Year of Saint Joseph
Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"
Saint: Saint John of Kanty (1390-1473)
Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 65:11-22 The Prior of the Monastery
Mass: Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24; Resp Ps 25; Lk 1:57-66
Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the hope of all nations and their Savior: come and save us, O Lord our God!
The precious baby, one of my grandnephews, in today's photo is here not only in a fitting pose. He speaks volumes as well especially as we are presented with the ultimate "O" Antiphon and address God as "O Emmanuel." Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means 'God is with us'" (Mt 1:23). Yes, God is with us, He is our King, our Lawgiver, and our hope. At the same time, God is coming as we continue to prepare the way of the Lord and make straight His paths. We remember the words of Jesus: Let the children come and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it (Lk 18:16-17). Regain the simplicity, humility, and sense of and wonder of the childlike today. Charlie Steven and others like him can teach us. Come and save us, O Lord our God!
I include here three quotations from Pope Francis, delivered this morning during the annual exchange of Christmas greetings with the Roman Curia. And we can ask Saint John of Kanty, and Saint Joseph too, to intercede for us on our way to humility.
We often find this contradiction in our lives: sometimes great gifts are the armor that covers great frailties ...
Once we strip ourselves of our robes, prerogatives, positions and titles, all of us are lepers in need of healing. Christmas is the living reminder of this realization ...
The humble are those who are concerned not simply with the past, but also with the future, since they know how to look ahead, to spread their branches, remembering the past with gratitude. The humble give life, attract others and push onwards towards the unknown that lies ahead.
SAINT JOHN OF KANTY,
SAINT JOSEPH,
PRAY FOR US.
Today's photo: Baby Charlie Steven is back ... Lift up your head and see!
© Gertrude Feick 2021
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