Tag: god

The Divine in Everyday Life: A Monday Meditation

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic
Deacon Pete (marine veteran) visits the VAMC !! Happy to see my brother Deacon!

Greetings on this the Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Hebrews 1:1-6; Psalm 97:1 and 2b, 6 and 7c, 9; Mark 1:14-20

The Ordinary

Today is Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time.

What is ordinary when it comes to the divine life being shared? See the list below. And as is so often the case, the gospel portions for the week start with a calling of disciples and ends with the calling of disciples. Always the call to participate in the salvific acts of Divine Love.

Gospel portions this week – the Ordinary of God

  • Monday – [The Call of the First Disciples] Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
  • Tuesday – A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.
  • Wednesday – He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons.
  • Thursday – Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.”
  • Friday – When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”
  • Saturday – [The Call of Levi] Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.

In parallel we take a continuous reading from the Letter to the Hebrews.

  • Monday – In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through the Son.
  • Tuesday – What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you care for him?
  • Wednesday – Since the children share in blood and Flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them.
  • Thursday – The Holy Spirit says: Oh, that today you would hear his voice, “Harden not your hearts.
  • Friday – Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest.
  • Saturday – So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

Reflection on the Ordinary of God

The ordinary of the Divine is amazing to us. Each and every hour of the day the Lord is calling, healing and restoring the human family.

“This is the time of fulfillment.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

Ordinary Span

From today until March 5th, 2025 is the ordinary Time. Ordinary for the Lord, amazing gifts for us. As is often the case in life, we can fall into a type of disregard or even despise the ordinary as bland and uninteresting. It is for that very reason we have the special seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. Because we cannot or will not see the good in the ordinary the Lord in his love performs even greater good.

Celebrating Fr John’s birthday on the Baptism of the Lord. Happy to celebrate!

Even scripture describes it that way.

For in fact we have received the Good News just as our ancestors did. But the word that they heard did not profit them, for they were not united in faith with those who listened.

Let’s change it up. Let our hearts be amazed in the ordinary love he has for us.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011325.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

The Healing Power of Faith in Daily Life

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, christmas
Deign to reach and touch the divine

Greetings on this the Friday after Epiphany

Readings: 1 John 5:5-13; Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20; Luke 5:12-16

Summary

We need the Lord in all aspects of life. Small infections (which can debilitate the course of one’s life) or major bodily damage are all under the Lord’s care. He has given us the disciples (Apostles) to provide for this healing. Chief among all healing is forgiveness.

The Cleansing of a Leper (Scaly Infection)

It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” And the leprosy left him immediately.

Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal

Everyone is looking for you (MK 1:37)

Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” Great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.

One aspect of people with scaly infections is obvious: it is visual. You can see the ailment. He might have had psoriasis, or seborrhoeic dermatitis, or certain mycotic infections, or patchy eczema, and/or pityriasis rosea. Or something more serious. We don’t know. We know that skin ailments are a constant problem, reoccurring often and in need of medical care.

The Lord is always healing us. We need constant healing.

Stages of Healing

  1. Ask to be healed
  2. Receive the healing of mind, body and spirit.
  3. Go to Church (the proof statement: (a) against those who don’t believe ironically enough; (b) to maintain proper order/credit origin of care)
  4. Pray and contemplate

Order of Care in Luke

  1. The Call of Simon the Fisherman.
  2. The Cleansing of a Leper.
  3. The Healing of a Paralytic.
  4. The Call of Levi.

These two important cleansing stories of the Leper (he touched the unclean, minor healing) and the Paralytic (miraculously significant healing and forgives sin), are encapsulated by the calling of the disciples. We can assume by this placement that the disciples are to learn to do the same and are given such authority and power to heal and forgive.

Neither Footnote Nor Final Answer

These healing stories are neither a footnote to the life of Jesus nor the final answer to the divine care through Jesus. They are reminders we need healing repeatedly, significantly and the greatest healing – forgiveness. The medical arts are a gift to be sure. Yet when we look at these stories as our spiritual needs we see: pleading, helping, and forgiving.

Love heals

I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011025.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

The Observer Effect: Love’s Transformation

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, christmas
Jesus’ Essence and Action

Greetings on this the Thursday after Epiphany
Readings: 1 John 4:19–5:4; Psalm 72:1-2, 14 and 15bc, 17; Luke 4:14-22

Summary

Beloved, we love God because he first loved us. A better translation is We love because he first loved us.

What is love? Love is both a noun and a verb for you English majors so you don’t get annoyed with my reflection.

Love is a person and cannot exist without a person (as essence and action).

  1. There are persons A and B.
  2. A loves B.
  3. And you remove A you do not have “loves B” you simply have B.

Love then describes the nature of the relation between A and B, unidirectional, reciprocity is not assumed, we simply are saying A loves and A loves B. A can also love C and D and E.

Then we can say love is an expression of relation A unto B AND love is an essence of A. A possesses love essentially otherwise it cannot give love. Noun and verb.

What about B?

In quantum physics we talk about the observer effect. Observing is not passive without effect. Observing (measuring) actually changes the object fundamentally. Thus new meaning to the phrase: We love because he first loved us. The very observation (deliberately weak description) of the divine person upon us alters us. And since we are observed from the beginning of time, we can say with confidence, we are made in the image and called to the likeness of God. We are built to love ‘B loves A, too’ but not forced to love.

Receiving Love

If Object B is actively changed by the Subject A, why is there a need for trust (faith)? Because the origin of love by nature desires the nature of love to be reciprocal not consequential. So while it is impossible to be defined without the Subject A (God, if you missed it – B has it’s origin in A), A and A loves B, yet enforces no reciprocity. Or if you prefer, love is the only real response to love.

Extreme Example for contrast

God loves the Evil One. God imprinted love within the Evil One. The Evil One, by choice, rejects both his own essence, and the call of reciprocity of that essence. He is self-tortured by his very nature in contradiction to his own will. He spends his ‘time’ shielding himself from love and attempting to remove the urge to reciprocate. Awful stuff.

Reflection

“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. In our gospel portion today, Jesus affirms the love of God for us and the not simply passive observations but the active observer effect. Jesus, as man, experiences (by free will) the Love of God and describes his reciprocity many times in sacred scripture. Here he describes the effects on the person of B (me = B).

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Personal Reflection

Human love is both simple and complicated, yes? How many people across time and cultures have written, sang, philosophized about love? A Ba-zillion, rough guess. But in faith we do simplify the the reality thus:

We were made by Love (noun), we were made in love (verb) and we are called to reciprocate love (noun – essence and verb – action).
Mic drop. AI says this phrase is good but needs expansion. Really? Literally just borrowing from the current colloquial terms. Eek!

If I had a mic right now…. I’d drop it.

Let this be your prayer today: Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled [in B me] in your [in A me] hearing.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010925.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Lessons of Love: Understanding Mark 6:34-44

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, christmas
You can put yourself in the place given for you.

Greetings on this the Tuesday after Epiphany
Readings: 1 John 4:7-10; Psalm 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8; Mark 6:34-44

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins (1st John)

By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” (Gospel Mark, ff).

He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.”

He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”

And when they had found out they said, “Five loaves and two fish.” So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass. The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties. Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all.

They all ate and were satisfied.

Reflection

In our gospel portion we are taught how to love. It is clear the disciplines began to have an emerging, ordinary care and concern for all the people who are following Jesus. They were in fact concerned about their health. It’s late, deserted place (no food trucks yet) and the practical answer is to disperse them to the local villages so they can take care of themselves. No doubt this is a good sign about the disciples spiritual growth – a new way of viewing their life in response to their encounter with the Christ.

Jesus wants them to grow spiritually much more. Give them some food yourselves.

The disciples go about inventorying the available bread (their own supply, the supply of others in the crowd willing to share). A great starting point! Disciples and the people bring the gift of so little to the Lord!! Yes! Growth!!.

Jesus performs the Feeding of the Five Thousand miracle multiplication.

Then Jesus, still teaching the disciples, gives them the food to give to the people.

They all ate and were satisfied.

At the time I am sure the disciples were amazed. And how much more so for us having the advantage of looking back historically and the Eucharistic Banquet we celebrate every Mass. He is teaching us to share his gifts. Always teaching us to share.

The reading from First John allows us to embrace the ultimate sharing: forgiveness and the expiation for sins.

Poetic version: He said to them in reply, “Give them some forgiveness and expiation yourselves.”

Therefore my brothers and sisters, depending on your spiritual journey you can begin with helping the poor with food banks and spare change and that is definitely good! Like the disciples in today’s story we are invited to grow spiritually whatever our starting point. And enter into the miracle of sharing forgiveness and expiation.

Catechism: 618 The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the “one mediator between God and men”. But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, “the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery” is offered to all men. He calls his disciples to “take up [their] cross and follow [him]”, for “Christ also suffered for [us], leaving [us] an example so that [we] should follow in his steps.” In fact Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries. This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.

Personal Reflection

The Feeding of the Five Thousand. The Forgiving of the Five Thousand and the The Expiation for the Five Thousand.

Sounds massive! Me? Sounds impossible! Well, yes, ‘you-me’. And Jesus. When you give Jesus permission to satisfy, heal and aid people through you, that is exactly what he’ll do. It’s you and Jesus. You make a good team.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010725.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Blessings for the New Year: Hope and Renewal

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, christmas
Time is a gift. Use it as a precious gift. A New Year and Renewed Hope.

Greetings on this the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
The Octave Day of Christmas
Readings: Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21

Summary

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2025!

We are reminded by the blessing for all in our first reading today and with this I bless you.

The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!

Amen!!

Reflection

We celebrate the Queen of Peace as she is the Mother of the Lord, Jesus Christ. The shepherds tell of their encounter and praise God.

All mothers want a new beginning for their children.

  • Fall down? Get up.
  • Make a mistake? Say you’re sorry, move on, do better.
  • Get sick? Be patient, take good self-care.
  • Opportunity to be helpful? Take it!

You are blessed by the Lord. Difficulty does not define you, love, love defines you.
Take courage, my brothers and sisters. Take courage. Keep all these things in your heart!

Brothers and sisters:
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born under the law,
to ransom those under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
As proof that you are sons,
God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying out, “Abba, Father!”
So you are no longer a slave but a son,
and if a son then also an heir, through God.

Personal Reflection

My New Years (Eve and Day) is/was a mixed bag. I persevere because I have hope in the Lord and in our Blessed Mother’s care and intercession.

  1. Violent attack by ten thugs who wanted to use our common property at night without permission.
  2. Verbally attacked by homeowners who are not well formed or informed.
  3. Consoling a mother who lost her infant son three years ago and needs reassurance.
  4. Preparing for a funeral tomorrow.
  5. Preparing for officiating a wedding in February.

I am blessed. When I fall, I get up. When I …

Sacred Readings Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010125.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Christmas Reflections: The Sacred Heart and Divine Love

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, christmas
Sacred Heart of Jesus

Greetings on this the The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas
Readings: 1 Jn 2:18-21; PS 96:1-2, 11-12, 13; Jn 1:1-18

Summary

Combining 1 John and Gospel of John: But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. To those who accepted him he gave power to become the children of God.

Reflection

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth.

The Word was from the beginning. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

In these few short sacred writings we can begin to understand divine love.

  1. Love is from the beginning. It is our foundational attribute. It is our origin.
  2. Love is present among us in a way that we can most relate to us – as like us.
  3. Love gives of itself where we can say confidently: We are made in the image and called to the likeness of God.
  4. This is the grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The response to all our hopes, dreams, and aspirations. The relief from our grief, sadness and miseries.

Love. Love is the Divine Response.

Personal Reflection

The Octave of Christmas draws to an end and the celebration of the Christmas season continues with Joy in the remembering the Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord. So we approach a sort of revelation. The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

The Lord loves me. Exactly me and all the ‘you-mes’ there are!
The Lord made us by Love, for Love and to live in Love.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010125.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Finding Home: Reflections on Jesus’ Journey in the Temple

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, christmas
Journey path

Greetings on this the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Readings: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5.; Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17; Lk 2:41-52

Summary

The Boy Jesus in the Temple portion today is in the gospel of Luke and is also the 5th and final Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary. How this is a joyful mystery as the story of Mary and Joseph is one of anxiety and frustration?

After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”

Parents worry about their children and want the best for them. His father and mother had reasonable concerns for their son but not the fullness of their concerns. The parents of Jesus didn’t always get it right. Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?

No doubt Jesus’ response was both reassuring and disconcerting. Reassuring as he has found a home in the Church. Disconcerting because we though we are his only home. Yet, we have many homes. Our birth home. Our town home. Our Church home. And happily for many, Our marriage home.

Home, then, is where the heart is. The story is a joyful mystery as know the Lord cares for us and makes a home for us with him wherever we are.

The temple story brings another important point. It completely skips the ordinary needs of Jesus. I mean, where did he sleep? What did he eat? How was he able to bathe, where was the latrine, was he safe, was he cold at night, and the questions go on and on.

But they did not understand what he said to them.

Children are a wonder. Their thinking process is very different from fully mature persons. But they thrive nonetheless.

Jesus was ‘at home’ at home and in the temple.

At Home

He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

At Temple

In the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.

Reflection

If home is safe and loving, then the world is too. Here is an old story illustrating the point.

Two Brothers On a Journey

There were twins on a journey

and they walked at different paces but were together throughout.

As the first twin approached a city he asked local man, “What are the people like in the city?”
The man answered, “What are they like from the city you came from?”
He replied, “They are mean, disrespectful and greedy.”
The man answered, “I’m afraid that is what you’ll find the same there too.”

A short time later, the second twin approached the same city and asked the same local man, “What are the people like in the city?”
The man answered, “What are they like from the city you came from?”
He relied, “They are kind and generous.”
The man answered, “I’m happy to say that is what you’ll find the same there too.”

Personal Reflection

The Feast of the Holy Family is full of behavioral advice, yes? This is good and worthy to be followed! How we behave is how we perceive things. That can be liberating if not a bit eye opening! Who am I more like: the first twin or the second?

Sacred Readings Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122924.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

The Holy Innocents: A Call for Awareness and Change

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, christmas

Greetings on this the Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs
Readings: 1 Jn 1:5—2:2; Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8; Mt 2:13-18

Summary

No reflection that focuses on mistakes should start without the promise of redemption. We face our errors with courage because we are encouraged to be in right relation with the Lord.

My children, I am writing this to you
so that you may not commit sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins,
and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.

Franciscan Media Reflection

The Holy Innocents are few in comparison to the genocide and abortion of our day. But even if there had been only one, we recognize the greatest treasure God put on the earth—a human person, destined for eternity, and graced by Jesus’ death and resurrection (https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/holy-innocents/).

Reflection

The Feasts of the Holy Innocents and the Feast of the Holy Family this year are side-by-side in our liturgy. It is as deep of a contrast and comparison there can be. The lust of power overwhelms the families of the vicinity of Bethlehem.

  • Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.
  • He [Herod] ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under.
  • Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod.

This wasn’t the first time. Moses was also forced into exile until the Pharaoh who sought to kill him was dead. And again, during the actual exile event of the Assyrian occupation, A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.

The fate of children at the bent of an aggressive person. But not just person, professions, industries and marketing. This is true of nations with territorial ambitions. Who cannot tremble at the prospect of World War III as Europe is living in the shadow of Russian ambitions.

All worldly affairs under their control ordered to their own benefit and enrichment of material wealth at the expense and at the cost of the lives of children, the holy innocent ones.

Personal Reflection

When I serve at the altar for Mass at the Chapel of the Holy Innocents, I pray for conversion of souls. For women courage and encouragement to face the future, for the babies an end to exile, for the practitioners an awakening to the truth and for the repentance of those who gain materially from the profit they seek.

Medical health and well-being cannot be fruitful with lies and misdirection. It must be founded on truth, even when the outcome is not what I prefer. It is the same for all those who aggressively seek their alliance, advantage and accumulation.

This day of holiness, let us weep with Rachel, and at the same time hold fast to the promise given by Jeremiah.

Thus says the LORD: Cease your cries of weeping, hold back your tears! There is compensation for your labor— oracle of the LORD—they shall return from the enemy’s land. There is hope for your future—oracle of the LORD— your children shall return to their own territory.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122824.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Embracing Seclusion: Spiritual Reflections for Advent

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Advent, Catholic

Greetings on this the Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Readings: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17; Lk 1:5-25

Summary

After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived,
and she went into seclusion for five months, saying,
“So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit
to take away my disgrace before others.”

Reflection

It is good to have alone time with the Lord. Elizabeth wasn’t hiding in shame (actually the opposite -So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others). She could have ran around showing off her beautiful belly!

But no, she went into seclusion. To a sheltered or private place. In thanksgiving.

Similarly, Mary, And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

Personal Reflection

I must remember to carve out alone time with the Lord. In prayer, of course, but also in friendship. In a common recollection and reflection on his marvelous love. I put a screen shot of an Advent retreat that just passed. Maybe next year? But even now, carve out the time.

Prescription

Please carve out some seclusion. You and the Lord. Marveling the wonderful things he has done for you, me and everyone. So many examples.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121924.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

O Antiphons 2024

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Advent, Catholic, Grief

O Antiphones

Evening prayer for the 7 days leading up to Christmas Eve contains a special focus. The Antiphon for the evening Canticle of Mary starts with the mystery of Salvation History. It starts with creation and completes with Emmanuel – God is with us! 2024 Refresh.

The Canticle of Mary is given especially heightened emphasis as her great “Yes” to the Lord comes to fruition in the birth of the Son of God, Son of Man. This Magnificat prayer is directly from scripture Gospel of Luke (1:46-55). Stylized version below:

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly farmer’s foot.

He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Below each O Antiphon and a mini reflection on each. Perhaps this can be your evening prayer leading up to Christmas Eve?

December 17
O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!

Reflection: From the dawn of creation the Lord God had but one purpose, to share his infinite love. When we contemplate creation and even contemplate love itself, it is the Wisdom of God that informs us and makes intelligible his plan.

We desire to know. We desire to know him. Know him as like a Mother holds a baby. Mary held Emmanuel in her loving arms. Simeon did as well. So shall you, my friends.

R/ My Soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord….

December 18
O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power!

Reflection: The Lord God rescues us from our folly. We have this tendency to enslave others. The entire nation of Israel needed to be freed. Through His mighty power He freed them and gave Moses the Law on Mount Sinai.

The Law serves two purposes: to alert us to our negative tendencies (shall not) and to bring us to our highest perfection, to wit, Keep Holy this Day of the Lord. Mary’s keep (her womb and gift) and the fruit is her Son.

R/ My Soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord….

December 19
O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay!
Reflection: The Lord God has never forgotten. Wait on the Lord, He shall not delay. The Root of Jesse, long thought dead (400 years of no prophets speaking!). Yet now, through the earth or root of Mary comes Emmanuel.

R/ My Soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord….

December 20
O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness!

Reflection: The darkness of man is over. We are prisoners no longer to ignorance. Knowing God incarnate shall make us like Moses. We shall walk with God as one walks with a friend (Ex 33:11). Mary is the first to speak to Jesus. What did she say?

R/ My Soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord….

December 21
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.

Reflection: We live under the shadow of death. Each of us facing that final justice. May this Perpetual Light shine on us in this life and the life to come! May justice, the Justice Mary proclaims in her song, be ours in this Emmanuel!

R/ My Soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord….

December 22
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!

Reflection: We are dust and to dust we shall return. But not just dust. Breath. Rûaħ. You, O God, have made this dust alive with your own breath. Save your breath so closely knitted and integrated within us as Emmanuel is knitted within Mary.

R/ My Soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord….

December 23
O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God!

Reflection: Divine Love. Save us as only love can save. May the Law of Love guide us in all things. Let us learn to love as the way Mary beheld her son.

R/ My Soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord….

Peace be with you!

Deacon Gerry