Monday after Epiphany
(I John3:22-4:6; Matthew 4:12-17.23-25)
Monday, January 6, 2025
Sunday, January 5, 2025
The Epiphany of the Lord, January 5, 2025
(Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12)
Today’s Gospel is a gem cherished by all Christians. But
before reflecting on it, I want to examine the first reading, which also summons
our attention.
Catholics are quite familiar with the Book of the Prophet
Isaiah. It appears often as the first reading at Sunday Mass, especially during
the Advent and Christmas seasons. At the beginning of Advent, we always hear
Isaiah proclaiming the hope of every nation. He offers a vision of the whole
world streaming to Jerusalem to learn the ways of God. He says, “They shall
beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Is
2:3-4).
This same book informs us today that the inhabitants of
Jerusalem have returned from exile in Babylon with a similar vision. “Nations
shall walk by your light,” the book proclaims, “and kings by your shining radiance.”
In other words, the people of Jerusalem will be like the lights of a harbor attracting
the nations of the world to learn the ways of God. Today, Jews attempt to shine
such a light by burning candles in the celebration of Hanukkah for eight days.
Of course, the lighted candles symbolize their acts of charity.
Now we can better understand the significance of the star
guiding the Magi in the Gospel. It represents the fulfillment of Isaiah’s
prophecy about nations coming to Jerusalem to learn how to live in peace. The
star is the light that leads the Magi, representing the nations of the world,
to Jerusalem. From there, they are directed to the child Jesus in Bethlehem.
The sight of the child with his mother is enough to satisfy their longing for
peace. Yet it will be the teachings and, above all, the works of Jesus as an
adult that will bring about lasting peace, that is our eternal salvation.
Recently, one of the most widely read journalists in the
United States wrote about his journey to Christ. David Brooks was raised in a
Jewish family. As a young man, he practiced no religion but was not devoid of
spiritual values. Then he experienced various moments of wonder and
clarity—moments of light. One such moment occurred when he looked around on a
subway and saw not just bodies, but souls infused with the divine spark. Later,
in another moment of light, he grasped the paradoxical truth of Jesus'
Beatitudes. It is the poor in spirit, those who recognize God as their Savior, that
are truly blessed. It is those who can mourn with the sorrowful that will be
comforted. Today, David Brooks cannot help but see Jesus as the light of the
world.
The second reading reveals how Isaiah’s prophecy has been
fulfilled in the world. The Holy Spirit guided the apostles to teach the Gospel
to all nations. As a result, non-Jews (“Gentiles”), like the Jews in Jerusalem
on Pentecost, have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord.
When we carefully examine Jesus’ teachings and deeds, it
becomes difficult not to recognize Him as the light emanating from Jerusalem,
uniting the world in peace. He provides us with the Holy Spirit, so that
we may share in His divine life for all eternity. As people imbued with the
divine, we can set aside swords and spears to build God’s Kingdom of love.
Friday, January 3, 2025
Christmas Weekday
(I John 2:29-3:6; John 1:29-34)
In a movie about the aftermath of War II a young German woman
works for the American officer conducting an investigation. She is the daughter of a German colonel who
was executed for having attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler. When Germans coming for an interview hear her
last name, they ask if she was related to the colonel. As soon as she answers that he was her father,
they stop and acknowledge her father’s sacrifice. The colonel was held in high
esteem for his courage.
A similar recognition takes place in today’s gospel. John, seeing
Jesus coming his way, stops and pays him homage. He calls Jesus “the Lamb of God,’ who will be
sacrificed to “take away the sin of the world.”
Of course, he is the first human to recognize Jesus as the Son of
God. This is the Gospel of John. In Luke’s gospel John is also the first human
to recognize Jesus as the Christ, but
there he does so as an infant in his mother’s womb.
As important as the Incarnation is, it cannot be separated
from the sacrifice Jesus will make on our behalf. We also must stop to recognize who this newborn
babe, who has brought us so much joy, is.
He is the one who will be crucified so that we might be freed of our
sins.
Thursday, January 2, 2025
Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church
(I John 2:22-28; John 1:19-28)
Parents may teach their children that they are not the most important
people in the world. But this lesson pales
in value compared to the one that children are not even the most important
person in their own lives. With good
intentions parents sometimes tell children the equivalent of airline stewards
and stewardesses’ telling passengers to adjust their own oxygen mask before
helping their child. No doubt, that is
good advice in an airline emergency, but it should not be used to justify everyone
considering first one’s self-interest.
Both readings today advise that Christians should not consider
themselves first. They must always make
God their priority. The reading from
John’s First Letter tells the reader to remain in Christ. That is, he or she should realize that Christ
overshadows the self. Like the whole
person is greater than a leg or arm, Christ is greater than the individual
Christian. The gospel shows John the
Baptist testifying that he is not the long-expected Messiah. Rather, he is no more than a bell or siren
announcing Christ’s coming.
Today’s saints demonstrated the virtue of “Christ first.” They were friends who developed such a great
love for one another that each sought the other’s welfare more than his
own. Of course, as saints both sought
Christ’s glory as the greatest value of life.
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
(Number 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21)
Those who have lived a long time remember that today’s celebration
feast has changed in a number of times in their lifetime. Before the Vatican II reforms, Jesus’
circumcision (one might say his “Jewishness”) was recalled today. Even today some think of January 1 as the “World
Day of Peace.” Sensing that the first
day of the year augurs what will take place on the remaining days, it is right
that we pray for peace today. However,
that’s hardly why it is a day of obligation to attend mass. Only since 1969 has January 1 been recognized
throughout the Roman Catholic Church as “the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin
Mary.”
Orthodox Christians pray to the Lord on Christmas Day in a
way that beautifully highlights the reason for today’s feast. They pray, “O
Christ, what shall we offer You for Your coming on earth as a Man for our sake?
Every creature that has its being
from You give thanks to You.” The
prayer then names what angels, shepherds, and the earth bring to Jesus on his
birthday. It concludes: “As for us,
we offer You a Mother, a Virgen Mother.”
As a model Mary incorporates the virtues of the Christian
life. She is also a powerful intercessor
as demonstrated in John’s gospel. Today
we honor her as God’s mother for having given birth to His Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ.