REFLECTION ON THE DAILY GOSPEL 19 DECEMBER 2012

December 19, 2012 / Michael J. Cunningham / Leave a comment

Gospel Lk 1:5-25

The wondrous gift of creation from a marriage is often hidden unless it is withheld for some reason. This passage links Zechariah and Elizabeth between Old Testament baron couples especially Sarah and Abraham, in readiness for the good news of Jesus’s salvation.

The appearance and revelation from Gabriel is obvious to all around him as he exits the temple. How many times in our own lives has something happened that is just an amazing gift that we can savor for a moment?

I was talking to a car salesman this morning, whose daughter has been seriously ill with a heart defect at birth, who just emerged successfully from surgery. I could see in his eyes he had a gift, and thought he might lose her too quickly, now she is returned and he is doubly grateful. Imagine how Zechariah and Elizabeth must have felt at the end of their lives getting this wondrous gift of a child.

Let us bask in the gift of our children today, for however long we may enjoy that time, particularly after the awful events in Newtown, CT last week. We will all be called back to Him someday; none are more ready than those innocent children.

REFLECTION ON THE DAILY GOSPEL AND READINGS 18 DECEMBER 2012

December 18, 2012 / Michael J. Cunningham / Leave a comment

Gospel Mt 1:18-25

Joseph was a strong and kind man, but finding out your wife to be was pregnant must have been too much to bear. When we are faced with problems that we cannot manage on our own, that is when God steps in to help. In this case the dream. It is interesting that the appearance of the angel occurred in a dream, not while he was awake and conscious. The dream must have been powerful and vivid enough that he knew it was a message from God and from that point on his vocation was sealed. He dedicated his life to God and the care of the Messiah and his wife Mary from that point onwards. I imagine Joseph as a practical man, caring and full of faith.

Let us consider how we react when we are faced with a challenge in life, and how we have overcome it with the help of God at our side. He will never give us more than we can handle, and with his help there is no limit to what we can manage.

REFLECTION ON THE DAILY GOSPEL 17 DECEMBER 2012

December 17, 2012 / Michael J. Cunningham / Leave a comment

Gospel Mt 1:1-17

When we investigate our own genealogy we are looking for meaning in our past. What made us become “made man or woman” and what was the background and the challenges that framed our parents and to a certain extent ourselves.

Looking into that past can present surprises, answers and questions. Perhaps we understand decisions that were made by our ancestors in the context of “their world” at the time a little better; we try and put ourselves in their “situation”.

The Gospel today provides us with the connections that matter in our faith. There is a reason that Abraham of the Old Testament (or the Torah) is defined as our father in Faith. From that beginning we can trace the lineage of Israel and the restoration of a worldly kingdom in David. From there we see that line continues to the birth of Jesus Christ, delivering, through our salvation a king and kingdom without end.

Let us reflect today on the beauty of that Mission of Christ, and how it could not be made more “perfect” in God’s choice to insert Himself in the genealogy of our salvation history. How can we connect salvation history of Christ into our own lives and those of our family and ancestors? Perhaps helping someone in our family make that connection through prayer and intercession.