Category: Gospels

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Immaculate Conception

BEDE:

Now Gabriel means “strength of God.” Rightly he shone forth with such a name, since by his testimony he bore witness to the coming birth of God in the flesh. The prophet said this in the psalm, “The Lord strong and powerful, the Lord powerful in battle”—that battle, undoubtedly, in which he [Christ] came to fight “the powers of the air” and to snatch the world from their tyranny.

Truly full of grace was she to whom it was granted to give birth to Jesus Christ, the very one through whom grace and truth came. And so the Lord was truly with her whom he first raised up from earthly to heavenly desires, in an unheard of love of chastity, and afterwards sanctified, by means of his human nature, with all the fullness of his divinity. Truly blessed among women was she who without precedent in the womanly state rejoiced in having the honor of parenthood along with the beauty of virginity, inasmuch as it was fitting that a virgin mother bring forth God the Son. read more

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Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Jesus teaches us deep evangelical poverty and humility in today’s Gospel.  Having understood something of the faith, these two blind men are led to cry out – not about what they understand – but that they need mercy for their blindness.  It is important, no matter what we have learned from God’s revelation, to continue to cry out to God to heal our blindness.  Faith provides certainty, but one that we hold fast to without evidence.  Faith is certainly rich with light – but it is a light we can never keep for ourselves or possess fully.  Faith makes us beggars while pride puffs us up with what we already know or think we know about God.  Faith invites us to realize again that we are blind.  It isn’t that we’ve never understood anything at all, but rather that what we’ve understood is always inadequate – always less than what and who God is. read more

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Thursday of the First Week of Advent

CHRYSOSTOM:

This may apply in particular to those who commit themselves in detail to legal rules yet take little thought for the actual embodiment of their better intentions. Elsewhere Paul confronts them directly when he says, “Consider this. You bear the name Jew, rely on the law, boast in God and know the will of God,” but in all this you derive no benefit as long as the actual fruits of good living are not present.

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA:

Spiritually understood, the one who rightly hears the word is contrasted with the builder who builds his house on sand. In time of temptation the house falls down. The onslaught of evil wind covers it with silt, and troubled waters flood into the soul. From this turbid flood stream of iniquity the house is shaken to its foundations. This should rouse us to become aware of the danger that comes in final judgment. Those who hear the Lord’s words are like a wise man building on rock. Those who do not follow the Lord’s words are likened to a foolish man building on sand. One who practices virtue is made thoroughly able “through Christ who strengthens him.” We receive everything from God who puts things right. From him comes wisdom and insight and union with all that is good. The bad person cannot claim God as cause of his own wickedness and stupidity. He makes himself like the fool when he withdraws from that which proceeds according to nature. He then turns toward what is unnatural. read more