Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent Year B Gospel Acclamation Series.

 

ADVENT  2020 GOSPEL ACCLAMATION SERIES

Advent 2020 Gospel Acclamation series.

WEDNESDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT:

In preparing for Christmas during Advent, I would like to reflect up on the Gospel Acclamations each day.

You might wonder why I chose to reflect upon the Gospel Acclamations. My reasons are as follows:

 

1.    They are short and can be used as a prayer focus throughout the day.

2.    It encourages me to re-examine the Gospel itself for the day and the connections between the Gospel Acclamation and the Gospel itself.

3.    Gospel Acclamations at Mass can pass by quickly. This advent I want to sit with them prayerfully and give them attention.

 

Each post will proclaim the Gospel Acclamation and then ponder how the acclamation can be lived throughout Advent.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION:

Alleluia, Alleluia. O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust! Alleluia.

 

Today’s Gospel is taken from LK 1:57-66 which is the naming of John the Baptist. It is important to remember in this Gospel that until Zechariah wrote on the table’ His name is John”, he was still mute.  It was only then that his speech returned and he praised God. 

It is interesting to note the reaction of the neighbours too and presumably extended family.  They wanted to weigh in on the naming of the child.  Every expecting parent has been through that with either neighbours/extended family or friends at some point through the pregnancy.  Everyone can have an opinion but it is only the parent’s right to name the child.  In fact, it is God the Holy Spirit who names the child and inspires the parents to give the baby a certain name.  How many times have you heard of someone say that they were going to be called a particular name, but the parents changed their minds at the last minute?  This is no coincidence.

The other interesting point I find about the neighbours is no one suggested or reminded Zechariah that the angel had called him John.  Scripture does not tell us whether the neighbours were privy to the angel’s visit.  However, we can assume that at least some neighbours would have heard about it if they were not told by Zechariah himself or Elizabeth. With no prompting from others, Zechariah still holds out and calls the baby John.

Thankfully, Zechariah was strong enough to stand up to the opposition even though it was not the tradition of the time to call a first-born son another name.  He was normally named after the father.  He would have pondered the event of the angel coming to him before the baby was conceived who gave him the name John.  However, when he wrote on the tablet, ‘his name is John’ his speech returned and his punishment for doubting God through the message of Gabriel was finished.

 

We may wish to reflect upon:

What does my name mean and what does it convey about my personality?

What alternative names was I going to be called?

How do I engage in discussions that are not really my business?

Why is interference in other people’s business different from suggestion when asked?

 

KEY ACTION WORDS.

O King of all nations

Keystone of the Church

Come and save man

Whom You formed from the dust.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Jesus You came to save me, to save all humanity. You are king of my heart today. You formed me from my mother’s womb yet to dust, I shall return. 
Help me to be open to a visit from an angel in whatever form that takes today and to be attuned to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to do Your Will.