January 8, 2015

Jan. 8

January 8, 2015:  Thursday after Epiphany

  • 'Hearts' suspenders:  love one another (1st reading)
  • 'Book reader' tie:  Jesus read from scroll (gospel)
  • 'Holy Spirit' chain:  Spirit of the Lord (gospel)
  • "Star" tie pin:  star guiding the magi (Epiphanytide)
  • 'Peace sign' tie bar:  peace shall flourish (psalm)
  • 'Eyeball' tie pin:  If you don't love someone you've seen, you can't love God (1st reading); the Spirit sent me to bring recovery of sight to the blind; everyone's eyes looked intently at Jesus (gospel)
  • 'No-ël' pin:  Christmas season continues through this Sunday
  • 'Olympics' tie pin:  Whoever is begotten by God conquers the world (1st reading); "Lord, every nation will adore you" (psalm)
Listen
Only on the path of love can you know God.  Through love for others we can get to know God, who is love; through loving we can reach Love:  solid, strong, eternal, concrete love, not soap-opera love, as manifested in the Son of God who came to save us.  To know God we must walk through life in love for all.
In Jesus we can contemplate God's love, and when we follow his example, we can climb the steps to God’s love and knowledge of God/Love.  Jeremiah said God was like the flower of the almond tree, the first tree that flowers in spring:  God always flowers before us.  When we arrive, he's waiting for us.
At the multiplication of the loaves, the Lord had compassion on the many who came to listen who “were like sheep without a shepherd.”  Many today have no orientation, but God precedes just as he preceded the disciples who hadn’t understood.  God’s love awaits, surprises, and forgives us.   Lord, give us the grace to know God on the path of love.
Read
    'Open scroll' word cloud
    (animate)
  • 1 Jn 4:19-5:4  God first loved us.  How can you love God if you don't love others?  Loving God is keeping his commandments.  Whoever is begotten by God conquers the world, through faith.
  • Lk 4:14-22  Jesus went into the synagogue, stood to read, was handed a scroll of Isaiah, and read "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor...."  He handed it back and told them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”  All were amazed.
Reflect
    • Creighton:  As Jesus journeyed through life to this scene at the synagogue, each of us is on a journey of faith made up of small everyday moments.  As we return to Ordinary Time, let's continue our journeys open to how they can lead us to God.
    • One Bread One Body:  "Our lives and this year":  This year can be a "year of favor" when the poor hear the good news of "liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and release to prisoners."  May each of us do what we can to let the Spirit renew the earth this year.
    • Passionist:  John tells us that if we love God, we must also love others.  Does that mean giving to the food bank, simplifying our lives, volunteering, changing our heart, working against causes of injustice?  Jesus says he came to bring glad tidings to the poor, liberate captives, give sight to the blind, let the oppressed go free, and love and serve us.  "To love God and neighbor is concrete:  it's seeing the face of the Lord to be served, and serving him concretely.  You are the face of Jesus." (Pope Francis)

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