December 22
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intention
7:45 AM – Parishioners of Holy Cross
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
1 Samuel 1:24-28
In those days, Hannah brought Samuel with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh. After the boy’s father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said: “Pardon, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.” She left Samuel there.
Responsorial Psalm
1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd
R. (see 1a) My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“My heart exults in the LORD,
my horn is exalted in my God.
I have swallowed up my enemies;
I rejoice in my victory.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“The bows of the mighty are broken,
while the tottering gird on strength.
The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry batten on spoil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“The LORD puts to death and gives life;
he casts down to the nether world;
he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich,
he humbles, he also exalts.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“He raises the needy from the dust;
from the dung heap he lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
Gospel Acclamation
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Luke 1:46-56
Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.”
Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.
“My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.”
Reflection
Can you imagine Hannah giving her child back to God? Remember she was devastated and found herself shamed by so many for her barrenness. She regularly cried and threw herself in the temple where she prayed desperately for God to grant her the gift of a child. In the temple, Eli assured her God hears her prayers. And not only did God hear Hannah directly from the anguish in her heart, but the Lord knew her intention as well—that to receive such a gift would be for giving complete glory to God, not herself. She had no intention of clinging to the child or possessing him for her own hopes and desires.
Just before the verses that we hear today at Mass, 1 Samuel 1:20, 22:
She conceived and, at the end of her pregnancy, bore a son whom she named Samuel. “Because I asked the LORD for him….Once the child is weaned, I will take him to appear before the LORD and leave him there forever.”
What might this look like in our lives? Do our prayers and requests made to God reflect that we are clinging too much to our own plans? Do we see God as someone who simply works for us? Or do we recognize that all we receive from the Lord is intended to help us give all glory and honor back to Him? The journey of faith is always pure gift from the Lord, and we are invited to grow closer to Him in all circumstances, joys and sorrows alike.
In the gospel reading today, Mary echoes the life of Hannah. Both reflect for us what it looks like to become a vessel for God’s grace, to be overshadowed by his Spirit and literally bear fruit from so open and so pure of a womb—all for God’s purposes. We can always learn more deeply from the wisdom these women emulate: priority in life belongs not to me, but to God. When we are graced to recognize this, our soul then magnifies the Lord. May we not cling to the gifts that God has entrusted to us, but rather freely offer them back to him that he might be glorified, and that his plans might be fulfilled through each of us.
Peace,
Fr. Foley
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