Holy Name of Jesus

January 3, 2014:  Christmas season weekday / Holy Name of Jesus

Readings

• 1 Jn 2:29-3:6  Everyone who acts in righteousness is begotten by God.  The Father has loved us.  We're God’s children and shall be like him.  Sin is lawlessness.   He was revealed to take away sins.  No one who remains in him keeps sinning.

• Ps 98:1, 3-6  "All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God."  Sing with joy to the Lord; the Lord has won victory.

• Jn 1:29-34  John the Baptist, seeing Jesus:  “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, the one ranking ahead of me I said would come.  I baptized to make him known; he'll baptize with the Spirit.  He is the Son of God.

Pope Francis

• Homily for Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, and thanksgiving for Fr. Peter Faber SJ's canonization:  The Jesuit order is marked by the name of Jesus and marches under His Cross, sharing in Christ’s sentiments, thinking, loving, seeing, and walking like Him, doing what He did.  St. Peter Faber combined his restless sensitivity with the ability to make decisions; he recognized and owned his desires.  Authentic faith implies a deep desire to change the world.

• World Day of Peace message (continued):  

Fraternity, foundation and pathway to peace:  The development of peoples is the new name of peace, and peace is an opus solidaritatis [work of solidarity].  Individuals and nations must encounter one another in a spirit of fraternity, working together to build the future of humanity, through solidarity, justice, and charity.  Peace is enjoyed only if all are guided by solidarity, not profit or power but willingness to serve.  The ‘other’–person, people or nation–is not just an instrument to be exploited then discarded, but our neighbor, a helper, who must be loved as a brother or sister in the image of God.

Reflections

• Creighton:  Keep celebrating Christmas, and think about the Gift's implications.   John must decrease and Jesus increase; we celebrate John on June 24, when daylight starts to reduce, and Jesus on Dec. 25, when daylight starts to grow; we too must decrease and allow Jesus to increase in our lives.

• RC.net:   John the Baptist, son of Zechariah who participated in daily lamb sacrifices for sin, recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God who redeems us from sin.

• Universalis:  St. Munchin, bishop

• Sacred Space

Music

• All the ends of the earth/ Haas (sample audio, fresh instrumentation, one more) (psalm)
• All the ends of the earth/ Dufford (psalm)
• Healing hand of God/ Camp (from Creighton reflection inspired by psalm)
• Behold the Lamb of God, from Messiah/ Handel (gospel)

Apparel

• Angel with trumpet:  sing with trumpets (psalm)

• Lamb tie bar:  Jesus, Lamb of God (gospel)

• Peace sign tie bar:  World Day of Peace message

• Christmas pin, red shirt, green suspenders (season)

• "Christmas lights" tie:  Is 9:2 (season)

Special greetings to and prayers for the community at Holy Name of Jesus Parish and School in Los Angeles!

Dress your life!

Please comment below