Tag Archives: epiphany

Lent Day 40: Speaking, listening, enduring, persevering

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TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s Old Testament reading (Is 50:4-7), as we begin Holy Week is Isaiah’s third servant song, vividly prophesying what the future Messiah would endure. The commentary following deals with the entire reading and beyond (through v. 11). The passage starts off this way:

“The Lord GOD has given me
a well-trained tongue…”

“The third ‘Servant Song’ in Isaiah. Here the Servant is a prophet who speaks God’s word, even as he suffers at the hands of his persecutors. Again, he represents the people of Israel and yet is distinct from them: unlike Israel in exile, whose ‘ear has not been opened’ and who continues to be a ‘rebel’ ()48:8), the servant says that ‘God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious (50:5).

“Christian tradition sees these verses fulfilled in the Passion of Jesus…When the savior was struck, he endured it patiently; when he was reviled, he did not revile; when he suffered, he did not threaten. Instead, he gave his back to those who beat him, his cheeks to their blows, and his face he did not turn from their spitting. Finally, he accepted death, giving us an image of virtue and an example for conducting ourselves (St. Athanasius of Alexandria, Festal Epistles 10, 7).” (Isaiah [Ignatius Catholic Study Bible], 87-88)

This short passage is a wonderful model for the evangelist (that should be all of us). The Lord gives each of us certain talents.to “rouse” the weary (including us, if applicable) from a slumber of indifference, doubt, despair, or unbelief. We are to listen daily for God’s voice, that our hearts will be moved and our mission will be clear (dialogue with God in prayer and by reading Scripture to hear Him speaking to you and to help train that tongue).

In responding to the Lord’s call in this way, we can count on persecution. Maybe not physically, as Isaiah has it, but certainly psychologically and emotionally. Do we humbly and patiently endure the blows, the slaps, the shame, the spitting that come our way? If we are like Christ (and no servant is greater than his Master then we may well find it necessary to deal with all these difficulties and more.

Our response? We are to be resolute in being convicted of the truth and making sure that we persevere in spreading it far and wide. Counting on the Lord God to help us, as he promises, we will not be put to shame with the One who matters, despite what the world thinks. Jesus constantly has us looking above and beyond this mortal coil for true fulfillment and happiness. We can count on it for eternity if we stay faithful.

Let us then go to him outside the camp, bearing the reproach that he bore.
For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the one that is to come. (Heb 13:13-14)

Isaiah (1838) by Jean Louis Ernest Meissonier

God bless.

Epiphany: Come let us worship

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TODAY’S READINGS

In the U.S., Epiphany is celebrated the Sunday that falls from Jan 2-Jan 8, so today is the day. The Gospel reading is from Mt 2:1-12, in which we read the story of the Magi

[O]n entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (v. 11)

“Why did the Magi set off from afar to go to Bethlehem? The answer has to do with the mystery of the ‘star’ which they saw ‘in the East’ and which they recognized as the star of the ‘King of the Jews,’ that is to say, the sign of the birth of the Messiah (Mt 2:2). So their journey was inspired by a powerful hope, strengthened and guided by the star, which led them toward the King of the Jews, toward the kingship of God himself. The Magi set out because of a deep desire which prompted them to leave everything and begin a journey. It was as though they had always been waiting for that star. It was as if the journey had always been a part of their destiny, and was finally about to begin. This is the mystery of God’s call, the mystery of vocation. It is part of the life of every Christian … When the Magi came to Bethlehem, ‘going into the house they saw the child with Mary his Mother, and they fell down and worshiped him’ (Mt 2:11). Here at last was the long awaited moment;, their encounter with Jesus. ‘Going into the house’: this house in some sense represents the Church. In order to find the Savior, one has to enter the house, which is the Church … ‘They fell down and worshiped him … and offered him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh’ (Mt 2:11-12). Here is the culmination of the whole journey: encounter becomes adoration; it blossoms into an act of faith and love which acknowledges in Jesus, born of Mary, the Son of God made man … The secret of holiness is friendship with Christ and faithful obedience to his will.” (Benedictus: Day by Day with Pope Benedict XVI, 20)

I ordered the Benedictus book recently on the recommendation of Scott Hahn. It did not take much convincing to pick up 365 daily inspirations from the beloved pope of happy memory. I will be reading these profound one page meditations daily for all of 2024.

I love the connection Benedict makes of the house the Magi enter with the Church. How can one truly find Jesus without entering the “house” He established? And for Catholics, Jesus is truly present in each of the physical houses in the form of the Eucharist. There we should be falling down in worship, offering the gift of our entire lives in every moment in every aspect.

The final sentence is worth pondering for the rest of our lives: “The secret of holiness is friendship with Christ and faithful obedience to his will.” Are we friends of Christ? What does it mean to be friends with Christ? Christ tells us Himself:

You are my friends if you do what I command you. (Jn 15:14)

And how do we know what Jesus commands? Through His word that comes to us through Scripture and Tradition, safeguarded by the teaching authority of the Church. Pray and study! Repent and believe!

BP BARRON SERMON

TWO ARTICLES FOR THIS DAY

CHRISTMAS IS OVER, BUT LENT IS AROUND THE CORNER

Yes, we had a two day extension, but now we get back into the regular grind. But not for long! Ash Wednesday is on Valentine’s Day this year, fortuitously, I think. A great day to begin intensive preparation for Holy Week! What greater gift of love has there ever been than the Second Person of the Trinity coming down to repair the infinite damage our sins do? In addition, because of the date on which Easter falls, we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation earlier that holiest of weeks — what a tremendous comparison and contrast for our meditation.

God bless.

The Adoration of the Magi (1944-1947) by George Duffie