CHRISTMAS THE LORD / A
Lectio divina on Luke 2.1-14
Today the Saviour is born for us
Lectio divina on Luke 2.1-14
Today the Saviour is born for us
Invoking
Spirit of life, who breathed the mass of water have led to the creation of life and beauty where there was chaos!
Spirit of life, which led Israel as a pillar of fire in the night you led slaves to freedom!
Spirit of life, covering Mary with your shadow silent and efficient you brought God the Son among men!
Spirit of life, indicating that the light of truth in the Son of the Father enables us to profess faith in Jesus Christ the Lord!
Spirit of life, guide us on the streets of our Bethlehem, to find joy in the presence of God the Son, the son of Mary who lives in our midst.
Read
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be tut ta of the earth. 2This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 13Tutti were going to be census, each in their own city. 4Anche Joseph, from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, he went up to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he belonged to the house and family of David. But along with census 5Doveva be ¬ ria, his wife, who was pregnant. 6Mentre were in there, the time came for her to be delivered. 7Diede birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the apartment.
8C'erano in the region some pastors who stay open, watched all night keeping guard over their flock. 9Un angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified, the 10th if they dis-angel: "Fear not: behold, I announce with great joy, which shall be to all people, 11og-gi, in the city of David a Saviour is born for you , which is Christ the Lord. 12Questo sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. " 13E suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying
14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to men, whom he loves."
A moment of silent reflection so that the Word can enter into us and enlighten our lives.
useful steps to meditation
Rt 1.22, 2.4, 4.11, 1.3 Is, 9.1 to 6, 65.1-2, Ex 13.12, 16.10, 24 0.16 to 18, from 33.18 to 23, 34,19,29-35, I 5.1-4, Mt 11.26, Jn 14.27, Rom 4.20, 11.36, 16.27, 1 Cor 1.27, Ephesians 2.14, Ti 2.11 to 14, 1 Peter 4:11; Rev 4.9, 7.12, 15.8, 21.23.
Understanding
We've just completed the journey of Advent. The days leading up to the commemoration of this event was marked by the person of the son of Mary of Nazareth, which came mysteriously pregnant. We
towards the end of the "infancy narratives" in Luke's version. The infancy narrative does nothing but prepare for the saving event already announced by the prophets.
the liturgy on Christmas Eve, presents us with only 14 verses. The birth of Jesus in 40 verses. In these 40 verses there is a comparison between this and the previous scene: about the Son of Mary, the objective is focused first on the scene of the birth, while John emphasizes the circumcision and the imposition of the name. But it is Christmas Eve. One night in the Gospels took shape reflected in our lives.
The Lucan passage is simple, charming, full of theological ideas built on the model of the missionary proclamation.
Midpoint of the narrative are the words of the angel to the shepherds, concerning the meaning of the event and the joyful profession of faith in Jesus as Savior. God enters the life of men outside the temple, its incense and the houses of men, feels compelled to rally the men for this event in a place far away and out of the "City." God should not be thought of as one that welcomes the goodness of human beings but rather as one that gives the goodness in humans through the election and his divine mercy.
Meditation
vv. 1-3: In those days a decree of Caesar Augustus ordered that a census should be of the whole earth. This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Siria.Tutti were going to be census, each in their own city. In this verse, Luke wants to show the historical context of Jesus' birth and at the same time to show the divine action that makes use of the decree of Caesar. In Acts, God will use even more of the same conduct for Roman Paul in Rome to preach the gospel. Finally and most importantly, it provides an excuse for the journey: an excuse, because such surveys are becoming the places of residence, not the source.
What is important is that in a historical context there is a proclamation of salvation. Origen writes: "In this survey of the entire world ... Jesus must be included so that he could sanctify the world and transform the official record of the census in a book of life."
vv. 4-5: So Joseph, from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, he went up to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he belonged to the house and family of David. Census was to be with Mary, his betrothed, who was pregnant. Luke emphasizes home here, "" family "that is the source of David Joseph. Mary is said for the first time, who is pregnant, but calls her a "girlfriend" "promise bride. " In Mt 1.18 to 25 know that Joseph led Mary into his home and has already surpassed his personal doubts about the strange pregnancy. But Luke presenting a pregnant girlfriend on the road wants to launch a provocation shocking, perhaps to encourage reading and searching. The providential view of Luke in telling the facts emerges from the fact that Joseph brings with him Mary, the women were not to be registered, so the young new mother might have remained in Nazareth. Luke, however, wants to show that she is considered a full legal member of the family of David.
v. 6-7: While we were there, the time came for her to be delivered. She gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the apartment. The place is Bethlehem. In the Old Testament is especially important as a place of origin of the lineage of David. The place is home, the family is underlined words by Luke the Evangelist. In this place, Luke has brought us nothing but made no clear. But something leads us to understand that the work envisaged in 1.26 to 38 and the child is integrated into the Jewish people of promise through circumcision (2:21).
Mary gives birth to her first child. The term "firstborn" does not mean that Mary had other children after the birth of Jesus's first child - even if not they were born more later - was always called first-born, to designate the rights and obligations relating to him (cf. Ex 13.12: "redeem all the firstborn of man among your sons" Ex 34.19: "Every that comes first in the womb is mine ").
movements that makes Maria (wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger), are the same movements that make the death of Jesus Christ to death will be marked by such extreme poverty. It is not only material of deprivation of his family. There is much more. Jesus, the Word made flesh, "was among his own people, but his own did not receive him" (Jn 1:11). And it's crib is the symbol, "the ox and the donkey his owner recognizes his master's crib, but Israel does not know my people do not understand." (Is 1:3). Here is the great mystery of the Incarnation. Paul says that "he was rich, became poor for you, become rich by his poverty" (2 Cor 8, 9). Even
accommodation (Katàljma) becomes a symbol of poverty and a rejection that will culminate in the outright refusal of him in the trial before Pilate (cf. Jn 18, 28-19, 16). Later, Jesus will say "the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." Katàljma also recalls the place where Jesus eats the Passover with his disciples (Lk 22.11, Mk 14.14, cf. also: Luke 9.12, 19.7, 22.14).
v. 8: There were some shepherds in that region stay open, watched all night keeping guard over their flock. Luke indicates the shepherds because they are the ones who have a bad reputation: they are often regarded as thieves and dishonest. The shepherds are those who occupy the lowest rung of the social scale are the first to be affected by the birth of one humble woman whose mother (1.48) and is "sent to bring good tidings to the poor" ( 4.18). The baby is already one that will be accessible to sinners and eats at their table (15.2). These very people are those who vigilantly guard the flock. There is an ability to focus on them that is not found in others.
Luke, is sensitive to highlight that God makes himself to the simple, think of Mary in Luke 1.48: ".. the lowliness of his handmaiden" Lk 6:20: "Blessed are you poor" Lk 10 21: "O Lord bless you that you've revealed a little and you've hidden from the wise."
vv. 9-10: An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified, but the angel said unto them, Fear not: behold, I proclaim a great joy which will come all the people. precisely these people who can watch the sheep, the true guardian of the flock calls them (1 Peter 2.20-25, Jn 10.1 to 10). These enveloped in the glory of God, that by his presence, by his revelation are filled internally by the love of God, by his own passion.
The light is not simply in front of them but encompasses them, enters their lives, they welcome this announcement which is not for them alone, but is a light that is for all the people.
guardian of a flock are now the custodians of a mystery to know and then radiate to all.
Pastors are amazed because they are faced with something, not only in the unpredictable and unthinkable, but also action that we find only in the theophany of TA, especially at 6.1 to 5 Is and Ez 1; 3,12.23.
But God reassured, comforted by his Word of salvation. That fear, which involves immediately and emotionally with the meaning of opening hours is the angel of the Lord, who played dark light of the facts leading to true joy.
The joy in this whole Luke's gospel is a characteristic of saving faith in the itinerary. It is a joy that fades and does not stabilize, but grows indefinitely because the angel says, you preach it, there's something here just for you, immerses you in an entirely new reality for you.
v. 11: Today, the city of David, is born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. miracle that is renewed, but Luke writes "Today," "semeron" is a theological term and difficult to chronologically. Luke does nothing but get us into the "God's time."
Other episodes of the gospel or scripture: "Today is salvation come to this house," "listen to the voice of the Lord today" .... "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing with your ears" " today will be with me in Paradise "," today I have begotten you. ".
There is a "today" which relates the here and now with each and all, a story that becomes the history of salvation.
Here is the center of the story: God's initiative is not the word but "Meat, Body, embodied presence, deep inside the story, my, your, our history. He is God, the ad is even difficult for many.
In the preceding verses we learned the child's name, the angel of the Lord here, announcing the birth of Jesus is not calling with his own name but with three titles theological: Savior Christ the Lord. These securities is contained in a profession Christological theology summed up by the angel himself.
Luke does is to insist on Lordship of Jesus and his mission of salvation. In other words, his Lordship is our salvation. Not only work is salvation, save, but it is salvation.
vv. 12-14: This is a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:" Glory to God in the highest of the heavens and on earth peace to men, whom he loves. "
The announcement of the angel to the shepherds is accompanied by a sign, like the announcement to Mary's cousin Elizabeth was six months, the baby in the manger, the shepherds are the signs that accompany the faith of those who the desire to hear, see, meet and serve the Gospel is good news. It is the preaching of the event to accept and witness as the angels sing, "Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among men, whom he loves." This demonstrates the power of God and finally reveals his mercy.
The Gospel in the mind of the Church Fathers
When was the Lord, our Savior, his first appearance in the flesh, the angel, united with the celestial choirs, gave the announcement to the shepherds, saying, "you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people "(Lk 2:10). Therefore we also, with the same words of the angels, good tidings of great joy. Today it is the Church in peace, today the ship reached the port of the Church, today, dear friends, the people of Christ is exalted, while the enemies of truth are humiliated, but now Christ is the joy and the devil into mourning, today's angels rejoice, the demons are missing. What can I say more? Today, Christ, King of peace, his appearance has removed each and every conflict, and as the sunshine lights up the sky, cos' he lights up the Church with the radiance of peace. Because "you is born a Savior" (Lk 2:11). Or what is desirable
peace, stable foundation of the Christian religion and heavenly ornament of the altar of the Lord! What can we say that it totally abandons worthy of peace? The very name of Christ is Peace. He says the Apostle: "Christ is our peace, who hath made both one people" (Eph 2:14).
But as for the visit of a king bed and they evacuate the whole city is a feast of flowers and lights so that nothing may seem less worthy of the king, so now, the arrival of Christ, King of peace has removed all sadness, and the splendor of truth, falsehood disappear, dissolve discord, shine charity.
And if the saints on earth enhance the peace, the splendor of its redundant in the highest praise, the angels sing, "Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom he loves "(Lk 2:14).
You see, brother, like all creatures of heaven and earth shall exchange the gift of peace: the angels from heaven, preach peace to the earth, all the saints on earth with praise Christ, our peace, rise among the angels and mystics choirs sing "Hosanna in the highest heaven."
then we say to the angels: "Glory to God, who humbled the devil and his exalted Christ, glory to God who destroyed the discord and restored peace (Peter Crisologo, bishop, Disc. 149)
Our Saviour, dear friends, is born this day: rejoice! There room for sadness in the day when life is born, a life that destroys the fear of death and gives the joy of eternal promises. No one is excluded from that happiness: the cause of joy is shared by all for our Lord, the conqueror of sin and death, having found none free from sin, came to the liberation of all. Let the saint rejoice, because it is close to the prize, rejoice, the sinner, because he offered forgiveness, courage wholly pagan, he is called to life. The Son of God, in fact, in the fullness of time that the inscrutable divine plan was prepared, wanting to reconcile with the Creator of human nature, he assumed the same so that the devil bringer of death, was won by that same nature which he had overcome. Thus the birth of the Lord the angels sing rejoicing, "Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom he loves" (Lk 2, 14). They see that the heavenly Jerusalem is formed by all the peoples of the world. Of this mysterious divine love, that is so rejoice the angels on high, should not rejoice as humanity in its misery! My beloved, give thanks to God the Father through His Son in the Holy Spirit, because in the infinite mercy, which he loved us, took pity on us, "and while we were dead through our sins, made us alive with Christ "(Eph 2, 5) because we were in his new creation, a new work of his hands. So we bury "the old man with the conduct of the first" (Eph 4, 22), and since we share the birth of Christ, repent of the works of the flesh. Christian, your dignity, and made partaker of the divine nature, do not return to abjection of a time with an outrageous conduct. Remember who is the Head, the Body of which you are a member. Remember that ripped the power of darkness, you were brought into the light of the Kingdom of God Through the sacrament of baptism you have become a temple of the Holy Spirit! Do not scare off a guest so distinguished a misconduct and not submitting yourself to the new slavery of the devil. Remember that the price paid for your redemption is the blood of Christ (Leo the Great, pope Disc. one for Christmas, 1-3).
God and all God's works are the glory of man and man is the place where gathers all the wisdom and power of God as the doctor has demonstrated its prowess in the sick, so God shows himself in men. So Paul says, "God has shut all the things in the darkness of unbelief to have mercy upon all" (cf. Rom 11, 32). Does not allude to the spiritual powers, but the man who stood before God in a state of disobedience and lost his immortality. But later obtained the mercy of God through the merits and of his Son. He had in him the dignity of an adopted child.
If man will not vain pride the true glory that comes from what has been created and who created it that is from God, the Almighty, the creator of all things that exist, and if they remain in 'love him in respectful submission and continuous thanksgiving, will receive yet greater glory and will progress steadily in that way up to become like one who died to save.
The Son of God came down in fact "in a flesh similar to that of sin" (Rom 8: 3) to condemn the sin, and after being sentenced, exclude completely from the human race. He called the man to the likeness of himself, made him an imitator of God, they went along the lines recommended by the Father so that he could see God and gave him the gift of the Father.
The Word of God put his house men and became the Son of man, to accustom man to understand God and to accustom God to put his house in humans according to the will of the Father. For this reason God gave us as a sign of our salvation who, born of the Virgin is Emmanuel, because the Lord himself was the one who saves those who by themselves had no chance of salvation.
same Isaiah foretold this: Irrobustitevi, weak hands and knees vacillating, courage, lost heart, cheer, fear not: behold our God does justice, will reward you. He himself will come and be our salvation (cf. Is 35: 4).
This indicates that not by us but by God, that helps us, we have salvation. (Irenaeus, bishop, "Against Heresies" )
Some questions for personal reflection and comparison
There is room for Jesus in my life? What God is giving me signs of his presence?
Jesus was born to bring joy and peace. What characterizes my life these gifts? I am the bearer of joy and peace for others?
What it means to me the word Saviour, What I want to be saved?
I think it's possible for me to become an accomplice of a new ad?
Praying
In pause to read the Word of salvation, we can not help but go over the salvation of God in our lives along with the words of the Psalmist (Psalm 98)
Sing to the Lord a new song;
he has worked wonders.
He gave His right hand and his holy arm
.
The Lord has made known his salvation,
the eyes of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his love,
his faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends
the earth have seen the salvation of our God
Shout to the Lord all the earth,
shout, rejoice with songs of joy.
Sing to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song
with trumpets and the sound of the horn
acclaim the King, the Lord.
roaring of the sea and all within it,
the world and its inhabitants.
rivers clap their hands together in the mountains
rejoice before the Lord who comes,
he comes to rule the earth.
judge the world with justice and the peoples with equity.
contemplative act
Let yourself be surprised by a God who dwells in the night, so that on the night of pain to open at Easter light of the Son of God, crucified and risen. In the mystery of the Incarnate Word has appeared in the eyes of our mind, the new light of your brilliance, because, knowing God visibly, through him we caught the love of invisible realities.
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