Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton,
Religious
Lectionary: 207
Lectionary: 207
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)
THURSDAY, 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" continue in our own time to hand on the faith that we have received, just as the apostles did in their time. [Eucharistic Prayer I]
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, at age 19 Elizabeth married a well-to-do businessman, William Magee Seton. 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. At the invitation of the archbishop, she established a Catholic girl's school in Baltimore, Maryland which initiated the parochial school system in America. In 809 she took her first vows as a religious. She established a congregation of nuns who took the name of the Sisters of St. Joseph. From then on Elizabeth was known as Mother Seton. Later they took the rule of the Daughters of Charity. She is the first American-born person to be declared a saint.
Thursday 4
January 2018
Saint Elizabeth Seton.
1 John 3:7-10. Psalm 97(98):1, 7-9. John 1:35-42.
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of
God—Psalm 97(98):1, 7-9.
‘You shall be called Cephas.’
After a succession of messengers, Peter is finally presented to
Jesus and this fisherman is named to lead the Christian community. This gospel
has a powerful and wonderful meaning. The same Peter is said to call out, ‘Lord
to whom would we go? You are the Saviour of the world!’
Such knowing! He must have been given a receptive heart as well
as his fishing boat. And those impulsive leaps in to the sea, trying to get to
his friend, Jesus! Finally, the words of love from Jesus, ‘Do you love me more
than these?’ Can’t you hear his mystified answer in today’s lingo: ‘Hey man,
what are you on about? Of course, I love you!’ And the guiding principle from
Jesus – ‘Look after my people.’
A tiny part of each of us can be like Peter, in our searching
and in our care of others.
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:
Thursday, January 4, 2018
The
call of the first disciples
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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