Know Jesus Know God

No one has ever seen God; it is the only Son, who is nearest to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
Jn.1:18

John starts his gospel describing the divinity and the humanity of Jesus. He makes the great Christian claim that God can only be known through his son Jesus Christ.

This is the great Christian theme that sets us apart from all other religions. God can only be known through Jesus Christ. Jesus said this himself. "If you really know me, you will know my Father as well." Jn.14:7

This is what motivates me to spend time with Jesus, what motivates me to tell others about Jesus. Know Jesus, know God, know peace, know joy.

Today is the last of 2019. Tomorrow a new year starts, a year to get to know Jesus better, a year to tell more about him.

Jesus, I only see you dimly. Help me know you better so I may tell others about you with more zeal. 
Little Flower, please pray for me.

See the Good, Be the Good.

the world, with all it craves for, is coming to an end; but anyone who does the will of God remains for ever.
1Jn.2:17

John is encouraging a detachment from the sensual world as this leads to cravings, insatiable appetites that end in nothing. Living for God however, results in living for ever.

Here it is again, the tension from living in the world but not being of the world. The risk is becoming so heavenly minded I'm no earthly good. The key for me is to see God in the good.

There are good things in the world, it must be so as the world was created by God. There are bad things in the world. This must be so as Satan entered the world and brought in evil, sickness, disease and death. Today I choose to focus on the good.

Jesus, you have redeemed the world that we may live in it with peace and joy. Help me see you in the good before me today. Help me be the good where goodness is absent.

The Escape Clause

I am writing this, my children, to stop you sinning; but if anyone should sin, we have our advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, who is just; he is the sacrifice that takes our sins away, and not only ours, but the whole world’s.1Jn.2:1,2

John writes to the early Church to encourage believers to live in the light of truth. He also states all is not lost if we should fail because of Jesus acting as our advocate.

"But if anyone should sin...". This is a great escape clause. Who among us doesn't sin. As John writes, anyone who says he has no sin is deceiving himself. John sets a high standard. We are to live in the light. But, should we sin we can turn to Jesus for a remedy.

This describes the human condition, my condition.  There is a tension between how I want to live and how I do live. The only solution is Jesus. Then light and life, joy and peace are mine again, today.

Thank you Jesus for being my escape clause. You are the source of my joy and peace. Your blood purifies me today. Alleluia!

Little Flower, please pray for me.

Hearts of the Fathers

With the spirit and power of Elijah, he will go before him to turn the hearts of fathers towards their children.
Lk1:17

Zechariah has a visitation from the Angel Gabriel who tells him he and his barren wife Elizabeth are to have a son. The son is to bring him great joy and be a prophet bringing many back to God.

John the Baptist's mission prophesied by the Angle Gabriel included turning the hearts of fathers back to their children. This echoes the prophesy of Malachi (Mal.4:6). It seems the turning of people back to God has among its first fruits fathers turning back to their children.

If there is a common denominator to the social ills of today it is the turning away of fathers from their children. Absent or abusive fathers are a common story for those in prison. Oh how we need the spirit and power of Elijah in our own time.

The fulfillment of all prophesy is Jesus. Where ever I can bring Jesus into the lives of people a first fruit will be fathers hearts turned back to their children. I think of Alpha and see with sharpened vision the need for this outreach and my role in it.

Jesus, help our parish Alpha Course gain traction. Send the leaders to help me lord that more may come to know you and your love.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Prepare the Way

Gospel AcclamationAlleluia, alleluia! Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all people shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia! Luke 3:4,6 

Luke describes John the Baptist as another Elijah, a voice crying in the wilderness for all to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord.

This great Advent call of preparing the way is counter the great call of the world to spend up large. John the Baptist is calling for a deep conversion from the inside out. The world smothers us with tinsel and trinkets from the outside in, trying to convince that this is the source of Joy and happiness.

Today is close to the middle of Advent. Tomorrow is Gaudate Sunday, Joyful Sunday, and we light the rose candle on the wreath. I focus again on Mary carrying Jesus within her, on the donkey being led by Joseph. This is a slow, relentless journey to God's moment of incarnation. Now there's the true source of my joy...

Jesus, help me remember the true reason for this season of joy, you in the womb of Mary, coming to call me home.
Mary Mother of Jesus, pray for me.

Hold the Hand

I, the Lord, your God, I am holding you by the right hand; I tell you, ‘Do not be afraid, I will help you.
Is.41:13

Isaiah writes of the helper of Israel. He describes a loving father holding the hand of a child, leading and protecting him.

Among all the stern images of an avenging God Isaiah slips in these tender images of a loving father, patient and slow to anger.  Who among us has never desired such a father as presented here.

I recently was holding the hand of an eighteen month old granddaughter as we explored a large rain puddle. She pulled her hand out of mine and tried to run. With the water up to her knees she soon fell over. I pulled her up and she held on more tightly onto my hand.

I've done this with God, pulling my hand away and then falling. His hand is always outstretched for me to take hold of again. Advent is a good time to reach out again for that loving and guiding hand.

Thank you Father that you promise to help me. I reach out again to you.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Other Sheep

And there are other sheep I have that are not of this fold, and these I have to lead as well. They too will listen to my voice, and there will be only one flock, and one shepherd.
Jn.10:16

Jesus has called himself the Good Shepherd. He adds that there are others as well who listen to his voice, essentially making one flock and one shepherd.

An unbelieving world looks at the disunity among Christian denominations and finds it unbelievable. To our shame, the Church's disunity would be one of the greatest causes of atheism in the world today.

Jesus always had his eye on the "other sheep", those on the outside of Judaism. The only qualifier he gives is that they "listen to my voice". There are lots of people outside of my denomination who obviously listen to Jesus' voice. One such friend is currently in Thailand, taking over a ministry his church runs there. Impressive obedience to the voice of Jesus.

I love being Catholic, probably as much as Jesus loved being a Jew. But like Jesus, I need to keep an eye on those outside my pen. There's much goodness there and much I can learn from them.

Jesus, you are the one shepherd of the flock. Help me reach out to others who listen to your voice.
Saint Ambrose, please pray for me.

When I'm weak I am Strong

The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; before whom shall I shrink?Ps.26:1

David writes how God is the source of his help and courage.

When I struggle with sin, especially recurring sin, areas where I am weak, I can be overwhelmed with the futility of the struggle. I see the devil winning and I become despondent, fearful. Then I read a psalm like this, written by a man who had his own spiritual battles, and I am encouraged.

Jesus seems more powerful in the lives of those who know they are imperfect, who know they need help. As Paul writes, "It is in my weakness that I am strong". 2Cor.12:10

My brokenness doesn't necessarily distance me from Jesus. When acknowledged it actually draws him near. Then he becomes the stronghold of my life, warts and all, and before whom then will I shrink.

Thank you Jesus for your steadfast love, even when I'm unlovely. Be my light, my stronghold today.
Saint Augustine, please pray for me.

Keep it Simple

Filled with joy by the Holy Spirit, Jesus said: ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do.Lk.10:21

The seventy-two have returned from their first mission trip rejoicing that even demons submitted to the name of Jesus. Jesus in turn is filled with joy and gives thanks to God the father for the work he has done through common, simple people.

The work of simple, faith-filled people gives Jesus joy. Having a pure, childlike motive is empowering. I tend to overthink things, complicate matters. Acting on simple trust can result in demons submitting to the name of Jesus.

The faith of the seventy-two came from spending time with Jesus, hanging out with him and getting to know him personally. Advent is a good time to hang out with Jesus.

Jesus, thank you for your faith in me. Help me keep it simple. Help me step out in childlike faith.
Little Flower, please pray for me.