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See what huge blessings Daddy God will give to His people who obey Him and act with justice: Deuteronomy 28:1-14 (Encouragements-12) & Leviticus 26: 3-13 (Encouragements-81). What will happen when they behave otherwise? Read for yourself in Deuteronomy 28: 15 - 69; we only want to highlight blessings! What happened to that “blue-eyed boy” David later? See Encouragements-256 . The lesson for me: Determined to be good & to be prudent in choosing my Ruler, I don’t want the bad luck to spill over to me and my house. 正直和高效率的政府是人民的福祉。 |
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Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year B), Responsorial: Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29 Response: I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.
I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord; through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth. Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever, that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.
‘I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: I will establish your dynasty for ever and set up your throne through all ages.
‘He will say to me: “You are my father, my God, the rock who saves me.” I will keep my love for him always; with him my covenant shall last.’ |
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Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year B), Second Reading: Extracted from the letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 16:25-27 Glory to him who is able to give you the strength to live according to the Good News I preach, and in which I proclaim Jesus Christ, the revelation of a mystery kept secret for endless ages, but now so clear that it must be broadcast to pagans everywhere to bring them to the obedience of faith. This is only what scripture has predicted, and it is all part of the way the eternal God wants things to be. He alone is wisdom; give glory therefore to him through Jesus Christ for ever and ever. Amen.
Gospel Acclamation Luke 1:38 Alleluia, alleluia! I am the handmaid of the Lord: let what you have said be done to me. Alleluia! |
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Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year B), Gospel Reading: Extracted from the holy Gospel according to Saint Luke 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God’ ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’ And the angel left her.
Sharing: It was the 4th Sunday of Advent (Year B) on 21 December 2014. The Readings that were read in the Eucharistic Celebrations all over the world on that day are shown above: First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11, 16, Responsorial: Canticle: Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29, Second Reading: Romans 16:25-27 & Gospel Reading: Luke 1:26-38. We have extracted the Homilies of Saint Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI & Pope Francis I based on the aforesaid Readings to share with you, so that you could similarly be encouraged:
JOHN PAUL II ANGELUS Sunday, 19 December 1999
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
1. This Sunday takes us into the last week of Advent: next Saturday will be Christmas and before the solemn Midnight Mass the Holy Door will be opened, leading us into the Great Jubilee of the 2000th anniversary of Christ's birth.
The lights decorating the streets recall one aspect of this feast, a more superficial one which, although not in itself negative, nonetheless risks distracting us from the true spirit of Christmas. If Christmas has rightly become the feast of gifts, it is because it celebrates the gift par excellence which God gave to humanity in the person of Jesus. This tradition, however, must be observed in harmony with the meaning of the event, in simplicity and moderation.
The Church this year invites us in a particular way to prepare for this solemnity with joyful spiritual commitment: with prayer, with a thorough examination of conscience that will lead to the sacrament of Reconciliation, and with acts of charity to our neighbour, especially to our brethren in need.
2. This Sunday's Gospel presents the Virgin Mary in the act of receiving the announcement of the Messiah's birth. For every Christian and for every person of good will, her attitude is an example of how to prepare for Christmas and for the Great Jubilee. It is an attitude of faith, which consists in listening to the Word of God in order to assent to it with complete readiness of mind and heart. The Mother of Christ teaches us to recognize the time of God, the favourable moment when he comes into our life and asks for a prompt and generous response. The mystery of the Holy Night, which occurred historically 2,000 years ago, becomes a reality as a spiritual event in the "today" of the liturgy. The Word, who took up his dwelling in Mary's womb, comes knocking at the door of every person's heart with particular intensity at this coming Christmas.
3. In opening the Holy Door, the Church symbolically says that God has opened the way of salvation to all. It is up to each person to respond, like Mary with a personal and sincere "yes", making room in his own life for God's love.
At Christmas, "the true light that enlightens every man is coming into the world" (John 1: 9), and the goal of the Holy Year 2000 is to bring this light to every person and every situation. May the example and intercession of Blessed Mary help us to welcome the Saviour, in order to receive the authentic gift of his Birth in all its fullness.
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18 January 2015 |
