The weekdays of the Christmas-Epiphany season continue day after day to confront us with the person of Jesus. This child and our brother is God, and yet, this Son of God is fully human. This man Jesus manifests his divine power – in today’s gospel, by walking on the waters of the lake, with water […]
Here comes the great theme of the apostle John, almost like an obsession, both in his letter and in the gospel: God is the origin of all love. For he is love: a love that is giving, a love, as the gospel shows, that is compassionate. Self-communication is the mark of love: within God, from
Today’s Gospel speaks of the beginnings of Jesus’ ministry. He preaches his gospel of repentance and conversion first to the semi-pagan Jews of Galilee: he becomes their light. The signs that the kingdom of God has begun with him are that the sick are cured, that he goes to the poor and the suffering. John
Theme 1 Light Revealed to the Nations Greeting May the star of Jesus our Lord shine on you and on all the nations of the earth. May you live in his light and may the Lord Jesus be always with you. R/ And also with you. Introduction The celebration of Epiphany, meaning “manifestation,” is like
The message of today speaks in two different senses of being God’s sons and daughters. There is first Christ, the Son of God in a deeper way than one said to be beloved by God. John recognizes him as God’s own Son, with a human and divine personality. He is sent among people by the
The veneration of the Holy Name of Jesus has deep roots in Christianity, with early mentions in Acts 4:10 and Philippians 2:10. The IHS monogram, derived from the Greek name ΙΗΣΟΥΣ (Jesus), was used on altars and objects since early Christianity, symbolising devotion to Christ. In the 16th century, the Jesuits adopted the IHS monogram
In his first letter, John, probably reacting against the Gnostics, strongly asserts that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ in our midst. Like John the Baptist in the gospel, we, and the whole Church, have to assert strongly that we are not the Christ, though he stands among us, but we have to be his
Today’s liturgy unites in one celebration two close friends, the Cappadocians (both from the region of Cappadocia in Turkey), both monks before becoming bishops. Basil reorganised monastic life. As bishop of Caesarea, he asserted the Church’s independence from civil power, vigorously fought the Arian heresy, and did much to aid the poor; a great theologian,
1. Mary, Mother of God Greeting (See Second Reading) God sent his Son, born of a woman, to enable us to become God’s children. Through the Spirit of the Son we can cry out to God: “Father, my Father!” May Jesus, this Son, be always with you. R/ And also with you. Introduction It is
Today the liturgy fits in very well with the celebration of New Year’s Eve: it both looks forward to the end of time (1st Reading) and back to the beginning: to the Word that created all and came among people as the living Word, Jesus, to make a new beginning with us. And that’s life: the
