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"This is the reason why the Word of God was made flesh,
and the Son of God became the Son of Man: so that we might enter into communion with the Word of God, and by receiving adoption might become children of God. Indeed we should not be able to share in immortality without a close union with the Immortal. How could we have united ourselves with immortality if immortality had not become what we are, in such a way that we should be absorbed by it, and thus we should be adopted as children of
God?"
- Iranaeus of Lyons, "Against Heresies" -
(This is the meaning of Christianity in a nutshell. How
does it speak to you? What possibilities draw your mind and heart? What is your response?)
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1 JN 1:1-4; PS 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; JN 20:1A AND 2-8
R. (12) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Clouds and darkness are around him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
USCCB Lectionary
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Reflection on the Scriptures |
After Christmas, we would think that the predominate feeling we would have would be gratitude. Grateful at what family or friends or co-workers have provided;
grateful for what we have and who we have that love us; grateful, above all for our lives and the goodness of God who has given us so much. I especially speak for myself as I type these words - how can I help rejoicing in the gratitude of all that God has given. But I find a temptation to feel "let down" somehow. A similar feeling came after a big performance years ago when I did some theater or musical performance. But
Christmas is not about performance. Christmas is about receiving the Word-made-flesh into our lives. Maybe if I - (or you?) - don't feel grateful it is because we did not allow ourselves the humility of the disciple to RECEIVE Christ's gracious presence. The great news is that we still have time! We are celebrating only the third day of the octave - five more days to become attentive . . . receptive . . . to Jesus'
invitation to intimacy as a real disciple - a beloved disciple. Blessed St. John's Day!
"Oh come let us adore him . . . Christ the Lord "
- by Eileen Burke-Sullivan
Creighton Online Ministries
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Selected Quotes from St. John of the Cross on the Journey of the Soul to God by Contemplation - from The Spiritual
Canticle Stanza 1. #11. Faith and love are like the blind man's guides. They will lead you along a path unknown to you, to the place where God is hidden.
#12. Pay no attention to anything which your faculties can grasp. You should never desire satisfaction in what you understand about God, but in what you do not understand about Him Never stop with loving and delighting in your understanding and experience of God, but love and delight in what is neither understandable nor perceptible of Him.
- compiled by James and Tyra Arraj Paperback edition: Kindle edition available
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