Throughout the Advent season, the Church considered many of the prophecies found in the Old Testament concerning the birth and role of the Messiah.
Isaiah prophecied how “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel” he is God with us.
Isaiah also prophecied how the Messiah would be “called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” This prophecy emphasizes how the Messiah would be a kind and wise ruler and bringer of peace.
Micah prophecied about how Bethlehem would be the Messiah’s birthplace—Bethlehem, Hebrew for the house of bread, hinting at how the Christ would give himself in the Eucharist—the bread of life.
Through the prophet Haggai, God said, “I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory.” The Messiah would be acknowledged by all the nations of the earth and show that the power of God is greater than any nation or earthly government.
Now, forty days after the celebration of Christmas, the birth of the Messiah, Christ the Lord, the liturgy presents us with another prophecy from the prophet Malachi.
Malachi prophecied, “And suddenly there will come to the temple the LORD whom you seek”. I like the word, “suddenly” there. For it speak of the humility in which Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple. The God of the universe born a humble babe in the poor Bethlehem stable is brought into the Jerusalem Temple without fanfare or royal procession. He is simply carried in love in the arms of his loving mother, next to her obedient heart. For it was out of obedience to the Mosaic Law that the Divine Savior was brought to the Temple. It would be in an atmosphere of obedience that he would be raised.
And Malachi also describes him as one “whom you seek”. Malachi prophecied during a time of moral and spiritual decline among the Jews. There were faithful Jews who awaited the coming of the Lord. But also, in a way, Malachi, writing in a time of idolatry and spiritual decline, is saying that deep down, all sinners seek God. They are seeking happiness in all the wrong places. They are seeking happiness in sin, and this is why they always come up empty and dissatisfied.
Today, as part of the liturgy, the Church blesses candles, candles which are a symbol of the light of Christ—they are signal flares to the world, that all those who are looking for happiness can find happiness here, in Christ.
We bless candles, to remind us, that our vocation is to be like those candles, signals to the world, that salvation is found in Christ for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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On this special day of prayer for the consecrated religious, we pray that those consecrated to God by the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience may live their baptismal promises more intensely and have the grace to persevere in their commitment to the Lord and serve with open hearts and willing spirits. And in gratitude for the consecrated religious who have served this parish and our diocese, for an increase in vocations to the consecrated life.
During this Catholic Schools week, for all young people, for their teachers and catechists and parents who are the first teachers of the faith, and that the truth of the faith may be learned, cherished, and practiced in every Catholic school and Christian home.
For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord
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