Janurary 2, 2007: Scripture/liturgy

Scripture: I John 2:22-28. Psalm 98:1-4. John 1:19-28:

Probably for many of us, each new year has a freshness about it and spurs
us on to do some new things and to have hopes for a better world situation.
I find the choice of readings for this new year doing the same thing for
us, but in the deeper waters of the spiritual realm. Yet maybe the two
blend together and help us to be quite hopeful and positive about a new
year--one that has the interesting number 7 at the end of it. It is more
than a lucky number! But back to our readings from the writings attributed
to John, thus we call this the Johannine Corpus (body of John's writings:
The Gospel, the three Epistles, and even the Book of Revelation). These
readings for today are leading us into Epiphany or the manifestation of who
this child born of Mary really is for the believers of Christianity.
During this early part of the season, there is great emphasis on the
realness of Jesus as one like ourselves who is born into time from a human
mother named Mary. The selection from I John has already started and
emphasized the fact that he could be seen, touched, and heard.
"What we have heard and seen from the beginning." These beginnings are
confirmation of our own baptismal faith and lead us to develop that gift by
following closely the development of the New Testament. We are told about
the anointing given to us as learners and disciples who are privileged to
see into the person of the one manifested both as human and divine, namely,
Jesus of Nazareth. I think that the first reading helps me to appreciate
the Gospel and the Psalm response with its verses. We return to the great
proclaimer and herald, John the Baptist. It was he who led us during
Advent and now with the rapid approach of the active years of Jesus'
ministry, this same ascetic saint leads us into the time of the Epiphany
and those days leading to it. No wonder some Byzantine Catholics call this
feast of Epiphany "little Christmas' and others exchange gifts on this day,
no doubt due to the Magi or Wisemen who come to find the child with its
mother in a home in Bethlehem. (Matthew 2:11). As I returned to meditate
on Psalm 98 I was led to appreciate the following line that confirmed what
I found in the Gospel and the selection from the epistle of John. "The
Lord has made known his salvation in the sight of all the nations to whom
he has revealed his justice. He has remembered his kindness and
faithfulness toward the house of Israel." Now these words are
manifestations of God, don't you agree? Amen.

January 1: Solemnity of the Mother of God.
Scriptures: Numbers 6:22-27, Psalm 67:2-3.5-6,8. Hebrews 1:1-2, Luke
2:16-21:

Two great themes are celebrated by the Catholic Church in our liturgy for
this day-- the Divine Motherhood of Mary and Peace. What a good way to
begin a New Year with a Woman in love with God and with the peace that only
God can give us. Mary is an excellent person for the theme of peace for it
is she who brought into the world the Son of God who is the Prince of
Peace. He came into our history and made it totally salvific by his own
loving purpose to do what God asked of him. Thus past, present, and future
ages are redeemed in the eternal love of the God-man made flesh through and
of the Virgin Mary (John 1:14). Yes, with his miraculous birth this
salvation history touches all of us and those to come and those who have
gone before us. Jesus is the Word, the Son of God, and the Son of Mary,
his virgin Mother. And, of course, God is the creator and giver of all
life including eternal life. Turning to our first reading for today we
have the greatest priestly blessing given in the Bible. It comes from the
Book of Numbers and is given by Moses the Prophet to his brother Aaron, the
priest. This is one of my favority benedictions or blessings:
"The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make His face to shine upon
thee, and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up his countenance upon
thee, and give thee peace. So shall they put my name upon the children of
Israel, and I will bless them." (Numbers 6:24-27). I had an experience
with this prayer or blessing about two years ago. The recent Museum of
Peace was inaugurated by a very generous and peace-loving couple here in
Dayton. I came to visit it and drop off some books I had on the theme of
peace. I asked the administrators at the desk if I could bless them and
the Museum with a benediction in Hebrew. They were attentive to me and
agreed to listen as I blessed them with the Hebrew text that I just cited
above in English. Since then many programs and people have been blessed by
this Museum, a former mansion, and one can see that the theme of peace is
kept alive and vibrant in all parts of this museum. May the Lord bless us
with peace in this year of 2007. Amen.