Wednesday, December 28 : Saint Basil

“The magi were overjoyed at seeing the star” (Mt 2,10). Let us, too, today, welcome this great joy into our hearts, the joy the angels announced to the shepherds. Let us adore with the magi, rejoice with the shepherds, sing with the angels: “Today a savior has been born for us who is Christ the Lord; the Lord God has appeared to us”. . . This feast is held in common by the whole creation: stars traverse the heavens, magi arrive from foreign lands, earth receives him in a cave. There is nothing that does not add to this feast, nothing that does not come to it with full hands. Let us, too, ring out a song of joy. . .; let us celebrate the world’s salvation, the day of humanity’s birth. Today the punishment that struck down Adam is abolished. Let no one any longer say: “You are dirt and to dirt you shall return” (Gn 3,19), but: “United to him who comes down from heaven you will be raised up into heaven”. . . “A child is born to us, a son is given us; his dominion is vast” (Is 9,5.6). . . What an abyss of goodness and love for humankind! So unite yourself to those who receive their Lord descending from heaven with joy and who adore the Great God in this little child. God’s power is manifested in this body as light through a window and it shines on the eyes of those who are pure of heart (Mt 5,8). So together with them we will be able “with unveiled face, gaze as in a mirror on the glory of the Lord and ourselves be transformed from glory to glory” (cf. 2Cor 3,18) through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and his love for us.

maronite readings – rosary,team