 | Franciscan Media God's Love Is for All People As the Christmas season draws to a close, we reflect not so much on the birth of Jesus as on the impact that birth had on all those who heard of it—the shepherds, the magi, the villagers, and us. By taking on our human reality, God shows us how to move beyond our ordinary routines into lives that can make a difference in our world. The coming of the Magi to visit the holy family was a sign that Christ had come not only for the people of Bethlehem and Jerusalem, but for all people in all times and places. It is a reminder that we're called to be ever more inclusive, to be open to questions from all those who seek the love and the mercy and the peace of God. —from The Peace of Christmas: Quiet Reflections from Pope Francis by Diane M. Houdek | ✞
"If you want God to hear your prayers, hear the voice of the poor. If you wish God to anticipate your wants, provide those of the needy without waiting for them to ask you."
– St. Thomas of Villanova ✞ MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"It is undoubtedly true that each of us, men and women, irresponsible and thoughtless as we often are, hold within our hands the happiness and sorrows of others. We cannot help it or escape from it. The power is in us inalienably almost from birth to death—in us, because we are persons—and we are responsible for the use we make of it. Indeed, so mysterious is this power that the very presence of a person who does not realize his responsibility is often the source of the keenest pain of all . . . The failure to exercise the power to give happiness to others is not merely negative in its results; it is the source of the most positive suffering of all. Thus there is no escape from the responsibility involved in the possession of this power. Not to use it where it is due is to destroy all happiness. Strange power, indeed, to be committed to such weak and unworthy hands; yet there could be but one thing worse: that none could interfere with the joys and sorrows of others. We might envy their happiness and pity their sorrows, but we could not help them. It would be a world of isolated individuals wrapped in inviolable selfishness; each must take care of himself and the world must go its way."
— Fr. Basil W. Maturin, p. 149
AN EXCERPT FROM
Christian Self-Mastery ✞ VERSE OF THE DAY
For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
I Peter 3:12 |  click to read more | | Saint John Neumann (March 28, 1811 – January 5, 1860) Perhaps because the United States got a later start in the history of the world, it has relatively few canonized saints, but their number is increasing. John Neumann was born in what is now the Czech Republic. After studying in Prague, he came to New York at 25 and was ordained a priest. He did missionary work in New York until he was 29, when he joined the Redemptorists and became its first member to profess vows in the United States. He continued missionary work in Maryland, Virginia and Ohio, where he became popular with the Germans. At 41, as bishop of Philadelphia, he organized the parochial school system into a diocesan one, increasing the number of pupils almost twentyfold within a short time. Gifted with outstanding organizing ability, he drew into the city many teaching communities of sisters and the Christian Brothers. During his brief assignment as vice provincial for the Redemptorists, he placed them in the forefront of the parochial movement. Well-known for his holiness and learning, spiritual writing and preaching, on October 13, 1963, John Neumann became the first American bishop to be beatified. Canonized in 1977, he is buried in St. Peter the Apostle Church in Philadelphia. Reflection
Neumann took seriously our Lord's words, "Go and teach all nations." From Christ he received his instructions and the power to carry them out. For Christ does not give a mission without supplying the means to accomplish it. The Father's gift in Christ to John Neumann was his exceptional organizing ability, which he used to spread the Good News. Today the Church is in dire need of men and women to continue in our times the teaching of the Good News. The obstacles and inconveniences are real and costly. Yet when Christians approach Christ, he supplies the necessary talents to answer today's needs. The Spirit of Christ continues his work through the instrumentality of generous Christians. | Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop Reading 1 1 Jn 3:11-21 Beloved:
This is the message you have heard from the beginning:
we should love one another,
unlike Cain who belonged to the Evil One
and slaughtered his brother.
Why did he slaughter him?
Because his own works were evil,
and those of his brother righteous.
Do not be amazed, then, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
We know that we have passed from death to life
because we love our brothers.
Whoever does not love remains in death.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer,
and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.
The way we came to know love
was that he laid down his life for us;
so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
If someone who has worldly means
sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion,
how can the love of God remain in him?
Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth. Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth
and reassure our hearts before him
in whatever our hearts condemn,
for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God. Responsorial Psalm Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5
R. (2a) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
The LORD is good:
the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A holy day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.
Today a great light has come upon the earth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia Gospel Jn 1:43-51 Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip.
And Jesus said to him, "Follow me."
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.
Philip found Nathanael and told him,
"We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth."
But Nathanael said to him,
"Can anything good come from Nazareth?"
Philip said to him, "Come and see."
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
"Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him."
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael answered him,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this."
And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see the sky opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
| Meditation: 1 John 3:11-21 Saint John Neumann, Bishop (Memorial) We should love one another. (1 John 3:11) Nobody said following Christ would be easy. Thoughts of self-denial, of carrying the cross, even of martyrdom come to mind. Such grand sacrifices, though, begin with the commission John gives in today's first reading: love one another. Love the people around you. Hold them dear, even when they push you away. Be devoted to their welfare, even if they seem indifferent to yours. Hope and pray for their healing, just as you do for your own. Not so easy, is it? Christian author C. S. Lewis likens it to beginning the study of mathematics with basic addition and not calculus. Start by forgiving your spouse, parents, or children for something they have said or done in the last week: for dishes left unwashed in the sink (again) perhaps or the car's gas tank left on empty, for phone calls unmade or unreturned, or for being left having to walk the dog in the rain. Everyday life offers us many opportunities to love one another in small, concrete ways, "in deed and truth," as John wrote (1 John 3:18). To love and not resent, to serve and not crave revenge—this kind of loving requires the death of something inside ourselves. "The feeling of resentment, the desire for payback, must be simply killed," says Lewis. "It is hard work, but the attempt is not impossible." Feelings can be stubborn, but God will help you. He will give you everything you need to love your family as he has loved you. When anger or bitterness rises up within you, stop and do your best to halt those thoughts. Ask Jesus for the grace to think thoughts of love for that person, and then take one small step to treat them with kindness. You may discover, over time, that you actually are becoming more loving. You may find yourself hoping for "good" and even praying for those thoughtless coworkers, rude drivers, and ungodly "others" whom you find insufferable. It doesn't happen all at once, but it does happen. Gradually. Unnoticed. Deep down in your heart. Resolve today to give no place to negativity, and God's grace will abound. "Holy Spirit, give me the gift of fortitude today so that I can fight the good fight of faith. Give me grace to love other people as Jesus loved me." Psalm 100:1-5
John 1:43-51 | my2cents:
The Holy Word Speaks: "Do not be amazed, then, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life
because we love our brothers." Does the world hate me? Pretty powerful words no? It's like this...in the Holy Body of Christ, we are one. On TV and Schools and government, all things "the world" they want Christ out. Everything else is ok, but Christ? Just try to pray in public, or even with your own family, how hard is it? Some in my own family seem to hate me for standing with the truth, and so Cain slaughtered Abel "Why did he slaughter him? Because his own works were evil, and those of his brother righteous." Abel was able to live a holy life. Was Cain not able? He simply chose the "other lifestyle". The one of sin. The one that leads to death, but death to others instead of death to self. How do you sacrifice? Let us pray: " Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. Know that the LORD is God; he made us, his we are" Know that the Lord is Good. "The LORD, whose kindness endures forever,and his faithfulness, to all generations." How can we know He is good? Like Phillip said to Nathaniel, "Come and See". See for yourself how Good God is. How can you? Approach Him in prayer. Come see Him in the Sacraments, confession a reconciliation, and see. Then, then you can righteously taste Him in the Eucharist where His Heavenly Body abounds. The greater the righteousness, the sweeter the taste. And this sweetness is addicting, satisfying every want one could ever desire...forever. In the Holy Gospel, our Lord speaks: ""Follow me." Very few words are written of what God speaks and yet they speak volumes and volumes and for generations to ponder and seek and eat. So what does Phillip do? He follows. How do we know? Phillip does what Jesus does. Phillip goes to Nathaniel and says "follow Me to Jesus" by saying ""We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth." Come and see whom I found...our longing love and desire of the everlasting hills. Our Lord continued: "Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him."
Nathaniel said to him, "How do you know me?" How does He know you? He sees you. Nathaniel was amazed. A true sign of the Holy Spirit working. This revelation brought his heart to Jesus. Our Lord said "You will see greater things than this." And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." This day it is true. Nathaniel is witnessing the ascension and descending of angels on the Son of Man, the Majesty of Jesus our King, Lord, and Savior. Last night we prayed the rosary at our dinner table. Every Luminous mystery seemed to have God saying "Listen to Him" Listen to Jesus. Listen for Him. Anticipate Him. Before He comes, be on the look out for Him. This is what Nathaniel did. Jesus saw him because his angel was looking to Him. No duplicity was in him, meaning he wasn't a two-faced individual. What you see is the truth. Watch who is talking about somebody, because that person could be talking about you behind your back as well. Or, are you that talker? Love is love and life. Cain did not have this love, murder was already on his hateful lips long before it was actually committed in a fit of rage.
Watch what comes into your heart not only your mouth. Because from in it, spews out what is there, hatred, or love. What if both comes out, hatred and love? Does not a positive and negative cancel each other out? Why would you cancel out love? Look, choir of angels, sing a new song and lead a new life. Be renewed day by day by Him. I'm on constant watch for Him, and Him in you. I want to see Jesus, do not hide Him from me anymore. When you fall away, I am saddened. When you divorce, I am hurt. When you hurt another, I am hurt. I take no pleasure in laughing at others. I find no beauty in greed, and pride, especially the pride of being loved and not loving back. Perhaps that is the worst, where there is no room for Me, Jesus, the light...
Tomorrow the Epiphany ends the Christmas season and what was brought in Christmas should be for the whole world to see...the joy of Christ. The joy of a life of Christ. From this day on, do me a favor my child, if someone asks you for something, especially for Church, do it. Don't think about it. And even better, anticipate it, before being asked do it. Phillip brought Nathaniel to Jesus without being asked, it just came from within...the Holy Spirit. Do you love Jesus?
How does the world know it?
The world wants you to hush about it, keep it in your pocket, and stay out of the public and even the bedrooms. As if to say, "this is mine, not yours". Greedy. Proud. Taking over. Evil trying.
No my child. LIFE and LIGHT must take over. And you know how it begins? With you and your neighbor, me and you, and you and the person you encounter. Hey...come and see the love of my life....our life together | | |
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