Sunday: Zechariah
Ornament: Pencil and Tablet
His Name Is John
When the angel revealed to aged Zechariah that he would have a son, Zechariah asked for proof. As a result, he was silenced. Zechariah's wife Elizabeth conceived their first child. Elizabeth was grateful to God, “This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people” (Luke 1:25). When their son was born, Elizabeth said that he would be called John (“the Lord is gracious”). Elizabeth's relatives objected, as no other family members had the name. Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote “His name is John.” (Luke 1:63) Then Zechariah immediately spoke, blessing and praising God. The relatives were filled with awesome reverence over God's wonderful deeds. Zechariah then proclaimed the prayer which we know from its Latin name the Benedictus. Every morning the Church blesses the Lord, the God of Israel, who has visited and set the people free. In this prayer, found in Luke 1:68-79 is the prefect words to prepare us to welcome the celebration of the coming of Jesus.
Monday: Joseph
Ornament: Carpenter's Square or Hammer
Joseph, Do Not Be Afraid
What a wonderful father Joseph was for Jesus. We first meet Joseph in Matthew 1:18-25 as he contemplates how to deal with Mary's pregnancy. Joseph is an honest, caring man who does not want to embarrass Mary, so he intends to quietly divorce her. Imagine his wonderment and joy as he heard from the angel the good news and true identity of Jesus. Joseph continued his caring in times of danger as they escaped to Egypt. Luke speaks of his concern for Jesus when they finally found him in the temple (Luke 2:41-52). Along the way it is Joseph who had primary responsibility for Jesus' religious education. He would also be the one to teach Jesus the fundamentals of carpentry. In his faithful listening and open heart, Joseph is a model for all to understand and love Jesus whose birth we prepare to celebrate.
Tuesday: The Magi
Ornament: Star or Candle
The Magi Worship Jesus
The Magi do not seem to be likely candidates to understand and appreciate who Jesus is. They were astrologers, who looked for wisdom in the patterns of the sky. They saw and followed the star that led them close to the presence of Jesus. One would think that the scholars in Jerusalem would be more likely to know the meaning of Jesus. They had the Scriptures, which they studied faithfully and in detail. But it was the Magi who revealed to them who was born in their midst. King Herod, king of the Judah, was not delighted but furious that a possible rival was born. So the Gospel of Matthew tells us that it is the least likely to understand who first worship Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12). They then conceal his identity to protect him from the vengeance of Herod. As we contemplate the celebration of Jesus' birth, we may find insights into his presence from people who seem the least likely candidates to tell us something meaningful about him.
Wednesday: Jesus
Ornament: Manger
Do Not Be Afraid
Luke connects Jesus' birth to the world-wide stage. The Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus (63 BC-14 AD) was praised as savior and bringer of peace, which he accomplished by defeating his enemies. Luke contrasts Augustus's accomplishments with Jesus the Savior. While the world looks to the political center for peace, Luke tells us to look at the outskirts of the empire. Jesus is born in humble circumstances. He is wrapped in swaddling clothes as a sign of his humanity. Jesus is laid in a manger, a feeding trough for animals, as a sign that Jesus is to be food for the world. The Gospel of Luke is especially concerned for the poor, the outcast, those on the margins of society. This concern is never more apparent than in the proclamation of the Savior to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-14). Shepherds lived on the margins and were not well respected by society, yet they are the first to hear of the Messiah. They were also the first to step out in faith to celebrate his birth. When we celebrate Jesus' birth this Christmas season, we will be following in the footsteps of the shepherds. Like Mary, we will have much to reflect upon in our hearts.
Thursday: Christ
Ornament: Chi-Rho
In the Beginning Was the Word
When we celebrate Mass on Christmas, the Gospel readings change depending on the time of the Mass. For the Christmas Vigil Mass on the evening of December 24, the reading is from the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 1:1-25), beginning with the genealogy tracing Jesus' ancestry in the Old Testament and ending with the revelation to Joseph. For Midnight Mass and the Mass at Dawn, the traditional readings are from the Gospel of Luke (Luke 2:1-20). At the Mass for Christmas day, the reading is from John 1:1-34. In the first readings the narrative carries us along into the mystery of Jesus' birth. The text from John calls us to meditate on the meaning of the stories we have heard. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). When we are reflecting on Jesus Christ, we are reflecting on God, and through him has come all life (John 1:3-4). In Jesus, God has become one of us, made his dwelling among us, pitched his tent in our midst. When we enter into relationship with Jesus Christ, we enter into the heart of God. When we share the love Jesus has won for us, we share the heart of God with one another. The wonder of Christmas reflects this for us and is the gift we bring for one another.
This information is excerpted from The Stories of the Old Testament: A Catholic's Guide by Jim Campbell.