EVANGELIO DEL DÍA

martes, 21 de diciembre de 2010

« He has looked on the lowliness of his handmaid» (Lk 1,48)

DAILY GOSPEL: 22 December
«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68

1st book of Samuel 1:24-28.
Once he was weaned, she brought him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh.
After the boy's father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli
and said: "Pardon, my lord! As you live my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD." She left him there;

1st book of Samuel 2:1.4-5.6-7.8.
And as she worshiped the LORD, she said: "My heart exults in the LORD, my horn is exalted in my God. I have swallowed up my enemies; I rejoice in my victory.
The bows of the mighty are broken, while the tottering gird on strength.
he well-fed hire themselves out for bread, while the hungry batten on spoil. The barren wife bears seven sons, while the mother of many languishes.
"The LORD puts to death and gives life; he casts down to the nether world; he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich, he humbles, he also exalts.
He raises the needy from the dust; from the ash heap he lifts up the poor, To seat them with nobles and make a glorious throne their heritage. He gives to the vower his vow, and blesses the sleep of the just. "For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he has set the world upon them.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 1:46-56.
And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,
according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. 
Lc 1,46-56
Commentary of the day 
Ludolph of Saxony (c.1300-1378), Dominican then a Carthusian
Life of Jesus Christ
« He has looked on the lowliness of his handmaid» (Lk 1,48)
Our Lord's conception was prefigured by the burning bush that burned but was not consumed (Ex 3,2) just as Mary conceived her divine son but did not lose her virginity. The same Lord who dwelt within the burning bush, dwelt also in Mary's womb. And just as he came down into that bush to deliver the Jews by leading them out of Egypt, so he came down into Mary to redeem us by drawing us out of hell.

God's choice of Mary among all women to clothe himself in flesh was prefigured by Gideon's fleece (Jg 6,36f.). For just as the fleece alone was covered with dew from heaven while all the ground round about remained dry, so too Mary alone was filled with that divine dew of which no other creature in all the world had been found worthy... The Virgin Mary is the fleece of which Jesus Christ fashioned a garment for himself. Gideon's fleece received the dew from heaven without being damaged and Mary conceived the Man-God without alteration to her virginity...

O Jesus, Son of the living God who, by the will of the heavenly Father and with the Holy Spirit's cooperation, came forth from your Father's side as the secret river from the Paradise of delights; you who, visiting the recesses of our valleys and seeing the humility of your servant, came down into the womb of the virgin where, by an ineffable conception, you put on your mortal flesh. I beseech you, O merciful Jesus, through the merits of this Virgin, your mother, to cover me, your unworthy servant, with your grace that I may burn with desire for you, may conceive you in my heart through this love, and by the aid of this same grace may produce the health giving fruits of good works. Amen.


Wednesday, 22 December 2010

St. Ischyrion, Martyr († c. 250)



SAINT ISCHYRION
Martyr
(† c. 250)


        St. Ischyrion was an inferior officer who attended on a magistrate of a certain city in Egypt. His master commanded him to offer sacrifice to the idols; and because he refused to commit that sacrilege, reproached him with the most abusive and threatening speeches.
        By giving way to passion and superstition, the officer at length worked himself up to such a degree of frenzy as to run a stake into the bowels of the meek servant of Christ, who, by his patient constancy, attained to the glory of martyrdom.

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