Time Out; Time In

The clock has reached the appointed hour. An old year exits; a new year enters. We celebrate what has been and hope for what is to come. We toast this moment with the familiar words of the Scottish poet Robert Burns:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,

And surely I'll be mine!

And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes,

And pu'd the gowans fine;

But we've wandered mony a weary fit

Sin' auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidled i' the burn,

Frae morning sun till dine;

But seas between us braid hae roared

Sin' auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere,

And gie's a hand o' thine!

And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught

For auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne, 

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

May God bless you and keep you in 2025. May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you in the coming days and weeks. May you experience His kindness and peace the next 12 months. 

Happy New Year, Everybody!

Getting On My Feet

"Go Forward. Be Bold."

"Reclaim me."

"Amen."

They were the final words of my personal year-end review last year. As of today, while the pain of what happened in 2023 is still there (and probably will haunt me for the rest of my life), 2024 has done much to reduce it. God has lead me to restful waters and is refreshing my body as well as my soul. The past twelve months have been a time of adjustment and revival, probing and questioning, dreaming and hoping.

It is time for me to put a bow on 2024. This year's review won't be as lengthy or detailed as last year. But it will highlight some of the things I have done to make the first three sentences more of a reality.

Solid Footing

The stability of shelter and employment put an end to the stress which cause me to lose, when it was all said and done, 50 pounds of weight (I am now between 175 and 180 pounds). The three inches off my waistline is also still a feature of a more svelte figure.  The challenge is now to maintain this weight, moderate my appetite, and adopt a more healthy diet. One of the benefits my employer has are registered dieticians available for consultation. It is time to set an appointment with the person assigned to my store.

While I am figuratively working to get back on my feet, I am also literally as well. Foot callouses, causing me a great deal of pain, finally forced me to see a podiatrist in June. Not only do I have that problem, I also have a bunion. A prescription strength topical cream, new shoes with a cloth-based upper, and a set of orthotics have been part of my daily routine. Progress has been made in alleviating this issue.

What's In My Wallet

I have often made the comment regarding my financial acumen that I have done so much with so little for so long I can do anything with nothing forever. Obviously, the greatest blessing I have received is a steady, consistent stream of income from my current occupation. Along with now being a substitute crossing guard and the summer work at the amusement park (where I completed my tenth year there), 2024 will be year where I have earned the most money ever in my life. (In regards to that statement, I have no one to blame but myself for being in that state. While the poor we will have always, I have no excuses for being broke.)

I have a different set of priorities now in terms of stewardship. I can easily meet my expenses, including now being able to consistently support my parish in a small manner. I can now focus on settling debts, repaying people for the acts of financial kindness they have shown me throughout my life. I know who they are and what amount I owe. It is my take on what St. Paul wrote to the Romans (cf. 13:7-8).

Psyche Repair

Am I a bruised reed or a smoldering wick?

Yes.

As I wrote last year:

But it is my inner being which has been shaken to its very core. My psyche feels battered, bruised, bloodied, broken. All types of doubts and fears seem to be haunting me even more than usual, even as I start to dream again. The trauma of the past twelve months has made me ask if I need mental health therapy. While prayer will be the cornerstone, I wonder if counseling wouldn't be a worthwhile idea.

Yes.

A business card I found in the vestibule of the church in March has led me to someone who I am now seeing. We meet on average of about once a month, with the strong encouragement to journal between sessions. We are delving into issues of self-esteem and confidence I have needed to explore for a long time; what happened to me in 2023 only opened those wounds again. A solid foundation has been and is being established; I am gently but firmly being challenged to confront those fears I have. What is also helpful is we can also use the commonality of our Catholic faith, to bring God even more into this process.

To be continued--the counseling and the healing.

An Update

How is Catherine Garcia doing?

Glad you asked.

Unfortunately, her progress has taken a somewhat serious downward turn. While her tumor is still in remission, she began to have issues with her balance and strength, resulting in falling more. She was struggling to care for herself and maintain some semblance of independence. She was moved into a long-term care facility in May, where she currently resides. I visit her once a week and note there has been some improvement, but not nearly enough to allow her back home. She is still determined, however, to overcome this setback as well.

And, yes, I still pray for her complete recovery.

A Work In Progress

Growth only happens with change; yet, change does not represent growth. There are things in my life which have noticeably improved for the better and others for which the needle has barely moved. Metanoia is a process, whether it be spiritual or in other aspects of life.

The best barometer I have of how well I am doing is my posture, something I have struggled with all my life. I have somewhat rounded shoulders and have my weight balanced more over the balls of my feet rather than my heels. This is my baseline. If I am physically or psychologically stressed, the slouch is more pronounced, as if I am trying to hide. If I am conscious of this state of presenting myself, whether neutral or negative, I work at fighting back by standing taller; it is also the same if I have a sense of wholeness. That needs to become natural and normal. 

I have taken a few small steps; I have "miles to go". Hopefully I get there "before I sleep". 

God is not finished with me, yet.

And neither am I.

More of the same for next year; only, and always, getting better.

DR Squared: Feast Of The Holy Family Of Jesus, Mary, And Joseph (Year C)

First Reading:  Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 or 1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28

Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may be saved. For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and seeking the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it upon the children. He that loveth God, shall obtain pardon for his sins by prayer, and shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard in the prayer of days. And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up a treasure. He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children, and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard. Glory not in the dishonour of thy father: for his shame is no glory to thee. For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father, and a father without honour is the disgrace of the son. Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in his life;

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And it came to pass when the time was come about, Anna conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel: because she had asked him of the Lord.  And Elcana her husband went up, and all his house, to offer to the Lord the solemn sacrifice, and his vow. But Anna went not up: for she said to her husband: I will not go till the child be weaned, and till I may carry him, that he may appear before the Lord, and may abide always there.And after she had weaned him, she carried him with her, with three calves, and three bushels of flour, and a bottle of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord in Silo. Now the child was as yet very young:   And they immolated a calf, and offered the child to Heli. And Anna said: I beseech thee, my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord: I am that woman who stood before thee here praying to the Lord. For this child did I pray, and the Lord hath granted me my petition, which I asked of him. Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord all the days of his life, he shall be lent to the Lord. 

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 128 (127):1; V. 1-2, 3, 4-5 or Psalm 84 (83):5a: V. 2-3, 5-6, 9-10.

R. Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways.

V. Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways.

    For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it shall be well with            thee.

V. Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house.

    Thy children as olive plants, round about thy table.

V. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.

    May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: and mayest thou see the good things of Jerusalem        all the days of thy life.

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R.  Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, O Lord:

V. How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!

    My soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord.

    My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God.

V. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, O Lord: they shall praise thee for ever and ever.

    Blessed is the man whose help is from thee: in his heart he hath disposed to ascend by          steps,

V. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob.

    Behold, O God our protector: and look on the face of thy Christ.  

Second Reading:  Colossians 3:12-21 or 3:12-17 or 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24

Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy, and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience:  Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another: even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also. But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection:  And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom: teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God. All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as it behoveth in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter towards them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to indignation, lest they be discouraged.

++++++++++

Behold what manner of charity the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called, and should be the sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth not us, because it knew not him. Dearly beloved, we are now the sons of God; and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know, that, when he shall appear, we shall be like to him: because we shall see him as he is. Dearly beloved, if our heart do not reprehend us, we have confidence towards God:  And whatsoever we shall ask, we shall receive of him: because we keep his commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ: and love one another, as he hath given commandment unto us. And he that keepeth his commandments, abideth in him, and he in him. And in this we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 

Gospel Reading:  Luke 2:41-52

And his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the pasch, And when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast, And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey, and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance. And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers. And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou done so to us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? did you not know, that I must be about my father's business? And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here. 

DR Squared: Feast Of The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

First Reading:  1 John 1:5—2:2

And this is the declaration which we have heard from him, and declare unto you: That God is light, and in him there is no darkness. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he also is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the just:  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. 

Responsorial Psalm:  Ps 124 (123):7ab; V. 2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8

R. Our soul hath been delivered as a sparrow out of the snare of the fowlers.

V. If it had not been that the Lord was with us, When men rose up against us,

    Perhaps they had swallowed us up alive. When their fury was enkindled against us,

V. Perhaps the waters had swallowed us up. Our soul hath passed through a torrent:

    perhaps our soul had passed through a water insupportable.

V. The snare is broken, and we are delivered.

    Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 2:13-18

And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him. Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod:  That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Out of Egypt have I called my son. Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry; and sending killed all the men children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying:  A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

2024 Christmas Card

May your celebration of the Incarnation be filled with joy and love. May the Infant Jesus bless you with an abundance of grace and peace. May the Christ Child bestow upon you the gifts of the Spirit.

Merry Christmas, Everybody!

2024 Christmas Eve Reflection

The Gospel Reading from the Nativity of the Lord--Mass During The Day:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.

What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God.

He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.

He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.

He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.

    

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.

John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, 

‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’”

From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen God.

The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

John 1:1-18

 Of all the verses in the Bible, these may be, in my very humble opinion, the most important. This is what is known as The Last Gospel, proclaimed after the dismissal in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. This is the culmination of all the readings proclaimed in the four Masses celebrated this day.

We acknowledge this with our very being, body and soul. We genuflect on this day (and also on the Solemnity of the Annunciation; this is a departure from the Extraordinary Form where it is done at any Mass when it is recited) when in the Nicene Creed we recite the corollary verse I have placed in boldface type and highlighted in red:  (A)nd by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. We also genuflect when we encounter these words in the Angelus.

The mystery of the Incarnation. God becoming human. The second Person of the Blessed Trinity taking on the form of a slave. The Creator visibly taking His place among His creation. This will be the focus of this year's reflection.

(As a side note, lest you think these are the only thoughts I gleaned, think again. I would wager a whole series of homilies and sermons have been preached on the Prologue of the fourth Gospel. There is so much to dissect and discern. Let's just say I have plenty of material for a few more Christmas Eve Reflections.)

"How could this be...?" Even if the Blessed Virgin Mary only asked this to the archangel Gabriel, she still spoke it in wonder. We humans may attempt to fathom the mind and will of God, but our efforts versus an infinite intelligence will only produce an infinitesimal answer at best. (Actually the best answer is to be still and know that He is God.) Compare this to when Zechariah asked a similar question regarding the conception of St. John the Baptist. He was made mute for nine months because of his doubt; the Theotokos will be called "blessed" forever.

"...(N)othing is impossible for God." Gabriel's reply shows how quickly we humans forget about God's omnipotence. We see it every day in creation since "the first day" when He created ex niliho. By an act of will, it came to be. We would do well to remember this when our wills "create" something. Unfortunately, because of Original Sin, we cannot say at times "it was good".

"Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more." How well we would do to also remember this. We can only overcome our faults and frailties "with the help of His grace". We cooperate with this grace when doing good. That is when we, made in the image and likeness of God, reflect Him more perfectly and become more like Him. As St. Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians, we now only see Him dimly, as in a mirror.

We needed and need a Savior. The more broken we are from battling the world, the flesh, and the devil, the more we must acknowledge this is all too much for us. We cry, "Uncle!" We tap out. We crave and beg for mercy, as do all who recognize their sinfulness. The Divine Physician is the only one who can heal the wounds inflicted on us and at times are self-inflicted. The Son of God no less summons us to the universal call to holiness, to be perfected, to be one with Him as He is with the Father. 

“For the Son of God became man so that we might become God,” said St. Athanasius. Before the Fall, we were partakers in the divine nature of God. In order that we may share that distinction again, the consequences of the disobedience of Adam and Eve had to be reversed, so we could become the adopted children of God. But in order to do that, God had to become one like us in all things but sin. He truly had to veil Himself in human flesh, so that we may eventually see His glory. Of all the ways God could have redeemed us, He chose this way. He chose to be "the Way, the Truth, and the Life."

God had to become "Emmanuel".

And that is what we celebrate today.

Hodie Christus natus est.

"And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."

Hopeful Julbilaton

And so it begins.

Proclaimed on the Solemnity of the Ascension last May. the Universal Church celebrates a Jubilee Year in 2025. Held every 25 years since 1300 and on other occasions (eg--the Extraordinary Jubilee of 2015), this one will focus on hope:

The coming Jubilee will thus be a Holy Year marked by the hope that does not fade, our hope in God. May it help us to recover the confident trust that we require, in the Church and in society, in our interpersonal relationships, in international relations, and in our task of promoting the dignity of all persons and respect for God’s gift of creation. May the witness of believers be for our world a leaven of authentic hope, a harbinger of new heavens and a new earth (cf. 2 Pet 3:13), where men and women will dwell in justice and harmony, in joyful expectation of the fulfilment of the Lord’s promises.

Let us even now be drawn to this hope! Through our witness, may hope spread to all those who anxiously seek it. May the way we live our lives say to them in so many words: “Hope in the Lord! Hold firm, take heart and hope in the Lord!” (Ps 27:14). May the power of hope fill our days, as we await with confidence the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and glory, now and forever.

The doors are opening soon around the world.

Let us enter into His courts with thanksgiving.

 

DR Squared: Schedule Update

The readings for the four Masses of The Nativity Of Lord will all be published today, so as to not distract from the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child.

Starting in three hours, they will come at five minute intervals.

This will give you the opportunity to focus on them as part of your final spiritual preparation.

"Come to Bethlehem and see."

 

DR Squared: Tuesday Of The Fourth Week Of Advent--Mass In The Morning (Year I)

First Reading:  2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

And it came to pass when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, He said to Nathan the prophet: Dost thou see that I dwell in a house of cedar, and the ark of God is lodged within skins? And Nathan said to the king: Go, do all that is in thy heart: because the Lord is with thee. But it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:  Go, and say to my servant David: Thus saith the Lord: Shalt thou build me a house to dwell in? I took thee out of the pastures from following the sheep to be ruler over my people Israel:  And I have been with thee wheresoever thou hast walked, and have slain all thy enemies from before thy face: and I have made thee a great man, like unto the name of the great ones that are on the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, and they shall dwell therein, and shall be disturbed no more: neither shall the children of iniquity afflict them any more as they did before, From the day that I appointed judges over my people Israel: and I will give thee rest from all thy enemies. And the Lord foretelleth to thee, that the Lord will make thee a house. And when thy days shall be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son:  And thy house shall be faithful, and thy kingdom for ever before thy face, and thy throne shall be firm for ever. 

Responsorial Psalm:  89 (88):2; V. 2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29

R. The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever.

V. The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever. I will shew forth thy truth with my mouth         to generation and generation.

     For thou hast said: Mercy shall be built up for ever in the heavens: thy truth shall be             prepared in them.

V. I have made a covenant with my elect: I have sworn to David my servant:

    Thy seed will I settle for ever. And I will build up thy throne unto generation and                  generation.

V. He shall cry out to me: Thou art my father: my God, and the support of my salvation.

     I will keep my mercy for him for ever: and my covenant faithful to him.

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:67-79

And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Ghost; and he prophesied, saying:  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people:  And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant:  As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who are from the beginning:  Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us:  To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament, The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us, That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear, In holiness and justice before him, all our days. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways:  To give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto the remission of their sins:  Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us: To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace. 

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

A Final Advent Hymn

Originally written in Latin by Charles Coffin, it was translated into English by John Chandler. The setting is titled CHRISMATA, although John Wesley also set it to DONCASTER. A fitting hymn for the final hours of Advent.

1.  Lift up the Advent strain!

Behold the Lord is nigh!

Greet His approach, ye saints, again,

With hymns of holy joy.

2.  The everlasting Son,

Incarnate deigns to be;

Our God the form of slave puts on,

A race of slaves to free.

3.  Daughter of Sion, rise

To meet Thy lowly King.

Nor let the faithless heart despise

The peace He comes to bring.

4.  As Judge in clouds of light

He shall come down again,

And all His scattered saints unite

With Him in Heaven to reign.

5.  Before that dreadful day

May all our sins be gone,

The old man all be put away,

The new man all put on.

6.  Jesus, all praise to Thee,

Our joy and endless rest;

We pray Thee here our Guide to be

Our crown amid the blest.

Ero cras.

DR Squared: Monday Of The Fourth Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24

Behold I send my angel, and he shall prepare the way before my face. And presently the Lord, whom you seek, and the angel of the testament, whom you desire, shall come to his temple. Behold he cometh, saith the Lord of hosts. And who shall be able to think of the day of his coming? and who shall stand to see him? for he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller's herb:  And he shall sit refining and cleansing the silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and shall refine them as gold, and as silver, and they shall offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice. And the sacrifice of Juda and of Jerusalem shall please the Lord, as in the days of old, and in the ancient years. Behold I will send you Elias the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers: lest I come, and strike the earth with anathema. 

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. Luke 21:28b; V. Psalm 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14

R. (L)ift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand.

V. Shew, O Lord, thy ways to me, and teach me thy paths.

     Direct me in thy truth, and teach me; for thou art God my Saviour;

V. The Lord is sweet and righteous: therefore he will give a law to sinners in the way.

     He will guide the mild in judgment: he will teach the meek his ways.

V. All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth, to them that seek after his covenant and          his testimonies.

    The Lord is a firmament to them that fear him: and his covenant shall be made manifest      to them.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 1:57-66

Now Elizabeth's full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her, and they congratulated with her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father's name Zachary.  60 And his mother answering, said: Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said to her: There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came upon all their neighbours; and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea. And all they that had heard them laid them up in their heart, saying: What an one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Fourth Sunday Of Advent (Year C)

First Reading:  Micah 5:1-4a

Now shalt thou be laid waste, O daughter of the robber: they have laid siege against us, with a rod shall they strike the cheek of the judge of Israel. AND THOU, BETHLEHEM Ephrata, art a little one among the thousands of Juda: out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the ruler in Israel: and his going forth is from the beginning, from the days of eternity. Therefore will he give them up even till the time wherein she that travaileth shall bring forth: and the remnant of his brethren shall be converted to the children of Israel. And he shall stand, and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the height of the name of the Lord his God: and they shall be converted, for now shall he be magnified even to the ends of the earth. And this man shall be our peace,...

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 80 (79):4; V. 2-3, 15-16, 18-19

R. Convert us, O God: and shew us thy face, and we shall be saved.

V. Give ear, O thou that rulest Israel: thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep. Thou that sittest       upon the cherubims, shine forth

     Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses. Stir up thy might, and come to save us.

V. Turn again, O God of hosts, look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vineyard:

     And perfect the same which thy right hand hath planted: and upon the son of man                 whom thou hast confirmed for thyself.

V. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand: and upon the son of man whom thou           hast confirmed for thyself.

     And we depart not from thee, thou shalt quicken us: and we will call upon thy name.    

Second Reading:  Hebrews 10:5-10

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith: Sacrifice and oblation thou wouldest not: but a body thou hast fitted to me:  Holocausts for sin did not please thee. Then said I: Behold I come: in the head of the book it is written of me: that I should do thy will, O God. In saying before, Sacrifices, and oblations, and holocausts for sin thou wouldest not, neither are they pleasing to thee, which are offered according to the law. Then said I: Behold, I come to do thy will, O God: he taketh away the first, that he may establish that which followeth. In the which will, we are sanctified by the oblation of the body of Jesus Christ once.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 1:39-45

And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda. And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:  And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Saturday Of The Third Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Song of Songs 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18a

The voice of my beloved, behold he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping over the hills. My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart. Behold he standeth behind our wall, looking through the windows, looking through the lattices. Behold my beloved speaketh to me: Arise, make haste, my love, my dove, my beautiful one, and come. For winter is now past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers have appeared in our land, the time of pruning is come: the voice of the turtle is heard in our land:  The fig tree hath put forth her green figs: the vines in flower yield their sweet smell. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come:  My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hollow places of the wall, shew me thy face, let thy voice sound in my ears: for thy voice is sweet, and thy face comely.

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Give praise, O daughter of Sion: shout, O Israel: be glad, and rejoice with all thy heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord hath taken away thy judgment, he hath turned away thy enemies: the king of Israel the Lord is in the midst of thee, thou shalt fear evil no more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not: to Sion: Let not thy hands be weakened. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save: he will rejoice over thee with gladness, he will be silent in his love, he will be joyful over thee in praise. 

Responsorial Psalm:  33 (32):1a, 3a; V. 2-3, 11-12, 20-21

R. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just:  Sing to him a new canticle,

V. Give praise to the Lord on the harp; sing to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten         strings 

     Sing to him a new canticle, sing well unto him with a loud noise.

V. But the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever: the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

     Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he hath chosen for his           inheritance.

V.  Our soul waiteth for the Lord: for he is our helper and protector.

      For in him our heart shall rejoice: and in his holy name we have trusted.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 1:39-45

And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda. And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:  And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Friday Of The Third Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Isaiah 7:10-14

And the Lord spoke again to Achaz, saying:  Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God either unto the depth of hell, or unto the height above. And Achaz said: I will not ask, and I will not tempt the Lord. And he said: Hear ye therefore, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you to be grievous to men, that you are grievous to my God also? Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 24 (23):7c, 10 b; V. 1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

R. (T)he King of Glory shall enter in; he is the King of Glory.

V. The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof: the world, and all they that dwell therein.

For he hath founded it upon the seas; and hath prepared it upon the rivers.

V. Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord: or who shall stand in his holy place?

The innocent in hands, and clean of heart, who hath not taken his soul in vain,

V. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his Saviour.

This is the generation of them that seek him, of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 1:26-38

And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:  Because no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Thursday Of The Third Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a

Now there was a certain man of Saraa, and of the race of Dan, whose name was Manue, and his wife was barren. And an angel of the Lord appeared to her, and said: Thou art barren and without children: but thou shalt conceive and bear a son. Now therefore beware and drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing. Because thou shalt conceive and bear a son, and no razor shall touch his head: for he shall be a Nazarite of God, from his infancy, and from his mother's womb, and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines. And when she was come to her husband she said to him: A man of God came to me, having the countenance of an angel, very awful. And when I asked him who he was, and whence he came, and by what name he was called, he would not tell me. But he answered thus: Behold thou shalt conceive and bear a son: beware thou drink no wine, nor strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite of God from his infancy, from his mother's womb until the day of his death. And she bore a son, and called his name Samson. And the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.  And the spirit of the Lord began to be with him....

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. Psalm 71 (70):8; V. 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17

R. Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may sing thy glory;

V. Be thou unto me a God, a protector, and a place of strength: that thou mayst make me safe.

    For thou art my firmament and my refuge.  4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the sinner, 

V.  For thou art my patience, O Lord: my hope, O Lord, from my youth;

     By thee have I been confirmed from the womb: from my mother's womb thou art my protector.

V. I will enter into the powers of the Lord: O Lord, I will be mindful of thy justice alone.

    Thou hast taught me, O God, from my youth: and till now I will declare thy wonderful works.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 1:5-25

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth. And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame. And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years. And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God, According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord. And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John:  And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice in his nativity. For he shall be great before the Lord; and shall drink no wine nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people. And Zachary said to the angel: Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years. And the angel answering, said to him: I am Gabriel, who stand before God: and am sent to speak to thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time. And the people were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they understood that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he made signs to them, and remained dumb. And it came to pass, after the days of his office were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying:  Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he hath had regard to take away my reproach among men.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Wednesday Of The Third Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Jeremiah 23:5-8

Behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will raise up to David a just branch: and a king shall reign, and shall be wise, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In those days shall Juda be saved, and Israel shall dwell confidently: and this is the name that they shall call him: the Lord our just one. Therefore behold the days to come, saith the Lord, and they shall say no more: The Lord liveth, who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt:  But the Lord liveth, who hath brought out, and brought hither the seed of the house of Israel from the land of the north, and out of all the lands, to which I had cast them forth: and they shall dwell in their own land.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 72 (71):7; V. 2, 12-13, 18-19

R. (J)ustice spring up, and abundance of peace, till the moon be taken away.

V. Give to the king thy judgment, O God: and to the king's son thy justice:

     To judge thy people with justice, and thy poor with judgment.

V. For he shall deliver the poor from the mighty: and the needy that had no helper.

    He shall spare the poor and needy: and he shall save the souls of the poor.

V. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone doth wonderful things. 

    And blessed be the name of his majesty for ever: and the whole earth shall be filled with his majesty. 

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 1:18-25

Now the generation of Christ was in this wise. When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name JESUS. For he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying:  Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took unto him his wife. And he knew her not till she brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

Updated "O's"

It is perhaps my most popular as well as best received output on the 'blog. It is a chronical of the development of what meager writing skills I have. It is also a testament to my dedication to this form of social media.

Once again this infinitesimal corner of the universe presents its annual meditations on the "O" Antiphons. This yearly tradition presents each of the seven antiphons spoken or chanted just before the Magnificat in the Liturgy of the Hours/Daily Office. They are also used as the Gospel Acclamation at daily Masses, save for the one which falls on Sunday.

As I noted last year, one of the reflections I was using no longer has a link. Along with reflections by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, starting today I also am presenting a video series produced by the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey in Silverado, CA along with my very own humble musings. The first two should be of tremendous value. Your mileage will vary on my thoughts.

As these have appear throughout the years, there have been additions and revisions. This is a series where I can actually document the evolution of these posts, as I have not deleted any of the previous ones I created. Much like this 'blog and its creator, they are still works in progress.

In any event, as we come into the final days of Advent, I hope these still are edifying for those who come across them. May they be a source of inspiration to complete your preparation for Christmas.

They begin to make their appearance later today.

 

DR Squared: Tuesday Of The Third Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Genesis 49:2, 8-10

Gather yourselves together, and hear, O ye sons of Jacob, hearken to Israel your father:  Juda, thee shall thy brethren praise: thy hands shall be on the necks of thy enemies: the sons of thy father shall bow down to thee. Juda is a lion's whelp: to the prey, my son, thou art gone up: resting thou hast couched as a lion, and as a lioness, who shall rouse him? The sceptre shall not be taken away from Juda, nor a ruler from his thigh, till he come that is to be sent, and he shall be the expectation of nations.

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. Psalm 72 (71):7; V. 72:2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17

R. (J)ustice spring up, and abundance of peace, till the moon be taken away.

V. Give to the king thy judgment, O God: and to the king's son thy justice:

     To judge thy people with justice, and thy poor with judgment.

V. Let the mountains receive peace for the people: and the hills justice.

    He shall judge the poor of the people, and he shall save the children of the poor:

V. In his days shall justice spring up, and abundance of peace, till the moon be taken away.

    And he shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

V. Let his name be blessed for evermore: his name continueth before the sun.

    And in him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed: all nations shall magnify him.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 1:1-17

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:  Abraham begot Isaac. And Isaac begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Judas and his brethren. And Judas begot Phares and Zara of Thamar. And Phares begot Esron. And Esron begot Aram. And Aram begot Aminadab. And Aminadab begot Naasson. And Naasson begot Salmon.  And Salmon begot Booz of Rahab. And Booz begot Obed of Ruth. And Obed begot Jesse. And Jesse begot David the king. And David the king begot Solomon, of her that had been the wife of Urias. And Solomon begot Roboam. And Roboam begot Abia. And Abia begot Asa. And Asa begot Josaphat. And Josaphat begot Joram. And Joram begot Ozias. And Ozias begot Joatham. And Joatham begot Achaz. And Achaz begot Ezechias. And Ezechias begot Manasses. And Manasses begot Amon. And Amon begot Josias. And Josias begot Jechonias and his brethren in the transmigration of Babylon. And after the transmigration of Babylon, Jechonias begot Salathiel. And Salathiel begot Zorobabel. And Zorobabel begot Abiud. And Abiud begot Eliacim. And Eliacim begot Azor. And Azor begot Sadoc. And Sadoc begot Achim. And Achim begot Eliud. And Eliud begot Eleazar. And Eleazar begot Mathan. And Mathan begot Jacob.  And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So all the generations, from Abraham to David, are fourteen generations. And from David to the transmigration of Babylon, are fourteen generations: and from the transmigration of Babylon to Christ are fourteen generations.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Monday Of The Third Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a

And lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel abiding in their tents by their tribes: and the spirit of God rushing upon him, He took up his parable and said: Balaam the son of Beor hath said: The man hath said, whose eye ire stopped up:  The hearer of the words of God hath said, he that hath beheld the vision of the Almighty, he that falleth, and so his eyes are opened:  How beautiful are thy tabernacles, O Jacob, and thy tents, O Israel! As woody valleys, as watered gardens near the rivers, as tabernacles which the Lord hath pitched, as cedars by the waterside. Water shall flow out of his bucket, and his seed shall be in many waters. For Agag his king shall be removed, and his kingdom shall be taken awry. (H)erefore taking up his parable, again he said: Balaam the son of Beor hath said: The man whose eye is stopped up, hath said:  The hearer of the words of God hath said, who knoweth the doctrine of the Highest, and seeth the visions of the Almighty, who falling hath his eyes opened:  I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near. A STAR SHALL RISE out of Jacob and a sceptre shall spring up from Israel:

Responsorial Psalm:   cf. Psalm 25:4b; V. 4b-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9

R. (T)each me thy paths.

V. Shew, O Lord, thy ways to me, and teach me thy paths.

    Direct me in thy truth, and teach me; for thou art God my Saviour;

V. Remember, O Lord, thy bowels of compassion; and thy mercies that are from the                beginning of the world. According to thy mercy remember thou me: for thy goodness'          sake, O Lord.

V. The Lord is sweet and righteous: therefore he will give a law to sinners in the way.

    He will guide the mild in judgment: he will teach the meek his ways.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 21:23-27

And when he was come into the temple, there came to him, as he was teaching, the chief priests and ancients of the people, saying: By what authority dost thou these things? and who hath given thee this authority? Jesus answering, said to them: I also will ask you one word, which if you shall tell me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? But they thought within themselves, saying:  If we shall say, from heaven, he will say to us: Why then did you not believe him? But if we shall say, from men, we are afraid of the multitude: for all held John as a prophet. And answering Jesus, they said: We know not. He also said to them: Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Third Sunday of Advent (Year C)

First Reading:  Zephaniah 3:14-17

Give praise, O daughter of Sion: shout, O Israel: be glad, and rejoice with all thy heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord hath taken away thy judgment, he hath turned away thy enemies: the king of Israel the Lord is in the midst of thee, thou shalt fear evil no more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not: to Sion: Let not thy hands be weakened. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save: he will rejoice over thee with gladness, he will be silent in his love, he will be joyful over thee in praise.

Responsorial Psalm:  Is 12:6; V. 2-3, 4, 5-6

R. Rejoice, and praise, O thou habitation of Sion: for great is he that is in the midst of thee,       the Holy One of Israel.

V. Behold, God is my saviour, I will deal confidently, and will not fear:

    O because the Lord is my strength, and my praise, and he is become my salvation.

    You shall draw waters with joy out of the saviour's fountains:

V. And you shall say in that day: Praise ye the Lord, and call upon his name:

    make his works known among the people: remember that his name is high.

V. Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath done great things: shew this forth in all the earth.

    Rejoice, and praise, O thou habitation of Sion: for great is he that is in the midst of thee,      the Holy One of Israel.

Second Reading:  Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. Let your modesty be known to all men. The Lord is nigh. Be nothing solicitous; but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 3:10-18

And the people asked him, saying: What then shall we do? And he answering, said to them: He that hath two coats, let him give to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do in like manner. And the publicans also came to be baptized, and said to him: Master, what shall we do? But he said to them: Do nothing more than that which is appointed you. And the soldiers also asked him, saying: And what shall we do? And he said to them: Do violence to no man; neither calumniate any man; and be content with your pay. And as the people were of opinion, and all were thinking in their hearts of John, that perhaps he might be the Christ; John answered, saying unto all: I indeed baptize you with water; but there shall come one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to loose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. And many other things exhorting, did he preach to the people.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here. 

DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint John Of The Cross, Priest And Doctor Of The Church

First Reading:  1 Corinthians 2:1-10a

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not in loftiness of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of Christ. For I judged not myself to know anything among you, but Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not in the persuasive words of human wisdom, but in shewing of the Spirit and power; That your faith might not stand on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among the perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, neither of the princes of this world that come to nought; But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, a wisdom which is hidden, which God ordained before the world, unto our glory:  Which none of the princes of this world knew; for if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him. But to us God hath revealed them, by his Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 37 (36):30a; V. 37:3-4, 5-6, 30-31

R. The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom:

V. Trust in the Lord, and do good, and dwell in the land, and thou shalt be fed with its               riches.

     Delight in the Lord, and he will give thee the requests of thy heart.

V. Commit thy way to the Lord, and trust in him, and he will do it.

     And he will bring forth thy justice as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

V. The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom: and his tongue shall speak judgment.

     The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps shall not be supplanted.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 14:25-33

And there went great multitudes with him. And turning, he said to them:  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not carry his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you having a mind to build a tower, doth not first sit down, and reckon the charges that are necessary, whether he have wherewithal to finish it:  Lest, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that see it begin to mock him, Saying: This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, about to go to make war against another king, doth not first sit down, and think whether he be able, with ten thousand, to meet him that, with twenty thousand, cometh against him? Or else, whilst the other is yet afar off, sending an embassy, he desireth conditions of peace. So likewise every one of you that doth not renounce all that he possesseth, cannot be my disciple.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint Lucy, Virgin And Martyr

First Reading:  Isaiah 48:17-19

Thus saith the Lord thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord thy God that teach thee profitable things, that govern thee in the way that thou walkest. O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments: thy peace had been as a river, and thy justice as the waves of the sea, And thy seed had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof: his name should not have perished, nor have been destroyed from before my face.

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. John 8:12; V. Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

R. (H)e that followeth me...shall have the light of life.

V. Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly,

     nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence.

     But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night.

V. And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters

    which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season.

    And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.

V. Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the          earth.

    For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: and the way of the wicked shall perish.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 11:16-19

But whereunto shall I esteem this generation to be like? It is like to children sitting in the market place. Who crying to their companions say: We have piped to you, and you have not danced: we have lamented, and you have not mourned. For John came neither eating nor drinking; and they say: He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say: Behold a man that is a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of publicans and sinners. And wisdom is justified by her children.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Wednesday Of The Second Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Is 40:25-31

And to whom have ye likened me, or made me equal, saith the Holy One? Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these things: who bringeth out their host by number, and calleth them all by their names: by the greatness of his might, and strength, and power, not one of them was missing. Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel: My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Knowest thou not, or hast thou not heard? the Lord is the everlasting God, who hath created the ends of the earth: he shall not faint, nor labour, neither is there any searching out of his wisdom. It is he that giveth strength to the weary, and increaseth force and might to them that are not. Youths shall faint, and labour, and young men shall fall by infirmity. But they that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall take wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 103:1; V. 1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10

R. Bless the Lord, O my soul

V. Bless the Lord, O my soul: O Lord my God, thou art exceedingly great. Thou hast put on        praise and beauty:

    And art clothed with light as with a garment. Who stretchest out the heaven like a pavilion:

V. Who coverest the higher rooms thereof with water. Who makest the clouds thy chariot:             who walkest upon the wings of the winds.

     Who makest thy angels spirits: and thy ministers a burning fire.

V. The mountains ascend, and the plains descend into the place which thou hast founded for         them.

     Thou sendest forth springs in the vales: between the midst of the hills the waters shall pass.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Tuesday Of The Second Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Isaiah 40:1-11

Be comforted, be comforted, my people, saith your God. Speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to her: for her evil is come to an end, her iniquity is forgiven: she hath received of the hand of the Lord double for all her sins. The voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the wilderness the paths of our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh together shall see, that the mouth of the Lord hath spoken. The voice of one, saying: Cry. And I said: What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the glory thereof as the flower of the field. The grass is withered, and the flower is fallen, because the spirit of the Lord hath blown upon it. Indeed the people is grass:  The grass is withered, and the flower is fallen: but the word of our Lord endureth for ever. Get thee up upon a high mountain, thou that bringest good tidings to Sion: lift up thy voice with strength, thou that bringest good tidings to Jerusalem: lift it up, fear not. Say to the cities of Juda: Behold your God:  Behold the Lord God shall come with strength, and his arm shall rule: Behold his reward is with him and his work is before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather together the lambs with his arm, and shall take them up in his bosom, and he himself shall carry them that are with young.

Responsorial Psalm: cf. Isaiah 40:10; V. Psalm 96 (95):1-2, 3 and 10ac, 11-12, 13

R. Behold the Lord God shall come with strength

V.  Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: sing to the Lord, all the earth.

     Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name: shew forth his salvation from day to day.

V. Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people.

    Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned. he will judge the people with justice.

V. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, let the sea be moved, and the fulness        thereof:

    The fields and all things that are in them shall be joyful. Then shall all the trees of the          woods rejoice

V. Before the face of the Lord, because he cometh: because he cometh to judge the earth.

    He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with his truth. 

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 18:12-14

What think you? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray: doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go to seek that which is gone astray? And if it so be that he find it:  Amen I say to you, he rejoiceth more for that, than for the ninety-nine that went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here. 

DR Squared: Second Sunday Of Advent (Year C)

First Reading:  Baruch 5:1-9

Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of thy mourning, and affliction: and put on the beauty, and honour of that everlasting glory which thou hast from God. God will clothe thee with the double garment of justice, and will set a crown on thy head of everlasting honour. For God will shew his brightness in thee, to every one under heaven. For thy name shall be named to thee by God for ever: the peace of justice, and honour of piety. Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high: and look about towards the east, and behold thy children gathered together from the rising to the setting sun, by the word of the Holy One rejoicing in the remembrance of God. For they went out from thee on foot, led by the enemies: but the Lord will bring them to thee exalted with honour as children of the kingdom. For God hath appointed to bring down every high mountain, and the everlasting rocks, and to fill up the valleys to make them even with the ground: that Israel may walk diligently to the honour of God. Moreover the woods, and every sweet-smelling tree have overshadowed Israel by the commandment of God. For God will bring Israel with joy in the light of his majesty, with mercy, and justice, that cometh from him.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 126 (125):3; V. 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6-7.

R. The Lord hath done great things for us: we are become joyful.

V. When the Lord brought back the captivity of Sion, we became like men comforted.

     Then was our mouth filled with gladness; and our tongue with joy.

V. Then shall they say among the Gentiles: The Lord hath done great things for them.

     The Lord hath done great things for us: we are become joyful.

V. Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as a stream in the south.

    They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

V. Going they went and wept, casting their seeds.

     But coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves.  

Second Reading:  Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11

Always in all my prayers making supplication for you all, with joy; For your communication in the gospel of Christ from the first day until now. Being confident of this very thing, that he, who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus. For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge, and in all understanding:  That you may approve the better things, that you may be sincere and without offence unto the day of Christ, Filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 3:1-6

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea, and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina; Under the high priests Annas and Caiphas; the word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert. And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins; As it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled; and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight; and the rough ways plain; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint Ambrose, Bishop And Doctor Of The Church

First Reading:  Ephesians 3:8-12

To me, the least of all the saints, is given this grace, to preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ, And to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which hath been hidden from eternity in God, who created all things:  That the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places through the church, According to the eternal purpose, which he made, in Christ Jesus our Lord:  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Responsorial Psalm:  Ps 89 (88):2; V. 2-3, 4-5, 21-22, 25 and 27

R. The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever.

V. The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever. I will shew forth thy truth with my mouth to generation and generation.

     For thou hast said: Mercy shall be built up for ever in the heavens: thy truth shall be prepared in them.

V.  I have made a covenant with my elect: I have sworn to David my servant:

     Thy seed will I settle for ever. And I will build up thy throne unto generation and generation.

V. I have found David my servant: with my holy oil I have anointed him.

    For my hand shall help him: and my arm shall strengthen him.

V. And my truth and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

    He shall cry out to me: Thou art my father: my God, and the support of my salvation. 

Gospel Reading:  John 10:11-16

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flieth: and the wolf catcheth, and scattereth the sheep:  And the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling: and he hath no care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know mine, and mine know me. As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for my sheep. And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Friday Of The First Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Isaiah 29-17-24

Is it not yet a very little while, and Libanus shall be turned into charmel, and charmel shall be esteemed as a forest? And in that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and out of darkness and obscurity the eyes of the blind shall see. And the meek shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. For he that did prevail hath failed, the scorner is consumed, and they are all cut off that watched for iniquity:  That made men sin by word, and supplanted him that reproved them in the gate, and declined in vain from the just. Therefore thus saith the Lord to the house of Jacob, he that redeemed Abraham: Jacob shall not now be confounded, neither shall his countenance now be ashamed: But when he shall see his children, the work of my hands in the midst of him sanctifying my name, and they shall sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall glorify the God of Israel:  And they that erred in spirit, shall know understanding, and they that murmured, shall learn the law.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 27 (26):1; V. 1, 4, 13-14

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation

V. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?

    The Lord is the protector of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?

V.  One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of          the Lord all the days of my life.

      That I may see the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple.

V.  I believe to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

     Expect the Lord, do manfully, and let thy heart take courage, and wait thou for the Lord.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 9:27-31

And as Jesus passed from thence, there followed him two blind men crying out and saying, Have mercy on us, O Son of David. And when he was come to the house, the blind men came to him. And Jesus saith to them, Do you believe, that I can do this unto you? They say to him, Yea, Lord. Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith, be it done unto you. And their eyes were opened, and Jesus strictly charged them, saying, See that no man know this. But they going out, spread his fame abroad in all that country.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.