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“Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton”
artist and date not cited |
Readings for January 4 Christmas Weekday [2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [3]
Readings and Commentary: [4]
1 John 3:7-10
Children, let no one deceive you.
The person who acts in righteousness is righteous,
just as he is righteous.
Whoever sins belongs to the Devil,
because the Devil has sinned from the beginning.
Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the Devil.
No one who is begotten by God commits sin,
because God’s seed remains in him;
he cannot sin because he is begotten by God.
In this way,
the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain;
no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God,
nor anyone who does not love his brother.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 3:7-10
St. John continues the theme of living as children of God. In this selection, we find he has taken his comparison in a somewhat reflective direction. He looks at the behavior of those who belong to God and those who belong to the Devil as being distinguishable to God because of their love for one another. His exhortation is against the gnostic notion that all one needs to be considered “righteous” is to have an attitude of righteousness. He refutes this, saying that we must be imitators of Christ, and our actions enhance the righteousness which belongs to those who have faith in Christ Jesus.
CCC: 1 Jn 3:8 385, 392, 394
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: Psalm 98:1, 7-8, 9
R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
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.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The Lord comes;
he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
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Commentary on Ps 98:1, 7-8, 9
Psalm 98 is a song of thanksgiving. This selection gives thanks for God’s creation and reminds the community that all things are subject to the Lord, and all the world rejoices under his rule. In the Christmas context, we see God’s victory accomplished through Jesus, who is the Christ, God’s right arm. As a consequence of that victory, all of God’s creation rejoices with us.
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John 1:35-42
John was standing with two of his disciples,
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God."
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
“What are you looking for?”
They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher),
“where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come, and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying,
and they stayed with him that day.
It was about four in the afternoon.
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.
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Commentary on Jn 1:35-42
John the Baptist recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, once again pronouncing the words he spoke when the Lord presented himself for baptism: “Behold, the Lamb of God” (John 1:29-34). It also shows the humility of the “Voice,” always deferring to the “Word.” St. John’s disciples hear him identify Jesus as “the Lamb of God” and follow Jesus. St. John, who must “decrease” (John 3:30), encourages his own disciples to follow Jesus. In this passage, a shortened version of the call of the first disciples, we see the impact of the prophet’s pronouncement on two of his own disciples, one of whom, St. Andrew, we will come to revere as one of the Twelve. He is the brother of Peter. Once he has become aware of the identity of Jesus, he invites his brother to join him in faith. It is Simon Peter who receives his new name, “Rock,” in this story. (See also the commentary on Matthew 16:13-19.)
It is interesting to note the evolution of the name given to St. Andrew's brother through the multi-linguistic nature of the translation of “you will be called Cephas,” “which is translated Peter.” Cephas is from the Aramaic which means rock; however, the original translation was from Aramaic to Greek. Rock in Greek is rendered as Petros. Our name Peter derives from that form.
CCC: Jn 1:36 608
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Reflection:
Let’s imagine today that we are hearing the “Jesus Story” for the first time, as if we suffered amnesia at the Feast of Christ the King that ended the Church year. Throughout Advent we were hearing about the coming of a great event; we were preparing ourselves because God was about to demonstrate his incredible love for us by giving us the gift of His Only Begotten Son.
Then, just a few short days ago, we heard the story of our Lord’s humble beginning, born, not as a king or prince, but in a manger. We were amazed to hear the choirs of angels announcing his birth to the nearby shepherds and felt the warmth of that star.
Our revelation is not yet complete though. We were told that the Son of God had been born, we heard about his parents being warned to flee with him to Egypt and have seen signs of his coming heritage when he stayed at the temple, calling it his Father’s house.
This week, our expectation is being raised to new heights as the story unfolds even further. The Lord’s own cousin has become a prophet of great renown. Religious leaders from Jerusalem have even asked if he, John the Baptist, was the Messiah, or possibly Elijah returned from the dead. John told them there was one coming far greater than he, whose sandal straps he was not fit to untie.
Then, first yesterday and again today, we hear him say those amazing words: “Behold the Lamb of God.” The Lamb of God, the Christ, as St. Andrew named him to his brother Simon, who was later renamed Peter. We hear those words and wonder, is this the one we were truly promised? The pieces are beginning to fit: all of the prophecies we have heard from Isaiah and Jeremiah, from Sirach and even the psalms. Just today we heard the ancient psalmist say: “His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.” Who could that right hand and holy arm be but the Christ, the Lamb of God?
If we can imagine the power of hearing that story, living that story for the first time, we can get a sense of the awe and peace the Lord sends us in this season. Let us today sit back and recall the Jesus story from the beginning as if it were the first time and be brought to that wonderful place to which the Lord calls us.
Pax
[1] Note: Universalis has published Proper Readings for this Memorial. These were used to populate this post.
[2] The picture is “Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton” artist and date not cited.
[3] S.S. Commemoratio[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
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