THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

2^nd February, Feast

I Reading: Malachi 3: 1-4: Look, I am going to send my messenger to prepare a way before me.

II Reading: Hebrew 2:14-18:

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

 We are celebrating today an important event in the life of Jesus: his presentation to God in the Temple of Jerusalem by his parents, forty days after his birth. This is a very ancient feast, one of the oldest in the church that it was celebrated in Jerusalem less than four hundred years after the birth of Jesus Christ that we celebrate today. This feast contains a special message for all Christians. Let us try to discuss this message in the readings of today.

1.    A prophecy of Malachi: Yahweh made a solemn announcement through the prophet Malachi:

i.                He would send a messenger to prepare his way; he planned to come personally to the Temple. He would do so in the person of the Messiah.

ii.                He would cleanse priests and people of their sins so as to enable them to offer a sacrifice worthy of Yahweh. But his offering would not made in Jerusalem alone; it would be carried out “from the farthest East to the farthest West”, that is, by all nations throughout the world. (Mal 1:11)

That is to say: the Messiah would come; He would indeed be the Messenger of Yahweh to all mankind; he would cleanse them of their sins, and lead them to worship God in a worthy manner. This is the content of today’s first reading.

2.      The prophecy of Malachi was fulfilled as Jesus was presented in the Temple: it took nearly 500 years for God to fulfil what he had announced through his prophet. After the birth of the first child, presentation to the Lord, for forty days for the male child and for eighty days for the female child, the mother was permitted to attend in the public service. (Lev 12:1-8; Ex 13:12-14).

3.    What did really take place at the presentation of Jesus to God in the Temple?

·     The surrender to the Will of His Father which he had carried out at the very moment of his conception in the womb of Mary (Heb 10: 5-7).

4.    Simeon and Anne: only the Spirit of God can lead a person to discover who Jesus is and to accept him as one’s own Savior.

5.    Mary and Joseph were led to accept God’s plans to save the world (Lk 2:33-35; 1:38; Mt 1:20; Heb 2:18)

Thought: Jesus is our light of everyone (Jn 1:9). His presentation in the Temple teaches and leads us to a complete surrender to God’s plans in our lives as Mary, Joseph and Jesus did the Will of God in their lives.

Today’s feast conveys a particular message to parents, namely that, their children belong to God more than to them; they must therefore lead them not only to the Temple or Church, but to God.

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Third Sunday in Ordinary Time-C

I Reading: Nehemiah 8:2-6.8-10: Ezra read from the law of God and the people understood what was read.

II Reading: 1Corinthians 12:12-30: You together are Christ’s body; but each of you is a different part of it.

Gospel: Luke 1:1-4,4:14-21: Text is being fulfilled today.

Jesus Announces His Mission: A Graphic Picture of Rejection, 4:16-30

The kingly power of God is to be exercised in pardoning, loving, healing and liberation from sin, death and all corruptions. Jesus has not merely read the Scriptures but as King’s messenger proclaimed the Good News to the poor, captives, blind, oppressed and announced the year of the Lord as true freedom. Jesus Christ claimed to be the Messiah, and His claim was rejected by the people of His day. His claim is still rejected by people today. A graphic picture of rejection is painted in the present passage.

1. A dramatic scene (v.16)

a. Jesus visited His home town

b. Jesus entered the Synagogue-His custom on the Sabbath

2. Scene 1: Jesus’ dramatic reading from the prophet Isaiah-concerned the Messiah (v.17-19)

a. The Messiah was to be anointed by the Spirit

b. The Messiah was to preach the gospel (Good News)

c. The Messiah was to minister

d. The Messiah was to preach the age of salvation

3. Scene 2: Jesus’ phenomenal claim (v.20-21)

a. The rapt attention of the people

b. The claim of Jesus to be the Messiah

4. Scene 3: The people’s declining response (v.22-23)

a. First, They were impressed

b. Second, They questioned

c. Third, They demanded proof-insisted He heal (prove)Himself, that is, work miracles-like a devil or Satan asking to prove

5. Scene 4: The people’s painful rejection (v.24-27)

a. Illus. 1: Only one needy widow had her needs met in Elijah’s day-because only one widow accepted Elijah

b. Illus. 2: Only one needy leper was cleansed in Elisha’s day-because only one leper accepted Elisha

6. Scene 5: The people’s true spirit (v.28-30)

a. An insane wrath: A close mindedness

b. An insane insult: To silence Jesus

c. The insane behaviour of the people failed

Thought: When God calls, He appoints; He equips the messenger with His Spirit. The Holy Spirit goes with the messenger wherever God sends him.

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Second Sunday in Ordinary Time-C

I Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5: The bridegroom rejoices in his bride.

II Reading: 1Corinthians 12:4-11: One and the same Spirit, who distribute gifts to different people just as he chooses.

Gospel: John 2:1-11: This was the first of the signs given by Jesus: it was given at Cana in Galilee.

Revelation 1: Creative Power, Jn 2:1-11

This was the first miraculous sing Jesus performed. It demonstrated His very purpose for coming to earth: to reveal the creative power of God. He had  the power to create and produce what was needed to meet human’s need.

1. Wedding in Cana of Galilee (v.1-2)

a. Time: The third day

b. Mary attended

c. Jesus and the disciples attended

2. The concern of Jesus’ creative power (v.3-5):Genesis-Creative Word of God-God’s creation

a. Mary’s social concern

b. Jesus’ deeper concern: To meet man’s spiritual need

c. Mary’s confidence in her Son

3. The revelation of Jesus’ creative power (v.6-8)

a. The materials: Water jars- used for cleaning and quenching thirst

b. The command: Prepare/fill the jar

c. The obedience: They drew water and experienced the creative power of Jesus

4. The results of Jesus’ creative power (v.9-11)

a. Human’s need was met

b. Christ’s glory was revealed

c. The disciple’s faith was strengthened

Thought: Jesus graced and blessed the marriage because he was “invited…to the wedding.” Mary’s concern was a social concern and Jesus met the real needs of the people. Jesus, being the Son of God, the Messiah has the power to create anything which is good for the greater glory of God and salvation of humankind as the kingdom of God.

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THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD: Feast

First Sunday in Ordinary Time- Year C

I.                Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5.9-11: The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all mankind shall see it.

II.             II. Reading: Titus 2:11-14. 3:4-7: He saved us by the cleansing water of re-birth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit.

Gospel: Luke 3:15-16. 21-22: While Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened.

The Baptism of Jesus: Obedience and God’s Approval, Lk 3:21-22

Jesus’ baptism pictures what happens when a person makes a decision for God. Baptism is both obeying God and securing God’s approval. This is why Jesus was baptized, and it is why we are to be baptized.

1. Jesus’ Obedience (v.21)

a. Obedient along with the people

b. Obedient in prayer

2. God’s sings of approval (v.22)

a. The heavens were opened

b. The Spirit descended

c. The voice of God spoke

Thought: Every person should respond to the gospel of God. That is, he/she should seek God to forgive his/her sins, repent, and be baptized. This is God’s will for every person. All should obey God fulfil all righteousness. Baptism is an act of obedience; it is obeying God right along with other believers. God’s own Son had to obey Him; He had to be baptized as a sign of obedience to God. When we genuinely obey God and are baptized, God is pleased. We also secure His approval in the same three ways:

i. God opens heaven up to us and gives us a very special sense of His presence and we are cleansed of sins.

ii. God manifests and reveals His Spirit to us.

iii. God’s Word is heard. He continues to speak to us day by day as we seek His will in the Bible and prayer (Rev. 3:20; 1Jn 1:3).

Thought: God meets the needs of His servants for assurance. He sees to it that we know His Will and gives assurance that we are doing His Will. He speaks to our hearts and gives signs of approval and encouragement. Every true believer is commissioned and empowered by God’s Spirit to do the work of God.

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THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

I.                Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6: Above you the glory of the Lord appears.

II. Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3.5-6: It has now been revealed that pagans share the same inheritance.

Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12: We saw his star and have come to do the king homage.

Jesus’ Acknowledgement as King by Wise Men or Magi:

An Unexpected Worship.

The Feast of the Epiphany we are celebrating today is the oldest feast in the Church after Easter and Pentecost. It has been celebrated long before the Christmas was; it took the place of Christmas many years, since the birth of Jesus was one among the various events remembered on this day by the early church. The word “Epiphany” in Greek means “Manifestation”, that is, the clear appearing of something or of one, unknown to us before.

Today we celebrate the unknown one (JESUS) who has made us known himself to all of us.

The purpose of the Epiphany is: To praise God because Christ has made himself known to people for what he really is: The Son of God and our Saviour.

The wise men (magi) are a picture of those who seek Jesus.  As they sought him, events totally unexpected happened time and again. This is usually the case with those who seek Jesus. But God is faithful.  If a person truly seeking Jesus, God takes the unexpected events and works them out for good (Rom 8:28). God leads the person to Jesus regardless of circumstances and events, expected or unexpected.

1.    The unexpected Saviour: Jesus was born in Bethlehm (v.1)

a.    In the days of king Herod

b.   Magi came seeking him

2.    Their unexpected question: Where is the new born king? (v.2)

a.    The unusual journey from the east

b.   Their purpose: to worship

3.    Their unexpected disturbance (v.3-6)

a.    Disturbed all the people in Jerusalem

b.   Disturbed Herod: he misconceived a threat

c.    Disturbed the religionists

i.                Herod quizzed them

ii.              They had ignored the Scripture (until now)

4.    Their unexpected commission: having to search for the new born king (v.7-8)

a.    Their testimony: the star

b.   Their commission: to go-search-find

5.    Their unexpected sign: the star guided them again (v.9-10)

6.    Their unexpected king: a humbled child in humble surroundings (v.11)

a.    They found him in a house

b.   They gave Jesus worship not to the king Herod neither they obeyed Herod’s command rather they obeyed God’s command

c.    They gave him gifts( gold for the kingship of Jesus, incense for the divinity of Jesus and myrrh for the humanity of Jesus)

Our whole life is a continuous Epiphany: Jesus goes on manifesting himself to us at all times.

Thought: God’s ways are not man’s way (1Cor 1:26-31). The newborn king is not a humanistic Saviour. He is God’s Saviour who has come in God’s way (Phil 2:7-8; 2Cor 8:9).

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1 January: New Year’s Day:

Solemnity of Mary,

Mother of God

I. Reading: Numbers 6:22-27: They are to call down my name on the sons of Israel, and I will bless them.

II. Reading: Galatians 4:4-7: God sent His Son, born of a woman.

Gospel: Luke 2:16-21: They found Mary and Joseph and the babe...When the eight day came, they gave him the name Jesus.

On this first day of the New Year, we gather as one family to celebrate the feast and solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God who is also the mother of the Church and of all. There are three main reasons to celebrate today:

i.                To honour Mary, for having been chosen to be the Mother of God.

ii.              To ask for God’s blessings throughout the year that starts today.

iii.            To pray to God for peace in the world and joy in our hearts.

We see words of blessings in the first reading. God has been blessing us so we need to bless our children and people in the name of God. In the second reading, God has blessed us by giving his own Son Jesus in the appointed time (kairos=fullness of time/grace-filled) to set free the humankind from the slavery of sins, death and all corruptions.  Mary gave us Jesus and Jesus gave us Mary to be our Mother, as Jesus taught “the Our Father...” he also thought us “Our Mother.” So let us call and honour Mary our Heavenly Mother who gave birth to the redeemer. The Gospel is proclaiming the Good News of the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem who is the king of Peace to save the world.

This New Year is God’s precious gift to us who invites us to work for peace throughout the world in this present violence and conflicts. Let us bear in mind that peace too is the gift of Jesus to us: “Peace I give you, my own peace I give you” (Jn 14:27). Only by keeping Christ’s peace in our hearts shall become the peacemakers in the world. Peace within us and peace around us should be our programme throughout the New Year.

 

Wishing you A Happy New Year & a joyful Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary the Mother of God with God’s blessings of Peace & Joy!

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