Month: December 2007

‘WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?’ (Lk 1:39-45):  21 December 2007 (Friday)

Reading:  www.nccbuscc.org/nab/122107.shtml

What’s wrong with this picture?  One glance at this scene of the Visitation, and we’ll probably say, “Nothing!”  After hearing the angel’s news, Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth to offer her help.  Mary is herself pregnant, but out of generosity and concern for Elizabeth, she leaves home to stay with her cousin until the latter’s childbirth.  Elizabeth rushing out to welcome Mary makes a touching stampita scene, as composed here by filmmaker Franco Zefferelli in his 1977 six-hour mini-series, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

“DID YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WERE GETTING INTO?”  (Lk 1:26-38):  20 December 2007 (Thursday)

Reading:  www.nccbuscc.org/nab/122007.shtml

In June of the year 1985, a mysterious photograph appeared on the cover ofNational Geographic (above left).  It was a close-up of a young Afghan refugee girl, probably around fourteen years old.  The picture was taken by an American photographer named Steve McCurry in a school in a refugee camp in Pakistan sometime before Christmas the previous year.  

“WHAT HAVE I STOPPED PRAYING FOR?” (Lk 1:5-25):  19 December 2007 (Wednesday)

Reading:  www.nccbuscc.org/nab/121907.shtml

It’s not fair.  The old man was just trying to do his job.  By the gospel’s own account, he was a righteous man.  That fateful day that he was picked to enter the sanctuary, he was just planning to go in there, burn the required incense, say a couple of prayers, and then leave right away.  He expected nothing out of the ordinary– certainly not a vision of angels, and certainly not the news of his elderly wife Elizabeth bearing a son.  And all he did was ask the angel a question, but when he came out of the sanctuary, he could no longer speak.

“ARE YOU SERIOUS?” (Mt 1:18-25):  18 December 2007 (Tuesday)

Reading:  www.nccbuscc.org/nab/121807.shtml

One of the least known movies on the life of Christ is “The Gospel According to St. Matthew” directed by controversial Italian film director Pier Paolo Pasolini.  Hailed as a masterpiece since its release in 1964, the film uses only scenes and words lifted from the first gospel.

“WHY SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS?” (Mt 1:1-17):  17 December 2007 (Monday)

Reading:  www.nccbuscc.org/nab/121707.shtml

Last March 2007, Cyndi Lauper appeared on “The View” and performed “True Colors,” which hit No. 1 on  the Billboard 100 charts almost twenty years ago.  Gone were the outrageous costume and the wildly colored 80’s hair.  Also, compared to the 1986 music video, this live performance was less affected, more quiet and heartfelt, relaying the song’s message in a way that the original recording, as well as the excellent 1998 Phil Collins’ cover, were nowhere close to achieving.