Liturgical Calendar

December 15: Elijah

Traditional Ornament: Fire

Reading: 1 Kings 18

“The Lord’s fire came down and devoured the burnt offering, wood, stones and dust and lapped up the water in the trench.” (1 Kings 18:38)

Elijah is one of the best known of the prophets of the Old Testament. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that the mission of the prophets was to give the people “education in faith and conversion of heart.” (CCC 2581) In today’s reading, Elijah provides both in dramatic fashion.

Under the rule of King Ahab, the Israelites fell into worshipping pagan gods alongside the God of Israel.  At a time of great famine and severe drought, God sent Elijah to speak with King Ahab. Elijah set up a challenge for Ahab. He tells Ahab to assemble the prophets of Baal, the pagan god whom the people believed would bring rain to the fields.  The prophets, which numbered 450, were to prepare an offering, a young bull, to Baal. Elijah instructed them to choose one of the bulls, “cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood, but start no fire.” (1 Kings 18: 23) Elijah would do the same with the other bull. Then, “you shall call upon the name of your gods, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. The God who answers with fire is God.” (1 Kings 18: 24)

The prophets of Baal called out from morning til noon, with no answer. Elijah prodded them to “call louder” but to no avail. Then Elijah told the people to draw near. He dug a trench around the altar and poured water over the offering and the wood until the water overflowed and filled the trench. Then he called out to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Answer me, Lord! Answer me that this people may know that you, Lord, are God and that you have turned their hearts back to you. The Lord’s fire came down and devoured the burnt offering, wood, stones and dust and lapped up the water in the trench. Seeing this, all the people fell prostrate and said, ‘The Lord is God!'” (1 Kings 18″ 37-39)

In the footnote for this story, we read that “this is a struggle between the Lord and Baal for the loyalties of the people of Israel.” This Advent we should ask ourselves, “where do my loyalties lie? Where do I put my faith and trust?”

© 2017 Catechist’s Aide

December 14: King David

Traditional Ornament: Crown or Star of David

Reading: 2 Samuel 7

“Your house and your kingdom are firm forever before me; your throne shall be firmly established forever'” (2 Samuel 7:16)

David is perhaps the most important person in the Old Testament. In today’s reading, we find out why. The chapter begins with David’s vision for a permanent house (temple) for the Ark of the Covenant, as opposed to the tent wherein it currently dwells. But, God has much bigger plans. Through the prophet Nathan, God makes his covenant with David, promising that He will make David a great name, a dynasty. He promises that from David’s offspring will come one who will build a temple for the Lord, one who shall be God’s own son, and he will rule over Israel forever.

The emphasis of the covenant is on permanency. In this one chapter, we find the word “forever” eight times. David’s son, Solomon, who succeeds him as king of Israel, does build a temple for God. But, it is the Messiah, Jesus Christ, to whom the covenant prophetically refers. “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1: 31-33)

© 2017 Catechist’s Aide

December 13: A New King

Traditional Ornament: Horn of Oil

Reading: 1 Samuel 16

“Then Samuel asked Jesse, ‘Are these all the sons you have?’ Jesse replied, ‘There is still the youngest.'” (1 Samuel 16:11)

After Saul’s disobedience, God rejected him as Israel’s king. The Lord then sent Samuel to the home of Jesse of Bethlehem, to anoint a new king that He had chosen from among Jesse’s sons. Jesse presented his seven older sons to Samuel, but none were the one that God had chosen. When Samuel inquires are there any other sons, Jesse sent for his youngest, David, a handsome boy who was out tending sheep. God confirmed to Samuel that this young boy, David was the one to be anointed. Samuel anointed the boy with oil, and “the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David.” (1 Samuel 16:13)

The story of David’s anointing reminds us that God has a plan for each of us, even when we are still young. David, while still a child, was chosen by God to be king of Israel. God’s plan may not be for us to be rulers or people of great importance in the world, but we are all called to serve God in important ways. As God reminded Samuel, “God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance. The Lord looks into the heart.” (1 Samuel 16: 7) What did God see when He looked into David’s heart? This Advent is a good time to ask, “what does God see when He looks into our hearts?”

© 2017 Catechist’s Aide

December 12: Ruth & Boaz

Traditional Ornament: Grain

Reading: Ruth 3-4

“Blessed is the Lord who has not failed to provide you today with a redeemer. May he become famous in Israel” (Ruth 4:13)

In the beginning of the book of Ruth, we are introduced to Naomi. Her husband has just died. Her two sons marry Moabite (Gentile) women (Orpah and Ruth), and not long after, both sons also die.  Three widowed women alone – without a family – at a time when not having a father or husband made life more than difficult for a woman. Naomi decides to return to her homeland, Bethlehem and instructs her daughters-in-law to return to their families. Ruth, in an act of loyalty, tells Naomi that she will not leave her. One of the most beautiful verses in the Bible is Ruth’s reply to Naomi: “Wherever you go, I will go, wherever you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God, my God. Where you die I will die and there be buried.” (Ruth 1:16-17)

Naomi and Ruth reach Bethlehem at the time of the barley harvest and Ruth sets out to glean the fields after the harvesters have finished their work. It is there that she first meets Boaz, who just happens to be a relative of her in-laws. Boaz has heard of Ruth’s loyalty to her mother-in-law and is impressed with the young widow. He is attracted to, and protective of Ruth, and looks out for her best interest, ensuring that she has enough food for herself and for Naomi.

When we pick up the story in Chapter 3, we find Naomi instructing Ruth on how to make a marriage claim with Boaz. She refers to Boaz as their redeemer, which he is according to Jewish law because of the family relationship. The story of Ruth and Boaz may not be the greatest love story ever written, but when they marry, its effects are far-reaching. It meant security for Naomi; it restored a family; and through their descendants came David, the future king of Israel, and from whose house the Messiah would be born.

This Advent, when we look at the story of Boaz marrying Ruth, the young Gentile widow, we are reminded that Jesus sacrificed himself to be the Redeemer of not just the Israelites, but of all people of all nations.

© 2017 Catechist’s Aide

December 11: Joshua

Traditional Ornament: Ram’s Horn / City Walls

Reading: Joshua 5: 13 – 6: 27

“The wall collapsed, and the people attacked the city straight ahead and took it.” (Joshua 6: 20)

After Moses’ death, God chose Joshua to lead the Israelites into the promised land. God promised to be with Joshua and that He would never forsake him. After crossing the Jordan River, the Israelites camped outside of the city of Jericho, which was to be the first city conquered in the promised land. God instructs Joshua to have the armed troops march once around the city for six days with seven priests carrying rams’ horns in front of the ark of the covenant. Then God said, “On the seventh day march around the city seven times, and have the priests blow the horns.” (Joshua 6:4) On the last blast of the horns, all the people will shout and the city walls will collapse allowing the troops to attack the city.

This isn’t the first time we see God tell someone to do something that sounds a little crazy. Could we really blame Joshua if he said, “You want us to do what?” But Joshua, like Noah and Abraham before him, was a model of faithfulness and trusted God enough to follow his instructions without question or doubt. Not only was Joshua faithful, but he must have had unparalleled leadership skills, because he was able to convince his troops to carry out this crazy-sounding mission.

Also important in Joshua’s story is the faithfulness of God. Although we may waiver and are unfaithful, God always keeps His promises. Through Joshua, God kept His word to bring the Israelites to live in the land He had promised them.

© 2017 Catechist’s Aide

December 10: Moses

Traditional Ornament: Stone Tablets / Mountain

Reading: Exodus 19-20, 24

“Now, if you obey me completely and keep my covenant, you will be my treasured possession among all peoples. You will be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.” (Exodus 19: 5-6)

In the covenant with Moses, God makes Israel a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. As his sons and daughters, the people of Israel are to be a light unto the rest of the world, bringing all nations into union with God.

God gives Moses the Ten Commandments, which He has written on stone tablets. The commandments are the condition of the covenant. In order to keep the covenant, Israel must keep God’s commandments. They are His family rules, a “code of conduct” for man’s relationship with God, and his relationship with others. When Moses takes the laws to the people assembled at the foot of the mountain, they respond, “We will do everything that the Lord has told us!” (Exodus 24: 3)

Sometimes the commandments may seem like God’s way to restrict or limit our personal freedom. But, there is another way to look at God’s laws. This Advent we can think of the commandments as God’s way of protecting us from actions or situations that can hurt us. In this light, the commandments become the means by which we can have the freedom to live life fully.

© 2017 Catechist’s Aide