AD MULTOS ANNOS, FRANCISCUS!
Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 62 The Priests of the Monastery
Mass: Gn 49:2, 8-10; Resp Ps 72; Mt 1:1-17
Rejoice, O heavens, and exult, O earth; for our Lord will come to show mercy to his poor.
Today we begin the countdown to Christmas, the celebration of the Feast of the birth of Jesus Christ the Lord, the Word made Flesh who dwells among us. We notice the readings at Mass taking a different tone, focusing us more and more on the First Coming of the Son of God, whereas during the first part of Advent we focused more on the Second Coming at the end of time. We prepare during these days by singing the 'O' Antiphons, used as Magnificat antiphons at Vespers, and for the verse of the Gospel Acclamation at Mass. Each antiphon begins by invoking the Lord with 'O', then names Christ, using one of his attributes described in Scripture. Each antiphon concludes with a distinct petition to the coming Lord. On this eighth day before Christmas, we praise O Wisdom.
O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end, mightily and sweetly ordering all things; come and teach us the way of prudence.
We are also gifted this day with listening to St Matthew's account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of Abraham. It is a passage worth our reflection.
OF HER WAS BORN JESUS WHO IS CALLED THE CHRIST.
Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
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