Wednesday, December 14, 2016 Ember Wednesday
Psalm
85, verse 9-11:
9 I will listen for what God, the LORD, has to say; surely
he will speak of peace to his people and to his faithful. May
they not turn to foolishness! 10 Near
indeed is his salvation for those who fear him; glory will dwell in our
land. 11 Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will
kiss.
Christ is drawing near with his birth in ten days. We
are to rejoice just as Mary did in her Canticle of Praise when she entered the
house of Zechariah.
“My soul proclaims the
greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked
upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me
blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is
his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has
shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has
thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The
hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He
has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to
his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after
Gaudete Sunday (3rd Sunday of Advent) are known as "Advent
Embertide," and they come near the beginning of the Season of Winter
(December, January, February). Liturgically, the readings for the days' Masses
follow along with the general themes of Advent, opening up with Wednesday's Introit
of Isaias 45: 8 and Psalm 18:2 : Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let
the clouds rain the Just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Savior. The
heavens show forth the glory of God: and the firmament declareth the work of
His hands. Wednesday's and Saturday's Masses will include one and four Lessons,
respectively, with all of them concerning the words of the Prophet Isaias
except for the last lesson on Saturday, which comes from Daniel and recounts
how Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago are saved from King Nabuchodonosor's fiery
furnace by an angel. This account, which is followed by a glorious hymn, is
common to all Embertide Saturdays but for Whit Embertide. The Gospel readings
for the three days concern, respectively, the Annunciation (Luke
1:26-28), Visitation
(Luke 1:37-47), and St. John the
Baptist's exhorting us to "prepare the way of the Lord and make
straight His paths" (Luke 3:1-6).
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