Exodus, Chapter 3, Verse 6
I am the God of
your father, he continued, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob. Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Today we reflect on Moses in God’s presence. His majesty was so
great the Law giver was even afraid to look him in the eye and hid his face
just as Adam after the fall hid. Yet, God’s love was so great He sent His son
so we may look upon his face and even dare to gaze into the eyes of God in the
infant son, Christ, Immanuel.
O
Lord and Ruler[1]
Thou
art He "who didst appear to Moses in the burning bush." "I have
seen the affliction of My people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry because
of the rigor of them that are over the works. And knowing their sorrow, I am
come down to deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians and to bring them
out of that land into a good and spacious land, into a land that floweth with
milk and honey" (Exod. 3:7 f.). Thus spoke the Lord to Moses from the bush
which burned but was not consumed, which is a figure of God's condescension to
assume the weakness of human nature. The human nature of Christ is united to
the burning divine nature, and yet it is not consumed. As Moses approached the
burning bush, so we approach the divine Savior in the form of a child in the
crib, or in the form of the consecrated host, and falling down we adore Him.
"Put off the shoes from thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is
holy ground. . . . I am who am" (Exod. 3:5, 14). O Adonai, almighty God!
Mighty in the weakness of a child, and in the helplessness of the Crucified!
Thou, almighty God, mighty in the wonders that Thou hast worked! Mighty in
guiding, sustaining, and developing Thy Church! "The gates of hell shall
not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). "Come with an outstretched arm
to redeem us." This is the cry of the Church for the second coming of
Christ on the last day. The return of the Savior brings us plentiful
redemption. "Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess you the kingdom
prepared for you" (Matt. 25-34).
Excerpted
from The Light of the World by Benedict Baur, O.S.B.
Monday of the Third Week in Advent[2]
Read: "Saint
Francis of Assisi began the custom of the nativity scenes when he
celebrated Christmas with his brothers at Greccio in 1223 with a Bethlehem
scene which included live animals. This tradition quickly spread and people
began to construct their own nativity scenes in their homes. Children take a
great joy in helping to set up a nativity scene. The crèche may be made from
various materials. Simplicity and beauty go often hand in hand. You may set up
your entire scene at the beginning of Advent, leaving the crib empty for the
Christ Child to arrive on Christmas Eve. Or you may set up the scene slowly,
day by day . . . Mary and Joseph can also 'travel' to Bethlehem, as they move
slowly across your room every day until they reach the cave." (excerpted
from "Celebrating Advent as a Family"
foryourmarriage.org)
Reflect: "While
they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to
her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a
manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:6-7)
Pray: Add this
"O Antiphon" to your daily or meal-time prayer today: "O Leader
of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us
with your mighty power." (Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers,
Revised Edition, 76)
Act: Take
time to bless the family creche in preparation for the coming of Jesus.
(Based on your family's tradition, you may choose to hide the baby Jesus until
Christmas morning.)
Todays O’Antiphon
Come
and redeem us with outstretched arm.
O Lord and Ruler of
the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and
gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with outstretched arm.
During this Advent season let us take up the nature of God by
reflecting on these traits that make us a model for our children and our
sisters and brothers in Christ. Today reflect on:
Generosity vs. Stinginess
Realizing that all I have belongs to God and using it for His purposes (II Corinthians 9:6)
1832 The
fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as
the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of
them: "charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity,
gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity."
2227 Children in turn contribute to the
growth in holiness of their parents. Each and everyone should be generous and tireless
in forgiving one another for offenses, quarrels, injustices, and neglect.
Mutual affection suggests this. The charity of Christ demands it.
2373 Sacred Scripture and the Church's
traditional practice see in large
families a sign of God's blessing and the parents'
generosity.
Daily Devotions
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Film director Steven Spielberg born 1946
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