{"id":188668,"date":"2015-12-19T11:35:26","date_gmt":"2015-12-19T17:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.austincnm.com\/?p=188668"},"modified":"2015-12-21T12:31:13","modified_gmt":"2015-12-21T18:31:13","slug":"sunday-says-podcast-december-20-2015-mass-readings-reflections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/12\/sunday-says-podcast-december-20-2015-mass-readings-reflections\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Says Podcast – December 20, 2015 Mass Readings and Reflections"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fourth Sunday in Advent<\/p>\n

Sunday December 20, 2015<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Lectionary: 12 (NAB Translation<\/b><\/a>)<\/p>\n

Welcome to the Sunday Says podcast for December 20, 2015, the fourth Sunday of Advent.\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for joining us as we break open the Word of God to prepare our hearts and minds for this Sunday\u2019s Mass.\u00a0 This week’s readings take us back to Old Testament prophecies that point to a Messiah coming from Bethlehem followed by the Epistle to the Hebrews where we are introduced to the theology of Christ’s sacrifice.\u00a0 Finally in the Gospel of Luke we hear the familiar story of the Visitation, when Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth.\u00a0 As always we are using the Jerusalem translation for copyright purpose.<\/p>\n

Reading 1<\/b><\/p>\n

Micah 5:1-4<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Our first reading is from the book of Micah in the Old Testament.\u00a0 Micah was a prophet in the southern kingdom of Judah who was active in 8th Century B.C. (during the same period of time as Isaiah).\u00a0 Micah was from the countryside and much of his preaching focused on the criticism of Judah’s leaders who had betrayed their responsibility.\u00a0 In this passage for Advent, Micah proclaims that a Messiah will come from the humble area of Bethlehem-Ephrathah, who will rule as a shepherd of his people, who will “feed his flock” and “be peace.”\u00a0 The Blessed Virgin Mary is also referenced in this passage as “she who is to give birth.”\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The nativity story in the gospel of Matthew is seen as the fulfillment of this prophecy.<\/p>\n

Responsorial Psalm<\/b><\/p>\n

Psalm 80:2-3,15-16,18-19<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

The response for the responsorial Psalm is, “Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.”\u00a0 This Psalm clearly looks forward to the coming Messiah in verse 3 when it says calls on the Shepherd to stir up His power and come to save us.<\/p>\n

Reading 2<\/b><\/p>\n

Hebrews 10:5-10<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

This week\u2019s second reading is from Epistle to the Hebrews.\u00a0\u00a0 The Epistle to the Hebrews contains mature theological teaching and focuses on Jesus’ eternal priesthood\u00a0 and sacrifice.\u00a0 The author of this letter makes the point that because Jewish sacrifices had to be repeated, they were ultimately not effective.\u00a0 Rather than sacrificing animals, Jesus gave His very own life for love of us and in obedience to God.\u00a0 Jesus understood that the Old Law with its rituals and sacrifices could not accomplish salvation.\u00a0 In love for His father, Jesus makes an eternal<\/i> sacrifice, commemorated in the Eucharist, where He offers Himself up, once and for all. This offering of Himself as both Priest and Victim can also be seen as personal example that others can follow.<\/p>\n

Gospel<\/b><\/p>\n

Luke 1:39-44<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

In this amazing passage from St. Luke’s Gospel,\u00a0 we see Mary’s generous nature as she goes off to aid her cousin Elizabeth.\u00a0 Without any selfish concerns Mary goes quickly and as soon as Elizabeth hears Mary\u2019s greeting, we are told that the child John the Baptist leapt in her womb.\u00a0 It is at this point that the prophecy from Luke 1:15 is fulfilled that said, “he will be filled with the Holy\u00a0Spirit.”\u00a0\u00a0 Elizabeth, too, inspired by the Holy Spirit, proclaims Mary to be the “mother of my Lord.”\u00a0\u00a0 In one succinct passage we are given a preview of evangelization as Mary in essence brings Christ to Elizabeth and to John the Baptist who in turn will prepare the way for Jesus’ ministry.\u00a0 We also see the joy of faith, and hope in the Lord who fulfills His promises and comes to us this Christmas as our own Savior.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gospel Meditation from Bishop V\u00e1squez<\/p>\n

Reflection question<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cI come to do your will.\u201d This was Jesus\u2019 mission statement. By Mary\u2019s obedience to God\u2019s will, the Divine Word becomes man. When we do God\u2019s will, God\u2019s presence is made manifest in us. Do we take time to listen to and cooperate with God\u2019s will or are we too focused on our own will? What is God asking of you today and this week?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fourth Sunday in Advent Sunday December 20, 2015 Lectionary: 12 (NAB Translation) Welcome to the Sunday Says podcast for December 20, 2015, the fourth Sunday of Advent.\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for joining us as we break open the Word of God to prepare our hearts and minds for this Sunday\u2019s Mass.\u00a0 This week’s readings take us… [Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[258],"tags":[215,55,62,50,37,330,266,131,491,598],"class_list":{"0":"post-188668","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sundaysays","7":"tag-bible","8":"tag-catholic-2","9":"tag-evangelization","10":"tag-faith","11":"tag-gospel","12":"tag-jesus","13":"tag-liturgy-of-the-word","14":"tag-mass","15":"tag-scripture","16":"tag-theology","17":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":43036,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/12\/sunday-says-podcast-december-22-2013-mass-readings-reflections\/","url_meta":{"origin":188668,"position":0},"title":"Sunday Says Podcast \u2013 December 22, 2013 Mass Readings and Reflections","author":"Crist\u00f3bal Almanza Herrera","date":"December 22, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Sunday December 22, 2013 Fourth Sunday of Advent (NAB translation) Lectionary: 10 \u00a0 We are now in the fourth Sunday of Advent, and Christ is near. In this week of Advent we focus less on the second coming of Jesus and more on the preparation of Christmas. 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