REFLECTIONS: FR. JUDE'S -- SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
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27-12-04
Dear Friend,
We have just celebrated the feast of Christmas, commemorating the birth of
Jesus Christ. Today we are asked to reflect on the mystery of the
Incarnation and its implications for our life. The name given to Jesus was
Emmanuel, God-with-us. What are the implications of God, pitching his tent
among us, of the Word made flesh, dwelling in our midst? Are we grateful for
God's involvement in our lives? Are we aware of the tremendous grace and
blessing bestowed on us? Have a thankful, joyous weekend! -Fr. Jude
Sunday Reflections: Second Sunday of Christmas He dwelt among us!
2-1-05
Readings: Sirach 24: 1-2, 8-12; Ephesians 1:
3-6, 15-18 John 1: 1-18
The first reading from the Book of Sirach starts with an introduction to
this poem in praise of Divine Wisdom. Wisdom is portrayed as telling us in a
person way, her place in God's plan. The Creator of all things chose her
place where she might pitch her tent and dwell among the people of Israel.
The God of Israel always loved his people and never abandoned them. He had
chosen Israel as his own people and given them the gift of the Promised Land
as a sign of his love and covenant. God decided to be further involved in
the life of his people and so in his wisdom he comes to pitch his tent among
them so that he might be with them and be their inspiration. "I have taken
root in a privileged people, in the Lord's property, in his inheritance."
God does not love us at a distance, he did not create us and abandon us to
our fate. He wishes to be rooted in our lives forever.
Involvement...
A man was walking along and fell into such a deep hole that he could not get
out. So he began to shout loudly for help. A learned professor came along
and found him. He looked down into the hole and lectured the unfortunate
man: "Why were you so foolish as to fall down there in the first place? You
should be more careful. If you ever get out again., watch your step." And
with that he took off. Then a holy monk came along. He looked down into the
hole and told the man, "I'll try to reach down as far as I can, and you
reach up as far as you can. If I can grab your hand, I'll pull you out." So
they tried but it did not work. The hole was too deep. So the monk said he
was sorry and left the man to his fate. Now Christ comes along. He sees the
man's problem and without asking him any questions, he just jumps down into
the hole. Then he lets the man climb on to his shoulders and even onto his
outstretched hands. and gets the man out.
Frank Michalic in 'Tonic for the Heart'
The second reading from the letter to the Ephesians introduces God's plan of
salvation, a plan that is centred on Christ and is realized through Him. In
this letter Paul praises God for having chosen us out of love, in Christ,
before the foundation of the world. It reminds us that God's love is eternal
and not dependant on our response. We always have a place in the plan of
God. The divine plan is that we might be his adopted sons and daughters in
Christ, a gift freely given to us. Paul prays that we might remain in the
love of God and of one another and that we might grow in wisdom so that we
might know the divine inheritance which is ours, through Jesus Christ.
Today's gospel reminds us that the eternal word of God pitched his tent
among us, and the fullness of divine life and revelation is given to us
through the Word of God, made flesh, dwelling in our midst. "In the
beginning was the Word: the word was with God and the Word was God. Through
him all things came to be, not one thing had its being through him." The
prologue prepares us for a Gospel, which many of his own people would not
accept the Word through whom all things came into being, whereas those who
believed in the power of his person became children of God according to God'
s divine will. "He was in the world that had its being through him. He came
to his own domain and his own people did not accept him." The gospel also
spells out the mission of John the Baptist, who came to be a witness to the
light, so that everyone might believe in the light.
In Jesus, God has drawn near to us in person. He has become one of us. It
shows us how close God is to us, and how close we can be to God in the midst
of our sometimes painful and sometimes joyful lives. When people allow
themselves to get disconnected from God an enormous loss occurs, and a huge
vacuum results. Life is unintelligible and unbearable without God. On the
other hand, a sense of God's presence with us, and of his love for us, is
the only riches worth having. This is the special gift of Christmas. We feel
that God is very close to us and very loving towards us at this time. - Flor
McCarthy
The Word must become flesh
Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of The Little Prince, was a pioneer airman.
His name was synonymous with the golden age of aviation when pilots flew
through desert sandstorms and over high mountain ranges in open cockpits
carrying mail. By the time the Second World War broke out he had become a
famous writer as well. He had a great love for his native country France,
which was occupied by Germany. Determined to help his country in its hour of
need, he volunteered for active service. However, believing that he was more
valuable to his country as a writer than a flier, his friends secured a safe
job for him -doing government research. But he refused to take the job,
insisting that he be allowed to fly combat missions. "But what about your
writings?" they said. "If I did not resist with my life, I would not be able
to write," he replied. Then he added, "The word must become flesh."
Eventually, a compromise was reached. He was allowed to fly reconnaissance
missions. It was during one such mission in 1944 that he disappeared without
a trace. His plane was believed to have been shot down over the sea by a
German fighter. We can only marvel at Saint-Exupery's courage and spirit of
self-sacrifice. But what exactly did he mean when he said, 'The word must
become flesh?' Words have to be translated into life?
Flor McCarthy in 'New Sunday and Holy day Liturgies'
The Gospel ends with those meaningful words: "Indeed, from his fullness we
have, all received -yes, grace in return for grace." We live in a culture of
death, where people try to control, dominate, use, and oppress others. It is
a race for survival of the fittest. God sent his Son to proclaim a culture
of life. He came that we might have life and have it in all its fullness. He
came not to control and dominate our lives but to share of his goodness with
us. Of his fullness we have all received and continue to receive every day
of our life.
"The Godless despair of today's world sees man as 'a being made for death'
whereas the Gospel makes it clear that every person is called by God to
share in the divine life. I like to quote Bishop Irenaeus of Lyons, martyred
in 202 'God's glory is in living men, and full life for man, is the vision
of God. If the revelation of God in this world gives life to all living
creatures, much more will the revelation of the Father by the Word give life
to those who see God."
May we continue to enjoy God's presence with us!
Fr. Jude Botelho
jude@netforlife.plus.com
PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been
collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and
from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever
possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you
could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in
these reflections. These reflections are also available on my website:
www.netforlife.net Thank you!