Discovering the Presence of Christ - Daily Gospel Reflections
December 15,
2013
Gospel
Reading:
When John
the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples
to Jesus with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look
for another?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and
see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf
hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” As they were going off,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out to the
desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal
palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more
than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: Behold, I am sending
my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Amen, I say to
you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the
Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew
11:2-11
Reflection:
Are you the
one who is to come or should we look for another? This is what Jesus was asked
today in the Gospel. In a similar way this same question is being asked in
different ways today. Is Jesus the Son of God or only a great prophet? Is Jesus
the Messiah or only a great philosopher? There is a tendency to reduce Jesus to
a great figure in the world of religions than to believe whom He said He was,
the Son of God. I have heard on numerous occasions individuals refer to Jesus
as a great teacher, yet they cannot believe He is the Son of God. We all can
choose to believe what we believe, but it would be completely wrong to refer to
Jesus as anything, but the Son of God. Why? This is because Jesus never claimed
to be a great teacher or philosopher. He claimed to be the Son of God. After
all, for this reason Jesus was crucified on the Cross. As disciples of Jesus it
is our responsibility to profess and to live with Jesus as the Lord of our
lives. Living as disciples requires us to be part of the Body of Christ, the
Church. We are not renegade disciples called to live our faith in isolation
from each other. Rather we are called to be part of the Church to walk with
each other and to be nourished collectively.
Action:
Reflect on
who Jesus is for you? How does a relationship with Christ change your life?
Pray for your Christian brothers and sisters in the world who are persecuted
for their belief in Jesus.
December 16,
2013
Gospel
Reading:
When Jesus
had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people
approached him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing
these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them in reply, “I
shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you
by what authority I do these things. Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of
heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said,
“If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not
believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all
regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He
himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these
things.” –Matthew 21:23-27
Reflection:
In the
course of one’s faith journey there will be a time when one’s motives will be
questioned. There are individuals who look to catch you in a lie or wait for
you to fall. This was no different for Jesus. The chief priests and elders of
the people were looking to do the same with Jesus. Only Jesus could see their
ulterior motives and turn in back on them. He didn’t do it with anger or with
hate in His heart. He was calm, yet straightforward. You can learn much from
Jesus. In those moments when individuals question your motives you must remain
calm, keep your cool and refrain from returning evil with evil. Preach the Word
and live your faith. Be sure to know in your heart why you do what you do and
whom you ultimately strive to serve. Always be at the service of God!
Action:
Pray for
someone whom you may have mistakenly questioned their motives. Reflect on why
you do what you do in regards to your service to God.
December 17,
2013
Gospel
Reading:
The book of
the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Thus the
total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from
David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile
to the Christ, fourteen generations. –Matthew 1:1, 17 (Read Matthew 1:2-16 for
complete genealogy)
Reflection:
The
genealogy of Jesus we read in the Gospel of Matthew is much more than a laundry
list of difficult names to read. The genealogy does two things for us. First,
it shows to us that God is intimately linked to His people throughout all of
these generations. As people of faith we all descend from our father Abraham.
Ever since Abraham left behind his home and trusted in God there has been a
special relationship between God and His people. The second thing the genealogy
does is to let us know God always has a plan. God has great and bountiful plans
for each one of us and He is always at work bringing to light those plans. It
is our task to know we too share in God’s plans and then to do all within our
means to discern and cooperate with those plans. Even through all the messiness
of numerous generations, Jesus enters it all. God will enter into our own
messiness to bring peace, joy and love.
Action:
Where is
there a messy situation in your life today? Pray God’s light enters and brings
forth peace, joy, and love.
December 18,
2013
Gospel
Reading:
This is how
the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to
Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the
Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to
expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention
when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his
people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said
through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and
they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his
home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him
Jesus. –Matthew 1:18-25
Reflection:
The Gospels
say very little about St. Joseph. Despite the silence on his part there is much
to learn from this humble, obedient, and righteous man. The little we do know
about Joseph comes to us from the Gospel of Matthew, especially today’s
reading. There is no doubt Joseph had an important role in the life of Jesus.
From the beginning of Jesus’ life, Joseph was present to him and Mary. He was
faithful and attentive to the will of the Father. St. Joseph shows to us the
importance of silence in our lives. Silence does not mean a person is
unconcerned or uninterested. Pope Benedict XVI in speaking about St. Joseph
says, “His is a silence permeated by contemplation of the mystery of God, in an
attitude of total availability to his divine wishes. In other words, the
silence of St Joseph was not the sign of an inner void, but on the contrary, of
the fullness of faith he carried in his heart, and which guided each and every
one of his thoughts and actions.” In a society all too often filled with much
noise and egocentric behavior, we can learn much from St. Joseph. We can use
his example to find time for silence and to make ourselves more available to
God.
Action:
Look to
enter into silence today. Spend ten minutes without any noise or distractions.
Be silent before the presence of God.
December 19,
2013
Gospel
Reading:
But the
angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been
heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he
will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong
drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and
he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go
before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers
toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to
prepare a people fit for the Lord.” Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How
shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And
the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent
to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be
speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because
you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed
so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them,
and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing
to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he
went home. After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into
seclusion for five months, saying, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when
he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.” –Luke 1:13-25
Reflection:
In the
Gospel of St. Luke we read that Zechariah like Mary was visited by the Angel
Gabriel to announce the birth of a child. Both were told not to be afraid when
given the news. Although the responses of both seem to be similar, there is a
subtle difference. A difference highlighted by the fact that Zechariah is given
a punishment of sorts by being silenced until the birth of his son, John.
Zechariah’s response warranted proof from the Angel Gabriel while Mary had only
a question, which ultimately led to her acceptance without proof. We, in many
ways, are similar to Zechariah. At certain times in our life we require proof
from God. We tend to ask God for signs to prove He is faithful to His promises.
When it comes to faith it is not about having all the answers. It is placing
our complete trust in the promises of God. It is to know that God is always
faithful and will always lead us through. When we are tempted to ask for proof
or to be sent a sign, may we look to the Incarnation which was, is and will
always be the proof of God’s love for the world.
Action:
The next
time you are tempted to ask for proof from God choose instead to respond with a
similar response of Mary, “Let it be down according to your word.”
December 20,
2013
Gospel
Reading:
The angel
Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin
betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name
was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with
you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of
greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and
bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called
Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his
father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom
there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I
have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy
Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold,
Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is
the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible
for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to
me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. Luke 1:26-38
Reflection:
As disciples
of Jesus we are also sent forth by God to carry the message of salvation. The
angel Gabriel certainly brought THE message of salvation by announcing the
birth of the Messiah. The angel Gabriel had no idea how Mary would respond or
if she was willing to accept the message. The angel completed his task, which
was to go forth and to announce the good news. In a similar way, we too must
embrace that we are sent to announce the good news of Jesus Christ to others.
Our responsibility is not based upon the acceptance of the message. The
responsibility is only to go forth and announce. The message is not our own.
God doesn’t ask us to determine who we think should receive it, rather, God
only sends us forth to announce. When we do go out and announce the good news,
we never really know who might just hear it and how they will respond. They
might just respond like our Blessed Mother, “Let it be done according to your
word.”
Action:
Go and
deliver a message of God’s love to someone else today. It might be as simple as
telling someone, God loves you!
December 21, 2013
Gospel Reading:
Mary set out
in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth
heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled
with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you
among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to
me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound
of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed
are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be
fulfilled.” –Luke 1:39-45
Reflection:
The power
and work of the Holy Spirit is like nothing else! Much like we hear in the
reading today, the Holy Spirit fills us with joy and sends us out to share that
joy with others. It is a joy that is not self-contained, but motivates us to
share it with others. A person that exuberates the power of the Holy Spirit is
Pope Francis. He lets the Holy Spirit fill him in such a way that it becomes
contagious to others. He never ceases from sharing the good news with the world
through his words and example. I would like to end my reflection today with the
words of Pope Francis: “Let's ask ourselves: are we open to the Holy Spirit, do
I pray to him to enlighten me, to make me more sensitive to the things of God?
And this is a prayer we need to pray every day, every day: Holy Spirit may my
heart be open to the Word of God, may my heart be open to good, may my heart be
open to the beauty of God, every day. But I would like to ask a question to all
of you: How many of you pray every day to the Holy Spirit? Eh, a few of you I
bet, eh! Well, a few, few, a few, but we realize this wish of Jesus, pray every
day for the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to Jesus.”
Action:
Say a prayer
inviting the Holy Spirit to open your heart to Jesus.
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