DECEMBER 19, 2021 FOURT H SUNDAY OF ADVENT

AUDACIT Y

There is a spirit of audacity in our readings today. During a time of injustice and threat of invasion, the prophet Micah boldly announces that the God of insignificant Israel will raise up a leader from backwater Bethlehem, and this leader will bring justice and peace to the whole world. In the Gospel, Elizabeth and Mary, marginalized women, brazenly celebrate that their sons will be world-changing instruments of God. We further learn that this audacity is rooted in trust in God. The author of Hebrews describes the faithful obedience of Jesus. Mary is shown as the exemplar of faithful trust in God. This is the way God often seems to work, in the ordinary and marginalized in our world. Those who seem weak have learned to trust in God’s strength. These have the audacity to become instruments of God’s peace and justice.

TODAY’S READINGS

First Reading — From Bethlehem-Ephrathah shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel (Micah 5:1-4a).

Psalm — Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved (Psalm 80).

Second Reading — We have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:5-10).

Gospel — Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken by the Lord would be fulfilled (Luke 1:39-45).

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DECEMBER 19, 2021 FOURT H SUNDAY OF ADVENT PAGE 5

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, The town of Bethlehem is called, in Arabic, Bayt Lahm, which means “House of Meat.” In Hebrew, it is called Bet Lahem, which means “House of Bread.” In Micah 5:1b, the prophet writes that from Bethlehem “shall come forth…one who is to be ruler of Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times.” King David, who was born in Bethlehem, lived about 300 years before Micah. So, the prophet could not have been referring to him. Christians have come to see Micah’s prophecy fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. It is amazing that this prophecy was written 700 years before the birth of Jesus. In Matthew’s Gospel, the author includes this prophecy of Micah in the story the Magi coming from the East to Jerusalem in search of the newborn king of Israel, after seeing his star in the sky. When they ask King Herod where they could find him, Herod’s scripture scholars quote this passage from Micah clearly indicating where the baby king could be found. (See Matthew 2:1-6)

Matthew’s Gospel and Luke’s Gospel differ on one detail about the birth of Jesus. In Luke’s Gospel, Joseph and Mary, who is 9 months pregnant, make an arduous journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. (See Luke 2:4-5) It was a journey of roughly 90 miles. Traveling on foot, it would have taken them from 7 to 10 days. On the other hand, in Matthew’s version of the birth of Jesus, there is no long journey from Nazareth. Rather, they are already living in Bethlehem. Matthew simply says that, after a very important dream, Joseph takes the pregnant Mary into his home. (See Matthew1:24) However, Matthew and Luke do agree that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. How appropriate that Bethlehem means “House of Meat” and “House of Bread.” Afterall, Jesus, the eternal Word of God (John 1:1) and son of Mary, came to feed us with his flesh (John 6:54) and to be for us the bread of life (John 6:48). 5

Sincerely in Christ, Fr. John (associate pastor)

Queridos hermanos y hermanas en Cristo, El pueblo de Belén se llama, en el idioma árabe, Bayt Lahm, que significa “La Casa de Carne.” En el idioma hebreo, se llama Bet Lahem, que significa “La Casa de Pan.” En Miqueas 5,1b, el profeta escribe que de Belén vendrá “aquel que debe gobernar a Israel; su origen se pierde en el pasado, en épocas antiguas.” El Rey David, quien nació en Belén, vivió unos 300 años antes de Miqueas. Por eso, el profeta no pudo haber estado pensando en David cuando escribió esta profecía. Los cristianos han podido reconocer que esta profecía fue cumplida en el nacimiento de Jesucristo en Belén. Es asombroso que esta profecía fue escrita unos 700 años antes del nacimiento de Jesús. En el Evangelio de San Mateo, el autor incluye esta profecía de Miqueas en la historia de los magos que vinieron del oriente en busqueda del rey recién nacido de Israel, después de haber visto su estrella en el cielo. Cuando preguntaron al Rey Herodes donde podrían encontrarlo, los eruditos de Herodes de las escrituras citaron este pasaje de Miqueas que indica con claridad donde el rey bebé pudo estar encontrado. (Vea Mateo 2,1-6)

El Evangelio de San Mateo y lo de San Lucas son diferentes en un detalle sobre el nacimiento de Jesús. En en Evangelio de San Lucas, José y María, que estaba embarazada de nueve meses, realizan un viaje largo y arduo de Nazaret a Belén. (Vea Lucas 2:4-5) Fue un viaje de aproximádamente 90 millas. Viajando a pie, les habría tomado entre 7 y 10 dias para cumplir. En cambio, en la versión de San Mateo sobre el nacimiento de Jesús, no hay un viaje largo de Nazaret, sino José y María ya están viviendo en Belén. San Mateo simplemente dice que, después de un sueño muy importante, Jose toma a María, su esposa y ya embarazada, a su casa. (Vea Mateo 1,24) Sin embargo, ambos San Mateo y San Lucas están de acuerdo que Jesús nació en Belén. Que apropriado que Belén significa “La Casa de Carne” y “La Casa de Pan.” Después de todo, Jesús, la Palabra eterna de Dios (Juan 1,1) y el hijo de María, vino para alimentarnos con su carne (Juan 6,54) y ser para nosotros el pan de vida (Juan 6:48). Atentamente en Cristo, P. Juan (vicario parroquial)

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