JANUARY 06, 2017 : CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY

Christmas Weekday
Lectionary: 209

Reading 11 JN 5:5-13

Beloved:
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and Blood. 
The Spirit is the one who testifies,
and the Spirit is truth. 
So there are three that testify,
the Spirit, the water, and the Blood, 
and the three are of one accord. 
If we accept human testimony,
the testimony of God is surely greater. 
Now the testimony of God is this,
that he has testified on behalf of his Son. 
Whoever believes in the Son of God
has this testimony within himself.
Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar
by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son. 
And this is the testimony:
God gave us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son. 
Whoever possesses the Son has life;
whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.

I write these things to you so that you may know
that you have eternal life,
you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

Responsorial PsalmPS 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20

R. (12a) Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia MK 9:6

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The heavens were opened and the voice of the Father thundered:
This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelMK 1:7-11

This is what John the Baptist proclaimed:
"One mightier than I is coming after me. 
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. 
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee
and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 
On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open
and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. 
And a voice came from the heavens,
"You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

or

Lk 3:23-38 or 3:23, 31-34, 36, 38

When Jesus began his ministry he was about thirty years of age.
He was the son, as was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,
the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi,
the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias,
the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli,
the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias,
the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel,
the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi,
the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam,
the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer,
the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph,
the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea,
the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan,
the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed,
the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,
the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni,
the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham,
the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug,
the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber,
the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad,
the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared,
the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enos,
the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.


or

When Jesus began his ministry he was about thirty years of age.
He was the son, as was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,
the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha,
the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse,
the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala,
the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin,
the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez,
the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac,
the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 
the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem,
the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Enos,
the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

www.usccb.org

Meditation: The Spirit descends upon the Father's beloved Son

Why did Jesus, the Sinless One, submit himself to John's baptism? John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:3) - of which Jesus had no need. However, in this humble submission we see a foreshadowing of the "baptism" of his bloody death upon the cross. Jesus' baptism is the acceptance and the beginning of his mission as God's suffering Servant (Isaiah 53). He allowed himself to be numbered among sinners. Jesus submitted himself entirely to his Father's will. Out of love he consented to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins. Do you know the joy of trust and submission to God?

The Father proclaimed his entire delight in his Son and spoke audibly for all to hear. The Holy Spirit, too, was present as he anointed Jesus for his ministry which began that day as he rose from the waters of the Jordan River. Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all who come to believe in him. At his baptism the heavens were opened and the waters were sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, signifying the beginning of a new creation.

How can we enter into the mystery of Jesus' humble self-abasement and baptism? Gregory of Nazianzus, a seventh century Church father tells us: 

"Let us be buried with Christ by Baptism to rise with him; let us go down with him to be raised with him; and let us rise with him to be glorified with him." 

Do you want to see your life transformed by the love and power of Jesus Christ? And do you want to become a more effective instrument of the Gospel of peace, mercy, and righteousness? Examine Jesus' humility and ask the Holy Spirit to forge this same attitude in your heart. As you do, heaven will open for you as well. The Lord Jesus is ever ready to renew us in his Holy Spirit and to anoint us for mission. We are called to be "light" and "salt" to those around us. The Lord wants his love and truth to shine through us that others may see the goodness and truth of God's message of salvation. Ask the Lord Jesus to fill you with his Holy Spirit that you may radiate the joy of the Gospel to those around you.

"Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and inflame my heart with the joy of the Gospel. May I find joy in seeking to please you just as you found joy in seeking to please your Father."

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: The divine - human reconciliation, attributed to Hippolytus, 170-236 A.D.

"Do you see, beloved, how many and how great blessings we would have lost if the Lord had yielded to the exhortation of John and declined baptism? For the heavens had been shut before this. The region above was inaccessible. We might descend to the lower parts, but not ascend to the upper. So it happened not only that the Lord was being baptized - he also was making new the old creation. He was bringing the alienated under the scepter of adoption (Romans 8:15). For straightway 'the heavens were opened to him.' A reconciliation took place between the visible and the invisible. The celestial orders were filled with joy, the diseases of earth were healed, secret things made known, those at enmity restored to amity. For you have heard the word of the Evangelist, saying, 'The heavens were opened to him,' on account of three wonders [appearance of the eternal Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together at the baptism]. At the baptism of Christ the Bridegroom, it was fitting that the heavenly chamber should open its glorious gates. So when the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove, and the Father's voice spread everywhere, it was fitting that 'the gates of heaven should be lifted up.'" (excerpt from THE DISCOURSE ON THE HOLY THEOPHANY 6)

www.dailyscripture.net

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, MARK 1:7-11 or LUKE 3:23-28 or 3:23, 31-34, 36, 38
Christmas Weekday
​(1 John 5:5-13; Psalm 147)

KEY VERSE: "I baptized with water; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit" (v 8).
TO KNOW: Whereas Matthew and Luke began their gospels with the Nativity narrative, Mark began with the Baptism of the Lord, the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. Like the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 1:8), John appeared in the desert proclaiming the coming salvation of God. John declared that he baptized those who wished to reform their lives and be forgiven their sins. But one mightier than he would come after him, one whose sandal straps John was unworthy to loosen. While John baptized with water, the one he heralded would baptize with the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Though sinless, Jesus came forward to be baptized in the Jordan River by John. When Jesus came out of the water, the power of God was displayed when the heavens were torn open. At the same time, the Spirit of God was poured forth with tender mercy, "like a dove" (v 10). God confirmed Jesus as the "Beloved Son" (v 11). This approval was the assurance that Jesus would fulfill his Messianic mission of salvation.
TO LOVE: In what ways do I demonstrate that I am a son or daughter of God?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to live my baptismal promises. 

Optional Memorial of Saint André Besette, religious

Brother André Besette was a member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross. He humbly served the Lord as a doorkeeper at Notre Dame College, Montreal, and as a Sacristan, a laundry worker and a messenger. André — who battled sickness for much of his own life —devoted his life to prayer, comforting the sick through his intercessory prayers to Saint Joseph. Many received God’s healing graces, and the word of his power spread. When an epidemic broke out at a nearby college, André volunteered to help; no one died. The trickle of sick people to his door became a flood. By his death, he was receiving 80,000 letters each year from those who were ill  who sought his prayers and healing. On Oct. 17, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI canonized Holy Cross’s first saint, André Bessette.

www.togetherwithgodsword.com

Friday 6 January 2017

Fri 6th. Day of penance.1 John 5:5-13. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem—Ps 147:12-15, 19-20. Mark 1:7-11 / Luke 3:23-38.

Readings

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Today's psalm is a song of triumph and joy, written to be sung loudly, with all our hearts. 'It is good to sing in honour of our God.' Our God is appealing to us to be joyful. We know we are blessed. We know we are liberated. God is our creator, and a friend at all times.
Whenever I pray in the company of my Christian community, I am aware of the way they praise God so beautifully and sincerely. Their prayer is very much like today's psalm, praising God for blessing us, for protecting us, for giving us food and shelter. Lord, I am ever grateful to you for your love and blessing. Help me to sing a hymn of praise to you as I express my thanks.

www.pray.com.au

ST. ANDRE BESSETTE

Brother André was born Alfred Bessette to a poor Quebec family in 1845, a biography from St. Joseph’s Oratory says. His father died in a work accident when he was nine, and his mother died three years later. His large family was split up and the future Brother André, barely literate and physically weak from birth, moved from job to job for years.

In 1870 he presented himself as a candidate for the novitiate of the Congregation of Holy Cross in Montreal. He was made porter at Notre-Dame College, where his daily tasks consisted of washing floors and windows, cleaning lamps, carrying firewood and working as a messenger.

Bro. André use to say, “It is with the smallest brushes that the artists paint the most beautiful pictures.”

He welcomed the sick and heartbroken, inviting them to pray to St. Joseph. His reputation grew as people reported that their prayers had been answered. He received visitors regularly for twenty-five years. Out of devotion to St. Joseph, he built a chapel with help from friends and money he earned from giving haircuts to students.

Larger versions of the chapel were constructed as more and more pilgrims came.

Brother André died in 1937. Over a million people attended his wake and burial.

Bishop Pierre Morissette of Saint-Jérôme, on Feb. 19, 2010, said “Brother André lived his life with great humility."

"Guided by a deep faith and devotion to Saint Joseph, he dedicated his life to praying, serving the poor, welcoming strangers, healing the sick and comforting the suffering,” the bishop commented. “To this day, his memory remains an important witness to all Canadians of faith and love.”

St. André Bessette was canoninzed by Pope Benedict XVI on October 17, 2010 in Saint Peter's Square.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint.php?n=732