LOVING THE BARREN

St. Hilary

1 Samuel 1:1-8, Psalm 116:12-19, Mark 1:14-20
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011314.cfm

"But Hannah was childless." -1 Samuel 1:2

As we begin this new year, we want to lead as many people as possible to Jesus (1 Cor 9:19). If we love both the Lord and people, we will give others the greatest gift of all - life in Christ Jesus.

However, we find that many Christians have not led or even tried to lead others to Jesus. They are spiritually barren. Many people ignore this situation, but this is foolhardy, considering that the Lord has commanded us and will hold us accountable to be fruitful and multiply (Gn 1:28) and to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19). On the other hand, a few people blame barren Christians for not trying to share their faith in Jesus (see 1 Sm 1:6-7). This attitude of blaming and shaming is counter-productive.

Possibly we can learn from Elkanah, the husband of the physically barren Hannah. When Elkanah offered sacrifice, he gave "a double portion to Hannah because he loved her" (1 Sm 1:5). Those who are spiritually unfruitful need a double portion of God's Word, prayer, and Christian community. They need to be loved into accepting and then giving God's love. "We, for our part, love because He first loved us" (1 Jn 4:19). The love of Christ will impel us (2 Cor 5:14) to share the love of Jesus with all whom we meet. Love makes us spiritually fruitful.

Prayer: Father, I will speak out of the abundance of love in my heart (Lk 6:45).

Promise: "This is the time of fulfillment. The reign of God is at hand! Reform your lives and believe in the gospel!" -Mk 1:15

Praise: St. Hilary was praised by Sts. Augustine and Jerome as "a fair cedar transplanted out of this world into the Church."

GIVE IN

Baptism of Jesus

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7, Acts 10:34-38, Psalm 29:1-4, 9-10, Matthew 3:13-17
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011214.cfm

"Give in for now. We must do this if we would fulfill all of God's demands." -Matthew 3:15

The first words of Jesus in the New Testament are: "Give in" (Mt 3:15). Usually, when we hear this command, we are being stubborn, selfish, and rebellious. However, when Jesus told John the Baptizer to give in, it was in a different context. Jesus told John to give in and baptize Him, that is, to do something John was not worthy of doing. In a similar context, Jesus commands us to give in. For example, before we receive Holy Communion, we say: "Lord, I am not worthy to receive You" (see Mt 8:8). Then we give in and receive Communion despite our unworthiness.

Jesus calls us to follow Him in bringing justice to the nations (Is 42:1), opening the eyes of the blind, bringing out prisoners from confinement (Is 42:7), and healing all who are in the grip of the devil (Acts 10:38). We feel inadequate and unworthy to accomplish these great plans the Lord has for us, but the Lord tells us to "give in." We may not feel like much, but the Lord commands us to give in and believe we are children of God, loved and favored by Him, and empowered by the Holy Spirit (see Mt 3:16-17). On this last day of the Christmas season, give in and renew the face of the earth (Ps 104:30).

Prayer: Father, I believe deeply that You are my Father and that You love me. May this faith change every detail of my life.

Promise: "Here is My Servant Whom I uphold, My chosen One with Whom I am pleased, upon Whom I have put My Spirit." -Is 42:1

Praise: Alleluia! Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Christmas! Alleluia!

DON'T RUIN YOUR APPETITE

1 John 5:14-21, Psalm 149:1-6, 9, John 3:22-30
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011114.cfm

"The Son of God has come and has given us discernment to recognize the One Who is true. And we are in the One Who is true, for we are in His Son Jesus Christ." -1 John 5:20

We must thirst for and strongly desire to receive the Holy Spirit to have living waters flow from within (Jn 7:37-38). Two baptisms prepare us for the baptism in the Spirit: first, the baptism of repentance, then the Baptism of new life in Jesus. These baptisms should make us more strongly desire the Holy Spirit.

However, the devil tries to ruin this process by causing confusion about the first two baptisms. For example, the scribes and Pharisees refused to accept the baptism of John, and Herod arrested and murdered John (Mk 6:28). There was also conflict surrounding the baptism which Jesus' apostles practiced. "A controversy about purification arose between John's disciples and a certain Jew. So they came to John, saying, 'Rabbi, the Man Who was with you across the Jordan - the One about Whom you have been testifying - is baptizing now, and everyone is flocking to Him' " (Jn 3:25-26). These conflicts leave a bad taste in our mouths and can turn us off to the next baptism, the baptism in the Spirit. What's the devil trying to do now to prevent you from receiving a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit tomorrow on the feast of the Baptism of Jesus? Don't let the confusion influence you. Thirst all the more for the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Jesus, there's always been controversy before, during, and after the outpouring of the Spirit. May I fix my eyes on You and be immersed in and filled with the Spirit.

Promise: "Anyone who sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, should petition God, and thus life will be given to the sinner." -1 Jn 5:16

Praise: Lorene prayed and quit smoking completely. She had smoked four packs a day.

CHRISTMAS MISERY

1 John 5:5-13, Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20, Luke 5:12-16

Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011014.cfm


"On one occasion in a certain town, a man full of leprosy came to" Jesus. -Luke 5:12

We ask everyone if they had a good holiday and Christmas season, and they all say "Fine." Yet behind those sad smiles and between the lines of our "small talk," we sense a deep hurt, severe depression, unrepentant sin, and devastating bondage. Marriages are destroyed; bitterness and resentment poison family life; hearts are broken by rejection. Some mourn over the death and loss of loved ones. Some have lost contact with God because of sin and self. Many have had a terrible Christmas.
  You don't have to smile faintly and tell Jesus about your "nice" Christmas. He sees your sin and pain and "leprosy." Bow "down to the ground" before the Christ-Child and say to Him: "Lord, if You will to do so, You can cure me" (Lk 5:12). Jesus will stretch out His hand, touch you, and say: "I do will it. Be cured" (Lk 5:13). Jesus wills Christmas for us. He wills life, repentance, and healing. He wills salvation for us. Remember the laborers in the vineyard who got the full day's pay even though hired at the last minute (Mt 20:9). Jesus wants to give you the fullness of Christmas, no matter what has happened and how late it is. "I have written this to you to make you realize that you possess eternal life - you who believe in the name of the Son of God" (1 Jn 5:13).


Prayer: Father, not by my might, not by my power, but by Your Spirit, I will have Christmas (Zec 4:6).

Promise: "Who, then, is conqueror of the world? The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." -1 Jn 5:5

Praise: Michele ruined Christmas by committing fornication. She repented and went to Confession. Jesus gave her the best finish to the Christmas season ever.

THE SPIRIT'S JUBILEE-FREEDOM

1 John 4:19-5:4, Psalm 72:1-2, 14-15, 17, Luke 4:14-22
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/010914.cfm

"Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." -Luke 4:21

Jesus prophesied: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me; therefore He has anointed Me. He has sent Me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind and release to prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord" (Lk 4:18-19). This "year of favor" is the Jubilee Year, which occurred every fifty years (see Lv 25:10ff) and Jesus promised the good news of great freedom each year.
As the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus and anointed Him to set the captives free, so we need the Holy Spirit to be stirred into flame in our lives (2 Tm 1:6-7). Sunday, we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, the last day of the Christmas season. As the Spirit descended upon Jesus at His Baptism in the river Jordan, so the Spirit will come to us in new and deeper ways. End this Christmas season by receiving the power of the Spirit to give jubilee-freedom to an enslaved and enslaving world. Come, Holy Spirit! Come, true Christmas Spirit!


Prayer: Father, may I have more than Christmas parties. May I celebrate jubilee years and a jubilee life forever with You.

Promise: "We, for our part, love because He first loved us." -1 Jn 4:19

Praise: Jesus set Charles free from addiction to crack cocaine.

LOVING THE INVISIBLE

1 John 4:11-18, Psalm 72:1-2, 10, 12-13, Mark 6:45-52
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/010814.cfm

"We have seen for ourselves, and can testify, that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world." -1 John 4:14

It is very important for us as human beings to see people if we are to love them. We find it hard to love the invisible because we usually receive and give love through our senses. That is why God became a human being - so that we could see Him and love Him.

Therefore, when Jesus ascended bodily into heaven, this presented a problem for us. We no longer had a see-able and more lovable God. Accordingly, Jesus and the Father sent the Holy Spirit to extend the Incarnation by creating the body of Christ, the Church. Now through the Church and especially in the Eucharist, we can do much more than see God. We can even receive into our bodies the body and blood of God.

We accept this special, miraculous relationship with God by believing in Him and loving Him. "No one has ever seen God. Yet if we love one another God dwells in us, and His love is brought to perfection in us" (1 Jn 4:12). "God is Love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him" (1 Jn 4:16). We can be in the invisible God and He in us if we are in love with Him, especially in the Eucharist. "Although you have never seen Him, you love Him, and without seeing you now believe in Him, and rejoice with inexpressible joy touched with glory because you are achieving faith's goal, your salvation" (1 Pt 1:8-9).

Prayer: Father, no one has ever seen You (Jn 1:18), but I love You with all my heart because I have seen Your Image, Jesus (Col 1:15).

Promise: "It is I. Do not be afraid!" -Mk 6:50

Praise: Once a drug dealer and abuser, by God's grace George became a preacher of His Word.