Mass Readings and Meditations “The Word Among Us” Monday, 6 January 2014

Mass Readings and Meditations “The Word Among Us” Monday, 6 January 2014

Meditation: Matthew 4: Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee

12 Now when Jesus[a] heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,

    on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

16 the people who sat in darkness

    have seen a great light,

and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death

    light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”[b]

Footnotes:

a.  Matthew 4:12 Gk he

b. Matthew 4:17 Or is at hand

Jesus Ministers to Crowds of People

23 Jesus[a] went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news[b] of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

Footnotes:

a. Matthew 4:23 Gk He

b. Matthew 4:23 Gk gospel

Saint André Bessette, Religious

Great crowds … followed him. (Matthew 4:25)

Of course great crowds followed Jesus—he was magnetic! Who wouldn’t want to be around him? His whole being radiated the power and love of God. Everyone who encountered him went away with renewed hope, newfound joy, and a sense of freedom. He truly was “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

Do you know what? Jesus is calling you to be a spiritual magnet as well. It’s true! And whatever he calls you to do, he empowers you to do. Every time you sit with him in personal prayer, every time you worship him with your brothers and sisters at Mass, he fills you with his love so that you can give it away. He wants you to bring light to people in the shadows, healing to people who are hurting, and hope to people caught in despair.

“But I am not flashy,” you say. “I am not naturally confident or a gifted speaker.” It doesn’t matter. People are going to be attracted to Christ in you, not you in you. The more you spend quality time with the Lord each day, the more you will take on Jesus’ character. And that will make you more magnetic. Your joy, your peace, and your love will grow—and people will be attracted to you. The Spirit in you will be contagious, reaching out to people and opening their hearts to the Lord. You will find yourself sharing your faith more easily. You may even end up offering to pray with people for healing and inviting them to join you in prayer!

The start of a new year provides a great opportunity to make some resolutions. Why not add this one to your list: “In all my relationships, I want to be a magnet for Christ.” This is a lofty goal for sure, but it is possible. If you set your mind on coming into God’s presence every day, your spiritual magnetism will grow stronger and stronger. Who knows? By the end of the year, you may even have strangers walking up to you and asking you why you look so happy!

“Here I am, Jesus, willing to be made into a spiritual magnet for you. Fill me with your life as I spend time with you each day, and let this life spill out for all to see.” Amen!

First Letter of John 3: 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

Testing the Spirits

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus[a] is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world. 4 Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Footnotes:

a. 1 John 4:3 Other ancient authorities read does away with Jesus (Gk dissolves Jesus)

Psalm 2: 7 I will tell of the decree of the Lord:

He said to me, “You are my son;

    today I have begotten you.

8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,

    and the ends of the earth your possession.

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

    be warned, O rulers of the earth.

11 Serve the LORD with fear,

    with trembling 12 kiss his feet,[a]

or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way;

    for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Happy are all who take refuge in him.

Footnotes:

a. Psalm 2:12 Cn: Meaning of Heb of verses 11b and 12a is uncertain

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