Memorial of Saint
Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious
Lectionary: 207
Lectionary: 207
Reading 11 JN 3:7-10
Children, let no one
deceive you.
The person who acts in righteousness is righteous,
just as he is righteous.
Whoever sins belongs to the Devil,
because the Devil has sinned from the beginning.
Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the Devil.
No one who is begotten by God commits sin,
because God's seed remains in him;
he cannot sin because he is begotten by God.
In this way,
the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain;
no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God,
nor anyone who does not love his brother.
The person who acts in righteousness is righteous,
just as he is righteous.
Whoever sins belongs to the Devil,
because the Devil has sinned from the beginning.
Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the Devil.
No one who is begotten by God commits sin,
because God's seed remains in him;
he cannot sin because he is begotten by God.
In this way,
the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain;
no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God,
nor anyone who does not love his brother.
Responsorial PsalmPS 98:1, 7-8, 9
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.
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy before the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD comes;
he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. 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.
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy before the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD comes;
he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
AlleluiaHEB 1:1-2
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets:
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets:
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 1:35-42
John was standing with
two of his disciples,
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God."
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
"What are you looking for?"
They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher),
"where are you staying?"
He said to them, "Come, and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying,
and they stayed with him that day.
It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
"We have found the Messiah," which is translated Christ.
Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said,
"You are Simon the son of John;
you will be called Cephas," which is translated Peter.
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God."
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
"What are you looking for?"
They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher),
"where are you staying?"
He said to them, "Come, and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying,
and they stayed with him that day.
It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
"We have found the Messiah," which is translated Christ.
Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said,
"You are Simon the son of John;
you will be called Cephas," which is translated Peter.
Meditation: "We have found the Messiah!"
Who is Jesus for you?
John calls Jesus the Lamb of God and thus signifies Jesus'
mission as the One who redeems us from our sins. The blood of the Passover
Lamb (Exodus 12) delivered the Israelites from their oppression in
Egypt and from the plague of death. The Lord Jesus freely offered up his life
for us on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 Corinthians 5:7).
The blood which he poured out for us on the cross cleanses, heals, and frees us
from our slavery to sin, and from the "wages of sin which is death"
(Romans 6:23) and the "destruction of both body and soul in hell"
(Matthew 10:28).
It is significant that
John was the son of the priest, Zachariah, who participated in the daily
sacrifice of a lamb in the temple for the sins of the people (Exodus 29). In
Jesus John saw the true and only sacrifice which could deliver us from bondage
to sin, death, and the powers of hell. How did John know the true identity of Jesus,
as the Son of God and Savior of the world (John 1:29)? The Holy Spirit revealed
to John Jesus' true nature, such that John bore witness that this is the Son of
God. How can we be certain that Jesus is truly the Christ, the Son of the
living God? The Holy Spirit makes the Lord Jesus Christ known to us through the
gift of faith. God gives us freely of his Spirit that we may comprehend - with
enlightened minds and eyes of faith - the great mystery and plan of God to
unite all things in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
"What do
you seek?"
John in his characteristic humility was eager to point beyond himself to the Christ (means Anointed One and Messiah). He did not hesitate to direct his own disciples to the Lord Jesus. When two of John's disciples began to seek Jesus out, Jesus took the initiative to invite them into his company. He did not wait for them to get his attention. Instead he met them halfway. He asked them one of the most fundamental questions of life: "What are you looking for?" Jesus asks each one of us the same question:"What are you searching for? Do you know the meaning and purpose for your life?" Only God, the Father and Author of life, can answer that question and make our purpose fully known to us. That is why the Lord Jesus invites each one of us to draw near to himself. He wants us to know him personally - to know what he came to do for us and what he wants to offer us.
John in his characteristic humility was eager to point beyond himself to the Christ (means Anointed One and Messiah). He did not hesitate to direct his own disciples to the Lord Jesus. When two of John's disciples began to seek Jesus out, Jesus took the initiative to invite them into his company. He did not wait for them to get his attention. Instead he met them halfway. He asked them one of the most fundamental questions of life: "What are you looking for?" Jesus asks each one of us the same question:"What are you searching for? Do you know the meaning and purpose for your life?" Only God, the Father and Author of life, can answer that question and make our purpose fully known to us. That is why the Lord Jesus invites each one of us to draw near to himself. He wants us to know him personally - to know what he came to do for us and what he wants to offer us.
"Come and
see"
"Come and see" is the Lord's invitation for each one of us to discover the joy of friendship and communion with the One who made us in love for love. Saint Augustine of Hippo reminds us that it is God, our Creator and Redeemer, who seeks us out, even when we are not looking for him: "If you hadn't been called by God, what could you have done to turn back? Didn’t the very One who called you when you were opposed to Him make it possible for you to turn back?" It is God who initiates and who draws us to himself. Without his mercy and help we could not find him on our own.
"Come and see" is the Lord's invitation for each one of us to discover the joy of friendship and communion with the One who made us in love for love. Saint Augustine of Hippo reminds us that it is God, our Creator and Redeemer, who seeks us out, even when we are not looking for him: "If you hadn't been called by God, what could you have done to turn back? Didn’t the very One who called you when you were opposed to Him make it possible for you to turn back?" It is God who initiates and who draws us to himself. Without his mercy and help we could not find him on our own.
When we find something
of great value it's natural to want to share the good news of our discovery
with our family, friends, and neighbors. When Andrew met Jesus and discovered
that he was truly the Messiah, he immediately went to his brother Simon and
told him the good news. Andrew brought his brother to meet Jesus so he could
"come and see" for himself. When Jesus saw Simon approaching he
immediately reached out to Simon in the same way he had done for Andrew
earlier. Jesus looked at Simon and revealed that he knew who Simon was and
where he came from even before Simon had set his eyes on Jesus. Jesus gave
Simon a new name which signified that God had a personal call and mission for
him. Jesus gave Simon the name "Cephas" which is the Aramaic word for
"rock". Cephas is translated as Peter (Petros in Greek
and Petrus in Latin) which also literally means "rock".
To call someone a
"rock" was one of the greatest compliments in the ancient world. The
rabbis had a saying that when God saw Abraham, he exclaimed: "I have
discovered a rock to found the world upon." Through Abraham God
established a nation for himself. Through faith Peter grasped who Jesus truly
was - the Anointed One (Messiah and Christ)
and the only begotten Son of God. The New Testament describes the church as a
spiritual house or temple with each member joined together as living stones
(see 1 Peter 2:5). Faith in Jesus Christ makes us into rocks or spiritual
stones. The Holy Spirit gives us the gift of faith to know the Lord Jesus
personally, power to live the gospel faithfully, and courage to witness the
truth and joy of the Gospel to others. The Lord Jesus is ever ready to draw us
to himself. Do you seek to grow in the knowledge and love of the Lord Jesus
Christ?
"Lord Jesus
Christ, fill me with the power of your Holy Spirit that I may grow in the
knowledge of your great love and truth. Let your Spirit be aflame in my heart
that I may joyfully seek to do your will in all things."
Daily Quote from
the early church fathers: The
first disciples longing for the Messiah, by John Chrysostom (349-407
AD)
"Andrew, after
having stayed with Jesus and after having learned what he did, did not keep the
treasure to himself but hurries and races to his brother in order to let him
know the good things Jesus has shared with him. But why hasn’t John mentioned
what they talked about? How do we know this is why they 'stayed with him'?...
Observe what Andrew says to his brother, 'We have found the Messiah, which is,
being interpreted, the Christ.' You see how, in a short time, he demonstrates not
only the persuasiveness of the wise teacher but also his own longing that he
had from the beginning. For this word, 'we have found,' is the expression of a
soul that longs for his presence, looking for his coming from above, and is so
ecstatic when what he is looking for happens that he hurries to tell others the
good news. This is what brotherly affection, natural friendship, is all about
when someone is eager to extend a hand to another when it comes to spiritual
matters. Also see how he adds the article, for he does not say 'Messiah' but
'the Messiah.' They were expecting the Christ who would have nothing in common
with the others." (excerpt from HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 19.1)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY
4, JOHN 1:35-42
(I John 3:7-10; Psalm 98)
(I John 3:7-10; Psalm 98)
KEY VERSE: "He said to them, `Come, and you will see'" (v.39).
TO KNOW: The day after Jesus' baptism, John pointed out that Jesus was the "Lamb of God" who came to take away the world's sins (Jn 1:29, 36). Two of the Baptist's disciples followed Jesus out of curiosity. Upon seeing them, Jesus invited the pair to follow him as his disciples. The new disciples addressed Jesus as their "Rabbi" (teacher), but they soon discovered that Jesus was not only a great teacher, he was the "Messiah," God's anointed one (v.41). Andrew, one of the disciples, brought his brother Simon to Jesus. Jesus changed Simon's name to "Kephas," an Aramaic word for "rock" (Greek, "Petros"). Changing a person's name signified a new relationship and function. Peter would be the foundation upon which Jesus would build his Church.
TO LOVE: Let us "who hold and teach the Catholic faith that comes to us from the apostles" [Eucharistic Prayer I], continue in our own time to hand on the faith that we have received, just as the apostles did in their time.
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to learn who you are as I walk with you daily.
Memorial of Saint
Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious
Born into a wealthy Episcopalian family, Elizabeth married a well-to-do businessman, William Magee Seton, at age 19. About ten years into the marriage, her husband's business failed, and soon afterward he died of tuberculosis. Elizabeth was left as an impoverished widow with five small children. For years Elizabeth had felt drawn to Catholicism and she entered the Church in March, 1805. To support her family, and insure the proper education of her children, she opened a school in Boston. Though a private and secular institution, she ran it along the lines of a religious community. At the invitation of the archbishop, she established a Catholic girl's school in Baltimore, Maryland which initiated the parochial school system in America. She founded the Sisters of Charity in 1809, the first Native American religious community for women.
Wednesday 4 January 2017
Wed 4th. 1 John 3:7-10. All
the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God—Ps 97(98):1, 7-9. John
1:35-42.
Readings
'Come and see.'
The trimmings of Christmas are packed away and presents are put to good use. New surfboard, new shirt, and maybe a new perfume all become part of the new year. January brings a collective sigh of relaxation and the weather draws us to lovely beaches and friendly barbeques.
Selflessly, John directs our attention to the Lamb of God. Just focus on time with Jesus and if you are in touch with your hungry inner spirit, here is the one who will help and guide you.
Within this blessed space, Jesus turns to us and asks what it is that we want. What do you seek? What is your deepest desire for 2017?
Take time with him as you walk on the sand. Speak to him frankly about your life, your dreams, your fears.
Ask for guidance and the strength to continue to work for God's Kingdom.
Readings
'Come and see.'
The trimmings of Christmas are packed away and presents are put to good use. New surfboard, new shirt, and maybe a new perfume all become part of the new year. January brings a collective sigh of relaxation and the weather draws us to lovely beaches and friendly barbeques.
Selflessly, John directs our attention to the Lamb of God. Just focus on time with Jesus and if you are in touch with your hungry inner spirit, here is the one who will help and guide you.
Within this blessed space, Jesus turns to us and asks what it is that we want. What do you seek? What is your deepest desire for 2017?
Take time with him as you walk on the sand. Speak to him frankly about your life, your dreams, your fears.
Ask for guidance and the strength to continue to work for God's Kingdom.
ST. ELIZABETH ANN
SETON
Saint Elizabeth Ann
Seton was the foundress and first superior of the Sisters of Charity in the
United States. She was born to Episcopalian parents into New York City
high society on August 28, 1774.
Her father, Dr.
Richard Bayley was the first professor of anatomy at Columbia College and
praised for his work as the health officer of the Port of New York. Her
mother, Catherine Charlton, daughter of an Anglican minister of Staten Island,
N.Y. died when Elizabeth was three years old, leaving her and two other young
daughters.
Elizabeth was married
on January 25, 1794 in St. Paul's Episcopalian Church to William Magee
Seton. William fell into financial troubles, and later died of
tuberculosis in Pisa (Italy) in December 1803. After getting to know the
Catholic Church in Italy, Elizabeth fasted and prayed for light. Finally, on
Ash Wednesday, March 14, 1805, she was received into the Church.
Her conversion
unleashed a storm among her Protestant relatives and friends and made her
financial strains even greater. In January 1806, Cecilia Seton,
Elizabeth's young sister-in-law, became very ill and begged to see the
ostracized convert and told her of her desire to become a Catholic. When
Cecilia's decision was known threats were made to have Mrs. Seton expelled from
the state by the Legislature. On her recovery Cecilia fled to Elizabeth
for refuge and was received into the Church.
Elizabeth moved to
Baltimore in 1808 and with the help of a Catholic convert, a farm was purchased
two miles from Mt. St. Mary's College and Mrs. Seton took vows privately before
Archbishop Carroll and her daughter Anna.
In 1810, Bishop Flaget
was commissioned to obtain in France the rules of the Sisters of Charity of St.
Vincent de Paul. The rule, with some modifications, was approved by Archbishop
Carroll in January 1812, and adopted. Mrs. Seton was elected superior
against her will and in spite of the fact that she had also to care for her
children. Many joined the community; including Mother Seton's daughter,
Anna, who died during her novitiate (March 12, 1812), but had been permitted to
pronounce her vows on her deathbed. Mother Seton and eighteen sisters made
their vows on July 19, 1813.
The third time she was
elected superior in 1819, she protested that it was the "election of the
dead," but she lived for two years more, finally succuming to a pulmonary
infection. She died in Emmitsburg, Maryland on January 4, 1821.
In 1880 Cardinal
Gibbons (then Archbishop) urged the steps be taken toward her canonization.
Elizabeth Ann Seton was beatified in 1963 and she was canonized on September
14, 1975.
LECTIO DIVINA: JOHN 1, 35-42
Lectio Divina:
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
The
call of the first disciple
PRAYER
Dear
Father, You who are the God Almighty and Merciful God, receive the prayer of
your children, the Savior that you have sent a new light on the horizon of the
world, rises again and shine on our entire lives. He is God ..
READING
From
the Gospel of John (1, 35-42)
The
next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched
Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." The two disciples
heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him
and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him,
"Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you
staying?" He said to them, "Come, and you will see." So
they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It
was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of
the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon
and told him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated
Anointed). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said,
"You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas" (which is
translated Peter).
MEDITATION
In
the first chapter of his Gospel, John takes us through a sort time of travel, a
week long, punctuated by the repetition, three times, the expression "the
day after" (vv. 29, 35 and 43). Our track puts us in the second of these
moments, the central one and then the most important one, characterized by
physical and spiritual transition of the first disciples of John to Jesus'
"day after" the meeting, the choice of the following.
Our
scene is crossed and brought to life by a very intense exchange of looks: from
John to Jesus (v. 35), from Jesus to the two disciples (v. 38) by the disciples
of Jesus (vv. 38-39); and finally again Jesus speaks to us in his gazing, in
the person of Peter (v. 42).
The
evangelist uses verbs different, but all full of nuances, it does not deal with
superficial looks, distracted, transient but rather of deep contacts, intense,
that depart from the heart from the soul. Jesus, the Lord looks at his
disciples and us, so that, in our turn, we should learn to look at him. The
verb that closes the passage is beautiful; "to look" that means
literally "to look inside".
Jesus
is walking along the sea, along the shores of our lives and John, acts as a
photographer, records it. He uses the verbs in the participle to tell us that
today, Jesus still is passing by us, and our lives can be visited and crossed
by him and our world can welcome the imprints of his footsteps.
The
center of the passage is perhaps precisely in the movement of Jesus, He walks
first, then turns and stops, his eyes, his heart, about the life of the two
disciples. Jesus "turns", that changes, adapts, leaves his position
before and assumes another. Here Jesus is revealed as God incarnate, God came
among us, man. He turned from the bosom of the Father and turned toward us.
It
is beautiful to see how the Lord draws us in his movements, in his own life; In
fact, he invites the two disciples to "come and see." You can not sit
still, when he met the Lord, and his presence puts us in motion, makes us get
up from our old positions and makes us run. We try to collect all the verbs
referring to the disciples in this passage: "followed him" (v. 37);
"followed him" (v. 38); "they went ... they saw ... they stayed
with him" (v. 39).
The
first part of the passage closes with the beautiful experience of the first two
disciples who remain with Jesus, they later came into his house and they stayed
with Him 'the path of salvation, of true happiness, which is offered to us.
only when we accept to remain, to stand still, firm, determined, in love, without
turning to and fro, toward one or the other master of the moment, one or the
other new love of life. Because when there is Jesus, the Lord, when you were
invited by him, nothing is missing.
QUESTIONS
The
scan time of this part of the Gospel, with its "day after" shows us
that the Lord is not an abstract reality and distant, but he enters our days,
our years, in our concrete existence. I'm willing to open to Him my time, to
share with him my life? I am ready to deliver into his hands my present, my future,
so that He can drive any of my "day after"?
The
disciples make a wonderful spiritual journey, highlighted by the verbs
"heard, followed, went, saw, and stayed." Do I want, too, starting
this beautiful adventure with Jesus? Do I open my ears to hear, to listen
deeply and so I can give my positive response to the love of the Father who
wants to join me? Do I feel to be born in me the joy of starting a new journey,
walking behind Jesus? And then, do I want my heart and eyes are wide open to
begin to see what really happens in and around me and to recognize in any event
the presence of the Lord?
Peter
receives a new name from Jesus and his life is completely transformed. Do I
feel like today to give to the Father my name, my life and my whole person, so
that He may again give me a new birth as his son and daughter, calling me by a
name that God in His infinite love he thought for us?
FINAL
PRAYER
The
LORD is my shepherd;
there
is nothing I lack.
In
green pastures you let me graze;
to
safe waters you lead me;
You
restore my strength.
You
guide me along the right path for the sake of your name.
Even
when I walk through a dark valley,
I
fear no harm for you are at my side.
(Psalm
23)
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