Tuesday after Epiphany

(Optional Memorial for Saint André Bessette (United States))

Additional Information about St. André Bessette

Alternate Readings for the memorial may be taken from the Common of Holy Men and Women

For those celebrating Epiphany on this date: Epiphany

“The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes”
by Lambert Lombard, 1530’s

Readings for Tuesday after Epiphany[1][2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading I: 1 John 4:7-10

Beloved, let us love one another,

because love is of God;

everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.

Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.

In this way the love of God was revealed to us:

God sent his only-begotten Son into the world

so that we might have life through him.

In this is love:

not that we have loved God, but that he loved us

and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary on 1 Jn 4:7-10

This wonderful selection from St. John’s first letter is a summary of the Apostle’s major contribution to our understanding of God as revealed through His Only Begotten Son.  The exhortation to love one another is repeated frequently throughout the author’s Gospel and his letters.  The idea that “God is love” is central to our understanding of God and Christ.  In this short passage we see not only a glimpse of God’s intent in sending Jesus to the world as a proof of his love for us through “…expiation of our sins” but our own imperative as Christians to love one another in imitation of him

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8

R. (see 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

O God, with your judgment endow the king,

and with your justice, the king’s son;

He shall govern your people with justice

and your afflicted ones with judgment.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

The mountains shall yield peace for the people,

and the hills justice.

He shall defend the afflicted among the people,

save the children of the poor.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Justice shall flower in his days,

and profound peace, till the moon be no more.

May he rule from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary on Ps 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8

Psalm 72 is one of the Royal Psalms. In this selection we hear an echo of the justice and peace of the King’s rule that is central in Isaiah’s prophecy Isaiah 11:1-10 . It is sung by the king who prays to God for wisdom that he might be seen as dealing justly with the people and compassionately with the poor. He concludes this selection asking for God’s blessing for himself and all the people he governs. We see this psalm as a song extolling the generous and compassionate rule of the Messiah.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gospel: Mark 6:34-44

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them,

for they were like sheep without a shepherd;

and he began to teach them many things.

By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said,

“This is a deserted place and it is already very late.

Dismiss them so that they can go

to the surrounding farms and villages

and buy themselves something to eat.”

He said to them in reply,

“Give them some food yourselves.”

But they said to him,

“Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food

and give it to them to eat?”

He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?  Go and see.”

And when they had found out they said,

“Five loaves and two fish.”

So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass.

The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.

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.

And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments

and what was left of the fish.

Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary on Mk 6:34-44

The feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle of Jesus that is presented in all four gospels. The reason for that may be that it was seen as anticipating the Eucharist and the final banquet in the kingdom (Matthew 8:11; 26:29), but it looks not only forward but backward, to the feeding of Israel with manna in the desert at the time of the Exodus (Exodus 16), a miracle that in some Jewish expectation would be repeated in the messianic age. It may also be meant to recall Elisha's feeding a hundred men with small provisions (2 Kings 4:42-44).

We note the numeric symbolism used in St. Mark’s account; the five loaves and two fish combined to give seven – the most complete number, and the fragments collected at the conclusion of the meal fill twelve baskets, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel.  The Gospel author’s audience which was predominately Jewish would have seen the story as a fulfillment of the historical tradition from which they came.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reflection:

Consider for a moment the love of Christ.  As St. John says – not that we love him, but that he loves us.  By Jesus’ will, he left behind the complete peace that is his in union with the Heavenly Father, and became man.  He became man with all its difficulties and pain.  He assumed the human shell that is subject to all the elements of weather, environment, and disease.  He accepted the human condition that feels the mental hurt of rejection and the physical hurt of wounds inflicted by sadistic torturers (even those he loved).  All of this, he assumed along with flesh so that we could come to understand that God loves us and cares for us.

We see as an example of his love for us, the story of the feeding of the multitudes from the Gospel of St. Mark.  The reason Jesus fed all those who had followed him was not as some demonstration of his power.  He did not violate the laws of physics simply so everyone would know that he had power over the elements (and them).  St. Mark tells us at the very onset of the story “When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them”.  Was this pity because they came out without food and were hungry?  No, it was “…for they were like sheep without a shepherd.”

They were searching for leadership; for someone to guide them, for someone who loved them.  What they were searching for cannot be clearer.  It was not another person to tell them what to do or how to behave.  They were a subjugated people, under the harsh rule of the Roman Empire.  In addition they were under the rule of their religious leaders who had yet another set of rules for them to follow.  If they violated the Roman rule they would be imprisoned or even killed, if they violated the rules set down for them by the Scribes and Pharisees they would be shunned and punished by God whom they understood as a God of vengeance and justice.  No, the people were not looking for someone to lead them in that way.  They already had enough leaders in the civil sense.

So if the people were not looking for that type of leadership what were they seeking?  The same thing many seek today but cannot quite put it into words.  They were seeking hope, encouragement, - love.  That is what they find in Jesus; that is why he fed them in that deserted place.  That is why he feeds us in the secular world where we are deserted by hope and caring.  In this miraculous act he answers the unspoken question – where can we find hope; where can we find love?

Today, as we still marvel at the Lord’s incarnation, we also marvel at the incomprehensible love that his act of will demonstrated as he came to us to feed us and give us hope.

Pax

---

[1] ALTRE

[2] The picture is “The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes” by Lambert Lombard, 1530’s

[3] 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 re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.

Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop

“St. John Neumann”
Photographer and Date are UNKNOWN

Biographical Information about St. John Neumann

Alternate Readings for the memorial may be taken from the Common of Pastors

For those who celebrate Epiphany on Tuesday, Mass readings are taken from January 5^th, Christmas Weekday (#208)

Readings for Monday following Epiphany[1][2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading 1: 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 Corinthians 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, “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 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 part of the Gospel in verses 18-22 is the call of the first disciples.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reflection:

We have, to be somewhat cliché, seen the light”.  The guiding star, that morning star that never sets, has led the Magi to the manger and light has burst upon the world as the Savior is worshiped by the contingent of gentile leaders representing the entire non-Jewish world.

The scripture provided today catapults us forward to the period immediately following the Lord’s trial in the desert following his baptism by the Baptist in the Jordan.  We are told that John the Baptist was arrested.  In all of the Gospels, this is like a starter’s pistol going off.  From that moment, the Lord begins his spectacular, but short, public ministry.  For those reading this story for the first time, the fate of John the Baptists would feel like a warning of things to come for Jesus, and they would be right.  Some of the same forces that snatched John away from his ministry of calling the people to repentance would later be marshaled against Jesus himself. 

What message do we take away from this flow of events?  Still rejoicing in the warmth of Christmas and recharged in the Epiphany.  The season is not over yet.  The Baptism of the Lord which we will celebrate next week actually launches us into Ordinary (extraordinary) Time.

Perhaps we would best look at St. John’s first letter for a more pragmatic instruction.  He makes it clear that our call is to be faithful to the first and greatest commandment of Jesus – Love God and love one another.  Anyone who tells us that this is not the most important imperative of our lives is leading us down dark paths.  And in this season of joy, St. John once more reminds us that the one who came from the Virgin’s Womb came so that the love of God might be revealed through him.  In that love, demonstrated so clearly in the mission summarized by Saint Matthew, we see not only our call but our hope. 

Today let us rededicate ourselves to the mission of Christ who came to show the Love of God to the world.  Let us be instruments of that love and echo the Lord’s divine revelation to all we meet.

Pax

---

[1] ALTRE

[2] The picture is “St. John Neumann” Photographer and Date are UNKNOWN

[3] 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 re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.

[4] See NAB footnote on 1 John 4:1-6

The Epiphany of the Lord

“Adoration of the Magi” by Bartolomeo Biscaino, c. 1650

Readings for the Feast of the Epiphany[1][2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Outside the United States where The Epiphany is celebrated on January 6, the Second Sunday after Christmas is celebrated.

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading I: Isaiah 60:1-6

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem!  Your light has come,

the glory of the Lord shines upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth,

and thick clouds cover the peoples;

but upon you the LORD shines,

and over you appears his glory.

Nations shall walk by your light,

and kings by your shining radiance.

Raise your eyes and look about;

they all gather and come to you:

your sons come from afar,

and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

Then you shall be radiant at what you see,

your heart shall throb and overflow,

for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,

the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.

Caravans of camels shall fill you,

dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;

all from Sheba shall come

bearing gold and frankincense,

and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary on Is 60:1-6

The Church sees in the images of Isaiah’s prophecy symbols of her universality. We hear echoes of Isaiah’s prophetic vision of the coming of Christ and what that means.(“See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears his glory”). Verses 5 and 6 give clear reference to the arrival of the Magi as the Prophet envisions the gifts of gold and frankincense being brought from the east in praise of the Lord.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13

R. (cf. 11)  Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

O God, with your judgment endow the king,

and with your justice, the king’s son;

He shall govern your people with justice

and your afflicted ones with judgment.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Justice shall flower in his days,

and profound peace, till the moon be no more.

May he rule from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;

the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.

All kings shall pay him homage,

all nations shall serve him.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

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.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary on Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13

This selection focuses us clearly on the revelation of Christ. References are made to the Son of the King who will govern the people with justice. In the third strophe we are given kings bringing gifts and finally, in the fourth strophe we see the Savior’s care for the poor reflected.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reading II: Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6

Brothers and sisters:

You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace

that was given to me for your benefit,

namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.

It was not made known to people in other generations

as it has now been revealed

to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:

that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,

and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary on Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6

Paul, in his Letter to the Ephesians, makes reference to the revelation by God of his Only Son through various means to all peoples. He mentions specifically the Apostles and prophets have been lead to enlightenment by the Holy Spirit and now the Gentiles. The reference traces the predictive revelation from the prophets who foresaw the coming of the Messiah, to the Apostles who walked with him, to Paul whose mission to the Gentiles fulfills the global mission of Jesus.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gospel: Matthew 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.”

When King Herod heard this,

he was greatly troubled,

and all Jerusalem with him.

Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,

He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,

for thus it has been written through the prophet:

And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

since from you shall come a ruler,

who is to shepherd my people Israel.”

Then Herod called the magi secretly

and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.

He sent them to Bethlehem and said,

“Go and search diligently for the child.

When you have found him, bring me word,

that I too may go and do him homage.”

After their audience with the king they set out.

And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,

until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.

They were overjoyed at seeing the star,

and on entering the house

they saw the child with Mary his mother.

They prostrated themselves and did him homage.

Then they opened their treasures

and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,

they departed for their country by another way.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary on Mt 2:1-12

We hear the story of the Magi (whom tradition holds were named Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar) coming to pay homage to Jesus. For us, in this time the story holds significance not only as a principle event in the life of Jesus, but also as a symbol of the Lord’s universal revelation. Scripture and tradition hold that the Magi were from Persia and were not Hebrew. Their participation in the revelation of the Messiah provides a global element to the coming of Christ.

Scriptural references would have held importance for the Jewish readers of St. Matthew’s Gospel.  They would have recognized the reference to “his star at its rising” as being a reference to Numbers 24:17; his star rising from Jacob – a reference to the coming of the Davidic King – the Messiah.  The Gospel supports this idea, citing Micah 5:1-3 which in turn is coupled with 2 Samuel 5:2, confirming the kingship of the coming Messiah.

While this story provides depth and meaning to the coming of Christ as a universal symbol of salvation, it also sets the stage for other events in the life of Jesus.  Had not Herod been made aware of the prophecy, he would not later have dispatched his solders to Bethlehem to slaughter the Holy Innocents and Joseph would not have been forced to flee to Egypt with a babe in arms.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Homily:

Less than two weeks ago we were full of anticipation as we waited for the birth of “baby Jesus” and the grand celebration that took place.  For most of the Christians in the United States, that day, Christmas Day, marked the beginning and end of the celebration of our Lord’s incarnation.  Most protestant traditions do not mark the feasts the Catholic Church celebrates in the Christmas season.

Lest we forget, here is what has happened so far this year:

·         December 26^th, Feast of St. Stephen- First martyr of the Church and one of the first Deacons.

·         December 27^th, Feast of St. John the Evangelist- Author of the great theological Gospel.

·         December 28^th, Feast of The Holy Innocents- Memorializing the infants slaughtered in Bethlehem by Herod in an attempt to kill the new born King.

·         December 30^th, Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph- remembering the sacrifices and trials of the earthly parents of the Savior; celebrating their lives.

·         January 1^st, The Solemnity of Mary – the Octave Day of Christmas- where we celebrate in a special way the Mother of God, Mary Most Holy and her witness to God in the world.

Following the Octave of Christmas which was packed with the power of God’s revelation, we continued our celebration of Christmas in the balance of the week remembering especially some very old and very new saints of the Church

·         Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen from the 4^th century;

·         the American, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (this year superseded by this feast of the Epiphany.)

While many of brothers and sisters celebrate this weekend as a time when Christmas decorations come down, we recall another momentous sign that salvation has come into the world; the Feast of the Epiphany.

Indeed today we think about the symbol that tells the world that Jesus did not come just for the Jewish people, but for all people of all nations.  Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, the Three Kings, represent all of us and today we consider their legacy.

As I prayed about the trek of Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, I was reminded how difficult that journey must have been.  I actually thought of an epiphany that came to me once as I was hearing stories about my grandfather (on the De Bruin side).  He worked his whole career with the Grand Trunk Railroad and had a job coordinating rolling stock (as they call rail cars) that were going on to ferries that took them across Lake Michigan (this was back in the early 1900’s).  The company decided to move the ferry dock from Grand Haven, where he lived, ten miles north, to Muskegon.  I was surprised when I was told he sold his house and moved to Muskegon.  I asked my mother why he would move when it was only ten miles from his home, she said simply “He didn’t want to walk 10 miles to work and back every day.”

We forget how difficult travel was in the past.  When our three “Wise men” set out following the Morning Star, they did not know how long they would be gone.  They did not know what difficulties they would face along the way.  They must have prepared very well, not just physically, but mentally as well.  What we know for sure is they were compelled to go by a belief in what they would find.  Do you think, as they sat so many nights out in the deserted lands they passed through, they ever thought; “What am I doing here?”  If they had lesser convictions in the hope they took on their journey they would have turned back or stopped.

Their success in arriving at the manger is a testament to their faith.  They brought gifts of homage to help the Holy Family who would soon flee to Egypt to avoid Herod’s hatred that would spill the blood of many children in that little hamlet of Bethlehem.  What we know for sure, because we have seen the man Jesus would later become, is that the gift treasured most by the infant savior was the gift of their faith in him.

As we consider these remarkable travelers, we must also consider our journey of faith as analogous to theirs.  We are on a journey of unknown duration and distance.  If we are faithful in our trek, as Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar were in theirs, we will face challenges and dangers along the way.  They prepared for a difficult journey and so must we.

At the urging of our Bishop, we have embarked upon a year focused on the New Evangelization.  He had established a year of Prayer so that we might ready ourselves for the challenge of living the Gospel in a post-Christian age in our country.  He called us, through continued prayer to fortify ourselves, to build up our inner strength so that we will not be found lacking when we are challenged.  Following up on the Bishop’s call, we have been called as well to come together as a parish family.  Fr. Bill has urged that we all attend a Parish Assembly next Saturday.  This is a time when we can understand how the whole family must travel the difficult road, just as the Holy Family did and just as the Magi did.  And we will be challenged this coming year.  Just as the Magi faced difficulties in their journey; hostile land that denied them passage and resistance from those servants who no doubt accompanied them, so we will be challenged – by unjust laws that deny us the right to live our faith – by members of our community, perhaps even our own families, who believe we are misguided or interfering with their choices.  

Whatever the obstacles, we must be prepared. Our dialogue with God in prayer will help us.

Today we pause once more to remember that heartwarming scene; Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus, resting in a manger, welcoming the Magi as they honor and worship the young Messiah.  We rejoice with them, hoping our own journey will find the same great prize waiting for us at its end, our Lord, welcoming us into his heavenly kingdom.

Pax

In other years on this date in the Diocese of the United States: Optional Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seaton (readings taken from the Common of Holy Men and Women.

---

[1] ALTRE

[2] The picture is “Adoration of the Magi” by Bartolomeo Biscaino, c. 1650

[3] 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 re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.

Christmas Weekday

(The Most Holy Name of Jesus)

“The Adoration of the Name of Jesus”
by El Greco, 1578-79

Information about the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

Readings for January 3^rd, Christmas Weekday[1][2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading 1: 1 John 2:29–3:6

If you consider that God is righteous,

you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness

is begotten by him.

See what love the Father has bestowed on us

that we may be called the children of God.

Yet so we are.

The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Beloved, we are God’s children now;

what we shall be has not yet been revealed.

We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,

for we shall see him as he is.

Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,

as he is pure.

Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness,

for sin is lawlessness.

You know that he was revealed to take away sins,

and in him there is no sin.

No one who remains in him sins;

no one who sins has seen him or known him.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary on 1 Jn 2:29–3:6

This selection from St. John’s first letter starts by telling his followers that since they have chosen to act in accordance with the Lord’s commandments, they have received his adoption.  We are first told that if we are righteous we are of God because God is righteous.  Then he goes on to say if we are pure, we are in Him because he is purity.  Finally he gives us the inverse, saying if we are in sin we cannot be in God because in God there is no sin.  All of this relative description relates to our adopted status in the Lord.

In chapter 3 the Evangelist explains Christian Adoption. “The greatest sign of God's love is the gift of his Son (John 3:16) that has made Christians true children of God. This relationship is a present reality and also part of the life to come; true knowledge of God will ultimately be gained, and Christians prepare themselves now by virtuous lives in imitation of the Son.”[4]

In the final paragraph reference to sin and lawlessness are probably references to acting in ways that follow the teachings of the “antichrist” or false teachers.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6

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.

The LORD has made his salvation known:

in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.

He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness

toward the house of Israel.

R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

All the ends of the earth have seen

the salvation by our God.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;

break into song; sing praise.

R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary on Ps 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6

Psalm 98 is a song of praise and thanksgiving. We see in this selection how God is praised for the strength he lends his people and the salvation he brings to those who are faithful. The psalm rejoices in God’s salvation. The Lord has revealed his compassion toward the people and they sing his praises in response. As the Hebrews saw this as salvation for the people of Israel from its enemies, we see the deeper expression of God’s love as he sent his Son for salvation and justice for the whole world.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gospel: John 1:29-34

The next day he (John the Baptist) saw Jesus

coming toward him and said,

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

He is the one of whom I said,

‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me

because he existed before me.’

I did not know him,

but the reason why I came baptizing with water

was that he might be made known to Israel.”

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.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary on Jn 1:29-34

St. John’s Gospel continues the story of St. John the Baptist.  Here he professes the identity of the Jesus as the Messiah, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”  The author’s theological understanding of the eternal nature of Christ is expressed in the Baptist’s words “A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’

After stating the connection between Jesus the Christ and the Baptist’s mission, the author follows the tradition of the synoptic Gospels as he describes Jesus emerging from his baptism in the Jordan and the decent of the Holy Spirit.  St. John concludes this testimony by St. John the Baptist with a solid affirmation that Jesus is the Son of God.

John’s great epiphany becomes our own – Jesus followed John the Baptist, being born after he was but ranking high above him and everyone else.  He, the Baptist, came baptizing with water; Jesus in the Holy Spirit and he recounts how, when Jesus came to the repentant bath in the Jordan, the dove descended and God the Father claimed him.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Homily:

Of all the images and all the names of Jesus we receive at this time of year, the one we are given by St. John’s Gospel today provokes the most emotion. We have heard the story of Jesus in the womb of Mary and how he was born in humble surroundings. We probably placed the tiny image of the Christ child in the manger scene in our homes and thought “How cute is the baby Jesus.”

We have heard little about him until his baptism by the Baptist in the Jordan River. Here in the account of St. John’s Gospel is given the image of the Eucharistic Christ. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” We hear a similar phrase and respond to it each time we go to Mass. The celebrant elevates the newly consecrated host, now the Body of the Risen Christ and echo’s the marvel of St. John the Baptist. In awe he proclaims that once more the promise is fulfilled, once more the Lord has come so that we might be in him and him in us. “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world, blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.”

And what is that image, what holy name is used? Is it the babe in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger? Is it the mighty Savior, his winnowing fan in his hand who casts out evil? Is it the Messiah entering the gates of Jerusalem to loud hosannas? No, it is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The lamb, in Jesus time, the male lamb was the prescribed animal for the sacrifice of atonement; The Lamb of God, the meek and unresisting sacrifice that opened the gates of heaven to us. The blood of that lamb was poured out for all mankind and gained for us the eternal promise.

Today we celebrate, as Church, the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. It is the name bestowed on the only Son of God, the Lamb of God and at that name at which, as St. Paul writes in his letter to the Philippines, “…every knee must bend in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth, and every tongue proclaim, to the glory of God the Father, that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD.” (Philippians 2:10-11)

Pax

---

[1] ALTRE

[2] The picture used today is “The Adoration of the Name of Jesus” by El Greco, 1578-79

[3] 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 re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.

[4] See NAB footnote on 1 Jn 3:1ff

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

“Saints Basil and Gregory”
Artist and Date UNKNOWN

Alternate Proper for the Memorial of Sts. Basil the Great

And Gregory Nazianzen

Readings for January 2^nd[1][2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading 1: 1 John 2:22-28

Who is the liar?

Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.

Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.

Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father,

but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.

Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.

If what you heard from the beginning remains in you,

then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.

And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life.

I write you these things about those who would deceive you.

As for you,

the anointing that you received from him remains in you,

so that you do not need anyone to teach you.

But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false;

just as it taught you, remain in him.

And now, children, remain in him,

so that when he appears we may have confidence

and not be put to shame by him at his coming.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary on 1 Jn 2:22-28

The first paragraph of this reading from St. John’s first epistle is important in that it clearly establishes the sameness of essence in God the Father and God the Son.  Anyone who denies one denies both and anyone who teaches that neither exists is a “False Teacher.”

St. John continues encouraging his followers to remain faithful to what they were taught about the Father and the Son.  In doing so they open the door to eternal life, in doing so they may stand with confidence before the Son when he returns on the last day.

There is in the selection regarding false teaching, a definition of the antichrist as one who denies the Father and the Son. This would seem to indicate that the Johannine community was being assailed by teachers of false doctrines. St. John goes on to encourage them to remember that Jesus is the Son of God, the Anointed One and that they in turn have been anointed in His name. There is the implication although not an explicit definition of the Holy Spirit as well; “…his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false”.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

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.

The LORD has made his salvation known:

in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.

He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness

toward the house of Israel.

R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

All the ends of the earth have seen

the salvation by our God.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;

break into song; sing praise.

R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary on Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

Psalm 98 is a song of praise and thanksgiving. We see in this selection how God is praised for the strength he lends his people and the salvation he brings to those who are faithful. The psalm rejoices in God’s salvation. The Lord has revealed his compassion toward the people and they sing his praises in response. As the Hebrews saw this as salvation for the people of Israel from its enemies, we see the deeper expression of God’s love as he sent his Son for salvation and justice for the whole world.”

We are still in the Christmas season and the New Song is still being sung in Psalm 98. This is a great example of how we, heirs to the Judeo-Christian truth can see clearly in these ancient texts the references to the Christ; “The Lord has made his salvation known”. It is this event about which we; “Sing joyfully to the Lord.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gospel: John 1:19-28

And this is the testimony of John.

When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him

to ask him, “Who are you?”

He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted,

“I am not the Christ.”

So they asked him,

“What are you then? Are you Elijah?”

And he said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

So they said to him,

“Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?

What do you have to say for yourself?”

He said:

“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,

‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’

as Isaiah the prophet said.”

Some Pharisees were also sent.

They asked him,

“Why then do you baptize

if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary on Jn 1:19-28

This is the formal introduction to St. John’s Gospel.  In it the author addresses the question of St. John the Baptist’s role in God’s plan.  The Jews from Jerusalem (Priests and Levites from the Temple) ask the Baptist who he is.  It is John’s humility or perhaps his own lack of understanding that he does not even admit to being a prophet (although the language did say “The Prophet, most likely Moses).  In one breath he denies the title and in the very next he quotes the Prophet Isaiah as being one sent to herald the coming of the Messiah. (It is almost certain that given the Baptist’s appearance and demeanor, some of the Jews from Jerusalem were convinced he was Elijah whose coming was thought to be the sign that the Messiah was at hand.)

In union with the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke; John’s Gospel now relates the Baptist telling those who question him that there is one coming after him who is greater than he.  The one who follows comes with a better baptism.  He does not say, as the synoptic Gospels do that the Christ will baptize with the Holy Spirit.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reflection:

For many of us, today we go back to the routine interrupted by our anticipation, preparation, and celebration of the events of a week ago. The Church continues to celebrate the Nativity event, holding on to the joy that is the birth of our Lord until we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany.

While the Church continues its celebration we face our work, home or school with, hopefully renewed vigor and some resolutions for the New Year. With any luck our Advent exercise let us know we needed to include some spiritual element with the weight loss, spend less, or save more resolutions so popular and so difficult to follow through on.

It is rather appropriate that we are given, on this first day following the great Solemnity of Mary, what seems to be a Gospel story about the very beginning. St. John the Baptist’s mission leads us, almost immediately; to the Baptism of the Lord (we will celebrate that event a week from this Sunday’s Epiphany). With the Baptism of the Lord we are launched into Jesus’ formal ministry as an adult and all that we promised during Advent must be ready to begin the short assault on secular humanism over the winter months until we reach our Lenten celebrate where the snow will melt and new crops will be planted. We are in training, like athletes before the big game. Let us take pages from the books of the Saints like Gregory and Basil, the two friends whose feast day we celebrate.  In their honor we conclude our reflection today with the concluding prayer for companions in Christ as presented in the Liturgy of the Hours:

God our Father,
you inspired the Church
with the example and teaching of your saints Basil and Gregory.

In humility may we come to know your truth
and put it into action with faith and love. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God for ever and ever. – Amen

---

[1] ALTRE

[2] The icon is “Saints Basil and Gregory” Artist and Date UNKNOWN

[3] 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 re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.