FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

Saturday February 2nd, 2019

READ THE GOSPEL

Today’s Gospel reflection from Bishop Robert Barron, tells us of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. The Temple, in a sense was literally, the dwelling place of the Lord. “Where Divinity and humanity embraced and was brought back online with God”.

In those days the sins of Israel, according to Ezekiel the prophet, caused the glory of God to depart from the Temple. So then it was their strongest desires “to reestablish the Temple of right praise so that the glory of God might return”. the glory of Yahweh returns to his favorite dwelling as Joseph and Mary enters in with the infant Jesus. 

He knew all the old prophesies and Simeon embodied the expectation of the nation. He was “given a revelation that he would not die until he laid eyes on his Savior”.

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DAILEY GOSPEL REFLECTIONS 

FROM BISHOP BARRON HERE

GOD BLESS YOU!

THE NATURE OF LOVE

If I have faith that can move mountains,but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor... that I boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13: 2-3)

Paul goes on in 4-7 to give the definition of love. Love is not boastful or easily angered; love is patient , kind, humble;honors others,seeks others‘ benefit , and keeps no records of wrongs. So it is not enough to go through outward shows of charity.

You may wonder,”How may I give all that I have to the poor and not have love? Isn’t such giving definitive proof of love I have for the poor? But Paul writes that if your have selfish motives it is all for nothing.

Jesus promised in Matthew’ Gospel (21:21)... “but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’it will be done”. But Paul added if we have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, we are nothing. So Love God and others.

God Bless You.

Lord help us to truly love, to be motivated by love in all that we do, not merely go through the motions of being generous and caring.

Notes of foot notes of The Sunday Readings of January 22,2017

1st reading; IS 8:23-9:3

There is no way to be certain, but if this traditional translation is correct, the passage would seem to promise the former Northern Kingdom of Israel deliverance from the Assyrians and may relate to the reincorporating the Northern Territories into the kingdom of Judah and thus restore the boundaries back to the way they were under David.

The territories mentioned in the 23rd verse are those which the Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser III took from Israel as a result of the Syro-Ephramite War of  735-732 BC (2 Kings 15:29)

-Zebulun-Nephtali: regions of the former Northern Kingdom of Israel.

-The Way of the Sea: the area along the Mediterranean coast of Mount Carmel which became the Assyrian province of Dor.

-Land across the Jordan: the province of Gilead east of the Jordan River.

Galilee of the Nations: the territory north of Mount Carmel which was Incorporated in the Assyrian province of Megiddo. Apparently there was a large non-Israelite population in Galilee per MT 4:15-16 in context with Jesus's public ministry.

Responsorial; PS 27:1-6;7-14

Tradition has handed down to us 2 sections that could very well stand on there own. God bringing rescue to us,1-3,an assurance of God being present in his Holy Temple and protection from all enemies,4-6 .7-14 brings us a clear shift in tone in that the climax of the poem comes with an " I believe" echoing "I trust".

2nd Reading; 1 Cor 1:10-13,17

Paul address's divisions in the community. Christ is not divided nor shall we be.

Gospel; MT 4:12-23 

Noteworthy, In Capernaum, where Jesus is staying, turns out to be the location where Isaiah's prophesy was fulfilled. Also in verse 17, Jesus begins His preaching by using John the Baptist's words "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." In his ministry the kingdom is already present.

In 17- 23, the first of the Apostles are called, Simon, Andrew James and John. The abandonment of family and former way of life but a share in Jesus's work is in their NEW way of life.

Also noteworthy is in 4:23 Matthew describes, most of the time, that the Jewish synagogue as their synagogue(s) or in address to Jews, your synagogue(s),an indication that he wrote after the break between church and synagogue.

Randy

God Bless You!

Jacob's Ladder

After his dream,Jacob awoke and exclaimed,"Truly ,the Lord is in this spot,although I did not know it!" The miraculous ladder in his dream reunited the earth with the Devine. You can read about the dramatic story of Jacob's life and faith in Genesis 27:41-28:22

The Ram

Today's ornament is the Ram provided to Abraham in place of his son Isaac. You can read about Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22:1-19

Thanksgiving Proclamation Issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789

"Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other trangressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789."

Go. Washington!

Thursday, November 17 Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious (Memorial)

REVELATION 5:1-10

I, John, saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to examine it. I shed many tears because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to examine it. One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed, enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.”

Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the elders a Lamb that seemed to have been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes; these are the seven spirits of God sent out into the whole world. He came and received the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. When he took it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones. They sang a new hymn:

“Worthy are you to receive the scroll
and break open its seals,
for you were slain and with your Blood you 
purchased for God
those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.
You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on earth.”

PSALM 149

R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God. or R. Alleluia.
Sing to the Lord a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. R. 
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory. R. 
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.  R.

LUKE 19:41-44

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

He saw the city and wept over it. (Luke 19:41) 

“Jesus, you are overflowing with compassion! You saw that ‘what makes for peace’ was hidden from the eyes of your people, and you wept over them (Luke 19:42). It made you suffer, but you did not turn away. You did not condemn. You wept!

“Thank you, Lord, that you are not aloof from us. When we separate ourselves from you, it stirs your compassion and sorrow, not your judgment. You did not come to condemn us, but to save us. And when we miss out on that, when our eyes are blinded, you suffer with us. When we cut ourselves off from your grace, you weep. You enter into the misery we’re bringing on ourselves.

“Even when we suffer physically, when we die, you weep over us. Just as you wept over your friend Lazarus, your heart is stirred whenever we hurt. You are our brother, and you long for the best for us.

“Thank you, Lord, that your love for us produces so much more than sympathy! You took on our humanity, and you share all our human emotions. You weep with us, but you also rejoice with us. In our victories, no matter how small, you rejoice. When the disciples returned from their missionary trip, you rejoiced to see how the Father worked through them. When the couple was married in Cana, you celebrated with them. When you see us reach out to someone in need, you smile.

“Jesus, help me to see your tears when I am the one who has separated myself from you. Move my heart to repentance by the compassion and love in your eyes. Draw me to you, and make me whole again. Let me rejoice in your lavish tenderness.

“Give me your heart, Lord! Just as you are close to each of us, help me not to hold myself aloof from my brothers and sisters. Even if they seem to be cutting themselves off from you, stir my compassion. Help me see over everything else that they are my brothers and sisters, that we are all children of the same Father in heaven. Help me to suffer with them and rejoice with them, to welcome them and accompany them, just as you do. 

“Jesus, give me a heart like yours—a heart of compassion and solidarity.”