Bishop
Biographical Information about St. John Neumann
Readings for January 5 (celebrated after the Feast of the Epiphany)[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Note: In the Dioceses of the United States, when January 5th falls after the Feast of Epiphany the following readings are used from #212 Lectionary, Vol.2 instead of number #208 in years where the day is celebrated before Epiphany. These readings apparently differ from those used in the United Kingdom where # 208 readings are used. For these readings see Supplemental Bench ’08 and for the commentary and reflections outside the United States see the Deacon’s Bench ’08.
Reading 1: 1 John 3:22–4:6
and 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:[5] Psalm 2:7bc-8, 10-12a
R. (8ab) I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
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.”
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 he (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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homily:
While the secular world goes back to work, school, and business, we continue to celebrate the great gift God gave to the world, the gift of Christ. If we use the analogy for our celebration as being like unwrapping a gift, scripture shows us that the gift is not just a light to brighten our world but a tool to reshape it.
When we use the light of Christ to illuminate our part of God’s creation it shows all of the flaws, much like one of those magnifying make-up mirrors. (…which by the way, in my humble opinion, are way to revealing. Who wants to see one’s flaws with that much detail?) We see each wrinkle and blemish. We understand what needs to be done to correct these flaws and of course that is where the analogy breaks down. These flaws cannot be covered up from the outside; they must be corrected from the inside.
If we have been lucky, we may have encountered people who have discovered the secrets of this internal make-over. They have balanced their lives, using the gifts God gives them and accepting the challenges life throws at them with grace and serenity. They have a glow about them of people who are at peace with God and with themselves. The world may toss and turn like an angry sea but they ride above it. It is through hope coupled to a faith in the Lord that creates this inner peace. It is also something all of us can strive for, even though most of us will never be able to attain at the level of the saints.
Yet it is this gift we continue to open. The Lord gives us the keys to heal our own spirits; to refresh our souls with his grace and peace. As the new year opens before us, let us make use of this precious gift. Let it illuminate our lives and show us the places we can change that will bring us closer to the peace he offers and the love he has for us.
Pax
Biographical Information about St. John Neumann
Readings for January 5 (celebrated after the Feast of the Epiphany)[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Note: In the Dioceses of the United States, when January 5th falls after the Feast of Epiphany the following readings are used from #212 Lectionary, Vol.2 instead of number #208 in years where the day is celebrated before Epiphany. These readings apparently differ from those used in the United Kingdom where # 208 readings are used. For these readings see Supplemental Bench ’08 and for the commentary and reflections outside the United States see the Deacon’s Bench ’08.
Reading 1: 1 John 3:22–4:6
and 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:[5] Psalm 2:7bc-8, 10-12a
R. (8ab) I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
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.”
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 he (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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homily:
While the secular world goes back to work, school, and business, we continue to celebrate the great gift God gave to the world, the gift of Christ. If we use the analogy for our celebration as being like unwrapping a gift, scripture shows us that the gift is not just a light to brighten our world but a tool to reshape it.
When we use the light of Christ to illuminate our part of God’s creation it shows all of the flaws, much like one of those magnifying make-up mirrors. (…which by the way, in my humble opinion, are way to revealing. Who wants to see one’s flaws with that much detail?) We see each wrinkle and blemish. We understand what needs to be done to correct these flaws and of course that is where the analogy breaks down. These flaws cannot be covered up from the outside; they must be corrected from the inside.
If we have been lucky, we may have encountered people who have discovered the secrets of this internal make-over. They have balanced their lives, using the gifts God gives them and accepting the challenges life throws at them with grace and serenity. They have a glow about them of people who are at peace with God and with themselves. The world may toss and turn like an angry sea but they ride above it. It is through hope coupled to a faith in the Lord that creates this inner peace. It is also something all of us can strive for, even though most of us will never be able to attain at the level of the saints.
Yet it is this gift we continue to open. The Lord gives us the keys to heal our own spirits; to refresh our souls with his grace and peace. As the new year opens before us, let us make use of this precious gift. Let it illuminate our lives and show us the places we can change that will bring us closer to the peace he offers and the love he has for us.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used is “The Holy Family with St. Elizabeth and John the Baptist” by Nicolas Poussin, 1655
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana
[4] See NAB foot note on 1 Jn 4:1
[5] Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved
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