January 25, 2015: 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

God has come to our world, and as everything changes as a result, we must change ourselves, too.

In the 2nd reading, a passage that at first I thought seemed rather puzzling, St. Paul writes that those engaged in certain activities should act as if they do them no longer.  It's not that St. Paul says the things we're doing are bad per se, but that the end of the world calls us to stop and really think about the way we live our lives, with the goal of changing how we live to be ready for God to be All in All.

The Gospel and First Reading speak to the important change that must take place in our lives in repentance.  Jonah tells the Ninevites that God's wrath is on its way, so they must repent.  Jesus says the Kingdom of God is at hand, in Him, the One who brings fulfillment to the relationship God has had with His people throughout the centuries before.  So we must repent, turning our lives to embrace Him more fully.  This is exactly what the disciples do when Jesus calls them.

This Sunday also marks the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, one who powerfully exemplifies repentance, as he turned from being against Jesus to proclaiming Him boldly.  It marks the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which calls us to turn from our separate ways to embrace our oneness as God's Church.

January 18, 2015: 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the first reading, God calls Samuel, though it takes time, and the assistance of Eli the priest, for him to discern God's call.

In the Gospel reading, John the Baptist and Andrew both take note of Jesus, the Messiah, and upon announcing so, new people come to follow Him:  Two of John's disciples turn to follow Jesus, and then Andrew introduces Peter to Jesus.

St. Paul says our bodies belong to God, who has already done a great work in bringing us to Himself.  To the God who had made Himself fully present to us, as the first reading from 1 Samuel says God made His presence known, we offer up our whole beings in service to His call to follow Him, doing His work and delighting to do His will with all we are.

January 11, 2015: Feast of the Lord's Baptism

While the occasion commemorated on this Feast Day doesn't correlate with the Christmas narrative as we tend to regard it, I find it fitting nonetheless that we include this feast at the close of the Christmas Season.  It is another manifestation of God in Christ.

Jesus was baptized, and then the Heavens were opened, with Holy Spirit coming down as a dove to rest on Jesus's head, and God's voice speaking, declaring Jesus as His Son, and His actions as Son pleasing to Him, the Father.

Here Jesus receives identity, and then starts His mission of ministry to the people.

We start our life of faith with baptism, receiving the identity of Jesus, and a share in His same ministry.  Just as Pentecost at the end of Easter sends us forth in His mission, so this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord sends us forth at the end of the Christmas Season in our mission to continue in His ministry.  As Jesus manifested God's presence in the world by His coming, so now we continue making God's presence manifest as we continue in His mission of ministry.  Ultimatley, the Christmas Season comes down to how we continue to make God present.

January 4, 2015: Epiphany Sunday

On Nativity Day, December 25, we celebrated the Manifestation of God in the birth of His Son Jesus Christ.  On this occasion of the Epiphany, we celebrate the Manifestation of God that is now visible before all the people of the world.  The readings speak about how the nations, i.e., people outside of Israel, come to God.

Isaiah speaks of a glorious time in the future when the nations will stream toward the Light in Jerusalem, bearing lavish gifts and praising God.

In the Gospel reading, Magi from the learned class of Persia come seeking the Christ Child, following the Star, putting their knowledge of the Heavenly bodies to use in seeking something Higher.  They rejoice when the star brings them to Christ, and there at His house they praise Him and offer Him gifts.  By their journey, they show that Christ has come for everyone, and they lead the way for all the nations to come and praise God through Jesus Christ.

St. Paul speaks about how the Gentiles, the people outside Israel, are also part of God's plan, and have a share in His promises.  By faith, all people seek God and come to praise Him.  Not only does He glorify Israel by His appearing, but He comes to save all peoples in all times.  No longer must anyone be in darkness, for we all come to encounter Christ personally, and we rejoice at finding Him.

January 1, 2015: Feast of Mary, Holy Mother of God

It's the 8th Day after Jesus was born, and in Jewish custom, the child was named on the 8th day after birth.

Jesus's name was given Him before birth, and it signifies the mission He was given, long before His birth.  Jesus means "Yahweh saves".  Christ comes from the Greek for "Anointed One".  So Jesus Christ is the One anointed to save us.

But Jesus doesn't come down from Heaven in clouds of glory to save us.  He came through His mother Mary, becoming a human, so that He might save us humans as a human.  And He shows us the way to the fullness of salvation through Holiness, the Holiness that shows we bear God's name because He has chosen us to be His children.