St. Raymond of Peñyafort

Monday, 07 January 2008

First Letter of John 3,22-24.4,1-6.

and receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us. Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit that he gave us. Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh be longs to God, and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the antichrist that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is already in the world. You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They belong to the world; accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world, and the world listens to them. We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us, while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.


Psalms 2,7-8.10-11.

I will proclaim the decree of the LORD, who said to me, "You are my son; today I am your father.
Only ask it of me, and I will make your inheritance the nations, your possession the ends of the earth.
And now, kings, give heed; take warning, rulers on earth.
Serve the LORD with fear; with trembling bow down in homage, Lest God be angry and you perish from the way in a sudden blaze of anger. Happy are all who take refuge in God!


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 4,12-17.23-25.

When he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen." From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

"THE LIFE OF THE PARTY"

"A people living in darkness has seen a great light. On those who inhabit a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen." –Matthew 4:16

Today most Christians celebrate the feast of Epiphany, the climax of the Christmas season. Although most of the USA celebrated Epiphany yesterday, we can in our hearts continue celebrating Epiphany today. Repentance is a prerequisite for a great celebration in the Lord. There is "more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent" (Lk 15:7). When the prodigal son repented, he was showered with gifts (Lk 15:22). His father killed the fatted calf and had the greatest celebration of the year (Lk 15:23). If we reform our lives (see Mt 4:17), we too can be "the life of the party."

Because the Lord gives us so many presents and loves us so affectionately, we can forget that the Christmas/Epiphany celebration is not focused on us but on Jesus. After all, we're celebrating His birthday. Only when we lose our lives (Lk 9:24), deny our very selves (Lk 9:23), humble ourselves (Mt 23:12), and give our lives to Him do we live the abundant life (see Jn 10:10). Only when we celebrate Jesus do we really celebrate. To fully share in the celebration of Epiphany and of life, we must repent of our sins and give our lives to Jesus.