49 Angle Road, Walkerville
P.O. Box 378, Walkerville, 1876
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26 January 2014
The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Matthew 4:12-23)
In this Sunday’s Gospel we hear that the words of the prophet Isaiah are fulfilled in Jesus Christ: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.” Today’s psalm states something similar: “The Lord is my light and my salvation.”
Jesus indeed is the Light of the World, showing the way to the Father for anyone who desires to find Him. Jesus’ life shines as an example for us who, in fear and trembling, strive daily to work out our salvation in the midst of a corrupt and depraved generation. Looking to Jesus as our guide and model, we can never go astray. And in fact, He wants us to help lead others out of the darkness of unbelief into the Light of His presence.
In order to be a docile instrument of Merciful Jesus, we need to be open to His Holy Spirit and to allow His Light to penetrate our hearts, which can sometimes become hardened by the various trials and afflictions we suffer in this valley of tears. May we turn to the Lord in prayer with these words from St. Faustina’s Diary (830)
Prayer: O Light Eternal, who come to this earth, enlighten my mind and strengthen my will that I may not give up in times of great affliction. May Your light dissipate all the shadows of doubt. May Your omnipotence act through me. I trust in You, O uncreated Light! Amen.
19 January 2014
The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (John 1:29-34)
Today’s Gospel begins with John the Baptist pointing out Jesus as “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Imagine a meek and gentle lamb, and think for a second exactly how it might achieve this taking away of the sins of the world. Yet we know what happens with Jesus, how He goes through life doing only good, healing people, casting out demons, restoring the lost dignity of sinners. And for all this he ends up being nailed to the Cross. But the Cross is exactly where, as the spotless Lamb, He lays down His life as victim for the sins of the world. Who would have thought that this soft-spoken carpenter from Nazareth was going to save the world?
What an awesome mystery that Jesus, God Himself, comes to us as a humble lamb to save us from our sins! St. Faustina wrote: “O Lamb of God, I do not know what to admire in You first: Your gentleness, Your hidden life, the emptying of Yourself for the sake of man, or the constant miracle of Your mercy, which transforms souls and raises them up to eternal life. (…) Though the omnipotence of Your mercy is at work in the justification of the sinner, yet Your action is gentle and hidden” (Diary 1584).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, who am I but a wretched sinner, that You should allow Yourself to be crucified to wash away my sins with Your Blood? Help me to show my gratitude for Your infinite love by imitating Your gentleness and humility in all of my dealings with my neighbour. Amen.
12 January 2014
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (Matthew 3:13-17)
This Sunday we hear the precious words of the Heavenly Father “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Yes, Jesus’ whole life was very pleasing to the Father. He was ready at every moment to fulfil the Will of God at every cost, even to death on the Cross. But the pleasure of God came from the fact that Jesus was His Son; what Jesus did was only secondary. The same is true for us. As beloved children of God, created in His very Image and washed in the Blood of Jesus, we are loved unconditionally. Yes, the Lord is pleased when we fulfil His Will, but He loves us all the same simply because we are His children.
St. Faustina wrote: “I was reflecting on how much God had suffered and on how great was the love He had shown for us, and on the fact that we still do not believe that God loves us so much. O Jesus, who can understand this? What suffering it is for our Saviour! How can He convince us of His love if even His death cannot convince us?” (Diary 319).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I know that I often doubt God’s love for me. After all, I don’t obey His Will as I ought to, and I often make bad choices that I know offend Him. Help me to experience God’s love for me in a real way, so that I will be able to change and become His obedient child, even more of a delight to His Heart than I already am. Amen.
5 January 2014
The Solemnity of the Epiphany (Matthew 2:1-12)
The Gospel for the Feast of the Epiphany introduces us to Wise Men from the East who arrive in Jerusalem looking for the newborn King of the Jews. After inquiring from Herod where the King is to be found, they proceed on to Bethlehem, where, on finding the child, they fall down and worship Him, offering Him precious gifts.
These pagan astrologers put us to shame. Only because they see a particular star, they travel over hill and vale to come worship Emmanuel, God-With-Us, and to give Him luxurious gifts. And here we have that same God-Man present in every tabernacle on earth, not far at all from our homes, and we make few efforts to visit Him or to bring gifts.
St. Faustina wrote these words to Jesus: “Oh, who will comprehend Your love and Your unfathomable mercy toward us! O Prisoner of Love, I lock up my poor heart in this tabernacle, that it may adore You without cease night and day. (…) O my Jesus, I will console You for all the ingratitude, the blasphemies, the coldness, the hatred of the wicked, the sacrileges” (Diary 80).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, help me like St. Faustina to make more efforts to visit You, locked up all alone in the tabernacle of my parish church. Thank You for coming so close to us, for becoming our daily Bread. Don’t allow me to leave You alone and abandoned, but instead let me be Your constant companion. Amen.