The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is historically associated with the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus. According to Jewish law, on the 8th day after his birth, a male child was circumcised and received his name, thus becoming a full member of God's covenant people. The name 'Jesus' means 'God Saves' and is the name that St. Joseph was instructed by an angel to name the Divine Child, the sacred name before which "every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:10-11). Devotion to the Most Holy Name of Jesus was popularized by St. Bernardine of Siena in the 15th century, often symbolized by the monogram IHS (denoting the first three letters of the Greek spelling of Jesus' name). Today the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is celebrated on January 3rd.
† Quote of the Day "The name of Jesus, pronounced with reverence and affection, has a kind of power to soften the heart." — St. Philip Neri Today's Meditation "I wonder if we understand the negative aspect of faith? I shake sometimes. I'm afraid. You mustn't worry that, because you don't know what the future is, you don't have faith. Faith means that in the midst of darkness and turmoil, you know that God is there and is taking care of you...Faith and presence go together, but it doesn't do anything for my adrenaline glands! My body may react to the fear of the moment, and I could still have faith...to use His Name means to be like Jesus. That means when the Father sees you as a Christian, He sees His Son. Now you can ask in His Name, because He looks at you and He sees His Son in all His compassion, gentleness, love, and peace. He sees all that in you. Now you can ask in His Name. Don't be a name-dropper, because faith and fear sometimes do go together." —Mother Angelica, p. 83-84
An excerpt from Mother Angelica's Guide to the Spiritual Life Daily Verse "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." — Colossians 3:16-17 | St. Genevieve Of Paris St. Genevieve (c.422-512 A.D.) was born to a respectable family in a small village outside Paris, France. When she was seven years old a famous bishop, St. Germain, spotted her in a crowd and prophesied to her parents about her future sanctity. At his invitation, St. Genevieve expressed her desire to live in a state of perpetual virginity and made her vows under him, after which St. Germain gave her a brass medal engraved with a cross as a reminder of her consecration to Christ. In her teens she received the religious veil under the Bishop of Paris and lived a devout life of prayer, charity, and austerity. She was especially known for her gifts of prophecy and reading consciences. When her parents died she lived with her grandmother in Paris, often visiting other cities where she would perform miracles. This led to her persecution, with a plot against her life, but when St. Germain came to her defense she was afterwards greatly revered by the people. St. Genevieve became venerated as the patron saint of Paris after she helped avert an attack against the city by Attila the Hun, and for saving the city from famine during a siege, when a boatload of grain overcame a military blockade due to her intercession. St. Genevieve is also the patron saint against fever, plague, and disasters. Her feast day is January 3rd. | Christmas Weekday 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. 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.
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.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. Alleluia John 1:14a, 12a R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
To those who accepted him
he gave power to become the children of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel John 1:29-34 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." | Daily Meditation: 1 John 2:29–3:6 See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. (1 John 3:1) In just a few words, John sums up one of the most profound truths of our Christian faith. We are children of God! You could spend an entire lifetime meditating on that thought alone. Yes, we are creatures of a Creator, subjects of a King, and disciples of a Teacher. But we are so much more than that! You are so much more than that! Think about who you are: you were created in God's own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26). That means you have the imprint of the Lord in the core of your being. It also means that you have great, unsurpassable dignity, whoever you are and however God made you. That dignity never fades because God's image in you never fades. But it wasn't enough for God just to create you in his image and likeness. He wanted to bind you to himself in an even deeper way. So he sent his Son into the world to show you what it's like to live as a child of God. In his closeness to God and in his ability to love everyone he came into contact with, Jesus showed you what you can become. Then, by his cross and resurrection, he made it possible. This Christmas season, and in the year to come, take hold of your identity as a child of God by remaining in him, as John encourages us to do (1 John 3:6). Just as a child can go to his father for wisdom and guidance, so can you. Just as a child can turn to his father for comfort and help when he is hurting, so can you. Just as a child learns how to grow up by imitating his father, so can you. But it's not just one-sided. Just as a father enjoys spending time with his children, your heavenly Father loves simply being with you. Just as a father delights in seeing his child grow and mature, your heavenly Father is thrilled when he sees you step out in faith. And just as a father is especially close when his child is struggling, your heavenly Father holds you close to his heart when you are hurting. That's how much he loves you. We can't say it enough: You are a child of God! Dwell on this truth today. Repeat it to yourself often. Let it fill you with joy! "Father, I rejoice that you have made me your child!" Psalm 98:1, 3-6
John 1:29-34 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: | In the Holy Scripture we hear today: "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....." end Gospel quote, word of the Lord. | From Bishop Barron,
"This is the first time in the Bible that the tri-personhood of God is on display, making it one of the most important theophanies in Scripture. In love, the Father sends the Son into godforsakenness, into the muddy waters of our own sin, and the Spirit is the love that connects the Father and Son, the love in which the Father sends and in which the Son is sent.
So now we see that the God who is just and demanding (and those both remain in place) is, through and through, love..." End quote from Bishop Barron.
From a Spanish reflection,
"In our daily lives, it is important to remember this revelation of Jesus as the Lamb of God, who invites us to approach him with humility and trust. He reminds us that through his sacrifice we can find forgiveness, healing, and redemption. May we open our hearts to his love and let his Holy Spirit guide us on the path of faith and salvation.." end quote, from Roberto Juárez.
Saint John The Baptist 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."
There is a rank.
There is a hierarchy.
There is a centralized chain of command of authority recognized.
And this authority is repeatedly being usurped, as is evident with protestants who say they want no central man-made authority.
And the worse part about this mentality? The obedience factor, to authority.
Does it matter really? Ask protestants and they will say no. Ask the forefathers of our faith, and they will say yes.
Obedience to God definitely matters. And there has to be order. Decentralized organizations are not always ordered, where all become their own bosses. I'm experiencing that in a men's ministry. There is no order, and it is chaotic. Nobody sets meeting dates. Nobody agrees on who does what really. Everyone is stepping on others' boundaries and tasks. And in the end, it will be the men ministered to that will hurt if we do not get a hold of the central being to lead us aright.
In comes the Lamb of God. In comes grace. In comes the name above all names; JESUS.
Lord, come into our chaotic world that we cannot seem to control. It all hinges on faith. On order. On obedience. Help us to grasp Your precious hand of salvation. Lead us into waters of love and fire of love of God, purification beyond comprehension.
You have been identified as the One to save us by the very name, and by Saint John the Baptist, a voice crying out in the wilderness, make straight the paths, our lives, and let Christ reign! |  audio | WOW
Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 145:18–19 18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
