The Magnificent Promises Of GOD

 "I will sing forever, O YAHWEH, of YOUR love, and proclaim YOUR faithfulness from age to age.

I will declare how steadfast is YOUR love, how firm YOUR faithfulness.

YOU said, 'I have made a Covenant with David, MY chosen one; I have made a pledge to MY servant.  I establish his descendants forever; I build his throne for all generations.'

He will call on ME, 'YOU are my FATHER, my GOD, my Rock, my Savior.'

I will keep MY Covenant firm forever, and MY love for him will endure."

- Psalm 89:2-3. 4-5. 27. 29

(Those very powerful words "love" and "faithfulness" occur not without a purpose.  JESUS has explained to us in no uncertain terms throughout the Gospels the power of these words.  If only these could become part of our daily agenda, then we can assure ourselves of happiness here on earth and eternity.

Here is a good psalm to pray in times of national or international conflict.  If a human being is injured, GOD is injured.  The love of GOD is faithful.  Despite everything, the love of GOD cannot turn back.)

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Birth Of John The Baptist

"When the time came for Elizabeth, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the merciful LORD had done a wonderful thing for her, and they rejoiced with her.

When on the eight day they came to attend the circumcision of the child, they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father.  But his mother said, 'Not so; he shall be called John.'  They said to her, 'No one in your family has that name'; and they asked the father by means of signs for the name he wanted to give.  Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote on it, 'His name is John,' and they were very surprised.  Immediately Zechariah could speak again and his first words were in praise of GOD.

A holy fear came on all in the neighborhood, and throughout the Hills of Judea the people talked about these events.  All who heard of it pondered in their minds and wondered, 'What will this child be?'  For they understood that the hand of the LORD was with him." - Luke 1:57-66 

(What was circumcision?  The cutting of the skin called "foreskin" of the male organ, was an ancient custom of Oriental people.  It was one of those "initiation rites" which, among some people, mark the passage of an adolescent into adult society.  Circumcision was a religious rite intended to ensure fertility.

Circumcision took on a new meaning for Israel:  it was considered the distinct sign of their belonging to the chosen people.  A foreigner could enter the religious community of Israel only by being circumcised.) 

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The Song Of Mary

"And Mary said:

'My soul proclaims the greatness of the LORD,

my spirit exults in GOD my savior!

HE has looked upon HIS servant in her lowliness,

and people forever will call me blessed.

The Mighty One has done great things for me,

Holy is HIS name!

From age to age HIS mercy extends

to those who live in HIS presence.

HE has acted with power and done wonders,

and scattered the proud with their plans.

HE has put down the mighty from their thrones

and lifted up those who are downtrodden.

HE has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

HE held out HIS hand to Israel, HIS servant,

for HE remembered HIS mercy,

even as HE promised our fathers,

Abraham and his descendants forever.'

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned home." - Luke 1:46-56  

(About Mary's canticle.  Mary, so unobtrusive in the Gospel, having no part in JESUS' ministry, is the one who proclaims the historical revolution begun with the coming of the Savior.

She proclaims:

- the mercy of GOD who always keeps HIS promises,

- the change that is to take place in the human condition.

The song of Mary also expresses the deepest feeling of the Christian soul.  There is a time for us to seek truth, to discover what our major duties are and to become truly and essentially human.  There is a time for asking from and serving GOD.  In the long run, we come to understand that divine love seeks out what is poorer and weaker to fill it and make it great.  Then our only prayer becomes thanksgiving to GOD for HIS understanding and merciful designs.)

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The Visitation

"Mary then set out for a town in the Hills of Judah.  She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb.  Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit, and giving a loud cry, said, 'You are most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  How is it that the mother of my LORD comes to me?  The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy.  Blessed are you who believed that the LORD's word would come true!" - Luke 1:39-45  

(The angel's message has not left Mary alone with her problems.  The angel spoke of her elderly cousin, Elizabeth.  With her Mary will share her joy and her secret.  Mary, quite young [was she more than fifteen?], will learn from her many things that Joseph could not tell her.  What had been foretold to Zechariah will now be fulfilled:  'Your son will be filled with the Holy Spirit while in the womb of his mother.'

 

What is most important in history is not what is spectacular.  The Gospel prefers to draw our attention to life-filled events.
  

A few years later, Jewish crowds would go to John the Baptist looking for the word of GOD.  No one would wonder how he received the Spirit of GOD, and no one would know that a humble girl, Mary, put GOD's plan in motion on that Visitation Day.

 

Blessed are you who believed!  What is important is not that Mary is the mother of JESUS in the flesh, and this, JESUS will repeat.  Mary, who has become the Temple of GOD, communicates the Spirit - the Spirit of JESUS.)

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The Virgin Is With Child

"Once again YAHWEH addressed Ahaz, 'Ask for a sign from YAHWEH your GOD, let it come either from the deepest depths or from the heights of heaven.'

But Ahaz answered, 'I will not ask, I will not put YAHWEH to the test.'

Then Isaiah said, 'Now listen, descendants of David.  Have you not been satisfied trying the patience of people, that you also try the patience of my GOD?  Therefore, the LORD HIMSELF will give you a sign:

The Virgin is with child and bears a son and calls HIS name Immanuel." - Isaiah 7:10-14  

(The prophecy about the Virgin giving birth is one of the most important in the Scriptures even though it leaves some questions unanswered.

To support his warnings, Isaiah offers a miraculous sign to the king: Ask the LORD....  Ahaz piously refuses to hide his determination not to turn back [cf. verse 12].  Then, the prophet explodes in anger: these descendants of David whom GOD has always protected are useless: a descendant of David of another kind will be able to bring salvation to GOD's people.  YAHWEH is preparing to send HIM.  HIS mother [called here the Virgin gives HIM the name HE will deserve [cf. verse 14].  Before this future king may bring peace, HE will be raised humbly [verse 15].  Before that Ahaz's and his followers' absurd politics would certainly bring total ruin to the country.)

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Samson's Birth Foretold

"There was a man of Zorah of the tribe of Dan, called Manoah.  His wife could not bear children.  The Angel of YAHWEH appeared to this woman and said to her, 'You have not borne children and have not given birth, but see, you are to conceive and give birth to a son.  Because of this, take care not to take wine or any alcoholic drink, nor to eat unclean foods from now on, for you shall bear a son who shall be a Nazirite of YAHWEH from the womb of his mother.  Never shall his hair be cut for he is consecrated to YAHWEH.  He shall begin the liberation of the Israelites from the Philistine oppression.'

The woman went to her husband and told him, 'A messenger of GOD who bore the majesty of an angel spoke to me.  I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name.

But he said to me:  'You are to conceive and give birth to a son.  Henceforth, you shall not drink wine or fermented drinks, nor eat anything unclean, for your son shall be a Nazirite of GOD from the womb of his mother until the day of his death'.

The woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson.  The boy grew and YAHWEH blessed him.  Then the Spirit of YAHWEH began to move him when he was in Mahane Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol." - Judges 13:2-7. 24-25  

(Samson seems to have been a man from the countryside who had extraordinary strength and fought on his own account against the Philistines.  Legend attributes to him numerous feats.

Samson is said to have been miraculously born of a barren couple.  This was in accordance with GOD's ways, as seen in the case of Abraham's son [Genesis 18], and in the case of Samuel [1 Samuel 1], and still later John the Baptist [Luke 1:5].

The child must be a Nazirite, i.e., consecrated to GOD, according to a very ancient rite in the Bible [Numbers 6:1].  This consecration to GOD is the source of his strength.)

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JESUS Born Of A Virgin Mother

"This is how JESUS CHRIST was born:  Mary HIS mother had been given to Joseph in marriage but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy.  He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to discredit her.

While he was pondering over this, an angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.  She has conceived by the Holy spirit, and now she will bear a son.  You shall call HIM 'JESUS' for HE will save HIS people from their sins.'

All this happened in order to fulfill what the LORD had said through the prophet.  The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and HE will be called EMMANUEL which means GOD-with-us.  When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the LORD had told him to do and he took his wife to his home.  He did not have any marital relations with her.  When she gave birth to a son, Joseph gave HIM the name JESUS." - Matthew 1:18-25  

(JESUS is not the son of Joseph.  The beginning of the paragraph intends to remind us that JESUS is both a legitimate son of David through Joseph and the Son of GOD conceived through the Holy Spirit by a virgin-mother.

These short and almost bashful sentences do not dare to unveil the mystery of Mary, the virgin through whom life on earth touches GOD and offers itself as an oblation.  A messenger breaks through the night and speaks with silent words: the world is open to the active presence of GOD.

Mary was engaged.  Engagements gave to the Jewish people practically every right of marriage, especially conjugal rights.  The only difference was that women continued to live under the parents' tutelage and in their parental home.  The Jews were markedly a "macho" society. A woman necessarily belonged to a man, either to her father, her husband, or her son. Mary was already the wife of Joseph, but she could not be under his authority until he brought her to his home.

The virginity of Mary was not in keeping with the Jewish mentality that gave first place to fecundity.  It was not so unusual that Joseph would accept such a situation.  At this time certain Jews belonging to the party of the Essenes lived celibacy, as did the monks.

Joseph made plans to divorce her secretly.  The Gospel is not precise as to his reasons for so doing.  In any case it is unthinkable that people might have doubted Mary's fidelity.

The intervention of the angel in the Gospel is not to reassure Joseph but to inform him of his role in the plan of GOD.  You shall call HIM "JESUS', and you will receive HIM as your son.  Joseph was a "descendant of David" and JESUS adopted by Joseph would be a legitimate descendant of David. Most probably Mary did not even belong to the tribe of Judah, which was that of David, but like her cousin Elizabeth, she belonged to a family of priests of the tribe of Levi.) 

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John The Baptist Presents JESUS, The Lamb Of GOD

"This was the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites to ask him, 'Who are you?'  John recognized the truth and did not deny it.  He said, 'I am not the Messiah.'

And they asked him, 'Then who are you?  Elijah?'  He answered, 'I am not.'  They said, 'Are you the prophet?'  And he answered, 'No.'  Then they said to him, 'Tell us who you are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us.  How do you see yourself?'  And John said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, 'I am the voice crying out in the wilderness:  Make straight the way of the LORD.' 

Those who had been sent were Pharisees; so they put a further question to John:  'Then why are you baptizing if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?'  John answered, 'I baptize you with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know; although HE comes after me, I am not worthy to untie the strap of HIS sandal.'

This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing." - John 1:19-28  

(The authorities wondered:  "Who is this who on his own initiative has begun to preach?"  At that time, various Jewish groups "baptized", or bathed, as a means of purification and to hasten the coming of the Messiah.

The Messiah is the name the Jews gave to the expected Savior.  They also expected the Prophet, but it was not clear whether or not the Prophet would be someone other than the Messiah.  It was believed that the prophet Elijah would reappear before the Messiah's arrival.)

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The Transfiguration Of JESUS

"Six days later, JESUS took with HIM Peter and James, and his brother John, and led them up a high mountain, where they were alone.  JESUS' appearance was changed before them: HIS face shone like the sun, and HIS clothes became white as snow.  Then suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with JESUS.

Peter spoke up and said to JESUS, 'Master, it is good for us to be here.  If YOU wish, I will make three tents: one for YOU, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.'

Peter was still speaking, when a bright cloud covered them with its shadow; and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is MY Son, the Beloved, MY Chosen One.  Listen to HIM.'

On hearing the voice, the disciples fell to the ground, full of fear.  But JESUS came, touched them, and said, 'Stand up, do not be afraid!'  When they raised their eyes, they no longer saw anyone except JESUS.  And as they came down the mountain, JESUS commanded them not to tell anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man be raised from the dead." - Matthew 17:1-9  

(This manifestation of the transfiguration of JESUS is in fact one of the most important in the New Testament.  In the liturgy of oriental Churches, the feast of the Transfiguration holds a place of supreme importance.

Though not the summit, it is in fact the summary of all revelation.  Moses and Elijah, the spokesmen of the Law and the Prophets [in a word, of all the Old Testament] present the CHRIST of the Gospel to the apostles Peter, James and John, those who will be responsible for the preaching of the Gospel.

As Moses and Elijah were led by GOD to the Holy Mountain, to witness HIS glory [Exodus 33:18; 1 Kings 19:9], so the apostles are led apart by JESUS; they too climb the mountain and there JESUS manifests HIS glory to them.

JESUS had just announced HIS passion and HIS death: the day had come when the FATHER confirmed HIS end that was very near [Luke 9:31] and gave HIM a foretaste of HIS resurrection.  Moses and Elijah were the witnesses, they who, in a certain way, escaped the corruption of death [Deuteronomy 34:6; 2 Kings 2:11].

A cloud formed covering them in a shadow.  The cloud mentioned here is that which, in several episodes of the Scriptures, both indicates and hides the mysterious presence of GOD [Exodus 19 and 1 Kings 8:10].

Listen to HIM.  The apostles have been accompanying JESUS for more than a year, with misunderstanding increasing between HIM and the religious authorities of the people of GOD.  For them a question could arise: Is not JESUS mistaken?  Are not the certitudes of GOD's people on the side of the priests and scribes?

The FATHER HIMSELF intervenes, just as HE had done in the past for John the Baptist: Listen to HIM!  "Listen to HIM for HE is the Word made flesh" [John 1:14; Hebrews 1:1].  HE is the Prophet, and all the others speak only for HIM [Deuteronomy 18:17].

When JESUS worked miracles for the sick, and over the forces of nature, HE showed that the present order of the world is not permanent.  Now the curtains are partially opened: would that the apostles understood that the Son of Man, as JESUS calls HIMSELF, is close to HIS resurrection.  In a little while HIS fellow citizens will hang HIM on a cross.  In a little while, too, the FATHER will give HIM the glory that awaits HIM.  The shining cloud, the dazzling white clothes are external signs that indicate something of the mystery of JESUS: the day HE rises from among the dead, HIS human nature will be transformed and extended by divine Energies, so that HE may fill everything in everyone.)

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Two Ways Of Living

"Blessed is the man 

who does not go where the wicked gather,

or stand in the way of sinners,

or sit where the scoffers sit!

Instead, he finds delight in the law of YAHWEH

and meditates day and night 

on HIS commandments.

He is like a tree beside a brook

producing its fruit in due season,

its leaves never withering.

Everything he does is a success.

But it is different with the wicked.

They are like chaff

driven away by the wind.

For YAHWEH knows the way of the righteous

but cuts off the way of the wicked."

- Psalm 1:1-2. 3. 4. 6

(The sharp contrast between the virtuous and the wicked is characteristic of the Hebrew thought and its uncompromising literary expression.  The psalmist was conscious of the mixture of good and bad in himself and in others around him.  As St. Paul said much later--and he spoke for everyone--'I can want to do what is right, but I am unable to do it' [Romans 7:18].  Aware of this tension in ourselves, we recite this psalm with a feeling of hypocrisy.  This is no proclamation of one's own virtue but a constant self-reminder that we all have a choice.  We may never reach the extremes either of virtue or of vice, but we are at every moment making for one or the other.  It is salutary to remind ourselves what the end of each road is.  It is better still to remember that we have a powerful companion along the virtuous road, but along the wicked one, we are alone.) 

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