Tuesday of the First Week of Advent

The Spirit Of The Lord

Liturgical Cycle: A | Lectionary Cycle: I

Introduction

God will make a new beginning with people in the Messiah, in Jesus. He is the young shoot sprouting from the roots of the stump from the line of David and God’s Spirit rests on him. He will bring peace – not the peace of resignation and the status quo, but the peace and harmony in the world that comes even to the poorest from justice, loyalty and integrity. In his own self he will show us what we are meant to be and what we can do with our human potentials if we let God work in us, if God’s spirit is present in us, if we learn to think with God’s wisdom and insight, if we act with his power, if we respect God’s order.
It is those who realize their own indigence, says Jesus, who are receptive to God’s gifts. With such people, Jesus can make his new beginning, also today, in this Advent.

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
you never give up on people.
Again and again you want to make
a new beginning with us.
You showed us in Jesus your Son
the kind of people you want us to be.
As your Spirit rested on him,
pour out on us the same Spirit,
that we may see our mission in life
with your wisdom and insight
and that we may have the strength
to live as we believe and hope.
Grant us this through Christ our Lord.

First Reading

Isaiah 11:1-10

On that day,
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
A Spirit of counsel and of strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
But he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land's afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra's den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.

On that day,
The root of Jesse,
set up as a signal for the nations,
The Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

R. (see 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king's son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
He shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Alleluia Verse

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, our Lord shall come with power;
he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 10:21-24

At that time, Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said:

“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and made them known to little ones.

Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. I have been given all things by my Father so that no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and he to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said to them privately:

“Fortunate are you to see what you see,

for I tell you that many prophets and kings would have liked to see what you see, but did not see it; and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

Prayers of the Faithful

Let us pray that the Spirit of God may work in us: Lord, fill us with your Spirit.

– Give us your Spirit of understanding, that we may know and understand you, our world and ourselves, we pray:

– Give us your Spirit of wisdom, that we may see even the wisdom of the cross and of suffering and grow through it, we pray:

– Give us the Spirit of justice and love, that we may honestly serve people, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,

we bring before you

this bread and this wine.

Change these gifts through your Holy Spirit

into the body and blood of your Son

and change us into a people

in whom your Son dwells

with all his faithfulness and justice,

that we may live in your peace

now and forever.

Prayer after Communion

God, in this eucharist

we have offered you our goodwill

and you have given us your Son.

Make us aware of the indigence of our hearts,

that we may see the great things

you can do in us and through us,

and that we may be open to your gifts.

Help us to grow to full stature

and to give the full measure

of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

If only Christ would be more alive among us! If only we would truly and fully live his message! If we would only let his Holy Spirit animate us! How all these would change us and our world! May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

REFLECTIONS

Childlike faith

Here, Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit, expressing gratitude that the mysteries of the kingdom are revealed not to the wise and learned but to the childlike. This revelation underscores a fundamental truth about the nature of faith and understanding in the kingdom of God.

Jesus acknowledges the profound privilege of the disciples who witness and understand the unfolding of God's plan. Their eyes see what prophets and kings longed to see but didn't. This moment emphasizes the unique role the disciples play in God's redemptive story.

The idea of God revealing things to the childlike challenges our conventional notions of wisdom and knowledge. It speaks to a humility and openness that is childlike in its simplicity and receptivity. In God's kingdom, understanding comes not just from intellectual prowess but from a heart that approaches with childlike trust.

While Jesus celebrates the disciples' insight, he also points to the responsibility that accompanies it. They are entrusted with a revelation that demands a faithful response. The privileged knowledge they possess calls for a corresponding commitment to living in alignment with God's will.

This passage prompts self-reflection: How do we approach God's mysteries? Are we humble, open, and childlike in our faith, or do we rely solely on our wisdom and understanding? The invitation is to cultivate a childlike heart, one that is receptive to the truths of God's kingdom and willing to live in obedience to the revealed will of God. May our hearts be open, our spirits receptive, and our lives aligned with the profound mysteries God graciously unveils to those with childlike faith.

3 December 2024

Seeing through the eyes of the Messiah

Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit, praising the Father for revealing His truth not to the learned and powerful but to the childlike and humble. This passage invites us to reflect on humility, justice, and the profound privilege of living in the age of the Messiah—a privilege even prophets and kings longed to see.

Isaiah's vision of harmony and restoration captures the essence of the messianic age, a time when justice flows abundantly and peace permeates creation. Pope Francis reminds us that this harmony begins in the heart, where humility opens us to God’s grace. In his homilies, the Holy Father often emphasises the importance of being “little ones”—those who rely on God rather than their own strength or intellect. Only the humble can truly embrace the radical justice and mercy of God’s kingdom.

In a world fractured by inequality and indifference, the messianic age calls us to mirror Christ’s vision of justice. Public leaders are called upon to govern with integrity, giving voice to the voiceless and ensuring justice for the marginalised. As Pope Francis challenges us, "How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?" Justice, in the spirit of Christ, must prioritise the vulnerable.

As disciples, our mission is to build a world where the poor find dignity and abundance, where the voiceless sing with joy. The greatest gift of this age is not power or wealth but seeing God’s justice unfold in the lives of the least. Blessed are we who see through the eyes of the Messiah, for ours is the kingdom of heaven.