The Catholic Calendar for Monday, January 7, 2002
Monday after Epiphany
St. Raymond Penyafort
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 John 3:22--4:6
Psalm 2:7-8,10-11
Matthew 4:12-17,23-25
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 4:17)
As the story of salvation unfolds, we see humanity engaged in a
warfare that transcends bullets and bombs. It is the war being waged
within human hearts by the "Enemy" seeking to capture us to his way
of thinking and living. He promises all that glitters, that satisfies
human selfishness and elevates one person above another. But the more
we gain of these worldly treasures, the more impoverished our souls
become; for they lack the one ingredient that makes us fully human,
the love that is the very life of God.
We were created to be vessels containing God's life within us, to
live in His blessed love and truth. Still, God had to give us a
choice; He knew that loving is a matter of the will and cannot be
forced upon nor demanded from anyone. What causes many to reject
God's love and refusing to live in it, is that His love is
self-giving; it requires sacrifices for the sake of others, calls us
not to become inordinately attached to possessions, status or
pleasures, and instead asks us to cleave wholly unto God. Christ
teaches self-denial; the "Enemy" seeks to glut human egos and
appetites.
Christ calls us to see our sin, our fatal separation from God, to
repent and come to Him for a healing that restores us to the original
dignity and goodness in which He created us. Truly, the kingdom of
God is within us when we desire it and allow it to be. The "enemy"
can never gain power over us if we abide within the Good Shepherd's
fold, living in the truth and love Who is God.
Father God,
make us a people of faith,
rejoicing in Your Word who came to us in human flesh.
May we, by Your grace, transcend this world's temptations.
Amen.
- Marie L. Bocko, ocds ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
