Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist
Lectionary: 697



Reading 1 (1 Jn 1:1-4)

Beloved:
What was from the beginning,
what we have heard,
what we have seen with our eyes,
what we looked upon
and touched with our hands
concerns the Word of life —
for the life was made visible;
we have seen it and testify to it
and proclaim to you the eternal life
that was with the Father and was made visible to us—
what we have seen and heard
we proclaim now to you,
so that you too may have fellowship with us;
for our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12)

R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Clouds and darkness are around him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

Alleluia (See Te Deum)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Jn 20:1a and 2-8)

On the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
"They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we do not know where they put him."
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.



REFLECTIONS: WORD Today



On this 3rd day of the Christmas Octave, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. John the Apostle and Evangelizer, "the one whom Jesus loved." He was the only apostle who was not martyred, and so he was able to write the majestic and profound 4th Gospel in the wise old age of 80+.

He also wrote three of the Epistles (1 John, 2 John, 3 John) and the Book of Revelation. He was the last apostle to die. He died in his nineties in Ephesus (west coast of modern Turkey.)

The Gospel of John is not a straight-line narration of the events of Jesus' life; it focuses on the theology of Christ's inseparable humanity and divinity. He testifies to us that Jesus is true God who became true man (John 1:1 & 14) and this God/man "is what we have heard and what we have seen - and touched with our own hands." (1 John 1:1) And in today's Gospel, St. John testifies that in the Resurrection, Jesus is alive forevermore, not just in spirit but in actual flesh and blood.

St. John is saying that Jesus is THE Ultimate Sacrament of God, the visible, audible and touchable Sign of the invisible and infinite God. This is the Christmas Mystery that the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains in paragraphs 525 and 526. At that first Christmas, the infinite God made Himself into a small, humble and poor baby in order to share in our frail humanity and to share with us His divinity.

And Jesus continues to do this today in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. The Word made Flesh humbles Himself further into a thin slice of bread for each of us to eat in a much more intimate, one-on-one personal relationship. In St. John's Gospel, Jesus tells us, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh." (John 6:51)

Pope Francis puts it this way: "The love of God is not something vague or generic; the love of God has a name and a face: Jesus Christ."

With the powerful life-giving graces Jesus the Eucharist brings into our humanity, we gain super-strength to endure in our journey to divinity. So come, we whom Jesus loves, let us continue celebrating Christmas with St. John and with the Eucharist - the Body and Blood of God with us - so that our Christmas joy may be complete.

O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL


Source: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicMassReflec...817314995232924

Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs
Lectionary: 698



Reading 1 (1 Jn 1:5—2:2)

Beloved:
This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ
and proclaim to you:
God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.
If we say, "We have fellowship with him,"
while we continue to walk in darkness,
we lie and do not act in truth.
But if we walk in the light as he is in the light,
then we have fellowship with one another,
and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.
If we say, "We are without sin,"
we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just
and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.
If we say, "We have not sinned," we make him a liar,
and his word is not in us.

My children, I am writing this to you
so that you may not commit sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins,
and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8)

R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.

Had not the LORD been with us—
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive,
When their fury was inflamed against us.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.

Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept the raging waters.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.

Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.

Alleluia (See Te Deum)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the white robed army of martyrs praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mt 2:13-18)

When the magi had departed, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
"Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you.
Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him."
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night
and departed for Egypt.
He stayed there until the death of Herod,
that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,
Out of Egypt I called my son.

When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi,
he became furious.
He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity
two years old and under,
in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.
Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:

A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.



REFLECTIONS: WORD Today



On this 4th day of the Christmas Octave (Dec. 25 - Jan. 1), we honor the martyrdom of the Holy Innocents. It is a somber reminder of how Christmas was almost aborted.

In the Gospel, we read that soon after the 'Three' Wise Men had worshipped the child King and departed, the Jewish King Herod sent troops to massacre the innocent children of Bethlehem. Herod did it in the aim of eliminating the Savior long promised to the Jews but whom he rejected.

In stark contrast, the Wise Men came from distant lands; they were not Jews, not believers of the One True God. But their hearts had been strangely moved to follow the light of a bright star that God sent to lead them to His Son and worship Him.

"God is light; in Him there is no darkness" (1 John 1:5)

Like Herod, we live in darkness when we reject Christ. And when Christ is rejected, death is sure to follow to fill the vacuum. Today we know for sure Christ has been rejected because we see Christ's little brothers and sisters aborted in their mother's wombs, contracepted in bedrooms, and massacred in classrooms where Religion was replaced by sex education.

Let us follow the Light of Jesus to Mass today and worship Him in behalf of all innocent victims who will never get to know the joy of seeing a shining star on top a Christmas tree.

WHEN A CHILD IS BORN


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The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas
Lectionary: 202



Reading 1 (1 Jn 2:3-11)

Beloved:
The way we may be sure that we know Jesus
is to keep his commandments.
Whoever says, "I know him," but does not keep his commandments
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:
whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked.

Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you
but an old commandment that you had from the beginning.
The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
And yet I do write a new commandment to you,
which holds true in him and among you,
for the darkness is passing away,
and the true light is already shining.
Whoever says he is in the light,
yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light,
and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.
Whoever hates his brother is in darkness;
he walks in darkness
and does not know where he is going
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6)

R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

The LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty go before him;
praise and grandeur are in his sanctuary.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Alleluia (Lk 2:32)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles
and glory for your people Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Lk 2:22-35)

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

"Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel."

The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
"Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
(and you yourself a sword will pierce)
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."



REFLECTIONS: WORD Today



We are now on the 5th day of the Christmas Octave. Do you still remember the loving text messages we sent on Christmas day that talked of peace and goodwill? Or does hot anger for neighbor and business rival once more rule our days?

The Christmas message from Jesus has not changed (1Jn 2:7), it remains the same: Love one another, forgive, be kind and considerate to each other.

In the Gospel, old Simeon at the Temple greet Mary and Joseph as they present the Baby Jesus to God His Father. In joy, Simeon says of Jesus, "He is a light to reveal God to the nations." (Lk 2:32 NLT) Simeon is saying that Jesus is the Light promised by God through Isaiah 500 years earlier (Isaiah 49:6).

The Word of God, Jesus and His Gospel, is the beam that reveals the path to peace and goodwill on earth - and the kind of relationship we have with others shows how faithfully we have followed His Light.

Sweet Baby Jesus, gentle Star of Bethlehem, lead me and I will follow. Light the way You would have me walk. And should I ever stray, expose my falsehood and lead me back to Christmas day.

LIGHT OF THE WORLD


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Mortal versus Venial Sin



A serious, grave or mortal sin is the knowing and willful violation of God’s law in a serious matter, for example, idolatry, adultery, murder, slander. These are all things gravely contrary to the love we owe God and, because of Him, our neighbor. As Jesus taught, when condemning even looking at a woman lustfully, sin can be both interior (choices of the will alone) or exterior (choices of the will carried into action). A man who willfully desires to fornicate, steal, murder or some other grave sin, has already seriously offended God by choosing interiorly what God has prohibited.

Mortal sin is called mortal because it is the “spiritual” death of the soul (separation from God). If we are in the state of grace it loses this supernatural life for us. If we die without repenting we will lose Him for eternity. However, by turning our hearts back to Him and receiving the Sacrament of Penance we are restored to His friendship. Catholics are not allowed to receive Communion if they have unconfessed mortal sins.

Venial sins are slight sins. They do not break our friendship with God, although they injure it. They involve disobedience of the law of God in slight (venial) matters. If we gossip and destroy a person’s reputation it would be a mortal sin. However, normally gossip is about trivial matters and only venially sinful. Additionally, something that is otherwise a mortal sin (e.g. slander) may be in a particular case only a venial sin. The person may have acted without reflection or under force of habit. Thus, not fully intending the action their guilt before God is reduced. It is always good to remember, especially those who are trying to be faithful but sometimes fall, that for mortal sin it must not only be 1) serious matter, but 2) the person must know it is serious and then 3) freely commit it.

These two categories of sin are explicitly to be found in Sacred Scripture. In the Old Covenant there were sins that merited the death penalty and sins that could be expiated by an offering. This Law was a teacher that prepared the way for the faith (Gal. 3:24). In the New Covenant these material categories are replaced by spiritual ones, natural death by eternal death. There are thus daily faults for which we must daily ask forgiveness (Mt. 6:12), for even the “just man falls seven times a day” (Prov. 24:16), and mortal faults that separate the sinner from God (1 Cor. 6:9-10) for all eternity.

Source: http://www.vcatholic.com/articles/mortal-versus-venial-sin/

Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church
Lectionary: 205



Reading 1 (1 Jn 2:22-28)

Beloved:
Who is the liar?
Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.
Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.
Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father,
but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.

Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.
If what you heard from the beginning remains in you,
then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.
And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life.
I write you these things about those who would deceive you.
As for you,
the anointing that you received from him remains in you,
so that you do not need anyone to teach you.
But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false;
just as it taught you, remain in him.

And now, children, remain in him,
so that when he appears we may have confidence
and not be put to shame by him at his coming.

Responsorial Psalm (ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4)

R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Alleluia (Heb 1:1-2)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Jn 1:19-28)

This is the testimony of John.
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him
to ask him, "Who are you?"
He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted,
"I am not the Christ."
So they asked him,
"What are you then? Are you Elijah?"
And he said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
So they said to him,
"Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you have to say for yourself?"
He said:
"I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
'Make straight the way of the Lord,'
as Isaiah the prophet said."
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him,
"Why then do you baptize
if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?"
John answered them,
"I baptize with water;
but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie."
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,
where John was baptizing.



REFLECTIONS: WORD Today



Christmas Season started on December 25 and ends with the Baptism of the Lord (January 8 this year). The Season started with the Christmas Octave (Dec. 25 - Jan. 1), the single, continuous 8-day celebration of the Lord's birth. And now the Season of Christmas continues on till January 8.

Now that things are more quite, it's time for a little review of what we had celebrated. Just what exactly is the meaning of the word CHRIST in Christmas? It comes from the Greek word KRISTOS which means the "anointed one" or the one God appointed and authorized to be the savior of mankind.

The Gospel setting is 30 A.D., just a little before Jesus started His public ministry. Jesus was still unknown at that time, but His cousin John the Baptist was already very popular among the Jews with his powerful preaching. People were starting to think that he was the Christ. He could easily have claimed the honor (and honorarium), but he flatly stated that he was not, that he was just an unworthy servant preparing people for the arrival of the true Christ.

The First Reading is a letter written in 90+ A.D. by John the Apostle, the last living apostle. He is writing to faithful Christians, warning them of "antichrists," people who, even at that early stage of Christianity, were already spreading lies that Jesus is not the Christ.

Today, after the holiday festivities, we start to go back to the daily routine of life. But let us never forget the message of Christmas:

Jesus IS the Christ - and WE are not.

Let us not go back to being our own christ, saving ourselves, solving life's problems with immoral anti-Christ ways. Let us also be wary of people and ideologies that promote non-Christian ideas of how to save society and the world.

And when we are helping others or serving at church, let us not forget we are just servants given by Christ the privilege of doing HIS work. He is the one gifting us with a happy and purpose-filled life through service, unworthy as we are. We need to remember this for there is a very real anger of falling into the hallucination that we are the savior of the people we are helping, or the star of the show at church, then demand appreciation, applause or even payment for services we are supposed to be doing for love of Jesus.

May our words and works always point to Christ as the true source of Christmas joy.

O HOLY NIGHT


Source: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicMassReflec...819934088304348

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious
Lectionary: 207



Reading 1 (1 Jn 3:7-10)

Children, let no one deceive you.
The person who acts in righteousness is righteous,
just as he is righteous.
Whoever sins belongs to the Devil,
because the Devil has sinned from the beginning.
Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the Devil.
No one who is begotten by God commits sin,
because God's seed remains in him;
he cannot sin because he is begotten by God.
In this way,
the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain;
no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God,
nor anyone who does not love his brother.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 98:1, 7-8, 9)

R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy before the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

The LORD comes;
he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Alleluia (Heb 1:1-2)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Jn 1:35-42)

John was standing with two of his disciples,
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God."
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
"What are you looking for?"
They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher),
"where are you staying?"
He said to them, "Come, and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying,
and they stayed with him that day.
It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
"We have found the Messiah," which is translated Christ.
Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said,
"You are Simon the son of John;
you will be called Cephas," which is translated Peter.



REFLECTIONS: WORD Today



"Look! There is the Lamb of God!"

In today's Gospel, friends tell their friends who tell other friends about Jesus. The first evangelizers did this in great excitement, like children telling their friends about their new Christmas gift.

Evangelizers continued this process down the centuries till Christianity spread worldwide.But sadly, many of us today are ashamed to talk about Jesus, or even speak His Name. There is a need for New Evangelization, or the re-launching of the Good News in regions where the passion for Christ is getting cold. Started by Pope John Paul II and continued by Pope Benedict XVI and our current Pope Francis, the New Evangelization calls on all Christians, not just priests and missionaries, to renew our love for Jesus and then tell our friends about Him.

Clearly God has a plan for us for He never allows difficulties without meaning to make good come out of it. After being evangelized by Peter, God allowed the persecution of the earliest Christians in Jerusalem so they would scatter all over the Middle East and evangelize. Due to economic reasons, we too are scattered to all the habitable continents of the earth.

Evangelization does not require us to be eloquent preachers. It can be as simple as inviting friends to come to Mass or to join our faith community, and telling them of our wonderful experience with Jesus there...

When we approach God for our needs, Jesus is there sitting beside Him. May Jesus be excited and say, "Look Father! There is my friend!"

THE MISSION


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Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop
Lectionary: 208



Reading 1 (1 Jn 3:11-21)

Beloved:
This is the message you have heard from the beginning:
we should love one another,
unlike Cain who belonged to the Evil One
and slaughtered his brother.
Why did he slaughter him?
Because his own works were evil,
and those of his brother righteous.
Do not be amazed, then, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
We know that we have passed from death to life
because we love our brothers.
Whoever does not love remains in death.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer,
and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.
The way we came to know love
was that he laid down his life for us;
so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
If someone who has worldly means
sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion,
how can the love of God remain in him?
Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth.

Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth
and reassure our hearts before him
in whatever our hearts condemn,
for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5)

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

The LORD is good:
the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A holy day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.
Today a great light has come upon the earth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Jn 1:43-51)

Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip.
And Jesus said to him, "Follow me."
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.
Philip found Nathanael and told him,
"We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth."
But Nathanael said to him,
"Can anything good come from Nazareth?"
Philip said to him, "Come and see."
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
"Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him."
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael answered him,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this."
And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see the sky opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man."



REFLECTIONS: WORD Today



Jesus found Phillip and He said to him, "Follow me." (Gospel)

This is the whole reason for Christmas. The Son of God came down from heaven to look for each one us lost in the darkness of sin and invite us to follow Him back home.

And the path back home "is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." (First Reading)

This is the message of Jesus that He preached and performed all His life, from Christmas to Crucifixion. It has not changed and it will never change.

We whom He has found now follow Him and join in His work. Phillip found his friend Nathanael and invited him to "Come and see" the wonders of fellowship with Jesus. We follow Jesus in laying down our lives for our brothers and sisters - or at least our time, talent and treasure.

The way to know if someone truly loves you is when he or she brings you home to Jesus.

YOU ARE MINE


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This post has been edited by khool: Jan 5 2018, 02:22 PM

The Baptism of the Lord
Lectionary: 21



Reading 1 (Is 42:1-4, 6-7)

Thus says the LORD:
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
upon whom I have put my spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
a bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
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.

Or:

(Is 55:1-11)

Thus says the LORD:
All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, receive grain and eat;
come, without paying and without cost,
drink wine and milk!
Why spend your money for what is not bread,
your wages for what fails to satisfy?
Heed me, and you shall eat well,
you shall delight in rich fare.
Come to me heedfully,
listen, that you may have life.
I will renew with you the everlasting covenant,
the benefits assured to David.
As I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander of nations,
so shall you summon a nation you knew not,
and nations that knew you not shall run to you,
because of the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, who has glorified you.

Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call him while he is near.
Let the scoundrel forsake his way,
and the wicked man his thoughts;
let him turn to the LORD for mercy;
to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
As high as the heavens are above the earth
so high are my ways above your ways
and my thoughts above your thoughts.

For just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
and do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
so shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
my word shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.

Or:

(Acts 10:34-38)

Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered
in the house of Cornelius, saying:
"In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly
is acceptable to him.
You know the word that he sent to the Israelites
as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,
what has happened all over Judea,
beginning in Galilee after the baptism
that John preached,
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and power.
He went about doing good
and healing all those oppressed by the devil,
for God was with him."

Or:

(1 Jn 5:1-9)

Beloved:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and blood.
The Spirit is the one who testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
So there are three that testify,
the Spirit, the water, and the blood,
and the three are of one accord.
If we accept human testimony,
the testimony of God is surely greater.
Now the testimony of God is this,
that he has testified on behalf of his Son.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10)

R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Give to the LORD, you sons of God,
give to the LORD glory and praise,
Give to the LORD the glory due his name;
adore the LORD in holy attire.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

The God of glory thunders,
and in his temple all say, "Glory!"
The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Or:

(Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6)

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.R/ You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Alleluia (Cf. Jn 1:29)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
John saw Jesus approaching him, and said:
Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mk 1:7-11)

This is what John the Baptist proclaimed:
"One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee
and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open
and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens,
"You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."



REFLECTIONS: WORD Today



Coming out of Christmas Season, we now go into Ordinary Time in the Church calendar, the period reserved for our quiet growth and maturing. The Church invites us to meditate on the lessons and insights we gained last Christmas, and weave them into the fabric of our daily life.

Ordinary Time starts with the Baptism of the Lord. Now aged 30, Jesus is baptized - not to be washed of sin (He had none) but to put on ours, and show us how to cast them off.

This reminds us of our own baptism. John the Baptist says, "I have baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." (Gospel)

At our one-time baptism with water, we were cleansed of the stain of Adam & Eve's original sin. We were washed clean and giftedwith the Holy Spirit, ready to live the fullness of life with Jesus. "I have come in order that you might have life - life in all its fullness." (John 10:10 GNT)

But we are forever weak and prone to slide back to sin. And so the Spirit of Jesus in us needs to constantly re-baptize and re-kindle our love for God. We learn from the First Reading that Jesus can do this if we consume His Body & Blood at the Holy Mass (Isaiah 55:1-2) ==AND== read His Words in the Holy Bible (vv. 10-11).

Let us do this daily. Then shall we be fully equipped and energized all day to commune with His life, His work, His peace and His happiness.

LEAD ME LORD


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Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 306



Reading 1 (1 Sm 1:9-20)

Hannah rose after a meal at Shiloh,
and presented herself before the LORD;
at the time, Eli the priest was sitting on a chair
near the doorpost of the LORD's temple.
In her bitterness she prayed to the LORD, weeping copiously,
and she made a vow, promising: "O LORD of hosts,
if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid,
if you remember me and do not forget me,
if you give your handmaid a male child,
I will give him to the LORD for as long as he lives;
neither wine nor liquor shall he drink,
and no razor shall ever touch his head."
As she remained long at prayer before the LORD,
Eli watched her mouth, for Hannah was praying silently;
though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard.
Eli, thinking her drunk, said to her,
"How long will you make a drunken show of yourself?
Sober up from your wine!"
"It isn't that, my lord," Hannah answered.
"I am an unhappy woman.
I have had neither wine nor liquor;
I was only pouring out my troubles to the LORD.
Do not think your handmaid a ne'er-do-well;
my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery."
Eli said, "Go in peace,
and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him."
She replied, "Think kindly of your maidservant," and left.
She went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband,
and no longer appeared downcast.
Early the next morning they worshiped before the LORD,
and then returned to their home in Ramah.

When Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah,
the LORD remembered her.
She conceived, and at the end of her term bore a son
whom she called Samuel, since she had asked the LORD for him.

Responsorial Psalm (1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd)

R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

"My heart exults in the LORD,
my horn is exalted in my God.
I have swallowed up my enemies;
I rejoice in my victory."
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

"The bows of the mighty are broken,
while the tottering gird on strength.
The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry batten on spoil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes."
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

"The LORD puts to death and gives life;
he casts down to the nether world;
he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
he humbles, he also exalts."
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

"He raises the needy from the dust;
from the dung heap he lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage."
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

Alleluia (See 1 Thes 2:13)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Receive the word of God, not as the word of men,
but as it truly is, the word of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mk 1:21-28)

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers,
and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.
The people were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.
In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;
he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!"
Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!"
The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.
All were amazed and asked one another,
"What is this?
A new teaching with authority.
He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him."
His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.



REFLECTIONS: WORD Today



The people were amazed at the way Jesus taught. He did not sound like other prophets speaking under the authority of God. He sounded as THE authority. "With authority He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey Him."

PRAYER:

TRUST AND OBEY


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This post has been edited by khool: Jan 9 2018, 12:33 PM

Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 307



Reading 1 (1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20)

During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli,
a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent.
One day Eli was asleep in his usual place.
His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see.
The lamp of God was not yet extinguished,
and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD
where the ark of God was.
The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, "Here I am."

Samuel ran to Eli and said, "Here I am. You called me."
"I did not call you," Eli said. "Go back to sleep."
So he went back to sleep.
Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli.
"Here I am," he said. "You called me."
But Eli answered, "I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep."
At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD,
because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.
The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time.
Getting up and going to Eli, he said, "Here I am.
You called me."
Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
So Eli said to Samuel, "Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'"
When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the LORD came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before, "Samuel, Samuel!"
Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him,
not permitting any word of his to be without effect.
Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba
came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 40:2 and 5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10)

R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust;
who turns not to idolatry
or to those who stray after falsehood.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me.
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Allelluia (Jn 10:27)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord.
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mk 1:29-39)

On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn,
he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you."
He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come."
So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons
throughout the whole of Galilee.



REFLECTIONS: WORD Today



"Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed." (Gospel)

When the sun arose, He knew where to go and what to do. "Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also."

If we truly follow Jesus we ought to follow His habit too, to get up "very early before dawn" when the house is very quiet, and have quality talks with our Father. We need a quiet time and place, for praying is not a monologue where we do all the talking, telling God what we need. Real praying is listening to God's instruction where and how to pick up His blessings and graces.

To listen to God is NOT to imagine what He is saying - it is to READ His black & white Words in the Holy Bible. Do not think that reading this reflection is enough. It is not. This is just ketchup on the barbecue. Reading just this reflection is like licking just the ketchup. The meat of the matter is in the Bible. Your personal message from God is there. You, and you alone, can pick it up.

Spend quality time with God every morning. Prayerfully read the day's passages, either in the book or in an electronic medium. Read the passages 2 or 3 times and reflect on it. Samuel in the First Reading listened 3 times before he received God's message.

Then finally like Samuel say, "Speak Lord, your servant is listening."

With this habit, our Brother Jesus, with all His wisdom and strength, will be our guide and workmate all day.

ANCIENT WORDS


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