Wednesday, January 7 2015; Wednesday after Epiphany

Lectionary: 214

Reading 1
1 Jn 4:11-18

Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another. 
No one has ever seen God. 
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.

This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit. 
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world. 
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God. 
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.

God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. 
In this is love brought to perfection among us,
that we have confidence on the day of judgment
because as he is, so are we in this world. 
There is no fear in love,
but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment,
and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.

Responsorial Psalm
PS 72:1-2, 10, 12-13

R. (see 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Alleluia
See 1 Tm 3:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to you, O Christ, proclaimed to the Gentiles.
Glory to you, O Christ, believed in throughout the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mk 6:45-52

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied,
Jesus made his disciples get into the boat
and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,
while he dismissed the crowd. 
And when he had taken leave of them,
he went off to the mountain to pray. 
When it was evening,
the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. 
Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing,
for the wind was against them. 
About the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea. 
He meant to pass by them. 
But when they saw him walking on the sea,
they thought it was a ghost and cried out. 
They had all seen him and were terrified. 
But at once he spoke with them,
“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” 
He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. 
They were completely astounded. 
They had not understood the incident of the loaves. 
On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT OF LOVE

"Beloved, if God has loved us so, we must have the same love for one another." –1 John 4:11

Many saints have reflected God's love for others (1 Jn 4:11) and took to heart the Lord's command to go and teach all nations (see Mk 16:15). These saints could testify that God's love is brought to perfection in us (1 Jn 4:12) when we give our "all" to bring His Kingdom to a disordered world.

When we, out of love, give all that we have (Lk 21:4) to obtain Jesus our Treasure (Mt 13:44), we will receive the resources, both physical and spiritual, to accomplish Christ's objectives (see e.g. Eph 1:3; Phil 4:19).

When we have our lives in right and godly order, when we receive and obey our instructions from Christ, Jesus multiplies our faith (see Mt 25:29). Then He multiplies our works done in obedience and love. As He has told us, whoever "has faith in Me will do the works I do, and greater far than these" (Jn 14:12).

Therefore, love one another as God has commanded (1 Jn 4:11). Lovingly give Jesus your all. "Serve the needs of all" (Mk 10:44) and see Jesus multiply your deeds of love.

PRAYER: Father, give me the grace to die to my selfish agenda and work for You alone.

PROMISE: "If we love one another God dwells in us, and His love is brought to perfection in us." –1 Jn 4:12

PRAISE: St. Raymond prayed: "May you never be numbered among those whose house is peaceful, quiet, and free from care, those on whom the Lord's chastisement does not descend."

Tuesday, January 6 2015; Tuesday after Epiphany

Lectionary: 213

Reading 1
1 Jn 4:7-10

Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only-begotten Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

Responsorial Psalm
PS 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8

R. (see 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The mountains shall yield peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the poor.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Alleluia
Lk 4:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mk 6:34-44

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things. 
By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already very late. 
Dismiss them so that they can go 
to the surrounding farms and villages
and buy themselves something to eat.” 
He said to them in reply,
“Give them some food yourselves.” 
But they said to him,
“Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food
and give it to them to eat?” 
He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” 
And when they had found out they said,
“Five loaves and two fish.” 
So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass. 
The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties. 
Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, 
he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples
to set before the people;
he also divided the two fish among them all. 
They all ate and were satisfied. 
And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments
and what was left of the fish. 
Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: THE FEAST OF CHRISTMAS

"You give them something to eat." –Mark 6:37

"Beloved, let us love one another because love is of God" (1 Jn 4:7). "The man without love has known nothing of God, for God is Love" (1 Jn 4:8). "Beloved, if God has loved us so, we must have the same love for one another" (1 Jn 4:11). Jesus said: "This is how all will know you for My disciples: your love for one another" (Jn 13:35). If we have not love, we are nothing (1 Cor 13:2).

Do you love Jesus? Then feed His sheep (Jn 21:17), physically and spiritually. Feed people with God's Word, for "not on bread alone is man to live but on every utterance that comes from the mouth of God" (Mt 4:4). "Teach them at great length" (Mk 6:34). Proclaim God's Word "in any and every way" (Phil 1:18), "whether convenient or inconvenient" (2 Tm 4:2). Do your best to feed people with the nourishment of God's Word. Even if your work seems inadequate, the Lord will multiply it to feed the masses (see Mk 6:41ff).

Christmas is a celebration, a feast. Feed the nourishment of God's Word to those who are spiritually starving. Give to others the Word of life, the Bread of Life (Jn 6:35), the Christ of Christmas.

PRAYER: Father, may the Christmas cards, greetings, celebrations, and presents I give to others be spiritually nourishing.

PROMISE: "Love, then, consists in this: not that we have loved God but that He has loved us and has sent His Son as an Offering for our sins." –1 Jn 4:10

PRAISE: St. André, orphaned at the age of twelve, developed a lifelong devotion to St. Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus. He consistently attributed the many miracles and healings he worked to the intercession of St. Joseph.

Monday, January 5 2015; Memorial of St. John Neumann

Lectionary: 212

Reading 1
1 Jn 3:22–4:6

Beloved:
We 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 whom 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
belongs to God,
and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus
does not belong to God.
This is the spirit of the antichrist
who, 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.

Responsorial Psalm
PS 2:7bc-8, 10-12a

R. (8ab) I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
The LORD said to me, “you are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.”
R. I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
And now, O kings, give heed;
take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
with trembling rejoice.
R. I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.

Alleluia
See Mt 4:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mt 4:12-17, 23-25

When Jesus 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.

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
TITLE: OPEN ALL YOUR PRESENTS

"Ask of Me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession." –Psalm 2:8

"Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor 2:9). "This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it" (Ps 118:24). The Lord will express His love for us in amazing ways today:

Today, "a people living in darkness" will see "a great light" (Mt 4:16).Today, "on those who inhabit a land overshadowed by death, light" will arise (Mt 4:16).Today, Jesus will cure "the people of every disease and illness" (Mt 4:23).Today, "those afflicted with various diseases and racked with pain: the possessed, the lunatics, the paralyzed" will be cured by Jesus (Mt 4:24).

Although we join the wise men this Christmas season in giving everything to Jesus, we will never outgive God. Today, Jesus gives us Christmas presents that only He can give. Do you believe this? Will you open your presents, all of them, including the ones so great you don't understand them? "Reform your lives" (Mt 4:17) and accept God's love today.

PRAYER: Father, give me expectant, repentant, and crucified faith.

PROMISE: "For there is One greater in you than there is in the world." –1 Jn 4:4

PRAISE: In his eight years as Bishop of Philadelphia, St. John Neumann increased the attendance at diocesan Catholic Schools twenty-fold.

Sunday, January 4 2015; The Epiphany of the Lord

Lectionary: 20

Reading 1
Is 60:1-6

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13.

R. (cf. 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

reading 2
Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6

Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace 
that was given to me for your benefit, 
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations 
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Alleluia
Mt 2:2

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mt 2:1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod, 
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled, 
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, 
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, 
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly 
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word, 
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, 
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures 
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, 
they departed for their country by another way.

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: STARRY-EYED

"They were overjoyed at seeing the star." –Matthew 2:10

For centuries, astronomers have tried to determine which celestial body was the star of Bethlehem. In the book of Numbers, it was prophesied that the star not only led the wise men to Jesus, but that the star was Jesus (Nm 24:17). Jesus is "the Morning Star shining bright" (Rv 22:16). Paul taught that not only was Jesus like a star, but also we, Jesus' disciples, are "like the stars in the sky while holding fast to the word of life" "in the midst of a twisted and depraved generation" (Phil 2:15, 16).

We are either Herods or stars, either in the kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of light (see Col 1:13). In the physical world there is twilight, but not in the spiritual world. The light is either on or off. There is no in-between.

Therefore, "rise up in splendor! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears His glory" (Is 60:1-2). "Awake, O sleeper, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light" (Eph 5:14). "There was a time when you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Well, then, live as children of light" (Eph 5:8). "You are the light of the world" (Mt 5:14).

PRAYER: Father, may I be wise enough to give Your Son the gift of my life.

PROMISE: "In Christ Jesus the Gentiles are now co-heirs with the Jews, members of the same body and sharers of the promise through the preaching of the gospel." –Eph 3:6

PRAISE: Jesus "was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit; seen by the angels; preached among the Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up into glory" (1 Tm 3:16).

Be an inspiration, kindly Share

Saturday, January 3 2015; Christmas Weekday

Lectionary: 206

Reading 1
1 Jn 2:29–3:6

If you consider that God is righteous,
you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness
is begotten by him.

See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God. 
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed. 
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,
as he is pure.

Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness,
for sin is lawlessness. 
You know that he was revealed to take away sins,
and in him there is no sin. 
No one who remains in him sins;
no one who sins has seen him or known him.

Responsorial Psalm
PS 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6

R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Alleluia
Jn 1:14a, 12a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
To those who accepted him
he gave power to become the children of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Jn 1:29-34

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel.”
John testified further, saying,
“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: "O HOLY NIGHT"

"If you consider the holiness that is His, you can be sure that everyone who acts in holiness has been begotten by Him." –1 John 2:29

One of the main purposes of the Christmas season is to grow in holiness – to become more like God, to take on God's character. This holy Christmas time begins a holy year in a holy life, which begins a holy, eternal life. The Lord has created us to be holy as He is holy (see 1 Jn 3:3), to be "perfect in holiness" (1 Thes 5:23). We should "hunger and thirst for holiness" (Mt 5:6) and seek first God's way of holiness (Mt 6:33). We must strive "for that holiness without which no one can see the Lord" (Heb 12:14).

The Lord expects "perfect" holiness from us because He has given us the power to become holy. Because we have been begotten by Him, that is, born again, by faith and baptism, we have a new nature by which we can live a holy life (1 Jn 2:29). Even if we fall into temptation and live according to our old sinful nature, we can repent and be washed clean in Jesus' blood. Finally, the Father and the Son have given us the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, Who makes us holy. Because of new life in the waters of baptism, forgiveness through Jesus' blood shed on Calvary, and the indwelling of the Spirit, the Lord expects us to be holy as He is holy. Have a holy Christmas season.

PRAYER: Father, may my desire for holiness be stronger than my desire for pleasure.

PROMISE: "When you see the Spirit descend and rest on Someone, it is He Who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit." –Jn 1:33

PRAISE: "The reason [Jesus] revealed Himself was to take away sins" (1 Jn 3:5). Praise the Holy Name of Jesus!

Be an inspiration, kindly Share.

Friday, January 2 2015; Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

Lectionary: 205

Reading 1
1 Jn 2:22-28

Beloved:
Who is the liar? 
Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. 
Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist. 
Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father,
but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.

Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. 
If what you heard from the beginning remains in you,
then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. 
And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. 
I write you these things about those who would deceive you. 
As for you,
the anointing that you received from him remains in you,
so that you do not need anyone to teach you. 
But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; 
just as it taught you, remain in him.

And now, children, remain in him,
so that when he appears we may have confidence
and not be put to shame by him at his coming.

Responsorial Psalm
PS 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Alleluia
Heb 1:1-2

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Jn 1:19-28

This is the testimony of John. 
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him
to ask him, “Who are you?”
He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted,
“I am not the Christ.” 
So they asked him,
“What are you then? Are you Elijah?” 
And he said, “I am not.” 
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.” 
So they said to him,
“Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? 
What do you have to say for yourself?”
He said:
“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’
as Isaiah the prophet said.” 
Some Pharisees were also sent. 
They asked him,
“Why then do you baptize
if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” 
John answered them,
“I baptize with water;
but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” 
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,
where John was baptizing.

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: TRUTH SERUM

"Who is the liar?" –1 John 2:22

As we begin the new year, we are asked the question: "Who is the liar?" The answers to this question are:

"He who denies that Jesus is the Christ" (1 Jn 2:22)."The Antichrist, denying the Father and the Son" (1 Jn 2:22)."The man who claims, 'I have known Him,' without keeping His commandments" (1 Jn 2:4).

The devil is also a liar (Jn 8:44). Yet he is more than that. He is "the father of lies" (Jn 8:44). He starts, expands, connects, and manages lies to form a culture of death. Only if we believe in Jesus, the Truth (see Jn 14:6), and thereby reject Satan and all his lying works and promises, will we be free (see Jn 8:32). If, however, we let ourselves be bribed or intimidated into believing Satan's lies, we will be manipulated even into calling God a liar (1 Jn 1:10; 5:10).

To overcome the evil spirit, we need the Holy Spirit, Who is the Truth (1 Jn 5:6). "As His anointing teaches you about all things and is true – free from any lie – remain in Him as that anointing taught you" (1 Jn 2:27). "When He comes...being the Spirit of Truth He will guide you to all truth" (Jn 16:13). Come, Holy Spirit of Truth!

PRAYER: Father, by Your grace I will never "do anything against the Truth, but only for the sake of the Truth" (2 Cor 13:8).

PROMISE: "He Himself made us a promise and the promise is no less than this: eternal life." –1 Jn 2:25

PRAISE: St. Basil was grandson, son, and brother to other canonized saints.

Be an inspiration, kindly Share.

Thursday, January 1 2015; The Octave Day of Christmas - Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

Reading 1
Nm 6:22-27

The LORD said to Moses: 
“Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: 
This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, 
and I will bless them.”

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8.

R. (2a) May God bless us in his mercy.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. May God bless us in his mercy.

reading 2
Gal 4:4-7

Brothers and sisters:
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born under the law, 
to ransom those under the law, 
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
As proof that you are sons, 
God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, 
crying out, “Abba, Father!”
So you are no longer a slave but a son, 
and if a son then also an heir, through God.

Alleluia
Heb 1:1-2

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Lk 2:16-21

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message 
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen, 
just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision,
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: ADOPTION PAPERS

"God sent forth His Son born of a woman, born under the law, to deliver from the law those who were subjected to it, so that we might receive our status as adopted sons." –Galatians 4:4-5

To begin this new year, we thank God our Father for choosing to adopt us. This has turned us from slaves into heirs (Gal 4:7). Our alternative to adoption is slavery leading us "back into fear" (Rm 8:15). If we had not been adopted by God the Father, we would be slaves for our whole lives "through fear of death" (Heb 2:15). Being adopted by God the Father turns slavery into freedom, fear into security, deprivation into inheritance, despair into hope, misery into joy, and death into life.

Therefore, we praise our Father, Who "predestined us through Christ Jesus to be His adopted" children (Eph 1:5). After Jesus, the Son of God, became the Son of Mary, He saved us and made it possible for us to be adopted sons and daughters of the Father. The Spirit cries out in our hearts: "Abba" ("Father") (Gal 4:6).

Rejoice in your Father's love. Rejoice as adopted children of God. Happy New Year!

PRAYER: Father, on this world day of prayer for peace and justice, I pray for all "to be saved and come to know the truth" (1 Tm 2:4).

PROMISE: "The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!" –Nm 6:24-26

PRAISE: Praise Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Mary!

Be an inspiration, kindly Share.

Happy 2015!