Reading 1 Isaiah 7:10-14 The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying: Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, "I will not ask!  I will not tempt the LORD!" Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary people, must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel. REFLECTION “…let it be deep as Sheol, or...

“”Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”” (Lk 23: 42-43) We are familiar with this scene of the crucifixion: Jesus the image of the invisible God, the innocent Lamb of God, hanging on the cross between two criminals: one, in his anger, reviled him in his last moment of life; the other, believed and asked, Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus, mercy personified, said...

"...and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people; then if any one who hears the sound of the...