Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection December 03, 2024
First Week of Advent
03rd December 2024 (Tuesday)
Psalter: Week 1
Readings of the Day
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 neighbours, 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.
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 (R. see 7)
R/. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Behold, our Lord shall come with power; he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 10:21-24
Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Tuesday – First Week of Advent
Guidelines: The messianic times are coming. They will abound in wisdom and joy, peace and harmony. Truly they are times so assuring and comforting
1. Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit and thanks the Father. This is significant because it includes and involves all three persons of the Holy Trinity. This shows once again the perfect oneness of the Trinity.
2. Joy and thankfulness are there where Trinity is. They are the greatest signs of the presence and power of the Trinity. Therefore, whenever joy and thankfulness are missing, it is a clear sign that God is missing.
3. The reason for rejoicing and thanking is also clear. It is because God hides the heavenly mysteries from the intelligent and reveals them to the little children. These intelligent people are worldly-wise. These are experts concerning worldly knowledge and mundane matters.
4. But they are not familiar with nor are they interested in the divine matters. Especially they do not know the intimate relationship between the Father and the Son and that between the Son and his chosen ones.
5. Instead, the little ones are those who are humble and submissive. They are open, docile, and receptive to God’s promptings and works. That is why God reveals the spiritual depths to them. They open their inner eyes to see the hand of God. They open their inner ears to hear the voice of God. Thus they are truly blessed.
6. In fact, bliss and joy is the greatest gift of the Messiah. When he comes, he ushers in and establishes the messianic times. Those times are times of the Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge, and the fear of the Lord.
7. The messianic times are times of justice, righteousness, and equity. He shall not judge by appearances or peripherals or hearsay. He renders justice to the poor and the meek. But he metes out punishment to the wicked.
8. Further, the messianic times are times of peace and harmony. There will be no hatred or enmity, no aggression or violence, whereby wolf and lamb, calf and lion will dwell together. They will not hurt or destroy each other.
9. St Francis Xavier whom we venerate today is one such little one, a man of the Spirit. Through his passionate life and mission, he embodied and exemplified the Messianic times.
Practice: God’s presence is truly there where the signs of the messianic times are in full play. And the most authentic sign is the knowledge of the Lord that fills the whole earth just like the waters cover the sea
