Week 3 - Thursday

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
[Luke 1:27 -31]

Reflection

What should Christians look like to the world in which we live? How could other people know by our words and actions that we are followers of Christ? What should make us distinctive and stand out from non-Christians? How can we be the light of the world and the salt of the earth as our Lord says we should be?

Advent Action

If we are to teach by example, make plans to teach someone during the Holiday season. A child or friend could learn by your actions.

Morning Star

"Morning star" refers to the last star near the eastern horizon that is visible to the naked eye before the sun rises and the star becomes invisible. (Usually the morning "star" is Venus which of course, is not a star but a planet.)

The title "Morning Star" is given to Mary. She is the last star visible in the sky before Jesus, the Light of the World, enters the human race.

It is an ancient practice in many different cultures to pray each morning. In pagan cultures, the prayer was often directed to the new light coming over the horizon.

Why Christ came to earth

by Archbishop Fulton Sheen

You may remember from Shakespeare the famous speech of Mark Anthony over Caesar. He said, "I will show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor, poor dumb mouths and bid them speak for me." Instead of showing you Caesar's wounds, I shall show you the wounds of Christ, who is both God and man, the only one who ever came to this earth to die and to conquer it. You and I came into the world to live; he came into the world to offer his life for us. And so he founded a new type of religion.

All other religions, without exception, go from man to God, either by contemplation or by a kind of mortification and self-denial. One, for example, is the eightfold path of Buddha. But with our Blessed Lord, religion comes from God to man. We need help and, particularly, redemption from sin.

Source: Through the Year With Archbishop Fulton Sheen. IgnatiusInsight.com

Gospel: The annunciation to Mary - Luke 1: 26-38

Malankara World Journal Issue: 110

Mary said to the angel Gabriel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man? And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God…Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."…Luke 1: 26-38

If I were told by an angel what God planned to accomplish through me in the weeks and years ahead, I'd probably ask, as Mary did, "How can this be?"

In fact, I'd probably have a whole list of questions for the angel.

How can this be…given my lack of power and influence…or my weaknesses…or my health problems…or my sinfulness?"

Get ready for this. The angel's answer would be the same as the answer to Mary. It will happen through the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that came upon Mary comes upon me.

It is God who accomplishes through me whatever good I do, just as it was God who accomplished the Incarnation through Mary. And Mary's answer is best: "God, whatever you want."

God is saying to you: "Do not be afraid."

God wants to accomplish something through me?

Really? To whom should I speak about this?

Why, God, of course.

Spend some quiet time with the Lord.

Prayer