On the day, we celebrate the birth of our Savior, join Zechariah in praise

“Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel!”

This God of Israel is the God who is ever faithful even when Israel had time and again been unfaithful.

This is the God who comes to save SINNERS.

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

When the king

 God’s plan of salvation goes a long way. Long before Jesus would be born.

God would be sending time and again signs of his coming.

John the Baptist is like Samson of the Old Testament. chosen and dedicated.

Jesus, the Nazarene, born in the city of David, Bethlehem,

will become the king of Israel and so thus fulfill the promise of God to Jacob and Jesse.

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Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a

There was a man of Zorah

The most important thing is the naming of the child. This was a serious matter in ancient times.

For a name carries with it the destiny of the bearer.

The baby could not be named frivolously. And so, after much debate, they named him John.

With Mary’s “fiat” and the call to repentance to prepare the way of the Lord by the precursor John,

and ultimately the birth of Jesus, the king of all Nations.

O come, O come Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel !

St. John of Kanty, priest

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Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24

Now I am sending

 Joseph  is kind, He is attentive to the Lord, listening for his word.

Desiring to protect Mary's reputation and save her from shame. 

“O Lord –be merciful to us and grant us the righteousness of Joseph and the obedience of Mary!

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Jeremiah 23:5-8

Yahweh further says,

 The Lord is near.

The fourth candle of Advent is called the “Angel Candle” and symbolizes peace.

Jesus came to bring peace to our hearts and to our world!

Mary, the Mother of Jesus who is honored with the title “Ark of the Covenant!”

The Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary the good news: “Hail full of grace,

the Lord is with you….for you shall conceive the Son of God!”

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Micah 5:1-4a

But you,

 Today as we enter this period of one week to the date of Christmas Day.

And in this part of the Book of Genesis, it was told that Israel,

before he passed away gathered all of his family and blessed his sons with various blessings and prayers.

The great King of Israel, who hailed from the tribe of Judah,

and to whom God had promised that his kingdom and his house would sit on the Throne of Israel forever.

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Genesis 49:2, 8-10

"Gather around,

 The sun rises from the East. A new dawn begins in the East.

John the Baptist, recognized the Messiah and so he (John) leaped for joy!

Advent will soon give way to the joy of Christmas! Let us wait for the new dawn, the Sun rising from the Orient!

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Song of Songs 2:8-14 (or Zephaniah 3:14-18a)

The voice of my lover!

 Privileges give us advantages over others. But it can also be quie dangerous.

There lurks in being privileged the danger of undue sense of entitlement.

those who repent are those whom Jesus earlier referred to as the “least in the kingdom of God” 

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Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a

He looked up and saw

 Mary was a simple young maiden in the little town of Nazareth who found favor with God.

She said “yes” to the plan of God. We are all saved.

Her espoused husband, He was a poor carpenter.

Yet these simple people were chosen to raise God's Son.

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Isaiah 7:10-14

Once again Yahweh addressed Ahaz,

 The day takes its common name from the Latin word Gaudete ("Rejoice").

 The third Sunday of Advent, On it, permitted to be rose-coloured vestments were allowed instead of purple.

 Signifies the nearness of the Lord's coming.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.

for the Lord is near at hand; you have turned away the captivity of Jacob.

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Zephaniah 3:14-18a

Cry out with joy,