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"When peaceful silence lay over all¡K, your powerful word leaped down from heaven". These words from the Book of Wisdom form our Opening Antiphon today. In the Light of Christmas, they bear for us a very profound meaning.
The Mediterranean world into which Jesus was born was, by human standards, a peaceful one. The Romans had conquered most of that world and imposed their "roman peace". The Gospel, and the Liturgy of the Church, however, calls us to deeper reflection and to understand that the true place of "peaceful silence" was in the heart of Mary, for she was the one who heard the powerful word of God. Her heart was prepared to listen to God through her Immaculate Conception, for her heart was not burdened with the sinful noises stemming from the world, the flesh and the devil. Free to hear the word of God, she was equally free to listen to it, to accept it, and so to respond to it. It was this powerful word of God that created for us the possibility of entering into a silence, like that of Mary and experience the empowering truth of God's love for us.
Mary, Mother of Jesus, teach us to imitate You in being able to enter into silence and listen patiently and perseveringly to the word of God.
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DAILY OFFERING
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Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.
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PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
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INTENTION
That, faced by the growing expansion of the culture of violence and death, the Church may courageously promote the culture of life through all her apostolic and missionary activities.
Elaboration
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