This Week’s Gospel Message for Sunday, December 9th is from Luke 3:1-6.
“John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’”
“A baptism of repentance, which John proclaims throughout the region, is both wonderful and challenging. The baptism part of it is cleansing and life-giving. But repentance—truly feeling remorse for what we have done and turning away from sin—is difficult … God acts in our lives, but we must act as well. God’s grace does not release our responsibility.”
Source: Pastoral Patterns, Winter 2018-2019
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday Isa 35:1-10; Luke 5:17-26
Tuesday Isa 40:1-11; Matt 18:12-14
Wednesday Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Luke 1:39-47
Our Lady of Guadalupe (Feast) – This feast commemorates the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin in 1531 at Guadalupe, near Mexico City. Mary, looking like a Mexican princess, appeared four times to Juan Diego. She left her image on a cloak that is preserved in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Source: Living with Christ, December 2018)
Thursday Isa 41:13-20; Matt 11:11-15
Saint Lucy, Virgin & Martyr (Memorial) – Lucy was born to a noble family in Syracuse, Sicily, and martyred in the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. During the Middle Ages, people suffering from eye trouble began invoking Lucy’s aid because her name is derived from the Latin word for “light” (lux). She is also associated with festivals of light. (Source: Living with Christ, December 2018)
Friday Isa 48:17-19; Matt 11:16-19
Saint John of the Cross, Priest & Doctor of the Church (Memorial) – Born into poverty, John entered the Carmelites and was ordained. With St. Teresa of Avila, he helped reform his order and create the reformed (Discalced) Carmelites. But his reforms were opposed, and he was imprisoned for almost a year. John viewed the spiritual life as a journey of the soul to divine union. (Source: Living with Christ, December 2018)
Saturday Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Matt 17:9a, 10-13