Fifth Sunday Gospel C

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 

· There is a pattern to Jesus’ ministry. He teaches and then confirms his message with a miraculous sign. Or he performs a sign and, having gotten their attention, then teaches. Both sign and word are messages.

· In this case, the message was for Simon and his friends as well. What he taught we do not know but it could have been a preparation for the invitation to Simon and companions to become his disciples and follow him.

· It was not by accident that he chose Simon’s boat. This was not the first time that Jesus and Simon have met. In John’s Gospel we are told of an initial or preparatory encounter prior to this event.

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” 

· Sometimes we are more comfortable on the shores of life—in our comfort zone. But God calls us to put out into the deep.  What is the area in your life that God is calling you to put out into the deep and move away from your comfort zone?

· Simon had no clue what was about to happen would be life changing for him. Has God done something in your life that was also life-changing, which you were not prepared for?

· What was the first step for Simon and for us? Do what he tells us, even though we do not understand.

When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them.  They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon.

· What is the second step for Simon and for us? Recognizing our sinfulness and unworthiness and repent.

· Peter’s own unworthiness and sinfulness was a block to going deeper in his own life. What is the block in our lives? Can we like Peter acknowledge the block, the area of sin and like Peter not let it be a block any longer?

 Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him. 

· What is the third step?  What is an apparent block to us is not an obstacle for Jesus to overcome. This was not the end of the story for Peter or for us.

· The miracle was a preview of what Jesus wanted to do it their lives. But they had to be willing to let go their comfort zone and trust in Jesus and follow him no matter the cost. This is what it means to put out into the deep.

· Peter and his companions were not perfect when they responded to Jesus’ invitation. They grew in relationship as they spent time with Jesus.

· What is the fourth step? We must be willing to surrender and follow the path the Jesus begins to show us in our life.

· What is God saying to you as you reflect on this passage? 

 "To see God, to be like God: this is our hope. And today… we need to think a little about this hope: this hope that accompanies us in life. The first Christians depicted hope with an anchor, as though life were an anchor cast on Heaven’s shores and all of us journeying to that shore, clinging to the anchor’s rope. This is a beautiful image of hope: to have our hearts anchored there, where our beloved predecessors are, where the Saints are, where Jesus is, where God is. This is the hope that does not disappoint; today and tomorrow are days of hope.” Pope Francis

If we don't have this hope of seeing God face to face one day and being with him eternally, then what do we  hope for that is greater or more lasting? Seeing God one day in all his glory is the fulfillment of our destiny for existence. It is not a pie-in-the-sky panacea, like fool's gold. This is the desire God has put in the heart of each one who is truly seeking the truth. This is the hope that has strengthened and sustained millions of believers over the centuries. Without this active hope we will not be able to make sense of the darkness and pain all around us. Ask the Holy Spirit to stir this gift of hope in your heart, so that like a sure light you can reach the goal of your hope, God.

 For centuries the world has tried to live without God. Yet, "loneliness, isolation, lack of friendship and intimacy, broken relationships, boredom, feelings of emptiness and depression, and a deep sense of uselessness" still plague humanity in spite of its scientific advances. Each century, each decade, each day, the world needs not intellectual prophets but God-led prophets, who cry out "return to the Lord, with all your heart."  By virtue of Baptism and Confirmation each of us is gifted, anointed and empowered to be that witness needed by the people around us, who are in need of God's love and compassion, mercy and forgiveness, healing and hope. Be open and pray each day to be available to God in whatever way he desires to minister through you. Then, watch God at work

  "Act today in such a way that you need not blush tomorrow." St. John Bosco

This is another way of saying that our actions have consequences, some eternal. Adam and Eve sought the temporary satisfaction of eating the fruit of knowing good and evil. The eternal consequences were devastating: lost relationship with God. How often we act without thinking of the real effects of our actions! The saints teach us to keep the final judgment in mind when we act, so that this present decision will receive the rewards of eternal life and not the condemnation of eternal alienation from God. In other words, keep eternity before you, rather than just the present moment. 

 

Joseph, in all of this, does not utter a word, but he believes, hopes and loves. He does not express himself with “idle words”, but with concrete deeds. He belongs to the lineage of those who, according to the apostle James, “put the Word into practice” (cf. James 1:22), translating it into deeds, flesh, life. Joseph trusts in God and obeys: “His inner watchfulness for God … leads quite spontaneously to obedience” (Benedict XVI, The Infancy Narratives, Milan-Vatican City 2012, 57).

Sisters, brothers, let us, too, ask the Lord for the grace to listen more than we speak, the grace to dream God’s dreams and to welcome responsibly the Christ who, from the moment of our baptism, lives and grows in our life.  Pope Francis

For most of us, we speak more than listen, especially to God. We fail to realize that God has given us two ears and only one mouth for a purpose. There are times God speaks loudly and clearly, directly and forcefully. But more often than not, God speaks in the silence of a whisper and in our inner stillness. As ones who want instant results, it is hard for us to enter into the quite and just wait upon the Lord. It is a challenge that comes with patient practice and endurance. It is a grace that God desires to give to those who are open to it. Ask for that grace and then wait upon the Lord.

 Jesus doesn't say, “Come into my world.” He doesn't say, “Come, I will change you.” He doesn't say, “Become my disciples,” “Listen to me,” “Do what I tell you,” “Take up your cross.” No. He says, “Come and see. Look around. Get to know me.” That is the invitation. Henri Nouwen

It sounds so simple but it is so profound at the same time. How can we follow and commit ourselves to another person without first coming to know them. If all we know is about another, we don't really personally know that person. In marriage, a person has to truly get to know the other before committing themselves to a life-long covenant. This means spending quality time with the other to know beyond the surface. Jesus invites us to spend quality time with him to get to know him as he is and not just on the surface. It is then we can truly commit ourselves to him as a disciple, desiring to have a deeper relationship with him. 

Let us take a look at our world from a distance, not from the physical distance of a plane or space vehicle, but from the spiritual distance of our faith. Let us look at ourselves, at our humanity, from above and with the eyes of God. Jesus always looked at the human condition from above and tried to teach us to look as he did. “I come from above,” he said, “and I want you to be reborn from above so that you will be able to see with new eyes.”  Henri Nouwen

What does it mean to see with the eyes of Jesus? How did Jesus see the people of his day? He saw them as sheep without a shepherd, hungering for the truth that would set them free. He saw beyond the physical, seeing the faith of those who sought his assistance. He saw with compassions and mercy those who were seen as sinners. He saw with a heart of love those who were in need of acceptance and meaning. Do we try to have the eyes of Jesus in our relationships with others whom God sends to us? When we see with the eyes of Jesus we begin to see how God sees the other and what God wants us to do for the other. Pray for this gift and act on it when it comes, as it will come.

 

“It is a hope that leaves peace and joy inside, regardless of what happens outside. It is a hope that has strong roots, which no storm of life can uproot. It is a hope that, says St. Paul, 'does not disappoint' – hope does not disappoint! – which gives the strength to overcome all tribulations." Pope Francis

 

Without this hope life’s difficulties can be unbearable. But with hope our life is anchored in Christ during the worse storm. Without hope we are rudderless and adrift, left on our own. But with hope we are in the hands of a loving God. Our hope will be tested by the Father of liars. But as long as we keep our eyes on the Lord, these rests will be deflected

 Hope is also a task that Christians have a duty to cultivate and put to good use for the sake of all their brothers and sisters. The task is to remain faithful to the gift received, as rightly pointed out by Madeleine Delbrêl, a 20th-century French woman who was able to bring the Gospel to the geographical and existential peripheries of mid-century Paris, marked by de-Christianization. Madeleine Delbrêl wrote: “The place that Christian hope assigns us is that narrow ridge, that borderline at which our vocation requires that we choose, every day and every hour, to be faithful to God’s faithfulness to us”. God is faithful to us; our task is to respond to this faithfulness. But take care: it is not we who generate this faithfulness; it is a gift from God that works in us if we allow ourselves to be molded by His power of love, the Holy Spirit Who acts as a breath of inspiration in our hearts. It is up to us, then, to invoke this gift: “Lord, grant me to be faithful to you in hope!” Pope Francis

God is always faithful to us. His very nature will not allow him to do otherwise. He is faithful to us, even when we are unfaithful. If our hope is in the faithful promises of God and in their fulfillment, then our life is to be a witness of this hope to others. In the admonition of St. Peter: "Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope,  but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear." (1 Peter 3:15-16) If the reason of our hope is the promises of God, then our life should always be a sign of this hope to others, especially in difficult times.

 

Homily Third Sunday Year C

 

Reading 1: What is the background to this reading? People have returned to Jerusalem after their exile into Babylonia. They began, following the command of God, to rebuild first the city, then the Temple which were destroyed. In the process of restoration, Ezra the priest found scrolls which were hidden at the time of the exile. The scrolls were the Book of the Law, the Torah.

 

Once he realized what he had found, namely its significance, he told Nehemiah the Governor. They decided that the people needed to hear this Word of the Lord which would explain their relationship to God as his chosen people, the necessity of living as a Covenant people and how their ancestors were sent into exile because they had broken the Covenant.

 

As Ezra read from the Word of God the people began to weep before the Lord. But Ezra reminded them that this was not a time to weep over the past but a time of rejoicing. Why? They have found the source of their history and the recollection of God’s love for his chosen people. He proclaimed that since they are the people chosen by God they should rejoice for the Lord is their strength.

 

Eventually, he will call them to renew their covenant with God publicly. The Word of God was proclaimed; its truth was revealed, interpreted and received with rejoicing. Each Sunday we gather to hear the Word of God, our Salvation History. We are reminded how God has truly loved us and has redeemed us, so that we may be truly his people in whom we find our strength.

 

Reading 2: Paul reminds us who we are in relationship to God. We are the Body of Christ. He reminds us also who we are in relationship to one another. We are members of the one Body. He reminds us that in Baptism we entered into a new relationship with God and filled with the Holy Spirit. He tells us that because we are one in Christ there should be no division on antipathy between us.

 

Each member is unique and has a unique role in the Body of Christ. As such each is to be in harmony with the other. Our importance is not in who we are in ourselves, but who we are in Christ. Therefore, Paul says if one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one is honored all the members are to be joyful. We are to understand our role and how we have been gifted by the Holy Spirit and exercise that gift for the good of others.

 

Gospel: We begin with the first four verses of Luke’s Gospel where he states that he wants to write down in an orderly sequence the life and teachings of Jesus. This he has received from an eyewitness. Then we jump to the fourth chapter of Luke, which begins the public ministry of Jesus.

 

According to Luke, immediately after the Baptism of the Lord, which we celebrated two Sundays ago, Jesus began to teach and preach in such a way that people were amazed. His reputation spread throughout the region of Galilee. Now he returns to Nazareth, maybe to visit Mary.

 

Since he is a covenant observer, faithful to the Law, he goes with Mary to the synagogue on the Sabbath to praise God and to hear the Word of God. He had just had a powerful affirmation of the Father’s love for him. He was anointed by the Holy Spirit so that his ministry would be confirmed with signs and wonders.

 

Because he is somewhat of a hometown celebrity already, they ask him to read the Word of God and interpret it for them. Providentially they gave him the scroll of Isaiah the prophet. Jesus unrolled it to where Isaiah had prophesied what Jesus had experienced at his Baptism. It identified his mission as the One promised and sent by God. After reading the passage he concluded by saying: “Today, this passage has been fulfilled in your midst.” In other words, I am the one Isaiah is speaking about. I have experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and know the plan God has for me. At first the people were amazed, but as Jesus continued to explain, they turned against him and wanted to kill him.

 

In the first reading the people heard the Word of God, wept and then rejoiced at what God had revealed. In the Gospel the people heard the Word of God, were amazed but then rejected the interpretation. We have heard the Word of God. How do we receive it? How do we respond to it? Do we allow it to root in our hearts and bring about growth and bear fruit? Or do we stifle the Word of God by ignoring it and not acting on it?

 "Hope is a gift and a task for every Christian. It is a gift because it is God who offers it to us. Hoping, in fact, is not a mere act of optimism, like when we sometimes hope to pass an exam at university…No, hoping is waiting for something that has already been given to us: salvation in God's eternal and infinite love. That love, that salvation that gives flavor to our lives and that constitutes the hinge on which the world remains standing, despite all the wickedness and nefariousness caused by our sins as men and women. To hope, then, is to welcome this gift that God offers us every day. To hope is to savor the wonder of being loved, sought, desired by a God who has not shut Himself away in His impenetrable heavens but has made Himself flesh and blood, history and days, to share our lot.”  Pope Francis

Without hope we have no reason to live. Without hope life is a drudgery. God gives us the gift of hope, the grace of hope, so that we would have something to keep our hearts rooted in as we seek to live a better life. Our hope is, as sons and daughters of God, if we continue to live in him and die in him, we will see and be with God eternally. That was the hope that impelled the thousands of missionaries to evangelize the world. It is the very hope and promise that motivated and strengthened the many men and women martyrs to remain faithful even to the point of death. This is the hope we need to keep alive in our hearts. His promises are true and will be fulfilled.

 Third Sunday Gospel C

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.

· Theophilus means “friend of God” We don’t know much about him, except that he is a convert to Christianity who has already received some instructions. Luke wants to elaborate on these teachings by placing the Gospel message in an orderly fashion.

· Luke will begin with the annunciation and birth of John the Baptism; the annunciation of birth of Jesus; Jesus’ presentation in the Temple after his circumcision; Jesus returning and remaining in the temple when he was twelve years old.

o He adds material that neither Matthew nor Mark has in their Gospel narratives.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. 

· What is not stated in today’s reading is the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan by John the Baptist and the affirmation of the Father as well as the pouring of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus in his humanity. Following that pivotal moment in Jesus’ life there is the first confrontation with the Devil in the Temptation story. Luke’s narrative now continues.

· The role of the Spirit in Jesus’ personal life and public ministry is a strong emphasis in Luke’s Gospel. Luke wants to teach that Jesus in his humanity, anointed by the Spirit, was able to teach in a way that amazed the people. They knew that there was something different about Jesus and his ministry.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. 

· Can you imagine the excitement in Nazareth when Jesus returns? Obviously, they had heard about what happened to him at the Jordan and what people were saying about his teachings.

· Jesus is a faithful adherent to the covenant, so he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, probably along with Mary, his mother.

He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.  

· Luke sees this passage as a confirmation that Jesus was aware of what happened to him at the Jordan after he was baptized. The Spirit of God fell upon him and anointed him for the work he was called to do in proclaiming the message of the Kingdom of God.

· It was a custom that, if an important person came into the synagogue, to honor that person by asking them to do the reading and give a reflection.

· These signs—bring glad tidings to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, etc—were signs foretold by Isaiah and other OT prophets of the coming of the Kingdom of God.

· Noticed that Jesus deliberately chose the reading from Isaiah, which he was very familiar with from his childhood upbringing.

· How aware are we of the Spirit and his gifts in our life? How open are we to allowing the Spirit lead us?

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” 

· His interpretation was very brief and to the point. Isaiah was stating a sign of the coming of the Messiah in this passage. Jesus, without saying he was the Messiah, says today this passage is fulfilled in him.

· The reactions of the people moved from amazement, to question and finally anger and rejection. They remembered Jesus growing up in their small village. They could not accept him to be any other than what they remembered.

· This rejection by his neighbors and family members is the prelude to the rejections from others that Jesus will experience.

· What application can we make from this passage in our life?

  "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." St. Paul (Roms 15:13)

The source of the gift of hope is the Holy Spirit. But do we "abound in hope"? What does that mean? As Christians, our hope is in the promises of God to be fulfilled in his timing. While the hope of this world is dependent on others, who can fail us, the hope we have is dependent on the eternal fidelity of God, who never fails us. When we embrace the promises of God with total conviction and expectation, we are abounding in hope. For our hope is not in this life but in our eternal inheritance  in God. Pray for the grace to abound in hope so that you may persevere in hope to its fulfillment in Christ.

 "“Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring. Even so, uncertainty about the future may at times give rise to conflicting feelings, ranging from confident trust to apprehensiveness, from serenity to anxiety, from firm conviction to hesitation and doubt. Often we come across people who are discouraged, pessimistic and cynical about the future, as if nothing could possibly bring them happiness." Pope Francis

Pope Francis calls us to always be pilgrims of hope. For our life is in Christ Jesus, the source of our hope. So often we can be like the Apostles, who seemed to lose hope after Jesus' crucifixion. They failed to remember his words to them that he would rise on the third day. Their lack of hope was evidenced in the two disciples leaving Jerusalem after the crucifixion.  They were downcast. Only after Jesus joined them on their journey and explained the scriptures to them and broke bread, did they recognized that it was the Lord. Their hope was restored. Sometimes we too allow the circumstances of our lives to dampen the flame of hope in our hearts. We too need to return to the Word of God and the promises of God. We too need to celebrated the Eucharist. It is in his Word and in his Gift that our hope will be restored.

 

“Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.” St. John Paul II

 

Homily Second Sunday Year C

Reading 1:

It its initial application the prophet is telling the people in exile that God is about to restore them to a renewed relationship. He will do this to manifest his glory

 

It its main application the prophet reveals almost 700 years before it happens that he will send a Messiah to restore them and us from our captivity of sin. In spite of the infidelity of the people of Israel and our infidelity, God promises to protect and save us. He has not abandoned us nor will he ever do so. It is a message of hope and restoration.

 

He shows his glory by revealing his great love for us. He will give us a new name, his “delight” and his “espoused.” We will no longer be “forsaken” and “desolate”. He refers to himself as a “builder” because God desires to re-build and restore his initial relationship with us lost by the sin of Adam and Eve.

 

Reading 2:

Not only does God delight in us, but he also empowers us for ministry. He lavishly pours upon us, as he did upon Jesus after his baptism in the Jordan, the anointing gifts of the Holy Spirit. Like Jesus, he gives us all the gifts we need to do the work of God.

 

What is this work? To manifest that God loves us and delights in us. To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given. What should our response be? We are called to become aware of the Spirit’s lead and to act on that lead in the gifts and power of the Spirit so that the work of God may be accomplished. These gifts are to be used in a complete self-giving way. These gifts are given to build up the kingdom of God by ministering to others.

 

Unfortunately, these gifts of the Spirit remain dormant in us for many years until we stir them into flame, as Paul says, and use them for the purpose designed by God.

Gospel:

Jesus is aware that the Father delights in him as the Father affirmed this after Jesus’ baptism. Jesus is aware that the Father gave him a fresh outpouring of the gifts of the Spirit. Jesus, as a result, follows the lead of the Spirit. Jesus goes forth to manifest the glory of God and the love of God. He does this initially through the miracle of water becoming wine.

 

Mary’s intercession on behalf of the married couple confirmed for Jesus what the Spirit was saying within him. Underlying Jesus’ response to Mary was his conviction of doing this because the Father desired it.

 

He mentioned that his hour had not come. But he knows that by performing his miracle—first sign—he will be manifesting the glory of God in anticipation of the ultimate sign of the Father’s glory, his death and resurrection.

 

Mary was led by the Spirit. There is a cooperation of others in this miracle. The servants had to choose to follow the directions of Jesus, showing the human participation in the work of God. They had to provide the water and do what they were told, even if they did not understand.

 

We are the delight of the Lord by God’s choice not because of anything we have done. God pours out his Spirit upon us because of God’s choice. God will lead us to do the work of the Kingdom. It is our choice to be attentive to the lead of the Spirit and act on the word of God. Mary’s admonition to the servants prepared them to experience the miracle. We too are admonished to do whatever he tells us to do. But when we do, we too will see the glory of God revealed in and through us.

 It is you, Jesus, who reach out first. You said it so clearly, “You did not choose me; no, I chose you.” Your choosing us is your great act of trust. You trusted that in our sinful, broken and vulnerable heart lies the potential to reach out to your heart and say, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life and we believe; we have come to know that you are the holy one of God.” All that you hope for is our simple, trusting “yes.” Henri Nouwen

What an interesting thought! God trusts himself to us.  He trusts that his unconditional love for us will be received and be allowed to make a difference in our lives.  His trust in us involved the laying down of his life for us, giving his total self.  In light of his trust in us, our response of trust in God is so unequal. It is hard for us to totally surrender ourselves to God's  will for us. Unfortunately, our trust is often conditional. We can say, "Lord, I trust in you." But in difficult times do we live what we say. The greater my trust in the Lord is, the more fulfilled will I be.

 "There is something of the wanderer and something of the person who just sits there in all of us. If you look at this world you might think, “I am so tired. There is so much fatigue, so much experience of heaviness in this world, that I find myself sometimes as a wanderer and sometimes as a sitter.” It is into this deeply tired world of ours that God sends Jesus to speak the voice of love. Jesus says, “Follow me. Don't keep running around. Follow me. Don't just sit there. Follow me.” The voice of love is the voice that can completely reshape our life from a wandering or just-sitting-there life to one that is focused and has a point to go to." Henri Nouwen

Without a point of reference in our journey of life we will find ourselves either wandering  aimlessly or just giving up. Jesus came to give us a point of reference, himself as the Way, the Truth and the Life. His invitation to follow him is personal and salvific. We were made in image and likeness of God. We are predestined to be his adopted children, sharing in his divine life. On our own we are burdened with the heaviness of our sins. Jesus removes the overwhelming load through his death and resurrection. He offers his hand, raising us up. Following him in faith, even when we don't feel or see him, will keep us on the path of eternal salvation and the fulfillment of our ultimate destiny.

 Reflecting further on the Baptism of the Lord, we see that Jesus came to a clearer realization in his humanity of his identity: Beloved of the Father. Our baptism, in turn, gives us a clear understanding of our true identity. We are not only the son or daughter of our parents, which is our natural DNA, but we are the adopted son or daughter of our Heavenly Father, which is our spiritual DNA. The question we have to ask ourselves everyday is am I living in my relationship with the Father or like the Prodigal son, separated myself from God? Though I may deny or reject my human parents and do the same with my Father, I will always be the child of my parents and the child of God. Even if my parents do reject me or disinherit me, God will never reject me. I am his eternally, even if I am not with him eternally. The more I can embrace my identity and live out of that identity, the more at peace will I be with myself. Be who you are.

 This past Sunday we celebrated the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. by John the Baptizer. Why was this a significant moment in the life of Jesus? First of all, it was the inauguration of Jesus' public ministry. As such, Jesus wanted to make a public statement of his commitment to do the Father's will as the Messiah. Even though John's baptism was a demonstration of repentance for sins and a preparation to receive the Messiah, Jesus was sinless. The Father validated Jesus' yes in two ways. First, he publicly affirmed that Jesus was his beloved Son in whom he was pleased. Secondly, Jesus, in his humanity, received a fresh outpouring of the anointing of the Holy Spirit for ministry. This event in Jesus' life was a pivotal moment which he recalled throughout his ministry. To know in his humanity that he was the Beloved of the Father sustained Jesus in difficult moments. How important is our baptism to us? Do we know our baptismal date? Do we celebrate this spiritual birthday as well as our natural birthday?

 The story of the Epiphany has many details that raise questions. Why didn't the religious leaders, who knew the scriptures about the place of the new born king, go with the wise men to validate the prophesy? Does it tell us that one can know the truth, but if it is not acted on, what good is the knowledge?  Even when Jesus began to minister with signs and wonders, the religious leaders for the most part refuse to accept that he was the Messiah. We can have all the information at our finger tips, but knowledge alone doesn't connect the dots. We must accept the knowledge and act on it. I wonder how many people heard about what Jesus was saying and doing but never went to see for themselves. The same is true today for each of us. Without the heart, the head is incomplete. We can know about Jesus, but do we know Jesus because we have gone searching for him as the wise men? Don't remain in your comfort zone. Seek the source of Truth, Jesus, our Lord and Savior. And when you find him, there is much more than what you see on the surface.

 

Homily Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Year C

 

Reading 1 This is one the three Servant Songs in Isaiah that identifies the future Messiah as a Servant of God. The first sentence connects us to the Gospel. “My chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I put my spirit.” The coming of the Spirit upon Jesus was the sign of confirmation that God revealed to John, identifying the Messiah.

 

Isaiah goes on to speak further of the promised Messiah. “He will bring forth justice to the nations, not shouting.” Jesus did this through his death on the cross. Paul tells us that Jesus is our justification. We could not restore our relationship with God, because as sinners, we could not offer a perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins. But Jesus, innocent and without sin, took our sins upon himself. He embraced the cruel death of a criminal without defending himself. Though he as God had eternal, unlimited power, he chose as man to be weak and foolish, so that the cross would become our sign of victory and a sign of salvation.

 

There is a third aspect of the first reading that connects us to Jesus. He is a “light for the nations.” Following the lead of the Holy Spirit after his anointing at the Jordan, Jesus knew that his mission was to “open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeons, those who live in darkness.” Jesus would quote this passage in the synagogue in Nazareth, indicating he was fulfilling the prophesy of Isaiah.

 

Gospel: Through the preaching of John the Baptist, the people’s anticipation of the promised Messiah was heightened. In fact, John preached that the Messiah was already here and was in their midst. Many people began to wonder if John was not the Messiah. But John knew he was not. He was sent to prepare the way for the Messiah. John’s message was a call to repentance as a preparation to receive the Messiah’s life-giving message.

 

John knew that his baptism was a prelude to the baptism of the Messiah. Just as John was unworthy to untie the sandals of the Messiah, so the Messiah will baptize with water, the Holy Spirit and fire. John’s baptism did not change the person; the Messiah’s baptism will bring about a radical transformation in a person’s life. As fire cleanses a rusty metal of all its defects, so the fire of the Holy Spirit will cleanse a person from all sin and restore the person to his original state of relationship with God.

 

Having prepared the people for the coming of the Messiah and his might deeds, John was taken aback when Jesus, his cousin, came to be baptized. Jesus did not need to be baptized for he was without sin. But Jesus chose this symbol of baptism, plunging into the waters of the Jordan as a way of publicly committing himself to the will of the Father as the Messiah. This was his yes to the Father.

 

While Jesus was in prayer afterwards, the Father publicly affirmed Jesus as his beloved Son with whom he was well pleased. What pleased the Father” It was the commitment of Jesus to be obedient to the Father, even to death on the cross. Jesus would lay down his life for our life, so that he may be our justification before the Father.

 

At the same time that the Father confirmed Jesus’ yes, the Holy Spirit anointed Jesus in his humanity with all the gifts he would need to confirm his ministry with signs and wonders as his credentials. Jesus was the pattern for us. He needed in his humanity the anointing power of the Spirit. We need the anointing power of the Spirit to fulfill our ministry as missionary disciples, who are called to witness Jesus to others.

 

Reading 2: Paul reminds Titus and the Christian community he was serving of the efficacy of the sacrament of a baptism. Jesus through his death and resurrection saved all two thousand years ago. But at a given moment in history, that grace of salvation was applied to each of us through the water of baptism. Paul calls it a “bath of rebirth.” We were born once naturally, but we were alienated from God because of Original Sin. Now through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, we have been justified by his grace and became “heirs in hope of eternal life.”

 

How are we to respond to such a great gift of mercy? We are called “to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly and devoutly in this age as we await the second coming of our Savior, calling us into the eternal life of glory with God.” Though baptism is a one-time rebirth, the renewal of our baptism is ongoing to remind us who we are, what God has done for us and in us and to recommit ourselves to live a life worthy of our calling in the present moment.

 The journey of the shepherds to Bethlehem and the wise men to the place of the new born king's birth did not end with encountering the Christ child. The Scriptures says that the shepherds returned praising God and telling others of the the Good News. The wise men, after offering their gifts and worshipping the Child, return to their native land another route. An encounter with Jesus impacts our lives in one or two ways. Either our life is changed for the better and we seek to grow in our relationship with Jesus or we return to our old way of living with no significant change. Has our celebration of Christmas had any impact in our lives? Are we trying to become the person Jesus has redeemed and set free? Or are we the same person after Christmas as before. Many people encountered Jesus, but few became his disciples. Will we follow the Lord's lead in our journey or will we plod along on our own?

 Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Gospel C

The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ.

John was proclaiming a baptism of repentance in preparation for receiving the message of salvation from the Messiah, who had already come and was among them. It was easy for the people to mistakenly think that John was the Messiah. Even the chief priests and scribes were questioning John to see if he was the Christ.

 John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

John was preparing the people for a different and more effective baptism which the Christ will provide. John invited the people to be immersed in water as a sign of their repentance. But the baptism of the Christ will be with the Holy Spirit and fire. 

When we were baptized, Jesus’ death and resurrection purified us from all sin. We were not only redeemed but adopted as a son or daughter of God, sharing his own divine life by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

By saying he was not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals, John is indicating that his baptism was inferior to that of the Christ.

 After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened

Luke’s account of the baptism of Jesus focuses on what happened to him after his public commitment to embrace the will of the Father to give his life for our lives. Luke says that after being baptized, Jesus was praying. What was his prayer? Was he renewing his love for the Father? Was he rejoicing in his call as Messiah?

 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

As Jesus said “yes” to the Father, the Father affirmed him as the beloved Son. And the Spirit anointed Jesus in his humanity for his mission as Messiah. Jesus, being a pattern for us how to embrace the will of the Father and how to accomplish the plan of the Father, needed the Spirit because we need the Spirit. As he was led by the Spirit, so we are to be led by the Spirit. As Jesus confirmed his identity as Messiah and confirmed his message of salvation with signs and wonders as his credentials, so are we to do also. 

 During this week of Epiphany, there is much to meditate on and apply to our lives.  First of all, we recognize God's divine plan. He first revealed the birth of his Divine Son, our Savior to the Anawin of the Chosen People, simple shepherds by the message of angels. Through them, he reveals the message of good news to all with whom they share. How many people responded or took their experience to heart? But Jesus came not only to save the Chosen People but all of humanity as well, known as Gentiles. So, God, first through a natural phenomenon, a new star, revealed the initial awareness of a new born king to some wise men from the East. But it was not until they were told what the prophet had said that the Savior was to born in Bethlehem did they find the Truth, ending their search. Both the shepherds and the wise men had to pursue the revelation and go on journey to complete their response. We are are on journey as well. It is the same journey to the Truth, the person of Jesus Christ. Where are we on  this journey? What difference has Jesus made in our lives?

 “It is with the smallest brushes that the Artist paints the best paintings.”  St. Andre Bessette (1845-1937)

 

God is the greatest of artists. Like an artist who uses the smallest of brushes to bring forth the details of a painting, so God uses us to impact and make a difference in the masterpiece of his creation. We are the little brushes, whose actions and efforts bring out the beauty and goodness of God’s masterpieces in unique ways. As a brush in God’s divine hand, I have a mission to accomplish, namely, to bring others to the saving mystery of Jesus Christ. I accomplish this by following God’s lead and grace faithfully.

 “If a man cannot bear being reviled, he will not see glory. It he is not cleansed of bitterness, he will not savor sweetness.” St. Barsanuphius (6th Century)

 

Jesus was reviled. Can we expect not to ever be so mistreated? Though reviled Jesus never harbored any bitterness against his tormentors. Instead, he freely forgave them, so that the sourness of their actions would not affect him. We too are to harbor no bitterness or to seek any revenge when we are abused and attack. But like Jesus we are to choose to bless those who curse us. Such was and is the will of the Father for Jesus and for us. This is the road to perfection and union with God.

 “A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.” St. Basil

The development of virtues rather than vices is important for our spiritual journey. This development must be intentional, if it is to bear the good fruit Jesus talks about in the Gospel. He gives us many examples of these virtues in the Gospel. All are rooted in the encompassing virtue of love as St. Paul tells us in his First Letter to the Corinthians. (12:4-8). It is easy for us to coast through life, living in a superficial relationship with God. But in the end what do we have to show for it. But if we strive with the grace of God to put on the mind of Christ, seeking what is good, pleasing and perfect, then the fruit of our personal tree will bear rich fruit on the day of judgment.