Application

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/010815.cfm) reminds me how we can apply loving God in our lives.

We all say that we love God. We profess it. We know we do. However, it does not always translate into action. Sometimes, profession remains just that a profession of love. God wants more than that.

Profession should always be translated into action.

When we say we love God, we should not be contented with just saying and knowing it. We should live it.

In the gospel, people were amazed by Jesus. They spoke highly of him. But it should not end there. It should be translated into action, else Jesus’ mission would not be fulfilled. The psalmist proclaims that every nation will adore God. How do we do it? The first reading tells us how. We should love one another. We should love our brother.

They say God is in everyone. He created us all, and he is in us all. So if we say we love God, we should also love all his creations – including annoying and seemingly unlovable people in our lives. His words are straight – “if anyone says I love God but hates his brother is a liar”

May we always remember that profession of faith is not enough, we should apply this love and translate it into action.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for reminding me how much you love me, and that I should apply and live my love for you. Help me see you in others, especially those unlovable people in my life. May I be able to look past beyond the surface and see you deep in their lives, and may it  enable me to love you in them. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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January 8, 2015

Thursday after Epiphany

Lectionary: 215

Reading 1 1 Jn 4:19–5:4

Beloved, we love God because

he first loved us.

If anyone says, “I love God,”

but hates his brother, he is a liar;

for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen

cannot love God whom he has not seen.

This is the commandment we have from him:

Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,

and everyone who loves the Father

loves also the one begotten by him.

In this way we know that we love the children of God

when we love God and obey his commandments.

For the love of God is this,

that we keep his commandments.

And his commandments are not burdensome,

for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.

And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.

Responsorial Psalm PS 72:1-2, 14 and 15bc, 17

R. (see 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

O God, with your judgment endow the king,

and with your justice, the king’s son;

He shall govern your people with justice

and your afflicted ones with judgment.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

From fraud and violence he shall redeem them,

and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

May they be prayed for continually;

day by day shall they bless him.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

May his name be blessed forever;

as long as the sun his name shall remain.

In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;

all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Alleluia Lk 4:18R.

Alleluia, alleluia.

The Lord has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor

and to proclaim liberty to captives.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 4:14-22

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,

and news of him spread throughout the whole region.

He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,

and went according to his custom

into the synagogue on the sabbath day.

He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring glad tidings to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,

and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.

He said to them,

“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

And all spoke highly of him

and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.