Advent through Christmas – 2007-2008
Wednesday, December 19, Third Week in Advent
The angel Gabriel said to Zechariah, “Do not be afraid, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord…He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.”.…Luke 1: -5-25
The angel tells Zechariah that his prayer has been heard.
In the story leading up to this point, Luke hadn’t told us what Zechariah was praying for. Now we know. He had been praying for Israel, of course, as a Jewish priest would do. But he and Elizabeth, unrealistic though it may have seemed because of their advanced years, had also been praying for a child.
Anything in particular you’d really like to pray for?
Anything going on in your life that has you scared?.
Listen
God is saying to you: “Do not be afraid.”
Spend some quiet time with the Lord.
Advent through Christmas – 2007-2008
Thursday, December 20, Third Week in Advent
Morning Star
“Morning star” refers to the last star near the eastern horizon that is visible to the naked eye before the sun rises and the star becomes invisible. (Usually the morning “star” is Venus which of course, is not a star but a planet.)
The title “Morning Star” is given to Mary. She is the last star visible in the sky before Jesus, the Light of the World, enters the human race.
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It is an ancient practice in many different cultures to pray each morning. In pagan cultures, the prayer was often directed to the new light coming over the horizon.
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One of the morning Prayers familiar to Catholics of the past several generations (and often pasted on bathroom mirrors) is the following:
“O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the intentions of all our associates, and in particular for the intention recommended this month by the Holy Father.”
Take your time with the brief Scripture passage in the next post. These words are the graced words of God.
