Since we are travellers and pilgrims in the world, let us ever ponder on the end of the road, that is of our life, for the end of our roadway is our home (St Columban, 8th sermon).
28 December 2020
Sunday Reflections, Mary, the Holy Mother of God; Years ABC; 2nd Sunday After the Nativity, Years ABC
Gospel Luke 2:16-21 (English
Standard Version Anglicised: India)
The shepherds went with haste
and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.And when they saw it, they made known the saying that
had been told them concerning this child.And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told
them.But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering
them in her heart.And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising
God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
In this first Angelusof the new year, let us ask Mary Most Holy, the Mother of God, to bless us, just as the mother blesses her children who must leave on a journey. A new year is like a journey: with the light and grace of God, may it be a path of peace for every person and for every family, for every country and for the entire world (Benedict XVI, 1 January 2013).
Second Sunday After the Nativity, Years ABC
The Virgin with the Child Jesus and the Child St John the Baptist
In Ireland the Solemnity of the Epiphany is a Holy Day of Obligation and is celebrated this year on Wednesday 6 January. In many countries the Epiphany is celebrated on this Sunday, 3 January. The readings below are those for the Second Sunday After the Nativity, observed in Ireland.
Readings(Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)
GospelJohn 1:1-18. Shorter form: John 1:1-5, 9-14 [omitted] (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition )
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
[There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.]
The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. [(John bore witness to him, and cried, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.’”) And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.]
In The Ascent of Mount Carmel St John of the Cross writes: When [God] gave us, as he did,his Son, who is his one Word, he spoke everything to us, once and for all in that one Word. There is nothing further for him to say . . .
Consequently, anyone who today would want to ask God questions or desire some vision or revelation, would not only be acting foolishly but would commit an offence against God by not fixing his eyes entirely on Christ, without wanting something new or something besides him.
God might give him this answer, '"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." I have already told you all things in my Word. Fix your eyes on him alone, becuse in him I have spoken and revealed all. Moreover, in him you will find more than you ask or desire.' This passage is used in the Office of Readings, Advent, Week 2, Monday.
Extraordinary Form of the Mass
Traditional Latin Mass (TLM)
Sunday
After th Octave Day of the Nativity
Feast
of the Holy Name of Jesus
The complete Mass in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 1-1-2021, if necessary).
Authentic beauty, however, unlocks the yearning of the human heart, the profound desire to know, to love, to go towards the Other, to reach for the Beyond.
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