“Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.” (Mt 1: 17)
Every generation is loved and every generation is important to God. In every generation there are sinners and saints. Our Lord entered our human history not as a judge or demander but as a Redeemer and Protector who loves unconditionally.
“O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love; come to teach us the path of knowledge!” (Gospel Acclamation)
“But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD: the remnant of Israel.” (Zep 3: 12-13)
Our God not only revealed His name but also made His name a shelter for us. We can take “refuge in His name;” we can call on Him in every situation; His name is so powerful. When we feel abandoned or rejected or when we are alone or in need, we can call His name, and He always will come with His loving presence and help.
“Come, o Lord, do not delay; forgive the sins of your people.” (Gospel Acclamations)
“If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” (Mt 21: 25-26)
If we compare the simplicity of God which says “yes—yes, no—no” (Mt 5: 37) with the “wisdom” of “the chief priests and the elders of the people,” we can see the deep difference between us. He loves unconditionally and respects our limitations and difficulties, we love with expectations and demands. But we always have the chance to ask Him for a new heart and a new ability to love like He does.
“Come, o Lord, visit us in peace, that we may rejoice before you with a blameless heart.” (Communion Antiphon)
“He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God.” (Is 61: 1-2)
One day for Our Lord is like 1000 years for us, and when He proclaims “a year of favor” it means much, much more then 365 days; it means that He never stops “bringing tidings to the poor,” “healing the brokenhearted” or “proclaiming liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners.” His love never stops, never gets tired and never ends.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.” (Entrance Antiphon)
ps.Personal note. I was ordained exactly 29 years ago on this Sunday, which is called “Gaudete-Rejoice.” And I strongly believe that the readings from that Sunday are somehow “responsible” for leading me in that direction: “to announce a year of favor from the Lord,” especially for married couples: to remind them how much they are loved, how much they have received from each other and how much joy is in their vocation. Please pray for me today to be always faithful to this mission.
“May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it”. (1 Thes 5: 23-24)
“You who are ready at the appointed time, it is written, to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury, to turn the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.” (Sir. 48:10)
We are God’s children first. In the second place, we belong to our parents. Our parents have received from God the honor and privilege to participate–together with Him–in the extraordinary mission of transmitting human life. He knows how important is the father and son relationship. Whatever we first learn about ourselves comes from the father (and mother); whatever we learn about God comes from the father, too. So He takes care of this relationship, as he “turns back the hearts of fathers towards their sons”.
“Behold, I am coming soon and my recompense is with me, says the Lord, to bestow a reward according to the deeds of each.” Communion Antiphon
“See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD. Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and they shall be his people, and he will dwell among you,” (Zeh 2: 14-15)
God is close to each of us, never hidden or separated, always “coming to dwell among” us, “his people.” In these days, we are celebrating especially His presence among us in Our Lady, Mother expecting, Mother of Advent, Hers and ours.
And today we are celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of Mexico and the Continental Americas. Today Her message comes to us again: She is our Mother, she listens and responds to all our needs; no one is alone, no one is rejected; we are loved beyond understanding, we are the place of His dwelling.
“A great sign appeared in the sky, a women clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“That all may see and know, observe and understand, That the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.” (Is 41: 20)
God is not an anonymous benefactor of humanity. He speaks to us and He would like everyone to “know, observe and understand” how much we are loved. He is not giving just very subtle, individual and hidden graces but comes with strength; He is a powerful God with a strong arm: “It is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you’” in everyday situations.
“You, O Lord, are close, and all your ways are truth. From of old I have known of your decrees, for you are eternal.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11: 28)
These words have a very special meaning here, in Mexico. Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego in 1531 with a very similar message: I will “give all my love, compassion, help, and protection, because I am your merciful mother, to you, and to all the inhabitants on this land and all the rest who love me, invoke and confide in me; listen [there] to their lamentations, and remedy all their miseries, afflictions and sorrows.” We say like father, like son. We can say: like Son, like Mother.
“Behold, the Lord comes to save his people; blessed are those prepared to meet him.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem…” (Is 40: 1-2)
Our merciful God always takes care of us. He knows our difficult lives, our weaknesses and limitations, which constantly humiliate us; our good will and many good promises, which fade with the end of the week. He knows all about it and still loves us because His love is unconditional, patient and kind; He speaks tenderly to us. And so should we.
“The day of the Lord is near: Behold, he comes to save us.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“…He chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him.” (Eph 1: 4)
When we are asked “how old we are,” we give information about when we were born; there is a country where people answer when they were conceived, but we should remember that our beginning is “before the foundation of the world.” I was loved and expected before my parents were born. There is no one single second from the beginning of the world when we were not loved. We are here because God wants us to be with Him for eternity.
“I rejoice hardly in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul; for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation, and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bride adorned with her jewels.” (Entrance Antiphon)
