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Often I have heard people say, “How good God is! We prayed that it would not rain for our church picnic, and look at the lovely weather!” Yes, God is good when He sends good weather. But God was also good when He allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death before my eyes in a German concentration camp. I remember one occasion when I was very discouraged there. Everything around us was dark,
and there was darkness in my heart. I remember telling Betsie that I thought God had forgotten us. “No, Corrie,” said Betsie, “He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word: “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him.” Corrie concludes, “There is an ocean of God’s love available - there is plenty for everyone. May God grant you never to doubt that victorious love - whatever the circumstances.”
- Corrie Ten Boom
(God's love . . . here/now . . . always. . .) |
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IS 65:17-21; PS 30:2 AND 4, 5-6, 11-12A
AND 13B
JN 4:43-54
At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee.
For Jesus himself testified
that a prophet has no honor in his native place.
When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him,
since they had seen
all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast;
for they themselves had gone to the feast. Then he returned to Cana in Galilee,
where he had made the water wine.
Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum.
When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea,
he went to him and asked him to come down
and heal his son, who was near death.
Jesus said to him,
"Unless
you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe."
The royal official said to him,
"Sir, come down before my child dies."
Jesus said to him, "You may go; your son will live."
The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.
While the man was on his way back,
his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live.
He asked them when he began to recover.
They told him,
"The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon."
The father realized that just at
that time Jesus had said to him,
"Your son will live,"
and he and his whole household came to believe.
Now this was the second sign Jesus did
when he came to Galilee from Judea.
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture |
"There shall always be rejoicing and happiness in
what I create." –Isaiah 65:18
Sadly, in our modern secular culture, there isn't always rejoicing and happiness in what God creates. Many groan when God creates a new life in the womb. The following comments are routinely heard these days: "You're pregnant again?" "That baby has birth defects. You
should abort it." "How will this world survive with so much overpopulation?" or "You ought to get that fixed." Most importantly, God creates people anew in Baptism and via constant conversions. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation" (2 Cor 5:17). Nonetheless, there isn't always rejoicing and happiness in God's new creations. "So, you became a Christian and now you won't go out drinking with me anymore? Some
friend you are!"
God's creation isn't flawed. Everything He makes reflects His glory and love. The problem is that many humans have a warped sense of values. If we aren't rejoicing over God's creation, we're listening to the wrong voices. The airwaves are filled with bad news; the Scriptures are full of "good news" (Mk
1:1, JB).
God is creating new heavens, a new earth (Is 65:17), and a new kingdom with newly recreated people. There will be no more weeping or grumbling (Is 65:19). So rejoice in the Lord and in His creation always (Phil 4:4). Don't linger in the company of scoffers (Ps 1:1). As you heard on Ash Wednesday, "repent and
believe the good news." Rejoice always in God and His creation.
PRAYER: Father, "at the works of Your hands I rejoice" (Ps 92:5).
PROMISE: "You took off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my soul might sing praise to
You without ceasing; O Lord, my God, forever will I give You thanks." –Ps 30:12-13
mycatholic.com
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Theological Gems from Emile Merch's Theology of the Mystical Body - selected by Jim and Tyra Arraj
Book III: Christ
Chapter 14: The Holy Spirit
416. The explanation of the Spirit's work has to be found within the totality of Christ.
417. The Incarnation is attributed particularly to the Holy Spirit.
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