In the recent Christmas Season, we celebrated the coming of the Light of the World.
We celebrate this Sunday how that light shines: It breaks into darkness, as Jesus proclaims that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah of a light shining on those in gloom and darkness. This light is so powerful in piercing through the darkness. And the proclamation of Jesus is powerful, as He calls disciples to follow Him, and brings healing to those who are ailing. So today, He calls us to change our lives in following Him, for He brings light to the darkness in us, so we can live abundantly. He truly is our light and salvation, the only One Who stirs up hope in our lives.
All this happens with a Word, the Very Word of God.
It's fitting this weekend to acknowledge the role of lectors in making God's Word come alive, that we all may encounter God's presence.
And this weekend I think back a year ago to the powerful encounter with God I had gathered with the masses at World Youth Day 2019 in Panama, as Pope Francis led us to understand the call God gives to be an influence in our world, letting God's Word work in us, as Mary opened herself to the Word, which she bore.
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Sunday, January 19, 2020
January 19, 2020: 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
As we pondered throughout the Christmas Season, so we continue pondering how God manifests Himself, especially through the actions of His servants.
At Christ's Baptism, God named Christ as His Son and the Spirit descended on Him.
This was the definite sign for St. John the Baptist that Jesus Christ was the One sent by God.
He was sent to fulfill the mission laid out in the reading from Isaiah and the response in Psalm 40, as one who comes to offer himself to God, made glorious as the Light of God for all nations.
We, too, are that Light, as we live out our call to holiness, and make God known.
At Christ's Baptism, God named Christ as His Son and the Spirit descended on Him.
This was the definite sign for St. John the Baptist that Jesus Christ was the One sent by God.
He was sent to fulfill the mission laid out in the reading from Isaiah and the response in Psalm 40, as one who comes to offer himself to God, made glorious as the Light of God for all nations.
We, too, are that Light, as we live out our call to holiness, and make God known.
Sunday, January 12, 2020
January 12, 2020: Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
I so delighted that we can bring the Christmas Season to a wonderful conclusion with today's Feast, celebrating how God revealed Himself through His Son at His baptism.
While St. John the Baptist may have been right to acknowledge Jesus as mightier than Him, Christ was also humble enough to identify Himself with humanity, which was why He asked John for baptism.
Christ was baptized so that He could fulfill the mission of God to bring His righteousness to all the Earth, which comes down to our call to be holy in our own lives. He was baptized to fulfill the calling that Isaiah writes of, in which the Servant brings healing to the world, freedom to those imprisoned and in darkness, and light to all the nations.
Our world was broken by sin, but Christ came to fix us, and make us right before God. Father Bob very insightfully shared at Mass at Ascension this morning that Christ shows us what it means to be human, which means we are without sin. As we submit ourselves to the presence of God in our world, which comes into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, we can truly live holy as He is Holy.
While St. John the Baptist may have been right to acknowledge Jesus as mightier than Him, Christ was also humble enough to identify Himself with humanity, which was why He asked John for baptism.
Christ was baptized so that He could fulfill the mission of God to bring His righteousness to all the Earth, which comes down to our call to be holy in our own lives. He was baptized to fulfill the calling that Isaiah writes of, in which the Servant brings healing to the world, freedom to those imprisoned and in darkness, and light to all the nations.
Our world was broken by sin, but Christ came to fix us, and make us right before God. Father Bob very insightfully shared at Mass at Ascension this morning that Christ shows us what it means to be human, which means we are without sin. As we submit ourselves to the presence of God in our world, which comes into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, we can truly live holy as He is Holy.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
January 5, 2020: Epiphany of the Lord Sunday
Christ was born as the Messiah of Israel, and shined a great Light that filled the whole earth.
The reading from Isaiah speaks of the restored glory of Israel. No longer is it controlled by the nations, as they stream toward Israel, bearing gifts of great wealth.
But as the other readings make clear, the nations stream toward Israel to acknowledge the presence of God which has come in Christ. Truly He has come for all people, beyond the Jews, to include all the Gentiles in the promises in Christ, as St. Paul writes in the letter to the Ephesians.
And we see a great example in the Gospel reading of Gentiles coming to worship Christ. Magi travel from the East, following a star, which they recognize as God's sign leading them to Christ. They come to adore Him, and bring gifts, unlike Herod who is filled with fear, and ready to oppose Christ for seemingly usurping his power.
Christ indeed came for all people who, by faith, open themselves up to the signs of God's presence in this world, and draw near to worship Christ by the gift of how they live their lives.
The reading from Isaiah speaks of the restored glory of Israel. No longer is it controlled by the nations, as they stream toward Israel, bearing gifts of great wealth.
But as the other readings make clear, the nations stream toward Israel to acknowledge the presence of God which has come in Christ. Truly He has come for all people, beyond the Jews, to include all the Gentiles in the promises in Christ, as St. Paul writes in the letter to the Ephesians.
And we see a great example in the Gospel reading of Gentiles coming to worship Christ. Magi travel from the East, following a star, which they recognize as God's sign leading them to Christ. They come to adore Him, and bring gifts, unlike Herod who is filled with fear, and ready to oppose Christ for seemingly usurping his power.
Christ indeed came for all people who, by faith, open themselves up to the signs of God's presence in this world, and draw near to worship Christ by the gift of how they live their lives.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
January 1, 2020: Feast of Mary, Mother of God
Mary offers us a great example, as the Gospel reading from Luke describes her pondering her Son, treasuring the circumstances of Jesus's birth in her heart.
It is worthwhile for us to ponder this great Mystery of God becoming human. In so doing, God has offered us the greatest blessing in His very Presence always abiding with us, by freeing us from sin, so that we can draw near and enter into a relationship with God the Father through the Son. Truly God saves through Jesus, Yeshua, the name designated before His birth, and given to Him on this 8th day after His birth.
It is worthwhile for us to ponder this great Mystery of God becoming human. In so doing, God has offered us the greatest blessing in His very Presence always abiding with us, by freeing us from sin, so that we can draw near and enter into a relationship with God the Father through the Son. Truly God saves through Jesus, Yeshua, the name designated before His birth, and given to Him on this 8th day after His birth.
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