Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious
Biographical Information about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Alternate Readings for the Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton may be taken from the Common of Holy Men and Women (not yet completed for SOW)
Readings for Monday after Epiphany (or January 7)[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
When Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 (using the General Calendar) the readings for this day are #207 “January 4” in the Lectionary for the Roman Missal. Readings and commentary for this selection may be found at the link provided.
Reading I: 1 John 3:22–4:6
Beloved:
We receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit whom he gave us.
Beloved, do not trust every spirit
but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God,
because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
This is how you can know the Spirit of God:
every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh
belongs to God,
and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus
does not belong to God.
This is the spirit of the antichrist
who, as you heard, is to come,
but in fact is already in the world.
You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them,
for the one who is in you
is greater than the one who is in the world.
They belong to the world;
accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world,
and the world listens to them.
We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us,
while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us.
This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 3:22–4:6
The ending of Chapter 3 from St. John’s first epistle speaks of Christians living a life of faith in Jesus and how, in that faith, they are assured, through mutual love, that we are in the Lord and the Lord also resides in us. In adhering to this most important of commandments the Lord becomes indwelling. As a consequence of our obedience, the love of Christ and love of each other naturally follows.
The beginning of Chapter 4 (“Beloved, do not trust every spirit…”) returns to the central theme of St. John’s letter, “false teachers”. “Deception is possible in spiritual phenomena and may be tested by its relation to Christian doctrine (cf 1 Cor 12:3): those who fail to acknowledge Jesus Christ in the flesh are false prophets and belong to the antichrist. Even though these false prophets are well received in the world, the Christian who belongs to God has a greater power in the truth.”[4]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 2:7bc-8, 10-12a
R. (8ab) I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
The LORD said to me, “ou 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.”
R. I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
And now, O kings, give heed;
take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
with trembling rejoice.
R. I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 2:7bc-8, 10-12a
Psalm 2 is one of the “Royal Psalms”. In this passage we are reminded that God has adopted us as His sons and daughters. The language used is the formal adoption language of the time. The second strophe gives force to the service to God required by that adoption.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
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.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
“Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
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.
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.
And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea,
and from beyond the Jordan followed him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 4:12-17, 23-25
The events in this Gospel passage take place just following Jesus’ trial in the desert. St. John the Baptist has accomplished his mission in Baptizing Jesus and has been arrested. Jesus now takes up his mission, proclaiming the Kingdom of God. The Gospel quotes Isaiah (Isaiah 8:22-9:1) to emphasize that the messianic mission and prophecy are being fulfilled. The key elements of the mission are laid out as he reveals God’s love. These elements are teaching, proclaiming the gospel (the Good News of the Kingdom of God), and healing.
The summary provided serves as an introduction to the Sermon on the Mount which follows in the next section. Omitted from this selection of the Gospel in verses 18-22 is the call of the first disciples.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We still bask in the holiday glow of Christmas and the events and persons we celebrate in this season. The Gospel describing Jesus’ early ministry seems almost out of place, a flash forward like those used in movie dramas. We, just yesterday, were just walking the path to Bethlehem with the Magi, bearing gifts for the new king and now we find him fulfilling the destiny for which he came into the world.
Perhaps this story is placed here so we can recall that we celebrate Christ’s entry into the world- not just the innocent babe lying in a manger. We are called as St. John so aptly puts it in his letter – “…because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us.” It is as if we are told that if we missed it, our New Year’s Resolutions should include one that focuses us on the most important part of our faith.
St. John reminds us that all Christ was born to do is summed up in his Great Commandment which the Evangelist re-states. He asks us to love him, to believe in him, to have faith in him, to give ourselves to him. If we do that, we must conform our actions to his. And as the Gospel tells us time and again, Jesus actions were always motivated by his (the Father’s) great love for all peoples.
Today we are reminded that the Virgin gave birth to a Baby who was called Jesus who is the Christ. In doing so God gave His Only Son to the world so that we might know of his love for us and by the example of His Son, might also know that we must love one another. Our prayer for this year must always include a request that God help us to fulfill his wishes, honoring him as we honor all his creation.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “Study of the Christ Child” by Albrecht Dürer,1495
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
[4] See NAB foot note on 1 John 4:1
Biographical Information about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Alternate Readings for the Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton may be taken from the Common of Holy Men and Women (not yet completed for SOW)
Readings for Monday after Epiphany (or January 7)[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
When Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 (using the General Calendar) the readings for this day are #207 “January 4” in the Lectionary for the Roman Missal. Readings and commentary for this selection may be found at the link provided.
Reading I: 1 John 3:22–4:6
Beloved:
We receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit whom he gave us.
Beloved, do not trust every spirit
but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God,
because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
This is how you can know the Spirit of God:
every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh
belongs to God,
and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus
does not belong to God.
This is the spirit of the antichrist
who, as you heard, is to come,
but in fact is already in the world.
You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them,
for the one who is in you
is greater than the one who is in the world.
They belong to the world;
accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world,
and the world listens to them.
We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us,
while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us.
This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 3:22–4:6
The ending of Chapter 3 from St. John’s first epistle speaks of Christians living a life of faith in Jesus and how, in that faith, they are assured, through mutual love, that we are in the Lord and the Lord also resides in us. In adhering to this most important of commandments the Lord becomes indwelling. As a consequence of our obedience, the love of Christ and love of each other naturally follows.
The beginning of Chapter 4 (“Beloved, do not trust every spirit…”) returns to the central theme of St. John’s letter, “false teachers”. “Deception is possible in spiritual phenomena and may be tested by its relation to Christian doctrine (cf 1 Cor 12:3): those who fail to acknowledge Jesus Christ in the flesh are false prophets and belong to the antichrist. Even though these false prophets are well received in the world, the Christian who belongs to God has a greater power in the truth.”[4]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 2:7bc-8, 10-12a
R. (8ab) I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
The LORD said to me, “ou 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.”
R. I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
And now, O kings, give heed;
take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
with trembling rejoice.
R. I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 2:7bc-8, 10-12a
Psalm 2 is one of the “Royal Psalms”. In this passage we are reminded that God has adopted us as His sons and daughters. The language used is the formal adoption language of the time. The second strophe gives force to the service to God required by that adoption.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
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.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
“Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
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.
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.
And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea,
and from beyond the Jordan followed him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 4:12-17, 23-25
The events in this Gospel passage take place just following Jesus’ trial in the desert. St. John the Baptist has accomplished his mission in Baptizing Jesus and has been arrested. Jesus now takes up his mission, proclaiming the Kingdom of God. The Gospel quotes Isaiah (Isaiah 8:22-9:1) to emphasize that the messianic mission and prophecy are being fulfilled. The key elements of the mission are laid out as he reveals God’s love. These elements are teaching, proclaiming the gospel (the Good News of the Kingdom of God), and healing.
The summary provided serves as an introduction to the Sermon on the Mount which follows in the next section. Omitted from this selection of the Gospel in verses 18-22 is the call of the first disciples.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We still bask in the holiday glow of Christmas and the events and persons we celebrate in this season. The Gospel describing Jesus’ early ministry seems almost out of place, a flash forward like those used in movie dramas. We, just yesterday, were just walking the path to Bethlehem with the Magi, bearing gifts for the new king and now we find him fulfilling the destiny for which he came into the world.
Perhaps this story is placed here so we can recall that we celebrate Christ’s entry into the world- not just the innocent babe lying in a manger. We are called as St. John so aptly puts it in his letter – “…because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us.” It is as if we are told that if we missed it, our New Year’s Resolutions should include one that focuses us on the most important part of our faith.
St. John reminds us that all Christ was born to do is summed up in his Great Commandment which the Evangelist re-states. He asks us to love him, to believe in him, to have faith in him, to give ourselves to him. If we do that, we must conform our actions to his. And as the Gospel tells us time and again, Jesus actions were always motivated by his (the Father’s) great love for all peoples.
Today we are reminded that the Virgin gave birth to a Baby who was called Jesus who is the Christ. In doing so God gave His Only Son to the world so that we might know of his love for us and by the example of His Son, might also know that we must love one another. Our prayer for this year must always include a request that God help us to fulfill his wishes, honoring him as we honor all his creation.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “Study of the Christ Child” by Albrecht Dürer,1495
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
[4] See NAB foot note on 1 John 4:1
No comments:
Post a Comment