Tuesday, December 13, 2005
MEMORIAL, ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS, PRIEST & DOCTOR
DECEMBER 14, 2005
MEMORIAL, ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS, PRIEST & DOCTOR
WEDNESDAY 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT ? YEAR I
ISAIAH 45:6-8, 18, 21-25
So that toward the rising and the setting of the sun men may know
that there is none besides me. I am the LORD, there is no other; I
form the light, and create the darkness, I make well-being and
create woe; I, the LORD, do all these things. Let justice descend, O
heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it
down. Let the earth open and salvation bud forth; let justice also
spring up! I, the LORD, have created this. For thus says the LORD,
The creator of the heavens, who is God, The designer and maker of
the earth who established it, Not creating it to be a waste, but
designing it to be lived in: I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Come here and declare in counsel together: Who announced this from
the beginning and foretold it from of old? Was it not I, the LORD,
besides whom there is no other God? There is no just and saving God
but me. Turn to me and be safe, all you ends of the earth, for I am
God; there is no other! By myself I swear, uttering my just decree
and my unalterable word: To me every knee shall bend; by me every
tongue shall swear, Saying, "Only in the LORD are just deeds and
power. Before him in shame shall come all who vent their anger
against him. In the LORD shall be the vindication and the glory of
all the descendants of Israel."
LUKE 7:18-23
The disciples of John told him about all these things. John summoned
two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the
one who is to come, or should we look for another?" When the men
came to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you to
ask, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for
another?'" At that time he cured many of their diseases, sufferings,
and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind. And
he said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you have seen and
heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are
cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good
news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense
at me."
REFLECTION
Today's first reading is from second Isaiah. In it the prophet is
speaking to the people of Judah who are in exile in a foreign land.
He encourages them, though hope seems to them a chimera, with a
prophecy of deliverance and salvation. Yahweh, the all-powerful
God, loves them and is their Savior.
In the gospel it would seem John the Baptist doubted whether Jesus
really was the promised Messiah. Why the doubts? The common
expectation among the people, which John shared, was that the
Messiah would come in great power. He would pronounce a wrathful
judgment on sinners and on the enemies of the Jewish nation. But
here was John, the forerunner of the Messiah, in prison, and Jesus
was doing nothing at all. Instead of condemning sinners, he sat at
table, eating and drinking with them, and there was no indication
that he had any interest whatsoever in delivering Israel from Roman
occupation. Jesus, in John's eyes, was the opposite of what John
expected in the Messiah.
In reply to John, Jesus quotes Isaiah in what the Church has always
recognized as a Messianic prophecy. "Report to John," Jesus tells
John's disciples, "what you have seen and heard: the blind recover
their sight, cripples walk, the deaf hear, dead men are raised to
life, and the poor have the good news preached to them."
It's necessary that we reexamine very carefully our image of God,
our image of Jesus, our image of the Church. Love, mercy,
compassion, kindness, and forgiveness: these are the attributes that
describe both God our Father, and Jesus. And these are the
attributes, which should describe the Church and each one of us.
With his compassionate love, God wills the salvation of all men and
women. His compassionate love was made manifest to the world in
joyful fashion on the first Christmas.
PRAYER
"Lord Jesus, you are the fulfillment of all our hopes and desires.
Your Spirit brings us grace, truth, life, and freedom. Fill me with
the joy of the gospel and inflame my heart with love and zeal for
you and for your will".
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray -
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
- for the personal intentions of Cha.
- for the continued and speedy recovery of Mike Torres.
- for the personal intentions, forgiveness, peace, reconciliation
and harmony of Charles Conrad H.C and Cheryl P.C.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Hubert See Co
- Birthday: Hinchel Dano Or
- Birthday: Teodoro B. Mallonga (+)
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
***************************************************************
Welcome to DAILY-HOMILY, a Catholic-based Scripture and Homily
Reflection. It is a great source for scripture reading and
reflectionfor Weekdays, Sundays and Holydays of Obligation. Subscribe
to this list and you will receive a free, informed, down to earth and
illustrated homily. It's a FREE service.
***************************************************************
To subscribe or unsubscribe, tell friends about Daily-Homily, read past
reflection and feedbacks, give donation or submit a prayer request
please go to:
Webpage: http://homily.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Email: dailyhomily@gmail.com
PRAYER FOR ENLIGHTENMENT BEFORE MEDITATING ON GOD'S WORD:
http://www.marythequeen.org/
Feel free to forward this to your friends, family and associates!
© 2005 Daily-Homily
