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Reflection: I think
that's what frustrates me about Ahaz in the first reading. He does not
want to tempt God by asking for a sign. I find myself asking for ones
on a regular basis. In the gospel, we see the fulfillment of that sign
in a truly grand and miraculous way. I sometimes feel like I need that
big dramatic sign, but our signs tend not to be so dramatic. Sometimes
it's an urging from inside, sometimes it's the encounters we have with
those around us. I've been listening to Christmas music when I've been able to this year, and that one song that came out last year, "Christmas Shoes" keeps popping in my head. If you don't know the story, I'll summarize, the man is not in a holiday mood. He's waiting in line at a store and this little boy in front of him is trying to buy this pair of shoes for his dying mother. After the child counts all of his pennies, it turns out he does not have enough, but his witness is so powerful to this man that the man pays for the rest of the shoes, and says that this child was truly a blessing from God to remind him what this holiday is really about. Maybe we won't have that angelic vision, or a great prophet to encounter in our lives, but the signs from children and from others we encounter are there as blessings from God to remember the true spirit of the season! (Guest reflector - Ann Marie Fick)
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Isaiah 7:10-14
10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz:
11 Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world,
or high as the sky!
12 But Ahaz answered, "I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!"
13 Then he said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary
men, must you also weary my God?
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with
child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.
Psalm 24
Gospel - Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee
called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the
virgin's name was Mary.
28 And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you."
29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting
this might be.
30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found
favor with God.
31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name
him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God
will give him the throne of David his father,
33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there
will be no end."
34 But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations
with a man?"
35 And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon
you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child
to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old
age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
37 for nothing will be impossible for God."
38 Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to
me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
Revised/reviewed December 20,
2002