A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 7, n. 4)
4th Sunday in Advent, Year B – December 21, 2008
“To God Be Glory Forever!”
BIBLE READINGS
II Sam 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 // Rom 16:25-27 // Lk 1:26-38
(N.B. Series 7 of BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY includes a prayerful study of the Sunday liturgy of Year B from the perspective of the Second Reading. For other reflections on the Sunday liturgy of Year B, please go to the PDDM Web Archives: WWW.PDDM.US and open Series 1 & 4.)
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
We are in the immediate preparation for Christmas, the Church’s celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the promised Messiah – the one who is to come - from the “house” or family of David and born of Mary, the humble virgin of Nazareth who fully responded “YES” to the divine saving plan. The mystery of Christmas is astounding … awesome … GOOD NEWS! The word of God became man. The messianic promise through the prophets and through the ages is fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, the savior of the world.
The saving mystery that we contemplate this Advent-Christmas season was summarized and extolled by Saint Paul in the last section of his letter to the Romans (Rom 16:25-27). Used as the second reading in this Sunday’s liturgy, this passage helps us to relish the mystery of Christmas and be thankful to our loving, compassionate God for the gift of our Savior Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul invites us to give glory and praise to God, the author of the Good News of salvation, the “mystery” once hidden but now fully revealed in Jesus Christ. The Good News needs to be lived out by his disciples and preached to all nations. God himself gives us the grace to be faithful to the Gospel. By his grace he strengthens us in the mission of evangelization to all peoples that they may obey God in faith.
The New American Bible English translation of the Pauline passage used in this Sunday’s Advent liturgy is a lengthy one-sentence text, which needs to be parsed and reworded. The following translation in the GOOD NEWS BIBLE, which is more readable, can help us understand better the concluding words of Paul to the early Christian community in Rome.
Let us give glory to God! He is able to make you stand firm in your faith, according to the Good News I preach about Jesus Christ and according to the revelation of the secret truth, which was hidden for long ages in the past. Now, however, that truth has been brought out into the open through the writings of the prophets; and by the command of the eternal God it is made known to all nations, so that all may believe and obey. To the only God, who alone is all-wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever! Amen. (Rom 16:25-27)
The liturgical scholar Martin Connell explains: “This passage from the letter to the Romans is an ancient literary form, a doxology, a hymn of praise and thanksgiving to God. In it the apostle Paul describes some of the many ways that God has acted on behalf of this church at Rome and, in general, on behalf of all people. This doxology mentions God at the beginning and then proceeds to praise God by going into detail about how the Gospel has been made manifest to all for salvation through Jesus. It was a common device in antiquity to use the end of the letter to praise and thank the recipient for the ways the sender’s life has been blessed by the presence and the beneficence of the recipient … Paul has already thanked many of the particular members of the Church at Rome, his fellow believers, ministers and apostles in the proclamation of the Gospel. So having thanked the individuals and their work for the Church, the apostle turns to the source of all ministries and vocations, the source of the Church and of salvation – God – and delivers his final words of thanks and praise to the Creator of all things.”
“TO GOD BE GLORY FOREVER!” was Paul’s exultant cry. In the context of the Advent-Christmas celebration, Paul’s exhortation to give glory and praise to God for the Good News – incarnated and fulfilled in Jesus Christ - is very appropriate. Indeed, we are filled with joy and thanksgiving for Christ the Savior, the reason of the yuletide season and the essential meaning of Christmas.
The following article, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” is being circulated through the Internet. Today’s Christians wish to put Christ back in Christmas. Our effort to proclaim the true spirit of Christmas within a secular, commercial, confused and fragmented society is a way of giving glory and praise to God.
JESUS IS BETTER THAN SANTA.
Santa lives at the North Pole. Jesus is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh. Jesus rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year. Jesus is an ever-present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies. Jesus supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited. Jesus stands at your door
and knocks … and then enters your heart.
You have to stand in line to see Santa. Jesus is close at the mention of his name. Santa lets you sit on his lap. Jesus lets you rest in his arms.
Santa doesn’t know your name; all he can say is “Hi, little boy/girl. What’s your name?”
Jesus knew our name before we did. Not only does he know our name. He knows our address, too. He knows our history and future, and he even knows how many hairs are on our heads.
Santa has a belly like a bowl of jelly. Jesus has a heart full of love.
All Santa can offer is HO-HO-HO! Jesus offers health, help and hope.
Santa says, “You better not cry!” Jesus says, “Cast all your cares on me
for I care for you.”
Santa’s little helpers make toys. Jesus makes new life,
mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
Santa may make you chuckle, but …. Jesus gives you joy that is your strength. While Santa puts gifts under your tree.
Jesus became our gift and died on the tree. It’s obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.
We need to put CHRIST BACK IN CHRISTMAS.
Jesus is still the reason for the season.
MAY THE LORD BLESS AND WATCH OVER YOU
AND YOUR LOVED ONES THIS CHRISTMAS 2008!
AND MAY HE PROSPER AND BLESS THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS
IN THE NEW YEAR 2009!
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
What are your feelings and concerns within this second part of the Advent season, which is an immediate preparation for the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus? Do you allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the many activities of the Advent-Christmas season? How do you keep your balance, inner peace and harmony in the hustle and bustle of the yuletide season?
Do you imitate Mary in her preparation for the wonderful saving event of the Messiah’s birth? Will you devote some of your precious moments for prayer and contemplation in order to celebrate Christmas more meaningfully and thankfully?
Do you heed Saint Paul’s exhortation, “TO GOD BE GLORY FOREVER”? Does the Christmas event move you to a spirit of praise and thankfulness? What do you do to put Christ back into “Christmas”?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Leader: Loving Father,
we thank you for the grace-filled season of Advent
and for intensifying our longing
to celebrate worthily the birth of Jesus Savior,
the fulfillment of messianic expectations.
Help us to contemplate the astounding Christmas event
with love and awe,
with praise and thankfulness.
Strengthen our faith
and help us to be ardent missionaries of the Good News
to the people around us and to all the nations.
Make us true disciples-apostles of your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him, with him, and in him
be glory and praise to you,
forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Rom 16:27)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
ACTION PLAN: By your endeavor to dedicate some precious moments to prayer and contemplation of the Christmas mystery and by your acts of charity to the poor and the people around you, let the Christmas season this year be meaningful and transforming.
ACTION PLAN: That we may give glory and praise to God the Father for his “Christmas” gift in the person of our Savior Jesus Christ, make an effort to spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the PDDM WEB site (www.pddm.us) for the EUCHARISTIC ADORATION THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR: A Weekly Pastoral Tool (Year B, vol. 5, # 4).
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US