The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/010719.cfm)
reminds me that God
is greater than anything in this world.
We
sometimes think that God is the ruler of the world. He created everything, and
he is more powerful than anything. He created this world, but the first reading
tells us that God is not the ruler of this world. There is someone powerful as
well who is in the world. This is why Jesus, though Son of God, was born in a
humble stable, as a human being and not a God. However, we are reminded that
God is in us, and God is more powerful than the one who is in this world – the
devil.
God is
greater. Always.
In
the gospel, we see an example of this. The ruler of this world brings evil in
the world. Sickness and diseases, as well as evil possessions and lunatics.
However, Jesus is more powerful than anything of those. God is in Jesus, and he
cured the sick, healed the possessed, lunatics and paralytics, and saves the
condemned. His love and his power is greater than the evil and hate in the
world. The first reading again reminds us that we just need to trust in
God, to keep his commandments and live pleasing to him.
We
may have a lot of concerns coming into the new year. Work concerns that have
not yet been resolved. Financial concerns still haunting us. Health problems
that still distract us. Yes, these things may sound serious, but we just have
to remember that God is greater. He is greater and more powerful than anyone or
anything bothering us in this world. And we know what to do – to continue to nourish
our souls and enable God to be fully alive in us, for we know that He is
greater than anything. And as he is in us, we will be greater than any concern
in this world.
What
are my concerns as I start the year? What are my fears? How do I face them? Do
I realize that God is greater than all of these? Do I trust in God no matter
what the situation may be?
May
we take comfort that God is greater, and work to make God strong and alive in
us.
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 another week.
Lord, sorry for not trusting in you enough. Sorry for all my fears and worries.
Sorry for not focusing on you. I ask that you always be with me. Always be with
us. Help us and nourish us. I know how powerful you are, and I ask that I
always be filled with you, so your power can move me, can mold me, can equip
me. Be with me and use me to do your work, and protect me from anything in this
world that Is not from you. Amen.
Blessed Week!
In Christ,
-g-
January 7 2019
Monday after Epiphany
Lectionary: 212
Lectionary: 212
Beloved:
We receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit whom he gave us.
Beloved, do not trust every spirit
but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God,
because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
This is how you can know the Spirit of God:
every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh
belongs to God,
and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus
does not belong to God.
This is the spirit of the antichrist
who, as you heard, is to come,
but in fact is already in the world.
You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them,
for the one who is in you
is greater than the one who is in the world.
They belong to the world;
accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world,
and the world listens to them.
We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us,
while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us.
This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.
We receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit whom he gave us.
Beloved, do not trust every spirit
but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God,
because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
This is how you can know the Spirit of God:
every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh
belongs to God,
and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus
does not belong to God.
This is the spirit of the antichrist
who, as you heard, is to come,
but in fact is already in the world.
You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them,
for the one who is in you
is greater than the one who is in the world.
They belong to the world;
accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world,
and the world listens to them.
We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us,
while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us.
This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.
Responsorial
Psalm PS 2:7BC-8, 10-12A
R.
(8ab) I will give you all the nations
for an inheritance.
The LORD said to me, "ou are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession."
R. I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
And now, O kings, give heed;
take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
with trembling rejoice.
R. I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
The LORD said to me, "ou are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession."
R. I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
And now, O kings, give heed;
take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
with trembling rejoice.
R. I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
Alleluia SEE
MT 4:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT
4:12-17, 23-25
When
Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
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.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
"Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand."
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.
His fame spread to all of Syria,
and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases
and racked with pain,
those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics,
and he cured them.
And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea,
and from beyond the Jordan followed him.
he withdrew to Galilee.
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.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
"Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand."
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.
His fame spread to all of Syria,
and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases
and racked with pain,
those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics,
and he cured them.
And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea,
and from beyond the Jordan followed him.
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