From The American Bible Society:
January 8, 2012
Epiphany of the Lord
This is a reminder to continue in your daily Lectio Divina Scripture reading. We’ve included the content again for you, to make it easier for you to continue to engage with God’s Word.
WHEN THEY SAW THE STAR, HOW HAPPY THEY WERE…!
Matthew 2:1-12 (Good News Translation)
1 Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the time when Herod was king. Soon afterward, some men who studied the stars came from the East to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the baby born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star when it came up in the east, and we have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard about this, he was very upset, and so was everyone else in Jerusalem. 4 He called together all the chief priests and the teachers of the Law and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?” 5 “In the town of Bethlehem in Judea,” they answered. “For this is what the prophet wrote: 6 ‘Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are by no means the least of the leading cities of Judah;for from you will come a leaderwho will guide my people Israel.’” 7 So Herod called the visitors from the East to a secret meeting and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem with these instructions: “Go and make a careful search for the child; and when you find him, let me know, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9-10 And so they left, and on their way they saw the same star they had seen in the East. When they saw it, how happy they were, what joy was theirs! It went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 11 They went into the house, and when they saw the child with his mother Mary, they knelt down and worshiped him. They brought out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and presented them to him. 12 Then they returned to their country by another road, since God had warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod.
Other Readings: Isaiah 60:1- 6; Psalm 71:2,7-8, 10-11, 12-13; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6;
Lectio
This year, both Christmas and the Feast of Mary, Mother of God, fell on a Sunday. In some countries, like the USA, this meant a number of small changes in our liturgical celebrations. The Feast of the Holy Family was moved to the 30th of December, and the Baptism of the Lord, which should be celebrated today, will be celebrated tomorrow. Anyhow, nothing has been lost in the spirit of Christmas. The same figures around Jesus sill provide us with the profound beauty of the birth of the Lord. Tomorrow, in the mass of the Baptism of the Lord, we will see John the Baptist proclaiming Jesus, who is “greater” than himself and who “will baptize with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8). John’s presence will recall the same message we heard on the Second Sunday of Advent: salvation is among us. After these liturgical notes, let us come back to our feast. The Epiphany is the summit of all our Christmas celebration. The birth of the Messiah is not an event which concerns Israel alone. In fact, what we celebrate today is the universal character of salvation. Throughout this period, two lines have guided us from the beginning of Advent to this point; if we fix our attention just on these two motifs of our liturgy, we can find its final scope. First, we have the symbol of the “great light” which the people living in darkness expected. What we find here is not a philosophical “enlightenment” which could enable us to see reality from a new rational perspective. Nor is it a mysterious discovery of sense and purpose based on rites or ascetic practices. It is, above all, a saving Word made flesh, which we humans can see, touch and experience: not a “what”, but a “Who” with an uppercase initial. The reason why that Light, who came to his own people, was not recognized or accepted by Jesus’ contemporaries, is because the definition of the “Messiah” had become more important than the one who supported the title. The long-time expected Messiah surpassed the limits of Israel’s mind. He was Jesus, that helpless baby, true Light of the world. Those who follow him will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness. Accepting and believing in him means sharing in his own condition and also becoming light for the world and God’s children. After their encounter, nothing will be the same for believers, but they will “return to their own country (to themselves!), by another road.” Matthew tells us something of the people who surround Jesus. It is important to underline that neither the king, nor the priests, nor the teachers of the Law (the officially “wise and learned”), can do anything but point out where the Messiah can be found, but cannot find him themselves! Only the poor, those for whom there is no place in our worldly inn, like Mary and Joseph; those who are looked down on like the shepherds; those who are weak and have put their confidence in God, like the elderly Simeon and Anna; or those who, like the foreigners from the East, who do not belong to Israel, but are humble enough to realize their need for salvation and set out on a quest for it… only those can find the Messiah. Their eyes, then, opened wide by faith, can see the Light prepared for all, even if they are Gentiles, and take to the road again in peace.
Meditatio
Now that our “White and Merry Christmas” is over, reflect in silence about your attitude and behaviour during those days. Did they reflect God’s generosity and closeness to others? How big was the contrast between Jesus birth in poverty and our extravagance in food, clothes, and presents? To what extent were we aware of all the small “babies Jesus” who are still coming to this world in dire conditions and remain forgotten, neglected, ignored? Let us not sink in self-pity, but make a serious promise to eagerly work in order to change the small world around us.
Oratio
Accustomed as we are to receiving gifts from God, it is surprising to find in the Gospel some characters that bring gifts to the Lord. During this time of Christmas, we have also received and offered presents as a sign of love and care. Today, offer to those you love one of the best gifts you can “buy”: a prayer for their needs and troubles, some words of thanksgiving for the friendship, closeness or love you share. As usual, but do not let it become a routine, pray for “the forgotten” in our society: the poor, the elderly, the sick, those who lack a home or a job. Pray especially for those who lack the greatest gift: love.
Contemplatio
As you may have noticed, there are perhaps too many references and allusions in the last paragraph of today’s lectio. Read the following passages, and try to find a “motto” to recall during this week: Matthew 2:1-12; 5:14-16; 11:25-29; Luke 2:25-38; 4:24-27; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.
Reflections written by Rev. Fr. Mariano Perrón Director of Inter-Religious Affairs Archdiocese of Madrid, Spain
© 2010 American Bible Society.
January 8, 2012
Epiphany of the Lord
This is a reminder to continue in your daily Lectio Divina Scripture reading. We’ve included the content again for you, to make it easier for you to continue to engage with God’s Word.
WHEN THEY SAW THE STAR, HOW HAPPY THEY WERE…!
Matthew 2:1-12 (Good News Translation)
1 Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the time when Herod was king. Soon afterward, some men who studied the stars came from the East to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the baby born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star when it came up in the east, and we have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard about this, he was very upset, and so was everyone else in Jerusalem. 4 He called together all the chief priests and the teachers of the Law and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?” 5 “In the town of Bethlehem in Judea,” they answered. “For this is what the prophet wrote: 6 ‘Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are by no means the least of the leading cities of Judah;for from you will come a leaderwho will guide my people Israel.’” 7 So Herod called the visitors from the East to a secret meeting and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem with these instructions: “Go and make a careful search for the child; and when you find him, let me know, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9-10 And so they left, and on their way they saw the same star they had seen in the East. When they saw it, how happy they were, what joy was theirs! It went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 11 They went into the house, and when they saw the child with his mother Mary, they knelt down and worshiped him. They brought out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and presented them to him. 12 Then they returned to their country by another road, since God had warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod.
Other Readings: Isaiah 60:1- 6; Psalm 71:2,7-8, 10-11, 12-13; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6;
Lectio
This year, both Christmas and the Feast of Mary, Mother of God, fell on a Sunday. In some countries, like the USA, this meant a number of small changes in our liturgical celebrations. The Feast of the Holy Family was moved to the 30th of December, and the Baptism of the Lord, which should be celebrated today, will be celebrated tomorrow. Anyhow, nothing has been lost in the spirit of Christmas. The same figures around Jesus sill provide us with the profound beauty of the birth of the Lord. Tomorrow, in the mass of the Baptism of the Lord, we will see John the Baptist proclaiming Jesus, who is “greater” than himself and who “will baptize with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8). John’s presence will recall the same message we heard on the Second Sunday of Advent: salvation is among us. After these liturgical notes, let us come back to our feast. The Epiphany is the summit of all our Christmas celebration. The birth of the Messiah is not an event which concerns Israel alone. In fact, what we celebrate today is the universal character of salvation. Throughout this period, two lines have guided us from the beginning of Advent to this point; if we fix our attention just on these two motifs of our liturgy, we can find its final scope. First, we have the symbol of the “great light” which the people living in darkness expected. What we find here is not a philosophical “enlightenment” which could enable us to see reality from a new rational perspective. Nor is it a mysterious discovery of sense and purpose based on rites or ascetic practices. It is, above all, a saving Word made flesh, which we humans can see, touch and experience: not a “what”, but a “Who” with an uppercase initial. The reason why that Light, who came to his own people, was not recognized or accepted by Jesus’ contemporaries, is because the definition of the “Messiah” had become more important than the one who supported the title. The long-time expected Messiah surpassed the limits of Israel’s mind. He was Jesus, that helpless baby, true Light of the world. Those who follow him will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness. Accepting and believing in him means sharing in his own condition and also becoming light for the world and God’s children. After their encounter, nothing will be the same for believers, but they will “return to their own country (to themselves!), by another road.” Matthew tells us something of the people who surround Jesus. It is important to underline that neither the king, nor the priests, nor the teachers of the Law (the officially “wise and learned”), can do anything but point out where the Messiah can be found, but cannot find him themselves! Only the poor, those for whom there is no place in our worldly inn, like Mary and Joseph; those who are looked down on like the shepherds; those who are weak and have put their confidence in God, like the elderly Simeon and Anna; or those who, like the foreigners from the East, who do not belong to Israel, but are humble enough to realize their need for salvation and set out on a quest for it… only those can find the Messiah. Their eyes, then, opened wide by faith, can see the Light prepared for all, even if they are Gentiles, and take to the road again in peace.
Meditatio
Now that our “White and Merry Christmas” is over, reflect in silence about your attitude and behaviour during those days. Did they reflect God’s generosity and closeness to others? How big was the contrast between Jesus birth in poverty and our extravagance in food, clothes, and presents? To what extent were we aware of all the small “babies Jesus” who are still coming to this world in dire conditions and remain forgotten, neglected, ignored? Let us not sink in self-pity, but make a serious promise to eagerly work in order to change the small world around us.
Oratio
Accustomed as we are to receiving gifts from God, it is surprising to find in the Gospel some characters that bring gifts to the Lord. During this time of Christmas, we have also received and offered presents as a sign of love and care. Today, offer to those you love one of the best gifts you can “buy”: a prayer for their needs and troubles, some words of thanksgiving for the friendship, closeness or love you share. As usual, but do not let it become a routine, pray for “the forgotten” in our society: the poor, the elderly, the sick, those who lack a home or a job. Pray especially for those who lack the greatest gift: love.
Contemplatio
As you may have noticed, there are perhaps too many references and allusions in the last paragraph of today’s lectio. Read the following passages, and try to find a “motto” to recall during this week: Matthew 2:1-12; 5:14-16; 11:25-29; Luke 2:25-38; 4:24-27; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.
Reflections written by Rev. Fr. Mariano Perrón Director of Inter-Religious Affairs Archdiocese of Madrid, Spain
© 2010 American Bible Society.
No comments:
Post a Comment