Tag: faith

“This joy of mine has been made complete.” | Saturday after Epiphany

From the responsorial psalm: “Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their couches; Let the high praises of God be in their throats. This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia. The Lord takes delight in his people.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 3:22-30)

John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ, but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.”

As Jesus baptizes with his disciples in the region of Judea, the disciples of John the Baptist tell him that Jesus is baptizing and that everyone is coming to him. John replies to them with great humility, bringing to unity his followers and the followers of Jesus. John recognizes in Jesus the fulfillment of his role as the “best man,” the one who would prepare the way of the Lord. He delights in it. “So this joy of mine has been made complete.” At the heart of his joy is giving glory to the Lord. “He must increase; I must decrease.”

God, help me follow the example of John’s humility in attributing every good gift to you. In receiving what you gave him, John made the way to Jesus clear to all who heard him. Give me the grace today to respond to the vocation and purpose you gave me. As the Catechism makes clear about human freedom and cooperation with your grace, let me understand what you have called me to. It says: “All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity.” Just as John understood that as Jesus increased, he must decrease, give me wisdom to discern how to bring about the fullness and perfection of your will, the source of every good gift.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“I do will it. Be made clean.” | Friday after Epiphany

From the responsorial psalm: “He has granted peace in your borders; with the best of wheat he fills you. He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs his word! Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 5:12-16)

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.

Luke relates a story of Jesus healing a man with leprosy. Taking place in one of the towns Jesus visits, Luke tells us that “It happened that there was a man full of leprosy.” In healing the man, and in the account of this that spread all the more so that Jesus would cure great crowds of all kinds of illnesses, it is not at all circumstantial. Jesus came to all people to proclaim the Gospel and to cure every disease among them. “Lord, if you wish.” Asking for healing in this manner, the man with full of leprosy is emptied of it only to be filled with the Lord’s healing and grace. “I do will it,” Jesus says. “Be made clean.” What Jesus wills is to please the Father in giving us abundant life. As we hear from John in the first reading: “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”

God, there is no accident in Jesus’ encounter with the man who has leprosy. If not leprosy, there is always some other physical or mental or spiritual illness. The great crowds came to Jesus to listen to him but also to be cured of their illnesses. Give me the grace, Lord, to understand that you do as you will and that your will is to bring healing and wholeness to those in most need of your mercy. Help me know peace today, Lord; fill me with the best of wheat. I know you will it.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled.” | Thursday after Epiphany

From the responsorial psalm: “From fraud and violence he shall redeem them, and precious shall their blood be in his sight. May they be prayed for continually; day by day shall they bless him. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 4:14-22)

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “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 the town where he grew up, Jesus goes according to his custom to the synagogue on the sabbath and there begins his public ministry. He fulfills the scripture passage of Isaiah. The Spirit of the Lord is upon him; he is anointed to bring hope to the poor; he is sent to bring liberty to the captives, sight to the blind, “and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Perfectly accomplishing the will of the Father as the Messiah, Jesus does all of this and invites us to be sons and daughters in his mission of loving and serving one another with the love of the Father who, as John said, loved us first. Today, in our earthly lives, we can ask how we live out the values of the kingdom of God.

God, help me understand that it was the Messiah, Jesus Christ your Son, who said in the synagogue, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” John said, “Beloved, we love God because he first loved us.” I know, Lord, you call me to obey your commandments by loving others, freeing them, and bringing God-centered gladness and sightedness to fellow sinners. Let me hold on to the importance of this when loving others is difficult. But let me take to heart that you loved me first, and that any good I accomplish will come from that gift you give to me. It is you, Lord, who liberate and free me to receive and give away your love to others. “O God,” the psalmist sings, “with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king’s son.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” | Wednesday after Epiphany

From the responsorial psalm: “For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 6:45-52)

But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” He got into the boat with them and the wind died down.

Taking place immediately after the Feeding of the Five Thousand, the account of Jesus walking on water emphasizes that the apostles did not yet understand the divinity of Jesus. Mark ends the passage with this declaration about his closest followers: “They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.” Although they had witnessed a miracle during the day, their hearts remained in the dark, haunted by looming fears. At this moment, Jesus appears to them, in the fourth watch of the night, between darkest night and first light. Calming the wind and the hearts of the apostles, Jesus encourages them and replaces fear with hope and unbelief with belief.

God, as a new day begins, help me take on its challenges and anxieties with courage and trust in Jesus. Mark says that as the wind was against the apostles, Jesus came walking toward them and got into the boat with them. No great leap of imagination is needed to see that Jesus is in the boat today in the Church and in the sacraments. And Jesus is present in the people I will meet today. “Yet, if we love one another,” John says, “God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.” Lord, let me take heart in your presence today and trust in your mercy; take pity on me and rescue me. Jesus, I trust in you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Give them some food yourselves.” | Tuesday after Epiphany

From the responsorial psalm: “The LORD said to me, ‘You are my Son; this day I have begotten you. Ask of me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession.'” I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 6:34-44)

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.

Late in the day, Jesus sees the vast crowd following him like sheep without a shepherd. Moved with pity for them, he begins teaching them when the disciples approach him and ask Jesus to dismiss the crowd so they can go to nearby villages to find something to eat. He tells them, “Give them some food yourselves.” When the disciples tell him that it would be impossible to buy the amount of food needed, Jesus asks how many loaves there are. Taking the five loaves they give him, Jesus prays, says a blessing, and breaks the loaves and fishes. At this, Mark simply says, “They all ate and were satisfied.” After they ate, the disciples picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments from the crowd of five thousand. Why does Jesus tell the disciples to give the crowd some food themselves? It seems in that question, he is teaching the disciples to rely not on themselves but on the word of God, as we hear in the Gospel according to John, when he says, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”

God, help me understand the motivation of Jesus when he sees the crowd and feels great compassion for them. Why is it that the way Jesus first feeds the crowd is by teaching them many things? The disciples see the practical need; it is getting dark and the people need to go find food. Jesus sees the spiritual need that goes beyond physical hunger. Satisfying the hunger of the crowd takes place as the Son of God blesses the food and looks to you in prayer. In his word, just as in his crucifixion, what is broken is not divided and diminished but multiplied and increased in superabundance. Give me the grace, Lord, to trust in the food that you give for the life of the world in Jesus Christ your Son. Give us this day our daily bread.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“And he cured them.” | Monday after Epiphany

From the responsorial psalm: “The LORD said to me, ‘You are my Son; this day I have begotten you. Ask of me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession.'” I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 4:12-17, 23-25)

His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them.

“Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” With these words, Jesus picks up where John left off after he had been arrested. The mission of Jesus begins to unfold in Galilee as he teaches in the synagogues, proclaims the kingdom of God, and cures every disease and illness. In doing this, Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah: “Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.” And the light he brings is healing to those whose illnesses are physical, mental, and spiritual. He continues to do that today.

God, give me the grace and wisdom to do as great crowds did in following Jesus. The Gospel acclamation says, “Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people.” Strengthen my faith, Lord. Nourish me through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, where you are truly present—body and blood, soul and divinity. Be my light in the darkness, and throughout the day let me trust in your merciful care and power to heal mind, body, and soul.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“We saw his star at its rising.” | The Epiphany of the Lord

From the responsorial psalm: “For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 2:1-12)

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.”

The magi come to King Herod bringing news of the birth of the newborn king of the Jews. Excited at the star’s rising, they ask Herod where the infant can be found. But Herod, threatened by this news, calls together the scribes and pharisees to ask them where the newborn can be found. They determine through the prophet Micah that he will be born in Bethlehem, so Herod sends the magi to find him, pretending that he also wants to do him homage. Matthew tells us that “the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.” There they prostrate themselves, open their treasures, and offer their gifts. Warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they leave for their country by another way. At his birth, Jesus evokes two responses in people that he would face over and over throughout his earthly ministry: hatred and love, rejection and adoration.

God, as the magi did, help me throughout the day see the signs that point to your newborn Son. The excitement of the magi is clear; seeing the star at its rising draws them closer to the king of kings to prostrate themselves before him. Herod was greatly troubled and threatened by the loss of his authority and power. One birth, two responses. Herod closed his fist to grasp control and denied Jesus. The magi opened their treasures and offered gifts. When I seek to control or obtain power, give me the wisdom to put that desire aside. Help me understand, Lord, that in giving power and authority to you, I gain more than I ever could by my own fractured efforts. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious

From the responsorial psalm: “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. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 1:35-42)

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.

Two disciples of John the Baptist stand with him as he calls their attention to Jesus. “Behold, the Lamb of God,” John tells them, and they follow him. Obedient to John and his mission, the two disciples believe him, recognizing Jesus’ authority and identity as the Messiah. Andrew, after spending time with Jesus, goes to find his brother Simon Peter and brings him to Jesus. By naming him Cephas, Jesus claims him as a disciple and gives him a new identity as one of the Twelve, and the rock on which he will build his church. In pointing to Jesus as the Son of God, John fulfills his mission. “He must increase,” says John. “I must decrease.”

God, help me today do as Andrew did for his brother by bringing others to Jesus. Where he is throughout the day will not always be clear to me. Among family members, how do I go beyond the ordinariness of a day—of my ordinary state—and bring them into the presence of your Son? Just as Jesus named Simon Peter, help me recognize how he claims me for his own and invites me to stay with him today and every day. Give me the grace to recognize in the present moment where Jesus is and to hear him speak to my heart, asking, “What are you looking for?” Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“I did not know him.” | Christmas Weekday

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

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 1:29-34)

John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God. At his appearance, John states the mission and identity of Jesus so that he is made known to Israel, and as John testifies, that he is proclaimed as the Son of God. Although a cousin to Jesus, John says “I did not know him.” Trusting God, the one who sent him, John recognizes Jesus not from human senses but from divine revelation as the Holy Spirit descends and remains on Jesus. We hear the words of John during the Invitation to Communion as the priest elevates the Body and Blood of Christ, saying, “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.” In that moment at every Mass, we recognize as John did that the Son of God is present before us to behold.

God, help me deepen my understanding of the Eucharist. It is Jesus present in the appearance of bread and wine, the Lamb of God, whom you sent to take away the sins of the world. “Blessed are those,” the priest says at Mass as he holds up the host and chalice. “Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” Sent for me and sent for all, the Lamb is the ultimate sacrifice for sin and the way of salvation. Lord, when I think about the struggles of this life and what I can hope in and depend on, help me remember the words from the Gospel acclamation as I call to mind that hope is the person of Christ: “The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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

From the responsorial psalm: “Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 1:19-28)

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.”

Today’s Gospel begins with priests and Levites questioning John the Baptist about his identity. John denies that he is the Christ or Elijah. When they ask him if he is the Prophet, he says no, and they then ask him who he is so they can share the answer with those who sent them. John replies, “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” John knows exactly who he is in relation to the Old Testament and to Jesus; in truth, his self-identification is akin to God’s when Moses asks him who he should say he is: “I am who I am.” As John refers to Jesus as the one among them whom they do not recognize, the greatest of prophets accepts his role in relation to Jesus with complete humility and unworthiness.

God, help me discern and understand what genuine humility is in relation to you. Help me also give little credence to the modern-day understanding of humility and its association with shame, as a symptom of poor mental health. You are God and I am not. That is exactly what John said of Jesus, which gives him his rank among the greatest prophets and saints. John recognized the divinity of Jesus and because of that knew himself and his role in the salvation of humanity. Give me the grace to do the same—to recognize that true greatness is to grow in the knowledge that who I truly am, I am through Christ. Saints Basil and Gregory, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.