Mary Wondered, Marveled But Was Not Confused, Because Her Faith Was Beyond Wavering!

 "So, they came hurriedly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the feeding trough.  On seeing HIM, they related what they had been told about the child; and all were astonished on hearing the shepherds.

As for Mary, she treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.

The shepherds then returned, giving glory and praise to GOD for all they had heard and seen, just as the angels had told them.

On the eight day, the circumcision of the baby had to be performed; HE was named JESUS, the name the angel had given HIM before HE was conceived." - Luke 2:16-21 

(Mary treasured all these words, because every event of her life was for her the way GOD revealed HIS plans to her, and all the more so now that she was living with JESUS.  She wondered, marveled but was not confused, because her faith was beyond wavering.  However, she too had to discover the ways of salvation slowly and painfully.  She pondered on these things until the time of the Resurrection and Pentecost when all the words and deeds of JESUS became clear.)   

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Reject The Antichrist

 "My dear children, it is the last hour.  You were told that an antichrist would come; but several antichrists have already come, by which we know that it is now the last hour.

They went out from us, though they did not really belong to us.  Had they belonged to us, they would have remained with us.  So, it became clear, that not all of us were really ours.

But you have the anointing from the Holy One.  So that all of you have true wisdom.

I write to you, not because you lack knowledge of the truth, but because you already know it, and lies have nothing in common with the truth." - 1 John 2:18-21 

(To be sure we are walking in the light, we must reject the antichrist and remain steadfast in the faith and in what faith teaches.  The believers of John's days knew that before the glorious return of CHRIST, an antichrist would appear.  John says: the person who denies that JESUS is the CHRIST already is an antichrist.  Today there are still many people who make a distinction: on one hand the JESUS, lost in the mist of legend and on the other hand an idealized CHRIST adored by believers.  John says: "The one who has come in history, HE HIMSELF is eternal GOD."

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Duties Towards Parents

 "For the LORD established that children should respect their father; HE confirmed the right of the mother over her children.

Whoever honors his father atones for his sins; he who gives glory to his mother prepares a treasure for himself.

Whoever honors his father will receive joy from his own children and will be heard when he prays.

Whoever glorifies his father will have a long life.  Whoever obeys the LORD gives comfort to his mother.  He serves those who brought him to birth as he would serve the LORD.

My child, take care of your father in his old age, do not cause him sorrow as long as he lives.

Even if he has lost his mind, have patience; do not be disrespectful to him while you are in full health.

For kindness done to one's father will never be forgotten, it will serve as reparation for your sins." - Sirach 3:2-7. 12-14 

(This is the best commentary on Moses' commandment concerning children's responsibilities toward their parents.  To honor our parents means to respect, to be understanding and to offer material assistance in their difficulties.)

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JESUS Is Presented In The Temple

 "When the day came for the purification according to the law of Moses, they brought the baby up to Jerusalem to present HIM to the LORD, as it is written in the law of the LORD: Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to GOD.  And they offered a sacrifice as ordered in the law of the LORD: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

There lived in Jerusalem, at this time, a very upright and devout man named Simeon; the Holy Spirit was in him.  He looked forward to the time when the LORD would comfort Israel; and he had been assured, by the Holy Spirit, that he would not die before seeing the Messiah of the LORD.  So, he was led into the temple by the Holy Spirit at the time the parents brought the child JESUS to do for HIM according to the custom of the law.  

Simeon took the child in his arms and blessed GOD, saying,

'Now, O LORD, YOU can dismiss YOUR servant in peace,

for YOU have fulfilled YOUR word

and my eyes have seen YOUR salvation,

which YOU display for all the people to see.

Here is the light YOU will reveal to the nations,

and the glory of YOUR people Israel.'

HIS father and mother wondered at what was said about the child.  Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, HIS mother, 'Know this: your Son is a sign; a sign established for trhe falling and rising of many in Israel, a sign of contradiction; and a sword will pierce your own soul so that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.'" - Luke 2:22-35 

(Mary and Joseph went to the temple to fulfill a ritual of the Jewish religion [Leviticus 12:8].  JESUS being a firstborn male must be consecrated to GOD [Exodus 13:1].

Simeon and Ana like Mary and Joseph belong to the "small remnant of Israel."  This minority of GOD's people live their faith in humility and faithfulness to the prophets' teaching: GOD knows how to make HIMSELF known to them.

What is the meaning of the sword that will pierce Mary's soul?  It indicates Mary's grief upon seeing her Son die on the cross.  It also signifies that Mary will suffer because she will not always understand what her Son does.  The best shared love will not prevent each from remaining a mystery to the other, and more so for GOD than for anyone else.  GOD does not watch our fidelity from heaven, but rather seeks us [HE tries us in the sense of asking us to reveal ourselves].  The love of the FATHER will be Mary's cross just as it would be for JESUS.

CHRIST is GOD's light which enlightens people, but which also blinds and confuses them at times.  HE is a sign that is opposed, but this is a mystery--those who oppose HIM are not always the worst.  There are some people who believe in CHRIST, but do not follow HIM.  Unable to see HIS light they do not know that it condemns them.  There are good people who do not believe because GOD wills that they seek the light their whole life long.)

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Escape To Egypt

 "After the wise men had left, an angel of the LORD appeared in a dream to Joseph, and said, 'Get up, take the child and HIS mother, and flee to Egypt and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon be looking for the child in order to kill HIM.'

Joseph got up, took the child and HIS mother and left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod.  In this way, what the LORD had said through the prophet was fulfilled: I called MY Son out of Egypt.

When Herod found out that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was furious.  He gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its neighborhood who were two years old or under.  This was done, according to what he had learned from the wise men about the time when the star appeared.

In this way, what the prophet Jeremiah had said was fulfilled: A cry is heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation: Rachel weeps for her children.  She refuses to be comforted, for they are no more." - Matthew 2:13-18 

(In relating the story about the slaughter of innocent children and the flight into Egypt, Matthew quotes two verses from the prophets Hosea and Jeremiah about the trials and sufferings of GOD's people in past times.  JESUS must live in exile and anguish, as did HIS ancestors.  Persecution begins with HIS birth and will follow HIM till HIS death.  Mary [and Joseph to a lesser degree] was associated with JESUS' sufferings and saving mission.

Christian tradition has always held that the "Innocents" associated with the Passion of CHRIST without having wished it also shared in HIS glory without having merited it.  This invites us to be mindful of the fact that the mysterious love of GOD envelops millions of massacred children and other hundreds of millions killed before seeing the light of day.  What should we think of so many stifled possibilities?  Individuals and society responsible for this disaster suffer the consequences; but GOD has all destinies in hand, HE knows them in in advance, and no one by destroying life is able to limit GOD's generosity.  No matter how much innocent blood the enemies of the Gospel spill, they will not be able to extinguish the Church or to block GOD's plans.)

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Life Became Visible

 "This is what has been from the beginning, and what we have heard and have seen with our own eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, I mean the Word who is Life...

The Life made itself known.  We have seen Eternal Life and we bear witness; and we are telling you of it.  It was with the FATHER and made HIMSELF known to us.

So, we tell you what we have seen and heard that you may be in fellowship with us, and us with the FATHER and with HIS Son, JESUS CHRIST.

And we write this that our joy may be complete." - 1 John 1:1-4

(John will not speak about miracles, or revelations, or secrets jealously kept by some members.  The truth that HE relates to us is both simpler and more divine than all this: GOD, the Eternal Life, has come to live with us.

Life became visible.  Do not look for miracles or miraculous powers.  Do not expect fantastic revelations about the beyond.  Life was revealed as the gift of the FATHER, the rebirth of a humanity without hope, the divine smile, the unexpected visit of the one seeking to share HIKS life with humans [Proverbs 8:31].  We will not find life merely in books, but through communion with those who have seen and experienced it before us, and who became HIS Church.)

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Confident Prayer In Distress

 "Give heed to my plea and make haste to rescue me.  Be a rock of refuge for me, a fortress for my safety.

For YOU are my rock and my stronghold, lead me for YOUR name's sake.

Into YOUR hands I commend my spirit; YOU have redeemed me, O YAHWEH, faithful GOD.

I will rejoice and be glad in YOUR love, for YOU have seen my affliction; YOU know the agony of my soul.  

My days are in YOUR hand.  Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, from those after my skin.

In the shelter of YOUR presence, YOU hide them from human wiles; YOU keep them in YOUR dwelling, safe from the intrigues of wagging tongues."

- Psalm 31:3-4. 6. 8. 16. 21

(This psalm has so many nuances and so many different perspectives that, whoever prays with it, can remain wherever he feels more comfortable.  At the end of the psalm, love prevails.

The psalmist appears to be in a state of desperation.  At times, we too can identify ourselves with such a situation.  However, he does not give up hope when he asks the LORD to. "Save me in YOUR love" in the very last words.  There also are prophetic words in this psalm as JESUS HIMSELF in Luke 23:46 utters the words, "Into YOUR hands I commend MY spirit."  JESUS once again shows us the way, even at the last hour.  Our hope and trust in the LORD can be restored by repeatedly praying with this psalm.)

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"YOU Are MY Son, I Have Begotten YOU Today."

 "GOD has spoken in the past to our ancestors through the prophets in many different ways, although never completely; but, in our times, HE has spoken definitively to us through HIS Son.

HE is the one GOD appointed heir of all things since, through HIM, HE unfolded the stages of the world.

HE is the radiance of GOD's glory and bears the stamp of GOD's hidden being, so that HIS powerful word upholds the universe.  And after taking away sin, HE took HIS place at the right hand of the divine Majesty in heaven.

So, HE is now far superior to angels, just as the name HE received sets HIM apart from them.  To what angel did GOD say: YOU are MY Son, I have begotten YOU today?  And to what angel did HE promise: I shall be a FATHER to HIM, and HE will be a Son to ME?  On sending HIS firstborn into the world, GOD says: Let all the angels adore HIM." - Hebrews 1:1-5

(The addressees of this letter were formed by a religion in which the role of the high priest, consecrated by GOD, was essential.  The author wants to show that now JESUS is the only high priest on whom people can depend.  The starting point of his argument is the unique dignity of JESUS, not a prophet or a supernatural personage like so many others, but rather, the Son of GOD.  Every word of this verse asserts that JESUS is unique, GOD born of GOD [John 1:1-14].)

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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 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 make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth."

- Psalm 89:2-3. 4-5. 27. 29

(Those very powerful words "love" and "faithfulness" occur in this psalm not without a purpose.  JESUS has explained to us in no uncertain terms throughout the Gospel 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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I Send My Messenger To Prepare The Way

 "Now I AM sending MY messenger ahead of ME, to clear the way; then, suddenly, the LORD, for whom you long, will enter the Sanctuary.  The envoy of the Covenant which you so greatly desire, already comes, says YAHWEH of hosts. Who can bear the day of HIS coming and remain standing when HE appears?  For HE will be like fire in the foundry and like the lye used for bleaching.

HE will be as a refiner or a fuller.  HE will purify the sons of Levi and refine them, like gold and silver.  So YAHWEH will have priests who will present the offering as it should be.  Then YAHWEH will accept with pleasure the offering of Judah and Jerusalem, as in former days.

'I AM going to send you the prophet Elijah before the day of YAHWEH comes, for it will be a great and terrible day.  He will reconcile parents with their children, and the children with their parents, so that I may not have to curse this land when I come.'" - Malachi 3:1-4. 23-24 

(Now I AM sending MY messenger.  To those complaining that GOD does not reveal HIS justice, nor reward sufficiently those who serve HIM, Malachi responds by declaring that the LORD will come soon.  HE announces the coming of a messenger of GOD who will be responsible for preparing the way for HIM, and that will be the sign of HIS coming soon.)

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