December 19

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 63:10-19
Mass: Jg 13:2-7, 24-25a; Resp Ps 71; Lk 1:5-25

Be careful to take no wine or strong drink and eat nothing unclean.

The angels are busy today. One appears to the barren and childless wife of Manoah. Another appears to Zechariah whose wife was Elizabeth; they were childless, advanced in years. None of these people expected to be starting a family at this point in their lives. God had other designs on them. The woman bore a son and named him Samson. The boy grew up and the Lord blessed him; the Spirit of the Lord stirred him; Elizabeth will bear a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.

Silence, prayer, listen, act. Be prepared. God is full of surprises.

MY MOUTH SHALL BE FILLED WITH YOUR PRAISE, AND I WILL SING YOUR GLORY!

(Resp Ps 71)

We continue with the 'O' Antiphons on this sixth day before Christmas and praise O Root of Jesse.

O Root of Jesse, who stand as a sign among the people, before whom kings shall shut their mouths, to whom the nations shall make supplication: come to deliver us, and tarry not.

Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

Advent is a time for us to prepare for the coming of Jesus, Prince of Peace. It's time to make peace with ourselves and our neighbor.
(Pope Francis, Twitter, December 19, 2018)