“It is no use saying that we are born two
thousand years too late to give room to Christ. Nor will those who live at the end of the world have been born too late. Christ is always with us, always asking for room in our hearts. But now it is with the voice of our contemporaries that he speaks; with the eyes of store clerks, factory workers and children that he gazes; with the hands of office workers, slum dwellers, and suburban housewives that he gives, and with the heart of anyone in need that he longs for shelter.”
- Dorothy
Day
(How does Christ speak to you "with the voice of our contemporaries?") |
1 JN 4:19–5:4; PS 72:1-2, 14-15, 17; LK 4:14-22
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
From fraud and violence he shall redeem them,
and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
May they be prayed for
continually;
day by day shall they bless him.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
Reflection on the Scriptures |
Jesus began his public ministry in his own land of Galilee where he was reared. His proclamation of the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah brought wonder to the people. Isaiah had prophesied that the Messiah would come in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring freedom to those oppressed by sin and evil (see Isaiah 61:1-2). Jesus awakened their hope in the promises of God. They, in turn, received his words favorably and wondered
what would become of "Joseph's son". Their hearts were hungry for the word of life and they looked to Jesus with anticipation and wonder. Do you look to Jesus with confidence and hope in the fulfillment of all God's promises?
The word "gospel"
literally means "good news". Isaiah had prophesied that the Messiah would come in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring freedom to those who suffered from physical, mental, or spiritual oppression (see Isaiah 61:1-2). Jesus came to set people free, not only from their infirmities, but from the worst affliction of all - the tyranny of slavery to sin, Satan, and the fear of losing one's life. God's power alone can save us from dejection, hopelessness, and emptiness of life. The Gospel of salvation
is "good news" for everyone who will receive it. Do you know the joy and freedom of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came to bring us the kingdom of heaven?
"Lord Jesus, you are the fulfillment of all our hopes and dreams.
Through the gift of your Holy Spirit you bring us truth, freedom, and abundant life. Fill me with the joy of the Gospel and inflame my heart with love and zeal for you and for your kingdom of peace and righteousness".
- a great way to begin the new year!
Christian Prayer Methods Online Course (by Philip St. Romain)
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Individual discounts, gift certificates and group rates available.
Find out more.
Specific guidance on the practice of prayer from Christianity's rich tradition on this topic. 10 short presentations, with handout resources and discussion options.
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Revelations of Divine Love - by Julian of Norwich
Second Revelation, Chapter 10
“God willeth to be seen and to be sought: to be abided and to be
trusted”
And this [dim] vision was a learning, to mine understanding, that the continual seeking of the soul pleaseth God full greatly: for it may do no more than seek, suffer and trust. And this is wrought in the soul that hath it, by the Holy Ghost; and the clearness of finding, it is of His special grace, when
it is His will. The seeking, with faith, hope, and charity, pleaseth our Lord, and the finding pleaseth the soul and fulfilleth it with joy. And thus was I learned, to mine understanding, that seeking is as good as beholding, for the time that He will suffer the soul to be in travail. It is God’s will that we seek Him, to the beholding of Him, for by that [50] He shall shew us Himself of His special grace when He will. And how a soul shall have Him in its beholding, He shall teach Himself: and
that is most worship to Him and profit to thyself, and [the soul thus] most receiveth of meekness and virtues with the grace and leading of the Holy Ghost. For a soul that only fasteneth it[self] on to God with very trust, either by seeking or in beholding, it is the most worship that it may do to Him, as to my sight.
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