Reaching the State of Grace:

In order to be raised up, one must be lowered, says the Gospel. In order to be caught up in loving grace we must hide in the crevice of Christ, our rock.

Receptivity – Faith:

In today’s Gospel Jesus upholds a child as the model of receptivity to His Word and Truth. How receptive and in tuned are we to God’s Truth in our daily living? Are we too occupied with our daily secular concerns and challenges that we have “forgotten” God?

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Knowledge gives more power in the exercise of good or evil, but alone it is an indifferent weapon, lacking guidance.

- Saint John Bosco (1815-1888)

Christ’s love and our faith in that love should pervade everything we do—work, study, play.

- Saint John Bosco (1815-1888)

Every education teaches a philosophy; if not by dogma then by suggestion, by implication, by atmosphere. Every part of that education has a connection with every other part. If it does not all combine to convey some general view of life, it is not education at all.

- (G.K. Chesterton, The Common Man)

Seeking God’s Joy:

If we live habitually turned toward the Father truly seeking his joy, we can live in a constant climate of joy, and the initial gift of grace matures into a response of thanksgiving.

God’s Blessings:

In today’s Gospel of the “Parable of the Sower” God promised a yield of thirty, sixty and even a hundredfold to those whose hearts are receptive and responsive to His Word. How would you measure your “yield” of God’s blessings in your life? What is God’s challenge to you.

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The Name of Jesus, written in the heart of the just, gives them an astonishing boldness to counter the blows of every woe.

- Saint Augustine

Blessed is the servant who would accept correction, accusation, and blame from another as patiently as he would from himself. Blessed is the servant who when he is rebuked quietly agrees, respectfully submits, humbly admits his fault, and willingly makes amends.

- Saint Francis of Assisi to his friars (Admonition XXII)

God’s True Countenance:

Every stage of our spiritual journey reveals something more of God’s true countenance, and at this point we suddenly come face-to-face with the most astounding aspect of his tender love: we see that he is vulnerable. The cross lays bare the most hidden wounds of our nature, but is also lays bare the the human truth of God’s wound.

God’s Will – Deepest Reality:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asserts that to do God’s Will is to establish the deepest form of relationship with Him. When we live in God’s ways, we are fulfilling the fullest meaning and purpose of our lives. Our happiest moments are found in loving God and others fully.

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If your confidence were as great as it ought to be, you would not worry about what may happen to you; you would place it all in God’s hands, hoping that when he wants something of you, he will let you know what it is.

- Saint Claude de la Colombiere

Love Shows Up Sin:

Love is the original and ultimate harmony of all that exists. Sin is only a discordant note within the total orchestration. The more our lives are attuned to the harmony of love, the keener our perception of every discordant note.

Humility – Faith:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us to be humble. To be humble means we must be God-centered in everything we do, think and say. Humility is a virtue that opens our minds to God’s Truth and our hearts to God’s Love, Peace and Justice. How much humility do we have?

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Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you.

- Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

Hence we must say that for the knowledge of any truth whatsoever man needs divine help, that the intellect may be moved by God to its act. But he does not need a new light added to his natural light, in order to know the truth in all things, but only in some that surpasses his natural knowledge. (Summa Theologiae, I-II, 109, 1)

Strength of the Poor:

The poor man, being dispossessed of self, is flexible in the hands of God and available and dedicated to others. Generously and tirelessly he strives to overcome the obstacles to love, for God’s strength dwells in him.

Response – Faith:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus called Peter and others to be His Apostles. They responded willingly because their openness to God’s Truth made the call irresistible. Are we open or blind to God’s Truth? Do we live a Christ-centered or self-centered life daily?

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A good tree, that is, a good heart as well as a soul on fire with charity can do nothing but good and holy works. For this reason Saint Augustine said: "Love, and do what you will," namely, possess love and charity and then do what you will. It is as if he had said: Charity is not able to sin.

- Saint Angela Merici (1474-1540)

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Is 8:23--9:3
Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14
1 Cor 1:10-13, 17
Mt 4:12-23 or Mt 4:12-17

In this Sunday's Gospel passage, we hear of the fulfillment of the prophecy given by Isaiah in the first reading: Because of Jesus Christ, the people you know who are sitting in darkness (making no effort to get out of their sin-induced misery), who are overshadowed by the demons of spiritual death and destruction, whose stubbornness is causing you great anguish, have seen the light that will heal them.

Through your prayers and your faithful love, Jesus has been revealed to them. Even as they fight against this truth and hide from him, the great light of Christ cannot be turned off. Soon or eventually this will cause abundant joy and great rejoicing, not only for you, but for those who are being rescued.

Elsewhere in scripture (Luke 12:49-50), Jesus shares his feelings about the people in darkness: "How great is my anguish until it is accomplished!" He knows your anguish and feels the same way you do, but more deeply and fervently. So be assured that he is doing more than you know, even more than you can imagine, to accomplish the victory for which you've been praying. He obtained it on the cross 2000 years ago, and now he is doing everything possible — as well as the impossible — to bring it to fulfillment.

Pray that Divine Providence will use the bad consequences of their stubborn rebellion to draw them to himself. Pray that God will use any person, even wayward companions, as instruments to bring them into his light. Pray that God will work in his way, not in a way that you choose, to dissolve their spiritual rebellion. Pray that after their conversion they will spread the light of Christ powerfully. And pray that their conversion will be deep, definite and permanent.

Remember, we don't pray in order to change God's mind. He's already working to bring the light of Christ to people who are in darkness. We pray to place them into his arms, because they're not asking for this themselves.

Questions for Personal Reflection:

Write a list of the people you know who are living in darkness. Do you trust in the power of Christ's great light and the victory he has already obtained? Make a commitment to feel Christ's anguish more keenly and use this pain to energize you into daily prayer on behalf of darkened souls.

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:

Think of all those who are causing you anguish because they're living in darkness. Get a large candle and scratch their names into it or write them on paper to place next to this candle. Light the candle and bind yourselves together in prayer for these loved ones and agree to continue to support each other in prayer for as long as necessary. Light this candle at all of your community meetings.

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Our Sunday cycle of Scripture readings this year is based on the Gospel of Matthew. In today's selection, Matthew describes the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, and quotes a passage from Isaiah, which the liturgy uses for our first reading. The quote sounds familiar, since we heard it in the Christmas liturgy: "The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light."

Midnight Mass, when the beauty of the birth of the infant Jesus is before us is a contrast to today's scene. In the light of day, Jesus walks by the Sea of Galilee, and our thoughts turn to the adult mission of the Messiah. That mission takes place in the midst of the Jewish people, laboring under Roman rule. Along the dusty roads, and in towns and synagogues, in the face of human suffering and sin, and eventually from Calvary's hill, Matthew is proclaiming that the light of Christ will conquer death.

And, lest we think we can remain spectators, as perhaps we were on Christmas before the lovely nativity scene in our church, the liturgy invites us to shoulder the role of disciple, as Jesus calls his first followers. These simple Galilean fishermen left everything in response to that call. Can we hesitate, think it over, give Jesus an answer next week or next month? Not if we take to heart the urgent message of today's Gospel: "The kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Scripture:

•For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. (Isaiah 9:3)

•One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: to dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD and contemplate his temple. (Psalm 27:4)

•For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning. (1 Corinthians 1:17)

•He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. (Matthew 4:21b,22)

Reflection:

•How have you experienced Jesus in your life?

•What did it feel like and what was your response?

•Does the experience of Jesus continue to change your life?

Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance. Where there is patience and humility, there is neither anger nor vexation. Where there is poverty and joy, there is neither greed nor avarice. Where there is peace and meditation, there is neither anxiety nor doubt. (St. Francis of Assisi)

The Spirit and Our Hearts:

The heart is very closely linked to the spirit. The Spirit lives in the hearts of men. He becomes the life and movement, the breath of life and the inspiration of our hearts.

Labourers – Faith:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus laments that few people are willing to labour in the rich harvest of His vineyard. One of the main reasons for this is that the attractions of the secular and materialistic world are drawing people away from their interests in God. How true is this of you?

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It is not the quantity of food, but a healthy digestion, which nourishes the body; so it is not the great amount of knowledge communicated, but the manner in which the heart receives it and is nourished by it that satisfies the needs of the soul.

- Saint Ignatius Loyola

Sustained by the Risen Christ:

The risen Christ is the leaven that makes the whole mass of humanity rise and expand in the joy of personal communion. Whenever two human beings break through into a true love and fellowship, it is because they are sustained by the risen Christ.

Proclaim The Good News:

In today’s Gospel Jesus commissions His Disciples to go and proclaim the Gospel to all peoples. Other than witnessing through living the Gospel, we also have to speak and explain it to others. How much interest have we shown in learning about God’s Word?

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Just as Paul of Tarsus discovered the true way that leads to salvation and understood that the crucified and risen Christ has led the people of Israel and all humanity to it, so also Christians must realize that the way of salvation comes through their unity in Christ, and that this requires a special spiritual commitment by all.

- Pope John Paul II (Conversion of Saint Paul; January 25, 1997)

New Fruit of Eternal Life:

Jesus, risen from the dead, is the body of man that has fallen like a seed into the ground and now bears fruit of eternal life. The life that is love and has flooded with the sap of life the stem and branches of his spiritual being as well as the bark of his corporeal existence.

Jesus’ Love:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus assures us that His love for us is infinite, intense and intimate; just as His Father loves Him. How much do we love Jesus in return? How does our daily life witness to such love? Do we bring peace, joy, love, consolation and hope to others?

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Oh what remorse we shall feel at the end of our lives, when we look back upon the great number of instructions and examples afforded by God and the Saints for our perfection, and so carelessly received by us! If this end were to come to you today, how would you be pleased with the life you have led this year?

- Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

The Risen Christ:

The risen Christ ushers in the fullness of God, “all things to all men.” In him we can actually experience the union of everthing human, of everything created, with the living God.

Law - Compassion:

In today’s Gospel the Pharisees plotted to kill Jesus because He broke the Sabbath Laws on curing a sick man. Laws of the Church are meant to serve God’s people especially the sick and the needy. Those who practise Laws rigidly are often self-righteous and without compassion.

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In order to shun temptations, renounce all vain thoughts and think of Jesus only, resolving to know and love Him. After you have accustomed yourself to think of Him alone, any thoughts not relating to Him will be unwelcome and painful to you.

- Blessed Henry Suso (1295-1366)

When We Forgive:

Forgiveness is the self-giving that reaches out beyond all barriers and limitations. It is the total gratuitousness that breaks down the resistance of a hard and narrow heart making it capable of opening out in welcome.

Faith – Depth:

How often do we practise our Christian faith routinely? We find ourselves “attending” Mass, “saying” prayers and the like, but not really being in touch with the real purpose and meaning of praising and reverencing God. We are challenged to be more attentive to our religious practices.

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What is a faithful man to do in the chaos of events which seem to swallow him up? He must sustain himself calmly by faith. Faith will make him adore the eternal plan of God. Faith will assure him that to those who love God all things work together for good.

- Blessed William Joseph Chaminade (1761-1850)

The Bible:

The Bible is more than just a book; it is alive with the presence of God. It is a melody that echoes within our hearts, a poem that our daily lives re-create.

“Personal Treasures”:

What are your most precious gifts and possessions? Ponder for few moments on them and list them down. If your list does not include faith, hope and love for God and how you can live these to the full, then your faith in God is not as strong and as personal as God Wills of you

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Christ made my soul beautiful with the jewels of grace and virtue. I belong to Him whom the angels serve.

- Saint Agnes of Rome (d. 254)

Generosity, Love and Forgiveness:

In a world made gloomy by the false image of a vengeful God, good deeds are floodlights shining upon a new portrait of God. This image glistens with the hallowed hues of the human heart—generosity, love and forgiveness.

Insecurity – Truth:

In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist proclaimed that Jesus is the “Chosen One.” John never promoted his own popularity even though he had a big following. Are we secure enough to affirm the truth that we see in others e.g. their talents, wealth and goodness and the like.

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Every effort to better society, especially when injustice and sin are so ingrained, is an effort that God blesses, that God wants, that God demands of us.

- Archbishop Oscar Romero (1917-1980)

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Is 49:3, 5-6
Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
1 Cor 1:1-3
Jn 1:29-34

In every Mass, we hear the presiding priest say the words of John the Baptist that are quoted in next Sunday's Gospel message: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." To which we reply: "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed."

With this healing, we are freed from our sins due to the gift of Baptism and the Penitential Rite at the beginning of Mass. With this healing, we receive Jesus in all of his humanity and divinity. With this healing, we can leave church with the same attitude as John the Baptist, testifying by word and by the way we live that "now I have seen that Jesus is the Son of God."

Is Mass that kind of experience for you?

When it's not, it's because we're not paying full attention to what's going on in Mass — in all parts of the Mass. Jesus is present in the community as it comes together in song. Jesus is present in the Penitential Rite, listening for sincerity and genuine awareness of our sinfulness. Jesus is present in the Liturgy of the Word: the Word read and the Word broken open like bread to nourish our spiritual growth, and when the homily is poor or absent, the Holy Spirit preaches to us privately (straying thoughts are often an action of God). And Jesus is present in the prayers: the ones we offer and those of the priest.

All of Mass is meant to transform us, prepare us, and send us out from church as witnesses of the true presence of Christ. Like John the Baptist, we can say: "I did not know him." In other words: "I saw only bread and wine" and "I was sinful and didn't realize the damage I had done" and "I was wounded and did not know how to be healed."

And like John we can add: "Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God. The Holy Spirit revealed to me the presence of my beloved Savior in the Eucharist. The Holy Spirit gently exposed my sinfulness and gave me help in overcoming them. The Holy Spirit led me to the resources that are healing my wounds."

Questions for Personal Reflection:

What is the experience of Mass like for you? If you could you attend Mass daily, would you? If not, why not? If it's a scheduling problem, will you ask Jesus to change your schedule? If it's a priority problem, will you ask the Holy Spirit to increase in you a desire to sit in the true Eucharistic presence of your Savior?

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:

Describe a conversion experience in which you became more aware of meeting God in Mass. Prior to this development, what distracted you from the true presence of Jesus? What changed? Why? How?

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"Ordinary Time" is simply the "in-between" season, the weeks outside of the big seasons of Christmas and Easter, and their preparation times, Advent and Lent. Ordinary Time presents the story of Jesus in a continuous reading of the Gospels as well as other parts of Scripture.

Today's first reading introduces us to an extraordinary figure from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. The prophet speaks to us in the voice of the "servant," that mysterious character whom we meet many times in the liturgy each year. He may be an historical figure, or may be a symbol for all of Israel—or both. But in Christian terms, we identify the servant with Jesus Christ. Today the servant says God has singled him out for special work: He is to be "a light to the nations."

In the selection from John's Gospel, John the Baptist comes to a similar conclusion about Jesus. John tells us how he first recognized Jesus at his baptism as the "Lamb of God," one on whom God's Spirit rests, the Son of God.

And all of us—all who have been baptized in Christ—share that same Holy Spirit, and are called to undertake the same mission—being a light to others, serving others, giving of ourselves in love. The season may be called Ordinary Time but our mission is "extraordinary!"

Scripture

•The LORD said to me: You are my servant, Israel, through whom I show my glory. (Isaiah 49:3)

•And he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God. (Psalm 40:4)

•…to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. (1 Corinthians 1:2)

•I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel. (John 1:31)

Reflection:

•How do you respond to God’s call to holiness?

•Is it possible to grow in holiness without first accepting Christ in prayer and the sacraments?

•What ways may you grow in holiness?

Those in the Church respond to the call to holiness by hearing the word of God preached, sharing in the sacramental life of the Church, and living out those values and insights that we learn from Jesus Christ…Vatican II stated it succinctly in its preface to the decree on the Bishops’ Pastoral Office in the Church: “Christ the Lord, Son of the Living God, came that He might save people from their sins and that all people may be made holy.”

Evidence of a New World:

Selfless service and sensitivity towards others are like fiery comets shooting across a dark sky, bringing to egocentric lives evidence of a world beyond their imagining.

Inclusive – Faith:

In today’s Gospel, the Jews were upset with Jesus for socializing with sinners. We too have a tendency to be exclusive, judgmental and self-righteous like these Jews. Jesus teaches us how to be inclusive, compassionate and humble when we relate with others.

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One hour is not a long time, one hour to speak to the good God. We have so many things to ask him, we should stay with Him forever.

- Blessed Andre Bessette (1845-1927)

God and Humans Dwell in Communion:

To receive the grace to be set free from the ego, forget oneself and seek to console, understand and love others is to embark on a journey to another world where God and humans dwell in communion.

Praising God:

In today’s Gospel many praised God after seeing Jesus cure the paralytic. Yet, many others remained obstinate and did not believe. Do we have rigid and prejudiced views of our faith that is keeping us from growing in our relationship with the Lord? Open your hearts to God’s transforming Spirit.

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The day you learn to surrender yourself totally to God, you will discover a new world, just as I am experiencing. You will enjoy a peace and a calm unknown, surpassing even the happiest days of your life.

- Blessed Jaime Hilario (1898-1937)

Seeds of Joy Amid Sadness:

Sowing seeds of joy amid our own or another’s sadness requires both prayer—a prayer of assurance and confidence that God is looking out for me—and action, more aptly a servant’s surrender and acceptance of consequences.

Attachments - Faith:

In today’s Gospel, the good young man kept all of God’s commandments and was blessed with wealth. He also desired to gain eternal life without detachment from his wealth. Thus, he went away sad. Do we have attachments that make us sad and distant us from God?

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As the devil fell by pride, so he assails us most often by temptations to that sin; knowledge of ourselves is the indispensable step by which we go on to the knowledge and love of God.

- Saint Anthony of Egypt (251-356)

Christian Joy:

Christian joy lies beyond the realm of feelings and emotions. It is a fundamental disposition and stance toward life. It is the knowledge that having prayed and surrendered, God hears the hopes and desires of my heart and will respond in a timely, appropriate way.

Good News – Universal:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus explained that the Good News of Salvation is for all peoples and not for a restricted few. As believers of Jesus, we should feel very blessed and want to be obligated to make His gift of Salvation known to others as well. Cherish God’s Word more wholeheartedly?

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In his divine economy, God has honored his creatures, most especially his rational ones, by giving them each, according to his ability, a part of his own work to do, by participation in his own divine activity.

- Venerable Solanus Casey (1870-1957)

The Hope of Others:

Peacemakers must become the hope of others. We must incarnate this emotion and virtue for others. The poor, the alienated and those who have no voice in society, must rely upon us for their dreams to become reality.

Jesus’ Teachings and Power:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ Teachings and His divine power to expel evil spirits astounded people. Are we also touched by Jesus’ Teachings of the Good News of Salvation? Do we feel blessed to be given guidance on how to live daily in God’s ways?

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Suffering is transformed into joy by the force of hope that comes from faith, because Christian martyrs, like Christ and by union with him, intimately accept the cross and transform it into an action of love.

- Pope Benedict XVI (January 1, 2008)

Being a “Little Christ”:

We belong to Jesus Christ the moment we rise from the waters of Baptism bearing his name. Christian means “little Christ.” As such, our vocation is to model our lives on the Lord’s.

“Call to Serve”:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus chose fishermen to be His Disciples. Jesus saw certain good qualities in them that even they themselves did not know. When opportunities present themselves to us to serve God’s people, we must take them up and learn to trust God more than our own abilities.

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The most beautiful credo is that which comes from your lips in darkness, in sacrifice, in pain, in supreme efforts of an unbending will for good. It is this which like a strong bolt of lightning penetrates the darkness of the soul; it is this which in a flash of the tempest lifts you and leads you to God.

- Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina (1887-1968)

The Baptism of the Lord (A)

Is 42:1-4, 6-7 or Is 40:1-5, 9-11
Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10
Acts 10:34-38
Mt 3:13-17

This Sunday we celebrate the "initiation rite" that launched Jesus' public ministry. We, too, have experienced this same Baptism: Our first Sacrament of Initiation immersed us into the life of Christ. The other two initiation sacraments — Confirmation and Communion — confirm this holy life and empower us to live it. Thus says the Lord God about you: "Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my Spirit...." (see the reading from Isaiah).

What is this Spirit doing in you that is pleasing to the Father? How is this Spirit serving the kingdom of God through you? Are you giving this Spirit the freedom to continue Christ's ministry in the here and now?

You were baptized into this, but it's the hardships you've endured and the passions you feel that have initiated you into your own particular areas of ministry. This is why children of chronically or terminally ill parents often grow up to become doctors and nurses, why those who escape from and recover from abuses often become ministers of healing for other victims, and why workers who suffer from unjust employers often start their own businesses and create jobs where the staff is treated in the manner of Christ.

Whatever you feel passionate about, you've received this from the Passion of Christ through the Sacrament of Baptism. If you give it attention, it's renewed in the Sacrament of Communion, because the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist reunites you to his ministry. If you take it with you from church, you can change the world, just as Christ did, one day at a time.

And if you feel frustrated because you're not yet doing what you'd like to do, as long as it's something that God wants you to do, you're being prepared, not blocked. You have been chosen by the Father and he is very pleased with you!

Questions for Personal Reflection:

What is the Holy Spirit doing in you that's pleasing to the Father? What will you do to give this Spirit the freedom to continue Christ's ministry in your world — in your home, your workplace, your parish, your community — wherever you live, work and play?

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:

Choose one line from Isaiah's scripture and explain how this describes your life in Christ. Take turns sharing on this until all verses have been covered.

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For most of us, the Christmas season ended a couple of weeks ago. Decorations are packed away, and some of the kids' toys are already broken. We're into a new year, and trying to reconstruct a daily routine.

But liturgically, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord marks the end of the Christmas season and the transition to "Ordinary Time." Matthew's simple account of the baptism today ends with the heavenly voice introducing "my beloved Son." Recalling his coming, which we've celebrated in the Christmas season, we're invited to welcome the Beloved One into our midst once more. As a community, we will pledge ourselves—through each Sunday celebration which follows—to listen and respond to Christ's proclamation of the Good News.

You've probably heard people express the wish that the spirit of Christmas would last all through the year. Christians really are called to take that responsibility seriously. The meaning of Christmas is the central fact of our lives—we must reflect the fact that God has come to dwell with us in Jesus Christ. It can show on our faces, in our words and in what we do. If you haven't made a New Year's resolution, here's a simple one: let all that we say and do manifest that basic truth that God is with us. And, Merry Christmas, one more time!

Scripture:

•I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. Isaiah (42:6,7)

•The Lord will bless his people with peace. (Psalm 29:11)

•He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. (Acts 10:38)

•After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. (Matthew 3:16)

Reflection:

•How is Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled in Jesus being baptized by John?

•How does your baptism prepare you to follow Jesus in completing Isaiah’s prophecy?

•What can you do in this New Year to realize the grace and promise of your baptism to bring peace to the oppressed of the world?

What can the world promise? Let it promise what it will; it is making that promise to someone who may die tomorrow. (Augustine of Hippo)

The future enters into us, in order to transform itself in us, long before it happens. (Rainer Marie Rilke)

For Christmas All Year Round:

Lord, I know the Christmas season has come and gone,but I would like to celebrate your birth all year long—to keep the joy, to share the love,to spread goodwill and cheer. I want to stand in awe of your humanity. I long for each night to be a silent night, a holy night when each of us can go to sleep with a child’s anticipation of Christmas morning at the dawn. Oh, yes, my Lord, Christmas can occur each day if I give birth to you within my heart. Amen.

Rituals – Truth:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist even though, as Son of God, He did not need it. God respects and uses symbols and rituals to communicate His Truth and graces to us e.g. the Eucharist. Are we attentive and appreciative of the rituals of our Church?

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To those who wish to stand in God's grace, neither the guardianship of saints nor the defenses of angels are wanting.

- Saint Hilary of Poitiers (315-368)

Prayer of Penance:

Lord, I pray for those with heavy crosseswho suffer for the sins of their parentsand for the sins of those born before them.Open their eyes, Lord, so they may see sufferingas the cross you have given them to bear.

Motive of Ministry:

In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist expressed that his joy was complete and thus proclaimed that Jesus must grow greater, and he must grow less. When we are praised for our gifts, talents and good deeds, we are each challenged always to glorify Jesus and not ourselves.

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Lord, teach me thy wisdom.

- Saint Arcadius of Mauretania (d.302)

Praise You:

Praise you Lord that I hear you in the gentle breeze, The cooing of the dove, The ripple of the water. But it is in the silence of my own heart That I hear your still, small voice Speaking only to me.

Jesus’ Ministry – Prayer:

In today’s Gospel, great crowds were gathering to listen to Jesus and to be cured by Him. However, He went off to a lonely place to pray. We may be doing many good things for people, but if we are not connected to Jesus through our prayer life, we may be serving them for the wrong motives.

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Judge nothing until the Lord comes, who will bring to light both the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the heart.

- Saint Vitalis of Gaza (d. 625)

After Receiving Eucharist:

God my creator Breathe on me again Renew me—Refresh me Extend my abilities Body and Blood of Jesus Christ Flow through every fiber of my being Keep me well Oh Holy Spirit use me.

Truth – Revelation:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus proclaimed that the Scripture He had just read was “being fulfilled” by Him. The crowds accepted His revelation. How often do we choose not to listen to the Gospel being proclaimed and the homily being preached because we are prejudiced against the preacher?

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Thoughtfulness is the beginning of great sanctity. If you learn this art of being thoughtful, you will become more and more Christ-like, for his heart was meek and always thought of others.

- Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

A Child’s Prayer:

Francis and Clare You showed God such love Living humbly here Living only for God Hear now our prayer That we might also love too And live out our lives Following Jesus like you.

Crisis – Faith:

In today’s Gospel, the disciples were in their boats struggling with the strong winds. Jesus came to their rescue. Jesus is always there for us too when we are “struggling” with problems in our lives. Do we allow fears to dampen our faith in the Lord?

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Nobody must rejoice in the security of their own good deeds. As long as we are still experiencing the uncertainties of this life, we do not know what end may follow ... we must not trust in our own virtues.

- Pope Saint Gregory the Great

Living Life:

You gave me life Almighty God.I give it back to You. Do with it what You will. My life, while mine, is Yours. Accept me offering—though small. ’Tis all I have ’Tis what you gave Let me return it full.

Miracles – Faith:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus fed five thousand men with only five loaves and two fish that someone had offered Him. Jesus often works miracles with whatever we can contribute to help ourselves and others. If we want Jesus to help us, we must first do all we can to help ourselves.

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Faith in the one God is the only thing that truly liberates the world and makes it 'rational.' When faith is absent, the world only appears to be more rational.

- Pope Benedict XVI

A Prayer to the Holy Spirit:

Holy Spirit, you are the breath of God our loving Father. Help me to conspire with you,that I may truly and in all sincerity become a disciple of our beloved Jesus and live the life of the Kingdom of God,after the example of blessed Francis of Assisi and all the saints who walked so closely with you. Amen.

Jesus’ Ministry:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus proclaimed the Good News of Salvation and cured people with all kinds of diseases. When we are ill or having all kinds of pains, do we turn to Our Lord for strength, peace and healing? Jesus continues to perform miracles for us. Do we place our total trust in Him?

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God does not command us to live in hair shirts and chains, or to chastise our flesh with scourges, but to love Him above all things and our neighbor as ourselves.

- Saint Charles of Sezze (1613-1670)

Help Me:

Dear Lord, help me to cope with the reality of myself, Help me to be aware of the things within myself which push me away from you; Let me take to myself as truth the fact of your all-consuming love And give me the hope that comes from knowing that my sins are forgiven. Amen.

“Wise Men’s Gifts” – Faith:

In today’s Gospel, the wise men offered precious gifts to the Infant Jesus. What were your precious gifts to Jesus so far? Were they financial contributions to the poor or sharing your time and talents with those in need? How is the Lord challenging you today?

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People who suffer have something to offer to God. When they succeed in enduring their suffering, that is a daily miracle.

- Blessed Brother Andre Bessette (1845-1937)

Epiphany (A)

Is 60:1-6
Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6
Mt 2:1-12

On Epiphany, we celebrate the humble adoration of the Magi for the Christ child. The magi were Gentiles, not Jews, and their determination to meet the Jewish savior of the world says much about what the word "epiphany" means. The magi are good examples of believing in the importance of Jesus even without understanding what it would mean to them personally or to the rest of the world.

They worshiped Jesus as the Messiah before they knew how he would become king or how his kingship would change the world. As schol-ars in search of truth, they studied religious writ-ings from beyond the scope of their own culture. Then, they acted on faith in response to the Spirit of God who activated them, and it changed their lives.

Only the Spirit of God can move someone to have faith, because faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians Chapter 12). The word "epiphany" means discovery, a revelation that changes our lives. Epiphanies are gifts from God, given because we want them.

We can imagine how the magi's epiphany in the presence of the Christ child might have felt. Al-though they did not understand how this baby from a poor, unknown family could become king, they remembered him for the rest of their lives and listened for news from the land of Israel about Jesus. We know that they heard about his crucifixion and learned what his followers were teaching about it, for they became Christians — their relics have been venerated since very early times.

Questions for Personal Reflection:

What sign from God, like the star that the magi followed, are you waiting to see? What signs is God already showing you? These are evidence that he is working in your life. What epiphany — new understanding — is Jesus giving you about what God is doing in your life?

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:

Why is it impossible to understand everything about the ways that Jesus is the Messiah for you and for all the world? God has given you faith to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. How do you act on this faith? And how do these actions evangelize non-believers?

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If one phenomenon marks our modern world, it's instant communication. The message you're listening to is just one way we interact at the speed of light. Hello, I’m Franciscan Father Greg Friedman, and this is the "Sunday Soundbite" for the Feast of the Epiphany.

I sat at a computer to write this short reflection, and then someone took it—via the Internet—to edit and prepare so that it might be heard on our Web site or over the radio waves. If you wish, you could download the very text I originally typed. I still marvel at all the ways we can communicate today.

Today's feast of the Epiphany of the Lord is a feast that celebrates communication. The Gospel we read today portrays Jesus, the Word Made Flesh, revealed to the nations, as the wise men arrive to pay him homage. Whatever the historical facts behind the story, the message of faith is that God is reaching out to us, communicating to us the Word Made Flesh. That's communication that has transformed human history.

God's revelation in Jesus has a power surpassing all our modern technological "miracles," because it speaks to our hearts. Are we listening? Are we open to the Word?

Let's become modern channels of God's communication to the world in this new year, using our gifts—whatever they may be—to pass on the message of the Good News, that Love is born in our midst.

Scripture:

•Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, (Isaiah 60:5)

•For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. (Psalm 72:12)

•…it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are coheirs (Ephesians 3:5-6)

•They were overjoyed at seeing the star, (Matthew 2:10)

•…they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. (Matthew 2:11)
•…they departed for their country by another way. (Matthew 2:12)

Reflection:

•When the Magi came searching for the king, do you think they expected to find Jesus who would change their lives forever? Or, is this exactly what all seekers are hoping to find?

•Is “another way” followed by the Magi defined by physical place?

•What did the Magi seek? What did they find? What did they leave behind? What did they take with them?

•Why is Herod such a sad figure? Is it because he cannot see beyond the false hope of dominance over physical space and time?

•Do those who seek transcend the limits of the world?

It is like one who sees something never seen before, where of he has not even seen the like; although he might understand its nature and have experience of it, he would be unable to give it a name, or say what it is, however much he tried to do so, and this in spite of its being a thing which he had perceived with the senses. How much less, then, could he describe a thing that has not entered through the senses! For the language of God has this characteristic that, since it is very intimate and spiritual in its relations with the soul, it transcends every sense and at once makes all harmony and capacity of the outward and inward senses to cease and be dumb.

Whatever I May Do:

Despite whatever I may do, God continues to be God, continues to love me, continues to call me to love so that God’s will may be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Jesus Knows us Personally:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus praised Nathanael for his honesty. Jesus knows us personally too. It is good practice to spend some quiet moments each day to speak to the Lord from our hearts. This will help us develop a more personal relationship with Him.

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Since every man of whatever race is endowed with the dignity of a person, he has an inalienable right to an education corresponding to his proper destiny and suited to his native talents, his cultural background, and his ancestral heritage. At the same time, this education should pave the way to brotherly association with other peoples, so that genuine unity and peace on earth may be promoted. For a true education aims at the formation of the human person with respect to the good of those societies of which, as a man, he is a member, and in whose responsibilities, as an adult, he will share.

- Saint John Nepomucene Neumann (1811-1860)

All the Things:

If all the things I have done, all the people I have met, all the panels I have nailed to walls, all the cabinets I have created, the words I have written, the sermons I have given, if they would all disappear, God would still be present and God would still love me, for our God is a faithful God.

Jesus’ Invitation:

In today’s Gospel Jesus invited two of His disciples to stay with Him and accompany Him in His ministry so that they get to know Him more personally. How is Jesus inviting you to know Him more personally daily? Is He challenging us to read the Bible more often or to spend more quiet time in prayer with Him?

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We know certainly that our God calls us to a holy life. We know that he gives us every grace, every abundant grace; and though we are so weak of ourselves, this grace is able to carry us through every obstacle and difficulty.

- Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821)

Most Holy Name of Jesus

Today's Readings:
1 John 2:29--3:6
Ps 98:1, 3-6
John 1:29-34
http://www.usccb.org/nab/010308.shtml

Behold! The Eucharist is the Lamb of God!

In every Mass, we hear the presiding priest say the words of John the Baptist that are quoted in today's Gospel passage: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." Behold what? A wafer of bread? The priest isn't showing us something that's visible to our eyes. "Behold" means "Look with the vision of faith and see Jesus! He is here! Accept him! Worship him! Receive him!"

To which we reply: "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed."

With this healing, we're freed from our sins thanks to the Penitential Rite at the beginning of Mass if we're truly repentant. With this healing, we receive Jesus in all of his humanity and his divinity. With this healing, we can leave church reformed and renewed into the likeness of Jesus. We become tabernacles of his True Presence.

Is Mass that kind of experience for you? It requires full attention for what's going on in Mass — in all parts of the Mass. Jesus is present in the community song that initiates the Mass. Jesus is present in the Penitential Rite, listening for sincerity and genuine awareness of our sinfulness. Jesus is present in the Liturgy of the Word; the Word read and the Word preached, the Word broken open like bread to nourish our spiritual growth (and when the homily is poor or absent, the Holy Spirit preaches to us privately; straying thoughts are often an action of God). Jesus is also present in all the prayers of Mass.

Like John the Baptist, we can say: "I did not know him." In other words: "I saw only bread and wine, but the Holy Spirit revealed to me the presence of my beloved Savior" or "I was sinful and didn't realize the damage I had done, but the Holy Spirit gently exposed my sins and gave me help in overcoming them" or "I was wounded and did not know how to be healed, but the Holy Spirit led me to the right resources, the right counselor, the right doctor."

Today's first reading says that we are God's children now; however, what we shall be after we die in Christ has not yet been revealed. We won't know it or understand it or experience it until we die, and then "we shall be like him." We're only partially like him now, because we only partially understand him. After death, "we shall see him as he is" fully, and then we will want to be like him fully; in whatever ways we are not like him we will gladly purge from us (which is the process called purgatory).

During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, when the bread stops being bread and becomes the Body of Jesus, and the wine becomes his Blood, time disappears and we're united to our Lord who lives in eternity. Through the Eucharist, we experience a taste of heaven. We become like Jesus, and we stay like him after Mass in the ways that we imitate him.

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In a world of fiercely guarded corporate names and logos, it should be easy to understand this feast. The letters IHS are an abbreviation of Jesous, the Greek name for Jesus.

Although St. Paul might claim credit for promoting devotion to the Holy Name because Paul wrote in Philippians that God the Father gave Christ Jesus “that name that is above every name” (see 2:9), this devotion became popular because of 12th-century Cistercian monks and nuns but especially through the preaching of St. Bernardine of Siena, a 15th-century Franciscan.

Bernardine used devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus as a way of overcoming bitter and often bloody class struggles and family rivalries or vendettas in Italian city-states. The devotion grew, partly because of Franciscan and Dominican preachers. It spread even more widely after the Jesuits began promoting it in the 16th century.

In 1530, Pope Clement V approved an Office of the Holy Name for the Franciscans. In 1721, Pope Innocent XIII extended this feast to the entire Church.

Comment:

Jesus died and rose for the sake of all people. No one can trademark or copyright Jesus' name. Jesus is the Son of God and son of Mary. Everything that exists was created in and through the Son of God (see Colossians 1:15-20). The name of Jesus is debased if any Christian uses it as justification for berating non-Christians. Jesus reminds us that because we are all related to him we are, therefore, all related to one another.

Quote:

“Glorious name, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are forgiven, through you enemies are vanquished, through you the sick are freed from their illness, through you those suffering in trials are made strong and cheerful. You bring honor to those who believe, you teach those who preach, you give strength to the toiler, you sustain the weary” (St. Bernardine of Siena).

God Reads the Heart:

God reads the heart and proclaims marvels to people who love God, even to those who may not know God.

Jesus our Saviour:

In today’s Gospel John the Baptist testified that Jesus is the “Chosen One of God.” In our conversations with our family and friends, do we shy away from sharing our faith experiences freely when the opportunities arise? Never be ashamed to speak of the Lord

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The sweet Name of Jesus produces in us holy thoughts, fills the soul with noble sentiments, strengthens virtue, begets good works, and nourishes pure affections. All spiritual food leaves the soul dry if it contains not that penetrating oil, the Name Jesus. Jesus is honey in our mouth, light in our eyes, a flame in our heart. This name is the cure for all diseases of the soul.

- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)

Glorious name, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are forgiven, through you enemies are vanquished, through you the sick are freed from their illness, through you those suffering in trials are made strong and cheerful. You bring honor to those who believe, you teach those who preach, you give strength to the toiler, you sustain the weary

- Saint Bernardine of Siena

The Word:

The Lord calls in silence. In a world of peace, God’s word comes like the descent of a quiet, velvet night. There is no special way to speak to God, no particular way that says everything. What a marvelous experience, to be in the presences of God—and what is adequate is silence.

“Pointing Others to Jesus”:

In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist preached the need for repentance, so that the people’s hearts would be more receptive to Jesus’ Good News of Salvation. How much of what we do and say point people towards Jesus and His Good News?

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Let us not esteem worldly prosperity or adversity as things real or of any moment, but let us live elsewhere, and raise all our attention to Heaven; esteeming sin as the only true evil, and nothing truly good but virtue which unites us to God.

- Saint Gregory Nazianzen (330-390)

The bread which you do not use is the bread of the hungry; the garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who is naked; the shoes that you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot; the money that you keep locked away is the money of the poor; the acts of charity that you do not perform are so many injustices that you commit.

- Saint Basil the Great (329 - 279)

Mary, Mother of God

Num 6:22-27
Ps 67:2-3, 5-6, 8
Gal 4:4-7
Luke 2:16-21
http://www.usccb.org/nab/010108.shtml

HAPPY NEW YEAR! On this holy day, which includes an obligation to celebrate Mass because it's as important as Sunday, I pray that you will have a very Jesus-centered year in which you know the joy of his healing love and his emboldening strength that enables you to succeed as his partner in every difficulty.

Use the prayers in Mass to consecrate your new year to the protection and help of his mother Mary and to make this a year of many blessings.

In the first reading, God teaches Moses how to pass blessings onto others. The responsorial Psalm includes a request for God to bless us. Today's second reading describes the greatest blessing we've received: our adoption by God the Father. As his children, we inherit all that belongs to him. He has made available to us eternal life and every blessing under the heavens and in heaven.

Blessings come to us all the time. Every breath and each heartbeat is a blessing of life. But would you like to be amazed by your blessings, like the people in the Gospel passage who heard about what the shepherds had witnessed?

This amazement is an awe that comes from recognizing the presence of Jesus. We are blessed whenever we see, do, hear, or feel something that is Jesus or comes from Jesus or reveals him to us. That means we're even blessed in situations that feel like curses, because he is there, guiding us through it!

We have to keep our eyes on Jesus at all times. Admittedly, this is hard to do, but it's possible with decisive effort and the help of the Holy Spirit. Look past the problems: There is the victorious Jesus! Look past your own emotional reaction to the hardships: There is the peace of Christ! Look past the person who is sinning against you: There is Jesus comforting you!

Be awed by the fact that Jesus is always there and that everything good you do in this world is a good you are doing to Jesus. In hardships, we overcome evil by doing good to Jesus. In this, we become aware of the blessings of God's love and sympathy. And we'll find other blessings, too.

The next time someone fails to be good to you, stop expecting it from them and look for Jesus himself to give you what you need. As you improve at recognizing him, you'll become aware of his blessings even during the heat of the trial.

In every situation, always keep your eyes on Jesus to see his hand reaching toward you, blessing you.

Let us learn from Mary. She observed everything that happened and reflected on it to see what God would do. When Mary looked at the shepherds, did she see scruffy, stinky, unkempt strangers barging in? Of course not. Look at them through her eyes. How many blessings do you see? May your New Year be full of the awareness of your own blessings.

Remember the motto: Keep your eyes on Jesus!

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Mary’s divine motherhood broadens the Christmas spotlight. Mary has an important role to play in the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. She consents to God’s invitation conveyed by the angel (Luke 1:26-38). Elizabeth proclaims: “Most blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:42-43, emphasis added). Mary’s role as mother of God places her in a unique position in God’s redemptive plan.

Without naming Mary, Paul asserts that “God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Galatians 4:4). Paul’s further statement that “God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out ‘Abba, Father!’“ helps us realize that Mary is mother to all the brothers and sisters of Jesus.

Some theologians also insist that Mary’s motherhood of Jesus is an important element in God’s creative plan. God’s “first” thought in creating was Jesus. Jesus, the incarnate Word, is the one who could give God perfect love and worship on behalf of all creation. As Jesus was “first” in God’s mind, Mary was “second” insofar as she was chosen from all eternity to be his mother.

The precise title “Mother of God” goes back at least to the third or fourth century. In the Greek form Theotokos (God-bearer), it became the touchstone of the Church’s teaching about the Incarnation. The Council of Ephesus in 431 insisted that the holy Fathers were right in calling the holy virgin Theotokos. At the end of this particular session, crowds of people marched through the street shouting: “Praised be the Theotokos!” The tradition reaches to our own day. In its chapter on Mary’s role in the Church, Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church calls Mary “Mother of God” 12 times.

Comment:

Other themes come together at today’s celebration. It is the Octave of Christmas: Our remembrance of Mary’s divine motherhood injects a further note of Christmas joy. It is a day of prayer for world peace: Mary is the mother of the Prince of Peace. It is the first day of a new year: Mary continues to bring new life to her children—who are also God’s children.

Quote:

“The Blessed Virgin was eternally predestined, in conjunction with the incarnation of the divine Word, to be the Mother of God. By decree of divine Providence, she served on earth as the loving mother of the divine Redeemer, an associate of unique nobility, and the Lord’s humble handmaid. She conceived, brought forth, and nourished Christ” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 61).

Breath of God:

O breath of God, come set me free From weighing burdens set on me.Unforgiveness keeps us apart When anger resides within my heart. Make me willing to see my plight; Open my eyes and give me sight….



New Year – One Resolution:

The only resolution we need to make is a faith that is more fervent and firmly-rooted in our love to fulfil the Father’s Will. Mary did it throughout her life. During this New Year pray for greater peace, justice and for more people to love God.

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The first day of the year is placed under the sign of a woman, Mary. The Evangelist Luke describes her as the silent Virgin who listens constantly to the eternal Word, who lives in the Word of God. Mary treasures in her heart the words that come from God and, piecing them together as in a mosaic, learns to understand them. Let us too, at her school, learn to become attentive and docile disciples of the Lord. With her motherly help, let us commit ourselves to working enthusiastically in the "workshop" of peace, following Christ, the Prince of Peace.



- Pope Benedict XVI (January 1, 2006)

Mary,just as you helped Jesus grow in wisdom and grace, help me also to advance on the spiritual path which God has laid out for me.

- Unknown

H@PpY NeW yE@R 2008!!

hApPy @nIvEr$aRy to mY bLoGgIe!!