#EE$L% RE&LE'(ION

+n the Word of the ,ord and the Message of +ur ,ady

& Guide on /ivin* 0ur "onsecration to the -mmacu$ate Heart of 1ary %rd Sunday of Advent $;ear A( December 0&, 1:0% .o. ::% 1:0% 2 1:0'

Dear brothers and sisters, Ave Maria! We call the Third Sunday of Advent Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. In the gospel reading from Matthew 11:2-11, esus tells us the reason for our re!oicing. "e is the Messiah foretold by Isaiah# Here is your God . . . he comes to save you $Isaiah %&#'(. )elated to this, *e *ill read +ur ,ady-s Message .o. &/&# God with Us. I. GOSPEL READING $Matthe* 00#1200( When John the Baptist heard in prison of the or!s of the "hrist# he sent his discip$es to Jesus ith this %uestion# &re you the one ho is to come# or shou$d e $oo! for another' Jesus said to them in rep$y# Go and te$$ John hat you hear and see( the )$ind re*ain their si*ht# the $ame a$!# $epers are c$eansed# the deaf hear# the dead are raised# and the poor have the *ood ne s proc$aimed to them. &nd )$essed is the one ho ta!es no offense at me. &s they ere *oin* off# Jesus )e*an to spea! to the cro ds a)out John# What did you *o out to the desert to see' & reed s ayed )y the ind' +hen hat did you *o out to see' Someone dressed in fine c$othin*' +hose ho ear fine c$othin* are in roya$ pa$aces. +hen hy did you *o out' +o see a prophet' ,es# - te$$ you# and more than a prophet. +his is the one a)out hom it is ritten( Beho$d# - am sendin* my messen*er ahead of you. he i$$ prepare your ay )efore you. &men# - say to you# amon* those )orn of omen there has )een none *reater than John the Baptist. yet the $east in the !in*dom of heaven is *reater than he. Points for Reflection 1. Are you the one who is to come? ohn the 3aptist heard in prison of the or!s of the "hrist . "earing this undoubtedly from his o*n disciples, he sent them to esus *ith this 4uestion# &re you the one ho is to come# or shou$d e $oo! for another' It is highly unli5ely that ohn harbored any doubts about esus. "e *as the very first one to proclaim him as the /am) of God ho ta!es a ay the sin of the or$d $ ohn 0#16(. "e also 5ne* esus as the one *ho *ould be sacrificed, li5e the 7assover lamb. So, *hat prompted this 4uestion8 It is reasonable to suppose that the faith of his disciples *as *avering in light of esus9 seeming inaction in ohn9s imprisonment by "erod. In order to clear up their doubts, ohn sent them to esus. 2. Go n! tell "ohn wh t you he r n! see.

esus did not ans*er ohn9s 4uestion directly. Instead, he enumerated to the disciples all his *or5s# +he )$ind re*ain their si*ht# the $ame a$!# $epers are c$eansed# the deaf hear# the dead are raised# and the poor have the *ood ne s proc$aimed to them. ohn has been very clear about these *or5s foretold by Isaiah in the <irst )eading $Isaiah %&#02=,0:(. ohn *anted his disciples to hear this from esus himself for them to have the conviction that in esus, Here is your God . . . he comes to save you $Isaiah %&#'(. And this is the cause of our re!oicing. As to the disciples9 disappointment in esus9 inaction, that *as part and parcel of his being the Messiah. ohn 5ne* this as *ell. The Messiah *ould be the Sufferin* Servant> *ho comes not in great po*er but in apparent *ea5ness $Isaiah &%(. In those days, Israel9s e?pectation of the Messiah *as centered on the 5ing9s reign in po*er. The e*s thought that esus *ould free his people from political oppression. "o*ever, esus- 5ingship *as not going to be li5e that. Thus, he tells them# B$essed is the one ho ta!es no offense at me. ). (he le st in the *in+!om of he ,en is +re ter th n he. To contrast his 5ingship from *hat the e*s e?pected, esus cited ohn as a great prophet# the one *ho prepared his *ay. 3ut because the 3aptist lived and died *ithin the +ld @ovenant, he did not see the fullness of esus9 reign. That fullness is no* offered to us in the .e* @ovenant. Aven a tiny, ne*born baby *ho is baptiBed into esus *ould e?perience it in a *ay ohn did not. What should our response be to this marvel8 C)e!oice!C -. P tience in the .erio! of w itin+ Aside from re!oicing, patience is another e?pected response in this period of our *aiting for Dod to 5eep all of his promises. St. ames, in the Second )eading $ ames &#E20:(, gives us this helpful instruction# Be patient# )rothers and sisters# unti$ the comin* of the /ord. "e used the e?ample of the farmer, ho aits for the precious fruit of the earth# )ein* patient ith it unti$ it receives the ear$y and the $ate rains. This is an interesting image to ponder. A fruitful crop must get all the rain it needs before it can be harvested. Some rain *ill come early, but some *ill come late. If *e thin5 of rain as an image of Dod9s direct action to ma5e human history and our o*n personal histories fruitful, then *e must be prepared for dry spells from time to time. To drive home this point, he cites the hardship and patience of the prophets *ho spo5e in the name of the ,ord. We need patience for our faith to not fail us. The Incarnation *as the first step in Dod9s plan that *as fulfilled through the prophecy of Isaiah# Be stron*# fear not2 Here is your God . . . He comes to save you $Isaiah %&#'(. It *ill ta5e time for the unfolding of the entirety of Dod9s triumphant plan. 3ut, the promise to us is certain# +hose hom the /ord has ransomed i$$ return and enter 3ion sin*in*# cro ned ith ever$astin* joy. they i$$ meet ith joy and *$adness# sorro and mournin* i$$ f$ee $Isaiah %&# 0:(. /. 0ere is your Go!1 In the difficulties that *e face in our daily lives, our hearts can 4uite easily become frightened and *eighed do*n. We can lose patience in our sufferings even *hile *e *ait for the ,ord-s return. esus is present to us in the Aucharist and there, he tells us# Here is your God2 to give us courage, to strengthen our feeble hands and ma5e firm our *ea5 5nees. And no* as *e enter the Third Wee5 of Advent, the period *here *e in the 7hilippines have our nine consecutive days of Masses in preparation for @hristmas (4Sim)an* Ga)i4), let us come together in church to meet our Dod in the Aucharist. May he cause the desert to bloom and the dry land to become springs of living

*ater. May he open our ears to hear the *ords of the Scriptures and free our tongues to fill the air *ith songs of than5sgiving $Isaiah %:#0/(. ,et us all gather before his altar to meet him# Here is your God2 II. O2R LAD%3S 4ESSAGE5 6Go! with 2s7 $Message &/&(
5ecem)er 67# 899: +he Ho$y ;i*ht 5on*o# "omo# -ta$y

a. /ive ith me the mystery of this ho$y ni*ht# in si$ence# in prayer# and in e<pectation. Share in the deep joy of your heaven$y 1other# ho is preparin* herse$f to *ive you her divine -nfant. ). +he Son ho is )orn of me is a$so my God. Jesus is the on$y )e*otten Son of the =ather. He is the Word throu*h hom a$$ thin*s have )een created. He is /i*ht from /i*ht# God from God# consu)stantia$ ith the =ather. Jesus is outside of time. He is eterna$. &s God# He carries ithin Himse$f the synthesis of a$$ the perfections. By means of me# this God ma!es Himse$f true man. c. -n my vir*ina$ om)# there came a)out his human conception. -n this ho$y ni*ht# He is )orn of me in a poor and unadorned cave. He is p$aced in a co$d man*er. He is adored )y his 1other and )y his $e*a$ father. He is surrounded )y the hum)$e presence of shepherds. He is *$orified )y the heaven$y cohort of the an*e$s# ho sin* the hymn of *$ory to God and of peace to the men ho have )een $oved and saved )y Him. d. Bo do n ith me to adore the -nfant Jesus just )orn( He is the >mmanue$. He is God ith us. e. He is God ith us# )ecause in the divine ?erson of Jesus are united the divine nature and the human nature. -n the -ncarnate Word# there is rea$i@ed the su)stantia$ unity of the divinity and of the humanity. &s God Jesus is a)ove time and space. He is immuta)$e and impassi)$e. f. But as man# Jesus enters into time# under*oes the $imitation of space# su)ject to a$$ the fra*i$ity of human nature. *. He is God ith us# ho ma!es Himse$f man for our sa$vation. 0n this ho$y ni*ht# the Savior and the Redeemer is )orn for a$$. +he fra*i$ity of this divine -nfant )ecomes remedy for a$$ human fra*i$ity( his cry is a$$eviation for a$$ sorro . his poverty is ea$th for a$$ misery. his pain is comfort for a$$ the aff$icted. his *ent$eness is hope for a$$ sinners. his *oodness )ecomes sa$vation for a$$ the $ost. h. He is God ith us# ho ma!es Himse$f redemption and refu*e for a$$ humanity. >nter ith me into the )ri*ht cave of his divine $ove. &$$o yourse$ves to )e p$aced )y me in the *ent$e and s eet crad$e of his Heart# hich has just )e*un to )eat. i. Bo do n ith me# in an ecstasy of supernatura$ )$essedness# to fee$ its first )eatin*s. /isten to the divine harmony that rises from them ith heaven$y notes of $ove# of joy# of peace# hich the or$d has never !no n. -t is a son* hich repeats to each man the eterna$ and s eetest rhythm of $ove( - $ove you. - $ove you. - $ove you. >ach of its )eats is a ne *ift of $ove for a$$. /isten ith me to his first sounds of cryin*. -t is the cry of a $itt$e )a)y just )orn. it is the sorro of a God# ho carries upon Himse$f a$$ the sorro of the or$d. j. He is God ith us# )ecause# even in his human fra*i$ity# Jesus is tru$y God. Jesus "hrist is God# outside of chan*es of time and history( He is the same yesterday today and forever. 5urin* this year# hen the "hurch is invitin* you to enter into the contemp$ation of the mystery of "hrist# enter# each and a$$# into the refu*e of my -mmacu$ate Heart. &s 1other# - am $eadin* you to understand the *reat *ift of this ho$y ni*ht. !. +he =ather has so $oved the or$d that He has *iven it his on$yA)e*otten Son# for its sa$vation. +he Ho$y Spirit has made my vir*ina$ om) ferti$e# )ecause the Son )orn of me is nothin* e$se )ut the precious fruit of

his divine action of $ove. ,our heaven$y 1other has *iven her materna$ assent# so that there mi*ht )e fu$fi$$ed the divine prodi*y of this ho$y ni*ht. $. Be$oved sons# )o do n ith me to !iss my ne )orn Son# and $ove# and adore# and *ive than!s )ecause this frai$ -nfant is GodAmadeAman. He is the >mmanue$. He is God ith us.4 Points for Reflection +ur ,ady9s message (God with Us) closely parallels *ith the Scriptural readings *e !ust read. In her o*n *ay, +ur ,ady e?plains the Incarnation and the union of esus9 divinity *ith his humanity.

0. (he Son who is 8orn of me is lso my Go!. $&/& b(

With a motherly touch and firm conviction, +ur ,ady recogniBes esus, her Son, as Dod. She defines to us his divinity, ta5ing the .icene @reed as reference# Jesus is the on$y )e*otten Son of the =ather# the Word throu*h hom a$$ thin*s have )een created. He is /i*ht from /i*ht# God from God# consu)stantia$ ith the =ather. In his divinity, esus is outside of time. He is eterna$ . . . the synthesis of a$$ the perfections.

1. 9y me ns of me: this Go! m *es 0imself true m n. In my ,ir+in l wom8: there c me 8out his hum n
conce.tion. $&/& b2c( esus9 divinity gives +ur ,ady her divine maternity. In the mystery of the Incarnation, Scriptures narrate to us that she conceived by the po*er of the "oly Spirit and gave birth to esus, the Son of Dod. $,u5e 0#1=2%/> Matthe* 0#0/21&(. The @atechism of the @atholic @hurch e?plains this# 4+he 0ne hom she conceived as man )y the Ho$y Spirit# ho tru$y )ecame her Son accordin* to the f$esh# as none other than the =atherBs eterna$ Son# the second person of the Ho$y +rinity. Hence# the "hurch confesses that 1ary is tru$y B1other of GodB (+heoto!os)4 $@@@, .o. '6&(. This ma5es clear +ur ,ady9s divine maternity> the first Marian dogma, *hich the @hurch declared in the year '%0 in the @ouncil of Aphesus.

%. 0e is Go! with us: 8ec use in the !i,ine Person of "esus re unite! the !i,ine n ture n! the hum n
n ture. $&/& e( )elated to the dogma on divine maternity, another important issue that the @ouncil of Aphesus defined as truth is the divine 7erson of esus. )esponding to the controversy on his divine 7erson, the @ouncil declared that +ur ,ady did not create her Son9s divine 7erson. "e has e?isted *ith the <ather from all eternity. As the Second 7erson of the "oly Trinity, he is a divine 7erson *ith t*o natures 2 human and divine 2 united in a true union. St. ohn *rote, 4+he Word )ecame f$esh and made His d e$$in* amon* us# and e have seen His *$ory( +he *$ory of an on$y Son comin* from the =ather fi$$ed ith endurin* $ove4 $ ohn 0#0'(.

'. 0e is Go! with us: who m *es 0imself m n for our s l, tion. $&/& g(
Man cannot save himself> only Dod can save him. Thus, the Savior and the Redeemer is )orn for a$$. +he fra*i$ity of this divine -nfant )ecomes remedy for a$$ human fra*i$ity( his cry is a$$eviation for a$$ sorro . his poverty is ea$th for a$$ misery. his pain is comfort for a$$ the aff$icted. his *ent$eness is hope for a$$ sinners. his *oodness )ecomes sa$vation for a$$ the $ost. 3eyond sharing our humanity, ho*ever, Dod2*ho2became2 man died and rose again to bring us definitive salvation.

&. 0e is Go! with us: who m *es 0imself re!em.tion n! refu+e for ll hum nity. $&/& h(

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Dod is love and everything that "e does is an act of love. "is act of redemption is "is -A$oveAyou for us. Ma5ing "imself redemption for all humanity ma5es it possible for us to us to live in this love. Thus, +ur ,ady invites us to bo* do*n *ith her in an ecstasy of supernatura$ )$essedness , and to $isten to the divine harmony ith heaven$y notes of $ove# of joy# of peace# hich the or$d has never !no n4 for 4it is a son* hich repeats to each man the eterna$ and s eetest rhythm of $ove( - $ove you. - $ove you. - $ove you. $&/& i( Avery act of Dod in redeeming us is a ne *ift of $ove for a$$4.

=. 0e is Go! with us: 8ec use: e,en in his hum n fr +ility: he is outsi!e of time n! history. $&/& !(
Dod is eternal> he has no beginning and end. Aven assuming human fragility, he is beyond time and space. He is the same yesterday# today and forever. So also is his *or5 of redemption. "is one eternal act on the @ross covers all in time and space. ,et us re!oice!

Dod bless you all!

;ours in the Immaculate "eart, &r. Omer ;ote( +his ref$ection is shared ith a$$ cenac$e and other prayer *roups (priests and $aity)# communities and 1arian or*ani@ations ithin and outside of the ?hi$ippines# ith 0ur /adyCs ords transcri)ed ver)atim for those ho do not have copies of the )$ue )oo!. +his may a$so )e shared ith private individua$s for their persona$ use. 0ur /adyBs messa*e is ta!en from the )oo!( 4+o the ?riests# 0ur /adyBs Be$oved Sons4# a compi$ation of :D7 messa*es in the form of $ocutions *iven )y the B$essed Eir*in 1ary throu*h =r. Stefano Go))i of -ta$y. -mprimatur( Bp 5ona$d W. 1ontrose# 5.5.# 899F &)p =rancesco "uccarese# 6DDG

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