep your eyes on Jesus.

 

In the new season of Christmas, may our lives proclaim true faith!

 

Today's Prayer

 

I praise You and thank You, Lord Jesus my Savior, because You reveal yourself to those humble hearts who are waiting in silence to be loved and raised up to You. Amen.  

  

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God Bless You.....

The Rosary Family

The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”