Open with a prayer: Father all-powerful God, your eternal Word took flesh on earth when the Virgin Mary placed her life at the service of your plan. Lift our minds in watchful hope to hear the voice, which announces his glory, and open our minds to receive the Spirit who prepares us for his coming.
Sharing of life question: What do you like most and least about Christmas personally and liturgically?
Facilitator reads focus statement: All three readings point to the identity of Jesus; he is the sign of God’s presence with his people (first reading), he is true God and true man, (second reading) and he is the Son of God who has come to save us (gospel)
If you have not read the commentary prior to the meeting, consider reading it before or after you read the scripture readings.
FIRST READING: Isaiah 7:10-14
In these verses, King Ahaz finds himself in a bad place. He is about to be attacked by neighboring armies. To defend his kingdom, he plans to enter into an alliance with other pagan rulers. Isaiah, the local prophet, tells him that to do this would be an act of distrust in God with whom his people have a covenant relationship.
Today’s verses open with God telling Ahaz to "ask for a sign" so that God can show him that he is present with him. Ahaz says that he doesn’t want to tempt the Lord. But commentators tell us that the real reason he refuses the Lord’s offer is that he doesn’t want to place his trust in God.
Then Isaiah says that despite Ahaz’s attitude, God will give him a son: "a virgin will conceive a child and give him the name Emmanuel (God-with-us). The name is significant because it indicates that God will continue the Davidic dynasty and not allow it to be wiped out by hostile neighbors. While Isaiah was, most likely, referring to the birth of Ahaz’s son, early Christians saw the prophecy as pointing to the virgin birth of Jesus.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM 24
This psalm is a hymn of praise to God the creator and savior. There is a reference to cultic worthiness: only the person with a clean heart and upright conscience can participate in the worship of the Lord.
SECOND READING: Romans 1:1-7
As Paul begins his letter to the Romans, he reminds them that Jesus is both human and divine. Jesus is "descended from David according to the flesh, but established as the Son of God in power according to the Spirit. . . Paul also reminds his readers of the "obedient faith" or call to holiness to which all disciples of Jesus are called.
GOSPEL: Matthew 1:18-24
In Matthew’s infancy narrative, Joseph, not Mary, receives the limelight. This is so because Matthew is writing for a Jewish audience and he wants to show them that Jesus is a true descendent of Abraham and David. Joseph is Jesus’ link to the house of David. Matthew wants to show that Jesus, even though he did not have a human father, is a Son of David while not ignoring Jesus’ divine origin. Jesus’ divine origin is shown in his virginal conception by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Also, in this Gospel, Matthew wishes to portray Joseph as a "righteous man," as a law-abiding man who blends submission to the law with compassion for others. This is done by telling us that Joseph intended to divorce Mary - not to do so would be to tolerate evil in his midst (the assumption here is, of course, that Mary had committed fornication). By being willing to divorce Mary, Joseph showed that he loved God more than he loved Mary whom he also loved with all his heart. But Joseph planned to divorce Mary "quietly", thus not humiliating her. If Joseph had gone public, Mary could have been stoned to death for her assumed act of infidelity (see Deut 22:21). This shows that Joseph’s sense of justice is tempered with mercy.
Then Matthew tells us how Joseph’s intentions were "vetoed" by God’s intervention. An angel in a dream tells Joseph to take Mary into his home because the baby has been conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph obeys. The neighbors may be shocked. After all, they did not know the circumstances of Jesus’ conception. Here again, Joseph shows himself to be a righteous man. The righteous person is one who is obedient to God’s revelation no matter how scandalous it may seem to others.
By giving Jesus two names, Matthew is revealing to his audience something about Jesus’ identity and mission. The name Jesus means "One who saves". Jesus’ mission was to bring salvation. Jesus is also called Emmanuel, i.e., "God is with us." In Jesus, God is with us in the flesh. For Matthew, the birth of Jesus is the fruition of God’s promise through the ages to be with and to save his people.
By quoting the Isaian passage, Matthew is telling his audience that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. He comes from God and from Israel.
FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS
1. What verse or image spoke to you most today? Why?
2. In the first reading, Ahaz in a difficult situation is accused of not trusting in God. Can you think of a time when you were in a difficult situation? Were you able to place your trust in God, or did you feel that everything depended on you?
3. In the second reading, Paul speaks about "obedient faith" and our "call to holiness". What do these important phrases mean to you? What do they ask of you? To what extent does your "ordinary Catholic" believe that his baptism is also a call to live a holy life?
4. Joseph never speaks in the Bible. How does his silent witness speak to you?
RESPONDING TO THE WORD
Name one way you can act on today’s readings? Suggestions: Think and pray about your call to trust God in all things, your call to a life of obedient faith and your call to live a holy life. Look for ways to act holy by reaching out to someone who is alone and lonely this season.
CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION
Pray for the grace to take seriously your call to live a holy life. Pray for all who are traveling. Pray for preachers of the word and that our liturgies may touch the hearts of non-church going Catholics who will come to church this Christmas. ©