Spirit Aflame

Thought of the Day January 27, 2020 Compassion

By spiritaflame 10:11 AM Thought of the Day

Homily Third Sunday Ordinary Time Year A Light vs darkness

By spiritaflame 12:07 PM Homily

Homily: Third Sunday Ordinary Time Year A

Reading 1: The Church continues its reflection on Isaiah with a familiar theme we have seen during the Christmas season. There is darkness in the world and a light shines forth to dispel the darkness. The darkness is sin and the light is the person of Christ. Darkness is the absence of light. It is hard to see in total darkness, but with light we have some visibility.

The land of Zebulum and Neptalie were in gloom and distress because of the law of sin, which existed in the lives of the people. But when the light comes, which is the forgiveness of Christ—grace--, anguish gives way and distressed is lifted. Joy returns for the yoke of sin has been destroyed by the death and resurrection of Jesus.

How aware are we of the prevailing darkness as a result of sin. Life is not is sacred. But in today’s world it is treated less than sarcred. Abortion, murders, violence, bombings, lawlessness happen regularly. Darkness engenders fear and insecurity and revenge and retaliation. Only forgiveness and hope, love and trust in the Lord brings light into our heart and lives.

Gospel: Matthew ties us to the first reading indicating that Jesus is the light prophesied by Isaiah in his Galilean ministry. To respond to Jesus is first to repent of sin, recognizing that the life Jesus gives us will enable us to live now and forever in the kingdom of God, if we remain in the light and not live in darkness.

The second step is to follow him, to make and live a daily decision to follow him, to be discipled by him, to stay in the light. We have been baptized in Christ. Are we now children of the light or have we returned to darkness of sin and remained there? In that state we cannot freely follow Jesus.

We can become overwhelmed by the social darkness all around us that seeks to extinguish the light of the truth revealed by Jesus. That darkness is like a fog, slowly creeping in and enveloping us in it, unless we choose to stay in the light, which is Jesus.

Are we more moral or as moral or less moral as a nation today in comparison to fifty years ago? Sexual darkness is in our face twenty-four seven. Twenty years ago the media industry leaders made a public commitment to change the morals of this country and they are succeeding unfortunately.

The good news is that Jesus has defeated the power of darkness and his light will not be extinguished. We are called to choose each day to live in the light of Christ, so that the darkness cannot permanently overtake us.

Reading 2: Paul identifies one of the effects of the darkness of sin in the life of the Corinthian community. Though they had received the light of the message of the Gospel through Paul’s preaching and ministry, they allowed darkness to come back—the darkness that comes from division and separation, of pride and self-importance.

Paul reminds them that they were baptized by and in Jesus, not by the human instrument used by Jesus. Jesus is the one who set them free and united them to himself and to the community of believers. By their division and disunity they were not living in full relationship with Jesus, whose prayer is for unity among his followers

Reflections on the Scriptures Third Sunday Ordinary Gospel A Call to be disciples

By spiritaflame 10:45 AM Reading Reflections

Third Sunday Ordinary Gospel A

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.
· Jesus had gone down to the Jordan in Judea where John was baptizing. Now, he returns to Galilee to begin his own ministry. It was safer for Jesus to minister in Galilee rather than Judea.
· John’s official ministry ends and Jesus’ begins. John had already realized this when he said: “I must decrease and he must increase.”

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.
· One of the characteristics of Matthew’s Gospel is to show that Jesus fulfills the prophetic word of the Old Testament.
· Zebulun was the 10th son of Jacob and Naphtali was the 6th son. The area of Galilee was the portion of the Promised Land given to these two tribes.
· Isaiah was prophesying about the coming of the future Messiah as a light to a land of darkness.

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
· John the Baptist proclaims a message of repentance in anticipation of the immediate coming of the Messiah. Jesus preaches a message of repentance in order to enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
· In Matthew’s Gospel this is the first encounter between Jesus and the future disciples. In John’s Gospel, Jesus has already evangelized Andrew and has encountered Simon. It must not have been a life-changing experience because he goes back fishing.

He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
· What was different with this encounter? Jesus gave them an invitation to become his disciples and to join him in the work of evangelization.
· Matthew said they immediately left all and followed Jesus. Another Gospel indicates that it was more dramatic than that. It was after the marvelous catch of fish that convinced them to follow Jesus.

He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.
· Jesus has called us to be his disciples. How quickly and totally have we responded?

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.
· The ministry of Jesus was simple and straightforward. He taught wherever he could, he preached the message of truth and he healed as a sign of the full salvation to come.
· Having reflected on this passage what application do we make in our lives?

Thought of the Day January 21, 2020 Need vs Want

By spiritaflame 10:34 AM Thought of the Day

Thought of the Day January 20, 2020 Faith or lack of faith

By spiritaflame 10:05 AM Thought of the Day

Homily: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A Jesus, the Messiah

By spiritaflame 11:26 AM Homily

Homily: Second Sunday Ordinary Year A

Reading: There are three Suffering Servant Songs in Isaiah in which the prophet identifies the future Messiah. Last Sunday, the first reading was also from the Book of Isaiah, the prophet. The selection was the first of these three Suffering Servant songs. Today, we heard from the second Suffering servant Song. The prophet calls him a servant through whom God will show forth his glory. As a servant he will depend on God for the strength to accomplish his will. Jesus said that he will glorify the Father. He did so by embracing the will of the Father even to the death of the cross.

This servant, Isaiah said, was formed in the womb. The Word of God, the Son of God, became flesh and dwelt with us. This servant, who is God become man, will not only bring salvation to Israel, the chosen people, but also will be a light to all nations, bringing them salvation as well. He is made glorious in God’s sight. God raised Jesus, his servant/son up from death and exalted him at his right hand, giving him the name above all names, so that at the name of Jesus all may bow down to the glory of the Father.

Gospel: Isaiah identified the future Messiah as a servant who would save his people through suffering death. John the Baptist identifies him as the Lamb of God who takes away sin. A lamb is sacrificed. As the chosen people in bondage sacrificed a lamb, ate it, and mark their doorposts with its blood, experienced freedom, so through Jesus’ blood on the cross freed us from the bondage of sin.

John identifies him further as existing before him. Even though in time John was conceived and born before Jesus, in eternity the Son of God existed before he became the son of man.

John knew him as his cousin, but did not know him as the Messiah. John was sent to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah by calling people into repentance and acknowledging their desire to repent by being baptized. The Spirit revealed to John that the Messiah would be identified by the coming of the Spirit upon one he would baptized.

When Jesus come to be baptized as a sign of his public commitment to the will of the Father, John at first refuses because he felt unworthy to do so. Jesus insisted and said it is the will of God.

After Jesus’ baptism, John saw the Spirit of God resting upon Jesus, confirming the message he had received. That is why he proclaimed afterwards “Behold the Lamb of God. Behold the Messiah.”

He said Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ baptism is not a preparation but the fulfillment of God’s mercy. Our sins are forgiven and the Spirit of God dwells in us, sharing God’s divine life with us, calling us his adopted children.

Reading 2: Just as Isaiah was called by God to be a prophet, Paul says he had been called by God to be an apostle of Jesus. As John the Baptism was sent to prepare the way for the Messiah, Paul was sent to proclaim the Good News of salvation.

What should our response be to this Good News, both of John and Paul? As we commit our lives to Christ who takes away our sins, we are called to be holy, consecrated to Jesus. We have been consecrated in baptism and commissioned to share in the life of Jesus as priest, prophet and king. We have been made a temple of the Holy Spirit in baptism, anointed and empowered to be holy witnesses of Jesus to others in the power of the Holy Spirit. As Paul pointed Jesus out to others, so we are called to do the same.

How conscious are we of our vocation to be holy? How conscious are we pursuing holiness? How attentive are we to the daily, divine appointments from God to witness him to others?

Thought of the Day January 17, 2020 Seek the Lord

By spiritaflame 10:27 AM Thought of the Day

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Thought of the Day January 27, 2020 Compassion

Homily Third Sunday Ordinary Time Year A Light vs darkness

Reflections on the Scriptures Third Sunday Ordinary Gospel A Call to be disciples

Thought of the Day January 21, 2020 Need vs Want

Thought of the Day January 20, 2020 Faith or lack of faith

Homily: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A Jesus, the Messiah

Thought of the Day January 17, 2020 Seek the Lord

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