Thursday, January 04, 2007
Friday before Epiphany
January 5, 2007
Friday before Epiphany
1 JOHN 3:11-21
For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: we should
love one another, unlike Cain who belonged to the evil one and
slaughtered his brother. Why did he slaughter him? Because his own
works were evil, and those of his brother righteous. Do not be amazed,
(then,) brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed
from death to life because we love our brothers. Whoever does not love
remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you
know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. The way we
came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to
lay down our lives for our brothers. If someone who has worldly means
sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of
God remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech but in
deed and truth. (Now) this is how we shall know that we 7 belong to the
truth and reassure our hearts before him in whatever our hearts
condemn, for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
Beloved, if (our) hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God
JOHN 1:43-51
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he
said to him, "Follow me." Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the
town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found
the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also
wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." "Nazareth! Can anything
good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true
Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." "How do you know me?"
Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under
the fig tree before Philip called you." Then Nathanael declared,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." Jesus
said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You
shall see greater things than that." He then added, "I tell you the
truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and
descending on the Son of Man."
REFLECTION
Nazareth in Jesus time was a small backwater village. It was often not
even labeled on maps. Hence Nathanael had the first impression Jesus
could not be an important person because he came from Nazareth. It was
only when Jesus spoke to Nathanael that he got impressed.
Whether we are aware of it or not, we tend to discriminate or judge
people on how they look or where they come from. Many wars have been
fought because one group didn't like the color of the skin of
another. In our daily lives we sometimes look down on those who may not
be as articulate in their speech or who cannot afford to look as clean
as we are.
John in his First Letter tells us to love one another not only in words
but in deeds. We should love each other like we would love our brothers
and sisters-no preconceived notions or first impressions as
obstacles. We should build our love to the extent that we are willing
to die for one another. For when we reach this level of unselfish love,
we have become true Christians and Jesus' mission of salvation for
you and me would be attained.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Wedding Anniversary: Dennis & Cornelia Tan Ang
- Birthday: Caridad B. Yang
- Birthday: Carmencita Rosales
- Birthday: Dr. Veronica Nañagas-Devon
- Birthday: Gener Samson
- In Memoriam (+): Maria Clara Lobregat
- In Memoriam (+): Ong Su Khun
- 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!
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