'Fix your eyes on him alone, because in him I have spoken and revealed all.' Sunday Reflections, 2nd Sunday after the Nativity, Years ABC

 

The Virgin with the Child Jesus and the Child St John the Baptist 

Francisco de Zurbarán [Web Gallery of Art]

You can learn more about the painting here.

In England & Wales and in Ireland the Solemnity of the Epiphany is a Holy Day of Obligation and is celebrated this year on Thursday 6 January. In many countries, including Australia, Philippines, Scotland and the USA, the Epiphany is celebrated on this Sunday, 2 January. 

You will find Sunday Reflections for the Epiphany here.

The readings below are those for the Second Sunday After the Nativity, observed in England & Wales and in Ireland.

Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)

Gospel John 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.]

Léachtaí i nGaeilge

Madonna and Child

Murillo [Web Gallery of Art]

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, because 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.

Verbum caro factum est

Composer: Fr Marco Frisina

Sung by Choir of the Diocese of Rome directed Fr Frisina

Refrain. Verbum caro factum est. Alleluia.

The Word was made flesh. Alleluia.

Hodie Christus natus est et laetantur Angeli.

Hodie Christus, Salvator mundi, in terra apparuit.

Today Christ is born and the angesl rejoice.

Today Christ, the Saviour of the world, has appeared on earth.

Refrain. Verbum caro factum est. Alleluia.

The Word was made flesh. Alleluia.

Lux fulgebit hodie, quia Dominus natus est.

Exulta, Filia Sion; lauda, Filia Jerusalem.

Light shines today, because the Lord is born.

Rejoice, Daughter Zion, rejoice Daughter Jerusalem.

Refrain. Verbum caro factum est. Alleluia.

The Word was made flesh. Alleluia.

Revelavit iustitiam ante cospectum gentium,

et nos vidimus gloriam eius, gloria quasi Unigeniti.

He has revealed his justice to all peoples

and we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son.

Refrain. Verbum caro factum est. Alleluia.

The Word was made flesh. Alleluia.

Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) 

Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

I do not know if any readers looked at this addition to Sunday Reflections before. But I have resumed it out of a sense of solidarity with priest-friends and others who are deeply hurt, discouraged and disillusioned by recent restrictive and petty legislation in the Church about the celebration of the Mass that nourished my faith as I was growing up and during my seminary years and the faith of countless generations of our ancestors and the many who died as martyrs for celebrating it or enabling it to be celebrated.

The Complete Mass in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 12-31-2021 if necessary).

Lesson: Acts 4:8-12.  Gospel: Luke 2:21.

Saints Peter and John Healing the Lame Man

Nicolas Poussin [The Met]

Acts 4:8-12