A light has shone upon a people in darkness, writes the prophet Isaiah, in the first reading. In the context of the Gospel reading from Matthew, which quotes that passage from Isaiah, we know this light to be Jesus Christ, who came calling for repentance on account of the Kingdom at hand.
People in the darkness of sin now experience the light in Jesus Christ. But it isn't just that they have light. The light shines on them so that they now experience transformation. Jesus calls them to open themselves up to a relationship with God whose reign is now being manifested on Earth, just as the disciples responded to Jesus's call further on in the Gospel reading. And Jesus is the only One who can truly transform them.
This is open to all people. It matters not what our background is, or how we come to know God, but that we have been brought to Him through one Savior, Jesus Christ, as St. Paul writes in the 2nd reading from 1 Corinthians. How timely of a message as we come off the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, annually observed from January 18-25.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Sunday, January 19, 2014
January 19, 2014: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
God's manifestation in Jesus Christ, a theme from the Christmas Season, rubs off in today's readings. John the Baptist points to Jesus as the One who existed before everything in Creaton, and whom God has now anointed to take away the sins of the world, and transform people by baptism in the Holy Spirit.
The work that Jesus does transforms the people of God so that they are empowered to go forth to shine God's light within them in all the world, so that all may come to experience the salvation of God. This is what it means for us to be servants of God. It's not about us bringing God physical offerings, but offering ourselves in service to doing His will, as the Psalmist says in Psalm 8. We share in the anointing of Jesus, bringing salvation to the world, just as He did.
The work that Jesus does transforms the people of God so that they are empowered to go forth to shine God's light within them in all the world, so that all may come to experience the salvation of God. This is what it means for us to be servants of God. It's not about us bringing God physical offerings, but offering ourselves in service to doing His will, as the Psalmist says in Psalm 8. We share in the anointing of Jesus, bringing salvation to the world, just as He did.
Monday, January 13, 2014
January 12, 2014: Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
"Merry Christmas!"
I think it's appropriate to start this post by using that traditional greeting, as we finish the liturgical season of Christmas. Before taking down all the decorations and enter into Ordinary Time, we celebrate another Manifestation of God in Jesus, this time at His baptism. After having first encountered John the Baptist during Advent, we encounter him again at the end of the Christmas season.
The readings allude to God upending our preconceived notions about how He is supposed to work in the world. St. Peter makes himself unclean according to Jewish law by enters the home of Cornelius--gasp--a Gentile, belonging to the despised Roman establishment, working for their army as a centurion. John the Baptist, who declared Christ as more worthy than Him, is taken aback when Jesus comes to him, requesting that he baptize Him.
But Peter states to all those in Cornelius's house his realization that God has come to save all people--all people. (It's interesting to think of "dirty" Gentiles on an occasion commemorating Jesus's baptism, using water to wash someone clean.) And God has come through Jesus Christ, who submitted Himself in obedience to be righteous before God His Father--so that God is pleased to declare Jesus as His Son. And in this declaration, Jesus is given a mission to heal the sick and serve the poor, those things declared by God to the Servant in the reading from Isaiah. As people of faith baptized in Christ, we are now joined to this same mission.
Similar to the Easter season, the Christmas season progresses from a great celebration of Christ to start and then ends on a note that brings it back to us. We started this season by celebrating the birth of Christ, God Incarnate, come to Earth in the Flesh. Throughout this Christmas season, we have celebrated the manifestations of God in Christ. Now we truly realize that as people of faith, the presence of God is manifested in us. And we go forth to carry His presence before all the world.
I think it's appropriate to start this post by using that traditional greeting, as we finish the liturgical season of Christmas. Before taking down all the decorations and enter into Ordinary Time, we celebrate another Manifestation of God in Jesus, this time at His baptism. After having first encountered John the Baptist during Advent, we encounter him again at the end of the Christmas season.
The readings allude to God upending our preconceived notions about how He is supposed to work in the world. St. Peter makes himself unclean according to Jewish law by enters the home of Cornelius--gasp--a Gentile, belonging to the despised Roman establishment, working for their army as a centurion. John the Baptist, who declared Christ as more worthy than Him, is taken aback when Jesus comes to him, requesting that he baptize Him.
But Peter states to all those in Cornelius's house his realization that God has come to save all people--all people. (It's interesting to think of "dirty" Gentiles on an occasion commemorating Jesus's baptism, using water to wash someone clean.) And God has come through Jesus Christ, who submitted Himself in obedience to be righteous before God His Father--so that God is pleased to declare Jesus as His Son. And in this declaration, Jesus is given a mission to heal the sick and serve the poor, those things declared by God to the Servant in the reading from Isaiah. As people of faith baptized in Christ, we are now joined to this same mission.
Similar to the Easter season, the Christmas season progresses from a great celebration of Christ to start and then ends on a note that brings it back to us. We started this season by celebrating the birth of Christ, God Incarnate, come to Earth in the Flesh. Throughout this Christmas season, we have celebrated the manifestations of God in Christ. Now we truly realize that as people of faith, the presence of God is manifested in us. And we go forth to carry His presence before all the world.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
January 5, 2014: Epiphany Sunday
On Nativity Day, the first day of the Christmas season, we celebrate when God sent His Son Jesus Christ to Israel. But Jesus was not sent for Israel alone, as today's Manifestation Feast, the Epiphany, celebrates.
As alluded to in the first reading from Isaiah, Jesus is sent as a Light to Israel in the midst of a dark world. The other nations, in the darkness, stream toward the Light. Indeed, Israel is blessed to receive God that it may be a blessing to all other nations--a priestly nation, bringing the peoples of the world into relationship with God. So Jesus has truly come for both Jew and Gentile, as St. Paul writes in the second reading.
When the nations come to the Light that is Jesus, they offer Him gifts that proclaim who He is, like the gifts the Magi brought. The gold proclaimed Him King, the frankincense a priest of God (and also His divinity), and the myrrh gave tribute to the sacrifice Jesus would make as a human.
We, too, offer gifts to Jesus Christ. We serve others in His Name, especially according to the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. In so doing, we proclaim that Jesus Christ is present in our world, saving and redeeming us, and transforming us to be part of His Kingdom.
As alluded to in the first reading from Isaiah, Jesus is sent as a Light to Israel in the midst of a dark world. The other nations, in the darkness, stream toward the Light. Indeed, Israel is blessed to receive God that it may be a blessing to all other nations--a priestly nation, bringing the peoples of the world into relationship with God. So Jesus has truly come for both Jew and Gentile, as St. Paul writes in the second reading.
When the nations come to the Light that is Jesus, they offer Him gifts that proclaim who He is, like the gifts the Magi brought. The gold proclaimed Him King, the frankincense a priest of God (and also His divinity), and the myrrh gave tribute to the sacrifice Jesus would make as a human.
We, too, offer gifts to Jesus Christ. We serve others in His Name, especially according to the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. In so doing, we proclaim that Jesus Christ is present in our world, saving and redeeming us, and transforming us to be part of His Kingdom.
Friday, January 3, 2014
January 1, 2014: Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
On the 8th day following birth in Jewish culture, the baby was named. Jesus was so named because "God saves", through Him.
Indeed, God has blessed us and shown us mercy, because He has redeemed us, by sending His Son to be born of a woman, Mary, to live among us, so that He could die, and rise to new life, that we may share in it.
Mary bore the Son of God within her, and so do we who profess faith in God, as He takes up residence within us through His Spirit. We ponder this mystery of being God bearers deeply, like Mary did, even as much as we proclaim it to the world.
Indeed, God has blessed us and shown us mercy, because He has redeemed us, by sending His Son to be born of a woman, Mary, to live among us, so that He could die, and rise to new life, that we may share in it.
Mary bore the Son of God within her, and so do we who profess faith in God, as He takes up residence within us through His Spirit. We ponder this mystery of being God bearers deeply, like Mary did, even as much as we proclaim it to the world.
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