"STAY WITH US, LORD" (Luke 24:29)

1st Reading            2 Samuel 7: 1-5. 8b-12. 14a. 16 Psalm                       89:2. 2-3. 4-5. 27 and 29 (R. 2a) 2nd Reading          Romans 16: 25-27 Gospel                     Luke 1: 26-38 THINK ABOUT THE LORD AND HE WILL, ALL THE MORE, THINK ABOUT YOU We have come to the end of the season of Advent with the 4th Sunday of Advent. The next season, which Advent prepares us for, is Christmas. What it means is that our focus should start turning towards the events of Christmas. The 4th Sunday leads us through a fundamental transition from Advent to Christmas. The Word of God for the 4th Sunday of Advent, as we consider a transition into Christmas, zooms in on the HOUSE OF DAVID . This is clear in the First Reading and the Gospel. The House of David holds a significant place in the readings for this Sunday that we cannot simply...

1st Reading      61: 1-2a. 10-11 Psalm                 Lk. 1: 46-48. 49-50 (R. Is. 61: 10b) 2nd Reading   1 Thes. 5: 16-24 Gospel               Jn. 1: 6-8. 19-28 REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS Dear friends, we have arrived at a very significant part of our journey through the season of Advent. Having journeyed more than half of the road in Advent, we come to the 3rd Sunday of Advent, otherwise called GAUDETE SUNDAY . Gaudete in Domino Semper (Rejoice in the Lord always); these are the beginning words of the entrance antiphon taken from Philippians 4:4-5. We are called to rejoice because Christmas is approaching; what we are preparing for and anticipating is near. The Rose colour for this Sunday communicates the joy that ought to be seen in us. Rose is no colour than violet (or purple) with a little addition of white. This white points to the fullness of the joy of Christmas. On Gau...