Greetings on this the Saturday after Epiphany Readings: 1 John 5:14-21; Psalm 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b; John 3:22-30
Summary
Tomorrow we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord and at the end of the day a return to Ordinary Time. We get to renew our baptismal promise and take a renewed spirit into 2025! With confidence, as our first reading today says.
Beloved: We have this confidence in him that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
And our prayer could be modeled after the prayer of John the Baptist. All the respect, honors, power, money, wealth and every other material category is nothing as compared to the surrender of hearts.
So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.
Reflection
Our JOY is completed in the voluntary surrender of ego to the Lord. Our egocentricity (greed, is a more direct descriptor), learns to yield to the giving spirit by way of our Baptism. Empty, not obliterate, and fill (with every good thing).
Remember the first Signs of the Gospel of John (this is a BTW), was the ’emptying’ of the jars and the refilling of them with the choicest wine.
Personal Reflection
I wish to share in the gift of John the Baptist to know and to trust in the decrease making room for increase. Love, after all, is placing self at service to the Other.
Readings: 1 John 5:5-13; Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20; Luke 5:12-16
Summary
We need the Lord in all aspects of life. Small infections (which can debilitate the course of one’s life) or major bodily damage are all under the Lord’s care. He has given us the disciples (Apostles) to provide for this healing. Chief among all healing is forgiveness.
The Cleansing of a Leper (Scaly Infection)
It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” And the leprosy left him immediately.
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal
Everyone is looking for you (MK 1:37)
Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” Great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.
Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.
One aspect of people with scaly infections is obvious: it is visual. You can see the ailment. He might have had psoriasis, or seborrhoeic dermatitis, or certain mycotic infections, or patchy eczema, and/or pityriasis rosea. Or something more serious. We don’t know. We know that skin ailments are a constant problem, reoccurring often and in need of medical care.
The Lord is always healing us. We need constant healing.
Stages of Healing
Ask to be healed
Receive the healing of mind, body and spirit.
Go to Church (the proof statement: (a) against those who don’t believe ironically enough; (b) to maintain proper order/credit origin of care)
Pray and contemplate
Order of Care in Luke
The Call of Simon the Fisherman.
The Cleansing of a Leper.
The Healing of a Paralytic.
The Call of Levi.
These two important cleansing stories of the Leper (he touched the unclean, minor healing) and the Paralytic (miraculously significant healing and forgives sin), are encapsulated by the calling of the disciples. We can assume by this placement that the disciples are to learn to do the same and are given such authority and power to heal and forgive.
Neither Footnote Nor Final Answer
These healing stories are neither a footnote to the life of Jesus nor the final answer to the divine care through Jesus. They are reminders we need healing repeatedly, significantly and the greatest healing – forgiveness. The medical arts are a gift to be sure. Yet when we look at these stories as our spiritual needs we see: pleading, helping, and forgiving.
Love heals
I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God.
Greetings on this the Thursday after Epiphany Readings: 1 John 4:19–5:4; Psalm 72:1-2, 14 and 15bc, 17; Luke 4:14-22
Summary
Beloved, we love God because he first loved us. A better translation is We love because he first loved us.
What is love? Love is both a noun and a verb for you English majors so you don’t get annoyed with my reflection.
Love is a person and cannot exist without a person (as essence and action).
There are persons A and B.
A loves B.
And you remove A you do not have “loves B” you simply have B.
Love then describes the nature of the relation between A and B, unidirectional, reciprocity is not assumed, we simply are saying A loves and A loves B. A can also love C and D and E.
Then we can say love is an expression of relation A unto B AND love is an essence of A. A possesses love essentially otherwise it cannot give love. Noun and verb.
What about B?
In quantum physics we talk about the observer effect. Observing is not passive without effect. Observing (measuring) actually changes the object fundamentally. Thus new meaning to the phrase: We love because he first loved us. The very observation (deliberately weak description) of the divine person upon us alters us. And since we are observed from the beginning of time, we can say with confidence, we are made in the image and called to the likeness of God. We are built to love ‘B loves A, too’ but not forced to love.
Receiving Love
If Object B is actively changed by the Subject A, why is there a need for trust (faith)? Because the origin of love by nature desires the nature of love to be reciprocal not consequential. So while it is impossible to be defined without the Subject A (God, if you missed it – B has it’s origin in A), A and A loves B, yet enforces no reciprocity. Or if you prefer, love is the only real response to love.
Extreme Example for contrast
God loves the Evil One. God imprinted love within the Evil One. The Evil One, by choice, rejects both his own essence, and the call of reciprocity of that essence. He is self-tortured by his very nature in contradiction to his own will. He spends his ‘time’ shielding himself from love and attempting to remove the urge to reciprocate. Awful stuff.
Reflection
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. In our gospel portion today, Jesus affirms the love of God for us and the not simply passive observations but the active observer effect. Jesus, as man, experiences (by free will) the Love of God and describes his reciprocity many times in sacred scripture. Here he describes the effects on the person of B (me = B).
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Personal Reflection
Human love is both simple and complicated, yes? How many people across time and cultures have written, sang, philosophized about love? A Ba-zillion, rough guess. But in faith we do simplify the the reality thus:
We were made by Love (noun), we were made in love (verb) and we are called to reciprocate love (noun – essence and verb – action). Mic drop. AI says this phrase is good but needs expansion. Really? Literally just borrowing from the current colloquial terms. Eek!
If I had a mic right now…. I’d drop it.
Let this be your prayer today: Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled [in B me] in your [in A me] hearing.
Greetings on this the Wednesday after Epiphany Readings: 1 John 4:11-18; Psalm 72:1-2, 10, 12-13; Mark 6:45-52
The Walking on the Water
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.
Sounds impossible in some circumstances to ‘must love one another‘. Then Jesus walks on water. He alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the back of the sea (Jb 9:8).
Reflection
“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.
Even after the multiplication of the loaves and the walking on water the disciples simply could not image or expressing a type of skepticism about what they see and hear Jesus do before their very person. Assuming the account of these events are accurate one must ask the question: what more do you need? We can make this observation: that witnessing Jesus perform the Signs and Preach the Good News can in fact be an exterior and non-penetrating fact. A gift offered but not received.
Doubts
He’s a ghost!
It’s January and the water is frozen (forget about the boat in the waves, don’t confuse with the facts).
If I allow love to pierce my mind I learn something. If I allow love to pierce my soul, I become something.
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.”
Pierce me, O Lord, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed [and healed].
Greetings on this the Tuesday after Epiphany Readings: 1 John 4:7-10; Psalm 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8; Mark 6:34-44
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins (1st John)
By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” (Gospel Mark, ff).
He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.”
He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”
And when they had found out they said, “Five loaves and two fish.” So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass. The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties. Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all.
They all ate and were satisfied.
Reflection
In our gospel portion we are taught how to love. It is clear the disciplines began to have an emerging, ordinary care and concern for all the people who are following Jesus. They were in fact concerned about their health. It’s late, deserted place (no food trucks yet) and the practical answer is to disperse them to the local villages so they can take care of themselves. No doubt this is a good sign about the disciples spiritual growth – a new way of viewing their life in response to their encounter with the Christ.
Jesus wants them to grow spiritually much more. Give them some food yourselves.
The disciples go about inventorying the available bread (their own supply, the supply of others in the crowd willing to share). A great starting point! Disciples and the people bring the gift of so little to the Lord!! Yes! Growth!!.
Jesus performs the Feeding of the Five Thousand miracle multiplication.
Then Jesus, still teaching the disciples, gives them the food to give to the people.
They all ate and were satisfied.
At the time I am sure the disciples were amazed. And how much more so for us having the advantage of looking back historically and the Eucharistic Banquet we celebrate every Mass. He is teaching us to share his gifts. Always teaching us to share.
The reading from First John allows us to embrace the ultimate sharing: forgiveness and the expiation for sins.
Poetic version: He said to them in reply, “Give them some forgiveness and expiation yourselves.”
Therefore my brothers and sisters, depending on your spiritual journey you can begin with helping the poor with food banks and spare change and that is definitely good! Like the disciples in today’s story we are invited to grow spiritually whatever our starting point. And enter into the miracle of sharing forgiveness and expiation.
Catechism: 618 The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the “one mediator between God and men”. But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, “the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery” is offered to all men. He calls his disciples to “take up [their] cross and follow [him]”, for “Christ also suffered for [us], leaving [us] an example so that [we] should follow in his steps.” In fact Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries. This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.
Personal Reflection
The Feeding of the Five Thousand. The Forgiving of the Five Thousand and the The Expiation for the Five Thousand.
Sounds massive! Me? Sounds impossible! Well, yes, ‘you-me’. And Jesus. When you give Jesus permission to satisfy, heal and aid people through you, that is exactly what he’ll do. It’s you and Jesus. You make a good team.
The ways of life change with an encounter with the Lord
Greetings on this the Monday after Epiphany Readings: 1 John 3:22–4:6; Psalm 2:7bc-8, 10-12a; Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25
Summary
Yesterday in the gospel portion the Magi having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.
Another way. A different way. A changed way. These days between the Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord, we too having encountered Jesus, are challenged to go a new way. The gospel portions this week speak to this new way. Ways we can imitate Christ in accordance with our time, talent and resource.
Monday (today) – The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry. [Jesus] He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.
Tuesday – The Feeding of the Five Thousand. He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.”
Wednesday – The Walking on the Water. “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” He got into the boat with them and the wind died down.
Thursday – The Rejection at Nazareth (begins with his mission statement). The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Friday – The Cleansing of a Leper. “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.”
Saturday – Final Witness of the Baptist. [John speaks in regards to Jesus] So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.
Reflection
The mini summary of the gospel portions this week (from Epiphany to Baptism) can be thought of as a road map. A new way.
How can we imitate Jesus this week?
Monday – Proclaim the gospel by our actions. Aiding the sick in some fashion.
Tuesday – Feed the hungry.
Wednesday – Have courage. encourage others to face life with hope.
Thursday – In our own way declare the Spirit is upon us and we are anointed to likewise.
Friday – Make the outcast clean. The ostracized welcomed.
Saturday – Realize (in the end) it is Jesus who empowers and provides. Our egos cloak the Lord from being seen by others.
Personal Reflection
This very week is our journey home again. A renewal because of a renewed encounter. And wonderfully on Sunday next, a heartfelt renewal of the Baptismal promise. For those in Christian formation, the promise ahead made present!
Greetings on this the Epiphany of the Lord Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13.; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12
Summary
Jesus Refulsit Omnium” (“Jesus, Light of All the Nations”), written by St. Hilary of Poitier in the fourth century. It is the oldest known Christmas song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMJnlPHqch0
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”
This Gentile, gift-bearing visitor story is an early expression of the inclusion of all peoples in the Messianic mission of Jesus. The most important point is Jesus came to save all nations, you and me. The gifts represent the perspective to have about Jesus (King, Divine, the Lamb).
They saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Gifts appropriate for a divine, king-lamb.
Gold – the Kingship of Jesus. The magi’s gifts were not simply a demonstration of wealth – they conveyed deeper meaning. The gold represents Jesus’ kingship.
Frankincense – the Deity of Jesus. The frankincense represents Jesus’ deity. In the Old Testament, frankincense was traditionally burned in the temple as an offering to God (Leviticus 2:2). By bringing this gift, the Magi affirmed Jesus was no ordinary man; he is both fully man and fully God.
Myrrh – the Death of Jesus. Commonly used to embalm bodies, the gift of myrrh foreshadows Jesus’ death. We see in John 19:38-40 that Nicodemus brought myrrh at the time of Jesus’ burial.
At the Vigil Mass yesterday the presiding priest (Fr Bob) made a wonderful observation in his homily. That is, the first encounter of gentiles with Jesus was a personal encounter with the Lord. Up close and personal. Gifts exchanged (the divine blessing is assumed). Divine protection for the baby and for the kings. Once the kings visited Jesus, and having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.
There is a dual message. Divine protection and change of direction. They were changed and heeded the inspirations of the Holy Spirit into a new life. A new life in the Christ.
Personal Reflection
What gifts do we exchange with Jesus? Remember the story of the Little Drummer Boy? It is a story of how the simplest gift, given authentically, brings a smile to the face of Jesus. All he wants is an exchange of love for he loved you first.
Greetings on this the Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church Readings: 1 John 2:22-28; Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4; John 1:19-28
Know Yourself in Truth
Polonius was right. A person really needs to know and own himself (spiritual people call this self-possessed). Being calm and level headed can only come about if you understand your motivations and methods cross referenced to your affect attitude. Our actions flow from within us. They are a window into the soul.
Our first reading today asks the question, Who is the Liar?
So many and varied heresies abounded in and around the early Church. The most important thing to remember is that heresies are deviations from and by degree undermine the gospel. Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the Antichrist. This portion from 1st John is not about people outside of the faith. This observation is particular to those who are baptized in Christ but denying Christ anyway.
But knowing who you are in truth allows someone to place the self and ego aside.
They asked John: “Who are you?”
Who are you?
He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” Are you Elijah? Are you the Prophet?
No and no.
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.”
Critical Thinking (CT) is a mainstay for knowing thy self. Training in CT reinforces techniques and strategies to not fall into logical fallacies, confirmation bias and the over-use of intuitive thinking in regards to things we are uncomfortable with or newly exposed to.
It is imperative that Christians walk carefully with the gospel. It is both powerful and fragile (to turn a phrase). How we use the gospel and how it is accepted within the body of believers really does matter. The critical part isn’t if you understand theology, have great training, or even a Doctor of the Church. Before all this, know yourself. We are not the center of the universe. We are not the sole possessors of truth and right as individuals.
We are people on a journey of choosing good and rejecting evil – in ourselves first and foremost.
[About Gregory Nazianzen] Returning to Nissa, he devoted himself above all to writing, and left a copious collection of spiritual verses. “Everything is hard for mortals,” he wrote, “everything is ridicule, shadow, appearance – and that everything should be unstable, O Word, which hast created us, we owe to Thy wisdom, that we might learn to turn our love to that which is stable and firm.”
Being honest with yourself is difficult, especially in a world filled with people operating at a base level of humanity. Being honest allows for truth to flourish within us and out pours to the world as a healing balm. Finally, being self-possessed allows us to think clearly about difficulties and pathways forward. Consistently operating at a level of intuition and instinct without the maturing effects of critical thinking is deadly.
John knew who he was and who he was not. Ditto, Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen. Jesus then is known and can be known. I am on the same journey as you: learn to turn our love to that which is stable and firm.
Time is a gift. Use it as a precious gift. A New Year and Renewed Hope.
Greetings on this the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God The Octave Day of Christmas Readings: Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21
Summary
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2025!
We are reminded by the blessing for all in our first reading today and with this I bless you.
The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!
Amen!!
Reflection
We celebrate the Queen of Peace as she is the Mother of the Lord, Jesus Christ. The shepherds tell of their encounter and praise God.
All mothers want a new beginning for their children.
Fall down? Get up.
Make a mistake? Say you’re sorry, move on, do better.
Get sick? Be patient, take good self-care.
Opportunity to be helpful? Take it!
You are blessed by the Lord. Difficulty does not define you, love, love defines you. Take courage, my brothers and sisters. Take courage. Keep all these things in your heart!
Brothers and sisters: When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. As proof that you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God.
Personal Reflection
My New Years (Eve and Day) is/was a mixed bag. I persevere because I have hope in the Lord and in our Blessed Mother’s care and intercession.
Violent attack by ten thugs who wanted to use our common property at night without permission.
Verbally attacked by homeowners who are not well formed or informed.
Consoling a mother who lost her infant son three years ago and needs reassurance.
Greetings on this the The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas Readings: 1 Jn 2:18-21; PS 96:1-2, 11-12, 13; Jn 1:1-18
Summary
Combining 1 John and Gospel of John: But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. To those who accepted him he gave power to become the children of God.
Reflection
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth.
The Word was from the beginning. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
In these few short sacred writings we can begin to understand divine love.
Love is from the beginning. It is our foundational attribute. It is our origin.
Love is present among us in a way that we can most relate to us – as like us.
Love gives of itself where we can say confidently: We are made in the image and called to the likeness of God.
This is the grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The response to all our hopes, dreams, and aspirations. The relief from our grief, sadness and miseries.
Love. Love is the Divine Response.
Personal Reflection
The Octave of Christmas draws to an end and the celebration of the Christmas season continues with Joy in the remembering the Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord. So we approach a sort of revelation. The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.
The Lord loves me. Exactly me and all the ‘you-mes’ there are! The Lord made us by Love, for Love and to live in Love.
