SATURDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT - FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADUALUPE - 2020

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths straight,
and all mankind shall see the salvation of God. LK 3:4, 6

SIRACH 48:1-4,9-12

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

All the baptized have a mission within their vocation to prepare the Way of the Lord. Elijah and John the Baptist were indefatigable in their mission. Their zeal gave them no rest for they were aware that nothing is more important than the salvation of souls.

As disciples, we must participate in the preparation of those souls over whom we have influence whether they be our children, our spouse, our family members, friends, and colleagues. To the extent possible, we are to do all we can no matter the cost. If all we can do is pray, fast, and do penance, then that is what must do, faithfully, in season and out of season.

Lord God, may we never weary of doing all we can before we behold the beatific vision. 

Happy shall they be who see you,
and those who have fallen asleep in love.

PSALM 80:2-3, 15-17, 18-19

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

You are our Good Shepherd and we are the sheep of Your flock that You have vowed to care for, to lead to cool, green pastures, to lead to springs of clear, clean water, and to give rest. Looking at the world around us at the violence, division, hate, and disillusion, we cling to Your promises for we know that You are faithful and You keep Your Word.

 

In these difficult times when the whole world is turned upside down, we turn our faces to You for we know that You alone can save. You alone can lift the oppression that weighs down so many. You are the Vine and we are the branches, we are confident that if we cling to You, You will ensure that we remain in You. 

Thank You for Your obedience to Your Father and for coming into the world to save and redeem us. Thank You for revealing the Face of the Father to us. Thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit who makes His dwelling place in us for without Him we can do nothing that is pleasing to God. Keep us faithful, with the help of Your grace to be faithful to the end. Amen.

MATTHEW 17:10-13

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Descending from the mountain with Peter, James, and John who are still dazzled after witnessing Your transfiguration, they are now convinced that You are the One who is to come, the Messiah. But they are puzzled by what the scribes say concerning the prophecy which speaks of the prophet Elijah who will come first.  

You confirm what the scribes say is true and that Elijah has come, however, the people did not recognize him, did not believe him, but put him to death and You Yourself would suffer a similar fate. They understood that You were referring to John the Baptist who was rejected by the Jewish authorities and beheaded by Herod.  

Suffering is the lot of every disciple and unless we are prepared to pick up our cross daily and follow You we are not worthy of the name.

Elijah and John the Baptist were the voice crying in the wilderness calling the people to repentance and conversion, and we, in our time who believe are also called to prepare for Your Second Coming. We know neither the day nor the hour but we must be awake and ready always lest we are caught unawares and unprepared when that hour is upon us.