The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, December 5, 2000
The First Week of Advent
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72:1,7-8,12-13,17
Luke 10:21-24
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
Today's readings are filled with optimism and hope; they set the tone
for our Advent prayer. Why the "stump" of Jesse? Because the Davidic
dynasty had fallen into physical and moral ruin, and only a stump
remains of former glory.
>From this "stump" shall be born the Glorious Fulfillment of all
Israel's dreams: the Messiah, the Son of David. And in Him the vision
of the Ideal Kingdom will have its fulfillment. Obviously, history
can affirm only glimpses of the ideal -- in the attempts, after wars,
of reparation, reconciliation, friendships formed with former
enemies. They are truly glimpses of Isaiah's prophecy. Reconciliation
and peace after war is always possible. In the midst of many wars in
our present-day world, we must never give up hope, never despair that
peace is still possible.
Advent is a time for bolstering our saddened spirits through prayer,
community and church efforts at studying and working according to the
guidelines of Catholic social teaching, so constantly presented in
Exhortations, Pastoral Letters, & Encyclicals from Pope John Paul II
and our bishops. What is needed is courage, constant persuasion and
teaching to the secular world around us, of God's Justice and His map
for Peace.
- Msgr. Paul Whitmore ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
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