12/09 c-blog, LET GO OF EVEN THE SMALLEST OF SINS, INCARNATION M: "In first reading OT prophet malachi prophesying the coming of the Lord...but there's a little foreboding..but in gospel more joy..then those not receptive..Herod et. Al..for us..many would deny the presence..not convinced people are true atheists...for those of us who do believe...great responsibility...permeates our life..time of preparing the way of the Lord..let go even the smallest of sin...let Him live within us..."
Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24 "Thus says the Lord GOD Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me And suddenly there will come to the temple the LORD whom you seek, And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiners fire, or like the fullers lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver and he will purify the sons of Levi Refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD. Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD as in the days of old, as in years gone by. Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, Before the day of the LORD comes, the great and terrible day, To turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the land with doom."
R: "Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand."
GOSPEL: Luke 1:57-66 "When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, No. He will be called John.But they answered her, There is no one among your relatives who has this name.†So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, John is his name, and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors. and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him"
