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31 January 2016
The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Luke 4:21-30)
In this week’s Gospel we hear Jesus reminding us that no prophet is accepted in that prophet’s home town. And this includes each one of us! We shouldn’t at all be surprised when our family members or colleagues ridicule us for speaking the truth about things that are obviously wrong and must be changed. We can know that just because the Holy Spirit compels us to speak out, does not mean that our words will fall on open ears or fertile ground. Yes, we can be mocked and even persecuted for standing up for what is right.
St. Faustina went through this type of persecution herself as a Sister, and wrote: “I have noticed that, from the very moment I entered the convent, I have been charged with one thing; namely, that I am a saint. But this word was always used scoffingly. At first, this hurt me very much, but when I had risen above it, I paid no attention to it.” (Diary 1571).
Like St. Faustina, we also can count on God’s grace to help us rise above the scornful comments of others. We know what God is expecting of us, and we must try to be faithful to Him. Hopefully no one will try to hurl us off a cliff for not conforming to their expectations!
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I call to mind Your words, “if they persecuted Me they will persecute you,” and I know well that they persecuted You! Give me the grace to stand firm in Your truth even under persecution and ridicule. I trust in You! Amen.
24 January 2016
The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21)
Today we hear Jesus in the synagogue declaring, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me.” That prophecy of Isaiah was indeed fulfilled as Jesus read, for He Himself was the Messiah, the anointed one of God.
Yet before He died, Jesus promised to send that very same Spirit onto us, His followers. We were anointed at our Baptism, and the Holy Spirit (together with Jesus and the Father) took up residence in our souls. At our Confirmation, we were sealed with that same Spirit through a special anointing, and received the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. Mind-boggling, indeed, is the favour God has shown us! And do we even reflect on it, that the Spirit of the Lord is upon us?
St. Faustina was aware of the responsibilities that come with the anointing of the Holy Spirit. She wrote: “O Jesus, keep me in holy fear, so that I may not waste graces. Help me to be faithful to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. Grant that my heart may burst for love of You, rather than I should neglect even one act of love for You” (Diary 1557).
Prayer: O Jesus, who am I that I should be anointed with Your Holy Spirit? Yet you have desired to pour out Your graces on me in abundance. Help me to use them in a way that pleases You. Amen.
17 January 2016
The Second Sunday of Ordinary Time (John 2:1-11)
This Sunday the Church gives us to reflect on Jesus’ very first public miracle, performed at the Wedding Feast of Cana. Through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, Jesus rescued the young married couple from a potentially embarrassing situation.
Just as at Cana her eyes were open to see the needs of others, still today Our Lady is sensitive to the needs of each one of us. How well it would go for us if we were to constantly follow her advice to the stewards--to do whatever Jesus says. Mary truly is the best of mothers, who knows her Son Jesus, and knows exactly when and how to approach Him. Understanding this fact, St. Faustina would go to Mary before meeting Jesus sacramentally in Holy Communion. She wrote: “(B)efore every Holy Communion I earnestly ask the Mother of God to help me prepare my soul for the coming of Her Son, and I clearly feel Her protection over me. I entreat Her to be so gracious as to enkindle in me the fire of God's love, such as burned in Her own pure heart at the time of the Incarnation of the Word of God”(Diary 1114).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I thank You that You have given me Your Blessed Mother to be my Mother and intercessor. She is a priceless gift You bestowed on me, because You know that, as my Mother, she will make all efforts to lead me to You. Help me to follow her guidance, and draw me close to Your Heart. Amen.
10 January 2016
The Baptism of the Lord (Luke 3:15-16. 21-22)
In this week’s Gospel we hear a voice from heaven thundering out the words, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” We know the Heavenly Father was directing those words at His Son, Jesus, but we also know that God is love, and that He looks fondly on each one of us, loving us unconditionally and unrepeatably.
Unfortunately, many of us have still never experienced God’s love for us in a personal way, but continue to look at God and His love as an abstraction. Why should the God who made the universe care the least about me, one of the billions of people He has created? Well, Jesus told St. Faustina: “I want to give myself to souls and to fill them with My love, but few there are who want to accept all the graces My love has intended for them. My grace is not lost; if the soul for whom it was intended does not accept it, another soul takes it.” (Diary 1017).
If we have never felt God’s love for us, we cannot just conclude that He doesn’t love us. Could it be that we are closing ourselves to Him? Love isn’t just about feelings, and besides, God is ready to allow us to experience His love, if only we ask Him. Especially in this Jubilee Year of Mercy, He wants us to draw very near to Him and to drink deeply of His unconditional love.
Prayer: Jesus, my Lord, I have often heard that You love me, and that You loved me before I was even born. Yet sometimes You feel so far away. Allow me to experience Your personal love for me today, so that I can know You truly the God of Love and Mercy. Amen.
3 January 2016
The Epiphany of the Lord (Matthew 2:1-12)
In this week’s Gospel we see astrologers from far off lands arriving in Bethlehem to pay homage to the Saviour and King of Kings. Jesus has been the Saviour for every generation of Christians. They give Him their sins, they surrender to Him their selfish chasings after the stars of popularity, pleasure and money to become His joyful followers and fulfil His will. From there, they lead others to Jesus through their example of love.
We, too, are joyful followers of Jesus, so long as we remain pure of heart and strive to keep selfishness from taking root in us. When we give in to sin and self-interest and start doing things our own way, our souls lose their joy and inner beauty. St. Faustina knew this when she wrote: “Sorrow will not establish itself in a heart which loves the will of God. My heart, longing for God, feels the whole misery of exile. I keep going forward bravely—though my feet become wounded—to my homeland and, on the way, I nourish myself on the will of God. It is my food. (…) Although the desert is fearful, I walk with lifted head and eyes fixed on the sun; that is to say, on the merciful Heart of Jesus.” (Diary 886).
Prayer: Loving Lord Jesus, help me to keep my eyes fixed on Your Merciful Heart, so that Your will does not frighten me. I offer You my heart and my life. Deliver me from selfishness and help me to follow You with a pure and undivided heart. Fill me with Your joy. Amen.