Posted: 12/10/2008 4:30:33 PM EDT
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12/14/08 Third Sunday of Advent, Year B Reading 1 Is 61:1-2a, 10-11 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; 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. I rejoice heartily 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 bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels. As the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring up, so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise spring up before all the nations. Reading II 1 Thes 5:16-24 Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil. 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. Gospel John 1:6-8, 19-28 A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’” as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.  What questions do the priests and Levites ask John? Those sent by the Pharisees? What do these questions reveal about the reason they were sent? What is John’s purpose in life (verses 22-23, 26-27; see also Isaiah 40:3-5)? How does John finally answer their question about his baptism (verses 30-31)? What does he mean by calling Jesus the “Lamb of God” (verse 29; see Exodus 12:1-13; Isaiah 53:7) and the “Son of God” (verse 34)? What proof supports these claims (Psalm 2:7)? Do we know our role before Jesus? Do we need a reality check of who is who? How do we need to decrease so that the proper place of Jesus in our lives may increase? Do we need to kindle (or rekindle) our dependence on God? Where in our lives can we “make straight the way of the Lord” (verse 23; Isaiah 40:3-5)? Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 523-24, 717-720 |
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What is John’s purpose in life (verses 22-23, 26-27; see also Isaiah 40:3-5)? To prepare the way for Christ, and to get people prepared for His coming, which is just like the ministry of Eilijah and Enoch at the end of the world to prepare people for the Lord's 2nd coming. Click here to read about the 2 witnesses Do we know our role before Jesus? Do we need a reality check of who is who? I know my role but sometimes I do need a reality check to put me back in my place. How do we need to decrease so that the proper place of Jesus in our lives may increase? Do we need to kindle (or rekindle) our dependence on God? Understanding that there is much more important things out there than me. I also think that it helps to understand that the world can run just fine without me and that God's plan would be perfectly fine also without me, but that having that opportunity to serve God is a blessing and a gift from Him. It is not like God is lucky to have me, but that I am truly blessed to serve Him. Where in our lives can we “make straight the way of the Lord” (verse 23; Isaiah 40:3-5)?I have spent most of my time as a Christian trying to figure out where God wants me to be and how He wants me to reach people for His plan. I think it changes from time to time for most of us, I think He sets us on new missions in our lives. |
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Cattitude,
Thanks for posting these. Last week I thought I might have an idea for a (perhaps) better format for your thread and did not post it. Since it is still in my head I will propose it; please do as you are inspired: Could you keep a single thread and just append the next week's readings (and update the subject to include the page of the current week's discussion start.) I don't know if there are posting software limitations or anything, but it would give us an opportunity to review/catch up in case our week/s were too hectic to stop by. thanks, uwp . |
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What questions do the priests and Levites ask John? Those sent by the Pharisees? What do these questions reveal about the reason they were sent? OK, I need some help with this one. I think I have part of the answer, but I think I'm missing something. The first group asks: “Who are you?”, to which John answers "I am not the messiah." This is on contrast to Jesus' "I am." Then they ask “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” and “Are you the Prophet?”. Elijah's return was prophesied in Malachi and the Prophet was promised in Deuteronomy. My understanding is that these two options would have jeopardized their authority, so that would be the purpose of asking those questions. At this point, they force him to reveal his identity and his mission. Those sent by the Pharisees ask “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” The Pharisees were the "watchmen" over traditional Jewish practices and Laws, so they would have wanted to know on what authority and for what purpose John was baptizing people. There baptisms going on in the Jewish community, but I'm pretty sure what John was doing didn't exactly fit with that! The question posed in the St. Charles Borromeo study is this: What was the significance of John's baptism of Jesus if He had disassociated Himself with the forerunners of the end times? And I am not sure I have the answer to that - anyone care to help me out? If I am understanding correctly, Jesus had already been baptized and was beginning His ministry, so the Pharisees and Sadducees were jealous of and threatened by Jesus as well - with all the Messiah and Son of God rumblings going around. And knowing that John had baptized Him, they needed more information. If anyone has anything to correct or add to what I've said here, please do so! How does John finally answer their question about his baptism (verses 30-31)? He explains that he is here to make Jesus known to Israel. I like how he says "A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me." You have to wonder if his audience caught that, or knew that John was 6 months older, and began his ministry before Jesus, so that is not what he's talking about. What does he mean by calling Jesus the “Lamb of God” (verse 29; see Exodus 12:1-13; Isaiah 53:7) and the “Son of God” (verse 34)? The blood from the lamb in Exodus is what saved the Jews. Exodus 12:7 They shall take some of its blood and apply it to the two doorposts and the lintel of every house in which they partake of the lamb. Exodus 12:13 But the blood will mark the houses where you are. Seeing the blood, I will pass over you; thus, when I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you. The lamb in Isaiah is the suffering servant led to slaughter as a sin-offering. Isaiah 53:7 Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth. Isaiah 53:10 (But the LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity.) If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. So by calling Jesus the Lamb of God, he is referring to Jesus becoming the perfect, unblemished sacrifice offered up for the sins of all humanity. The "Son of God" would be referring to the words from heaven when Jesus was baptized "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." CCC 719 John the Baptist is "more than a prophet."94 In him, the Holy Spirit concludes his speaking through the prophets. John completes the cycle of prophets begun by Elijah.95 He proclaims the imminence of the consolation of Israel; he is the "voice" of the Consoler who is coming.96 As the Spirit of truth will also do, John "came to bear witness to the light."97 In John's sight, the Spirit thus brings to completion the careful search of the prophets and fulfills the longing of the angels.98 "He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. . . . Behold, the Lamb of God."99 |
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What is John’s purpose in life?
Same as ours. Prepare the world for the coming of God. Just he prepared for the first coming. The second will be a bit different. 
I'll tell you one thing though. We'll all be on our knees. Some voluntarily, some because they can't stand up. 
Where in our lives can we “make straight the way of the Lord” ? I think I'd break Arfcom if I posted all the places where I need to do that. 
And I'd still be missing stuff. |
Thanks!
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Quoted: There is more to it than just that, going all the way back to Abraham and Isaac:What does he mean by calling Jesus the “Lamb of God” (verse 29; see Exodus 12:1-13;Isaiah 53:7) and the “Son of God” (verse 34)? The blood from the lamb in Exodus is what saved the Jews. Exodus 12:7 They shall take some of its blood and apply it to the two doorposts andthe lintel of every house in which they partake of the lamb. Exodus 12:13 But the blood will mark the houses where you are. Seeing the blood, Iwill pass over you; thus, when I strike the land of Egypt, nodestructive blow will come upon you. The lamb in Isaiah is the suffering servant led to slaughter as a sin-offering. Isaiah 53:7 Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth;Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he wassilent and opened not his mouth. Isaiah 53:10(But the LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity.) If he gives hislife as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a longlife, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. So by calling Jesus the Lamb of God, he is referring to Jesus becoming the perfect, unblemished sacrifice offered up for the sins of all humanity Gen 22:6-13 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife; and they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold, the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son: so they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. Abraham states that God will provide the lamb for the sacrifice, but what does Abraham find? A ram, not a lamb. The Israelites in Egypt provided their own lambs for the sacrifice, and did so for generations until... John sees Jesus and proclaims "Behold the Lamb of God." God has finally provided the lamb for the sacrifice that was spoken of by Abraham. Also, Jesus fulfills the Passover lamb completely: the lamb: male year old (prime of its life) unblemished sacrificed blood marks those belonging to God must be eaten Jesus: male prime of His life unblemished (perfectly sinless) sacrificed His blood marks us as belonging to God His body must be eaten (the Eucharist) It wasn't enough to simply stop at sacrificing the lamb. The lamb had to be consumed. So, we must also consume the Lamb, and Jesus provided us the means when he said "Take ye and eat. This is my body." (Matt. 26:26) |