12.31.2008
A Conversation with Roman Over Breakfast
12.16.2008
Our Lady
I don't know about you, but I always find myself pondering the heart of Mary, our Blessed Mother, at Christmas time. There are about a thousand other occasions on which such meditation would be due, but especially now, as the birth of the Savior approaches, and as I await the birth of my child, She is constantly on my mind.
I was listening to a talk given by a priest the other day who said that "the church should be Mary". Maybe I am a little slow, but I really didn't understand what he was getting at, until he went on to say that Mary is the blueprint for the bride of Christ. She was chosen to bear the Son of God...in her body. Can you even imagine?? Her "yes", her fiat was so complete that the Holy Spirit conceived the life of God inside of her. This is exactly what we, as Christians are called to. That's what The Body of Christ is called to do.
Most of us have probably read this scripture time and time again, but honestly, it's the Word of God...it is never going to get old. :) This is after the angel Gabriel has announced to Mary that she will give birth to the Christ child. She replies, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be done to me as you have said". (Keep in mind this calling that God has given would be intense public humilitation for a young, unmarried girl. It could have even resulted in her execution.) Mary then travels to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, and little baby John the Baptist leaps in Elizabeth's womb upon hearing Mary's voice...he already knows that she bears the life of God within her.
And yet, this is her response to God. What is mine? This is Mary's song. This is our song.
I was listening to a talk given by a priest the other day who said that "the church should be Mary". Maybe I am a little slow, but I really didn't understand what he was getting at, until he went on to say that Mary is the blueprint for the bride of Christ. She was chosen to bear the Son of God...in her body. Can you even imagine?? Her "yes", her fiat was so complete that the Holy Spirit conceived the life of God inside of her. This is exactly what we, as Christians are called to. That's what The Body of Christ is called to do.
Most of us have probably read this scripture time and time again, but honestly, it's the Word of God...it is never going to get old. :) This is after the angel Gabriel has announced to Mary that she will give birth to the Christ child. She replies, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be done to me as you have said". (Keep in mind this calling that God has given would be intense public humilitation for a young, unmarried girl. It could have even resulted in her execution.) Mary then travels to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, and little baby John the Baptist leaps in Elizabeth's womb upon hearing Mary's voice...he already knows that she bears the life of God within her.
And yet, this is her response to God. What is mine? This is Mary's song. This is our song.
Luke 1:46-55
46And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."
12.05.2008
Messianic Prophesies
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Jeremiah 33:14-16
14 " 'The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
15 " 'In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land.
16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.'
15 " 'In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land.
16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.'
Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
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