Today's Gospel December 23, 2020 with the words of Pope Francis

READING OF THE DAY
From the book of the prophet Malachi
Ml 3,1-4.23-24

Thus says the Lord: «Behold, I will send my messenger to prepare the way before me and immediately the Lord whom you seek will enter his temple; and the angel of the covenant, whom you long for, here he comes, says the Lord of hosts. Who will bear the day of his coming? Who will resist its appearance? He is like the fire of the smelter and like the lye of the launderers. He will sit to melt and purify the silver; he will purify the sons of Levi, refine them like gold and silver, so that they can offer the Lord an offering according to justice. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old, as in the distant years. Behold, I will send the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord arrives: he will convert the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers, so that when I come, I will not strike the earth with extermination. "

GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Luke
Lc 1,57-66

In those days, it was time for Elizabeth to give birth and she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had manifested his great mercy in her, and they rejoiced with her. Eight days later they came to circumcise the child and wanted to call him by the name of his father, Zaccharia. But his mother intervened: "No, his name will be Giovanni." They said to her: "There is none of your kindred with that name." Then they nodded to his father what he wanted his name to be. He asked for a tablet and wrote: "John is his name." Everyone was amazed. Instantly his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke blessing God. All their neighbors were filled with awe, and all these things were talked about throughout the mountainous region of Judea.
All those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying: "What will this child ever be?"
And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.

WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
The whole event of the birth of John the Baptist is surrounded by a joyful sense of amazement, surprise and gratitude. Amazement, surprise, gratitude. People are gripped by a holy fear of God "and all these things were talked about throughout the mountainous region of Judea" (v. 65). Brothers and sisters, the faithful people sense that something great has happened, even if humble and hidden, and ask themselves: "What will this child ever be?". Let us ask ourselves, each of us, in an examination of conscience: How is my faith? Is it joyful? Is it open to God's surprises? Because God is the God of surprises. Have I "tasted" in my soul that sense of wonder that the presence of God gives, that sense of gratitude? (Angelus, June 24, 2018