Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FAITH, St JOHN the BAPTIST, The BAPTISM of the LORD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 13 January – ‘ … Make ready then the vessel of your soul that you may become a son of God … ‘

One Minute Reflection – 13 January – Octave Day of Epiphany – Isaias 60:1-6, John 1:29-34 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

And I knew Him not but he who sent me to Baptise with water said to me: He upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, He it IS, Who Baptises with the Holy Spirit. And I saw and I gave testimony that this is the Son of God.” – John 1:33-34

REFLECTION – “Jesus Christ was the Son of God, yet He preached not the Gospel before His Baptism. If the Master Himself followed the right time in due order, ought we, His servants, to venture out of order? From that time Jesus began to preach (Matthew 4:17) , when the Holy Ghost had descended upon Him in a bodily shape, like a Dove, (Luke 3:22) not that Jesus might see Him first, for He knew Him even before He came in a bodily shape but that John, who was Baptising Him, might behold Him. For I, says he, knew Him not but He that sent me to Baptise with water, He said to me, Upon whomsoever you shall see the Spirit descending and abiding on Him that is He (John 1:33).

If you too have unfeigned piety, the Holy Ghost comes down on you also and a Father’s voice sounds over you from on high — not, ‘This is My Son’ alone because ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.’ To Him belongs the ‘IS’ since He is always the Son of God – but to you, has now been made, since you have not the sonship by nature but receive it by adoption. He eternally ‘IS’ but you receive the grace progressively.

Make ready then the vessel of your soul that you may become a son of God and an heir of God and joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17); if, indeed, you are preparing yourself that you may receive; if you are drawing near in faith that you may be made faithful; if of set purpose, you are putting off the old man!” – St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387) Bishop of Jerusalem, Father and Doctor of the Church (Catechetical Lecture 3: 14-15).

PRAYER – O God, Whose Only-begotten Son appeared in the substance of our flesh, grant, we pray Thee that we, who acknowledge His outward likeness to us, may deserve to be inwardly refashioned in His Image. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Advertisement
Posted in BAPTISM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, St JOHN the BAPTIST, The HOLY SPIRIT, The LAMB of GOD, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 13 January –

Quote/s of the Day – 13 January – The Octave Day of the Epiphany, Gospel: Isaias 60:1-6; John 1:29-34

“Behold, the Lamb of God,
who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29

“And I knew him not\
but he who sent me to baptise
with water said to me:
He upon whom thou shalt see
the Spirit descending and remaining upon him,
he it is, who baptises with the Holy Spirit.
And I saw and I gave testimony,
that this is the Son of God.

John 1:33-34

“His action is preceded
by the beaming rays of His light and knowledge.
He comes with the truth of the real Protector;
for He comes to save, to lead, to teach, to counsel,
to strengthen, to console,
to illumine in the first place the mind of the person
who receives Him
and through that person‘s works,
the minds of others.”

St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Christ was born of the Holy Spirit
and, since it was fitting,
that He should fulfill all justice,
He entered into the waters of baptism
to sanctify them.
When He left the Jordan,
He was filled with the Holy Spirit,
Who had descended upon Him,
in the form of a dove.
As the Evangelist tells us:
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit,
returned from the Jordan
.”

St Gaudentius of Brescia (Died 410)
Bishop

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, St JOHN the BAPTIST, The LAMB of GOD, The PASSION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 13 January – “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” – John 1:29

One Minute Reflection – 13 January – “Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus” – The Octave Day of the Epiphany, Gospel: Isaias 60:1-6; John 1:29-34

Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” – John 1:29

REFLECTION – “A second time,” says the evangelist, “John stood and said: ‘Behold, the Lamb of God’.” Christ utters no word; John the Forerunner says it all. So, it is with a bridegroom: he does not say anything to the bride to begin with but steps forward and stands there in silence. Others present him to the bride and give her into his hands. Thus, when she appears, the bridegroom does not take her himself but receives her from the hands of another, who gives her to him. And when he has thus received her from another, he binds her so strongly to himself, that she no longer remembers those she has left for his sake. So it was with Christ. He came to wed human nature; he did not speak a word but merely came. It was the friend of the bridegroom (Jn 3,29), John, who put the Bride’s right hand into His – in other words, the hearts of those He had convinced with His preaching. Then, Jesus Christ welcomed them and satisfied them with so many good things that they no longer turned back to the one who had led them to Him…

John alone proclaimed Him to be present to the people. He was given the name “friend of the Bridegroom” because he alone was present at this marriage with the Church. He it was, who did everything, who brought everything about. Seeing Christ coming, he said: “Behold the Lamb of God.” Thus he showed that it was not by voice alone but, with his eyes also, that he bore witness. He wondered at the Son of God and, when he beheld Him, his heart leaped for joy. At first, he did not preach Christ to his followers but only showed wonder and astonishment at Him. In that way he made known to all, by means of the word “lamb,” the gift Jesus came to give. And John did not say,“ Who is to take” or “Who has taken” but, “This is he who takes away the sins of the world” and, not just at the time of His Passion but always. He offered only one, single sacrifice for the sins of the world yet, by this oblation, He purifies forever, the consciences of human sinners.” – St John Chrysostom (c.345-407), Priest at Antioch then Bishop of Constantinople, Father and Doctor of the Church (Homilies on Saint John’s Gospel, no18).

PRAYER – Almighty God, Your Son’s manhood, born of the Virgin, was a new creation, untainted by our sinful condition. Renew us then, in Christ and cleanse us from our sins. May the Most Holy Name of Jesus, be our light, our safeguard and our shield. Through Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for all time and forever, amen.

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on SIN, St JOHN the BAPTIST, The BAPTISM of the LORD, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 19 January – ‘He has come down to earth to take you to heaven…’

Quote/s of the Day – 19 January – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, – Readings: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6, Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-10, 1 Corinthians 1:1-3, John 1:29-34

“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him.”

John 1:32

“He has come down to earth to take you to heaven, He became mortal that you might become God and put on your original beauty.”

St Romanos Melodios (c 490-c 556)

Monk, Composer of Hymns, Poetjohn-1-32-i-saw-the-spirit-come-down-like-a-dove-he-has-come-down-to-earth-st-romanus-melodios-3-jan-2020

Posted in ONE Minute REFLECTION, The BAPTISM of the LORD, The LAMB of GOD, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 19 January – ‘He is in that church, to be in us.’

One Minute Reflection – 19 January – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Readings: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6, Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-10, 1 Corinthians 1:1-3, John 1:29-34

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” … John 1:29john 1 29 behold the lamb of god - 19 jan 2020

REFLECTION – “To better understand these events, the Liturgy of today makes us examine them in the light of the divinity of Jesus, whose incarnation makes life a sanctuary of the divinity.   Not only His life is divine but also, with the salvation He brought to us in taking away sins, our daily lives, our work, our joys and tenderness become the environment of the divine holiness.
In Jesus, Lamb of God, holiness is revealed as formidable promotion of life and of man.  It is a man that, having been forgiven, is transfigured and made child of God.
On the day of his Ordination, the Priest receives the Consecration of the hands.   It is indeed a magnificent event.   But in Christ, all hands are holy, all hands are consecrated, all hands can become hands of light.
In Christ all the bodies are called to become the Temple of the Holy Spirit and the Limbs of Jesus Christ.   The Temple that we are, is much more beautiful than any church made of stone.   God is in us, more than in a church, because He is in that church, to be in us.
In the Gospel, all faces are called to radiate the Face of Christ.   The vocation that He gives us when presented as the Lamb of God, is not a call to enter a prohibited area.   To gather us in unity, He invites us to the table, where “very simply” we eat the bread and drink the wine made the Body and the Blood of the Lamb of God, by the Sacrament, so that we become the One we eat.” … Pope Benedict XVI – 17 January 2014on the day of his ordination the priest receives - pope benedict 19 jan 2020

PRAYER – Almighty God, Your Son’s manhood, born of the Virgin, was a new creation, untainted by our sinful condition.   Renew us then, in Christ and cleanse us from our sins.   May the Holy Name of Jesus, be our light, our safeguard and our shield.   Through Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for all time and forever, amen.lamb of god who takes away the sin of the world have mercy on us 19 jan 2020

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CHRISTMASTIDE!, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, ONE Minute REFLECTION, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, St JOHN the BAPTIST, The HOLY NAME, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 3 January – ‘He became mortal that you might become God and put on your original beauty.’

One Minute Reflection – 3 January – Christmas Weekday and the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, Readings:  1 John 2:29-3, 6, Psalm 98:1, 3-6, John 1:29-34

I did not know him but the reason why I came baptising with water, was that he might be made known to Israel.”   John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him”. … John 1:31-32

REFLECTION – “Upon Adam, blinded in Eden, a Sun has arisen, rising up from Bethlehem and has opened his eyes by washing them in the waters of Jordan.   Upon him whom darkness and shadows were covering, that light has dawned which will never go out.   Night is no more for him, all is day, Dawn is born for him, since it was dusk when he hid himself, as Scripture says (Gn 3:8).   He who fell in the evening has found the Sunrise that gives him light, he has fled from the dark and advanced towards the morning which has manifested itself and illuminated all. (…)

Sing aloud, O Adam and worship Him who comes to meet you.   While you were drawing back, He manifested Himself to you that you might see and touch and welcome Him.   He whom you feared after you had been deceived, has been made like you for your sake.  He has come down to earth to take you to heaven, He became mortal that you might become God and put on your original beauty.   Wishing to open up again for you the gates of Eden, He lived in Nazareth.   For all this, sing of Him, man and glorify with a psalm, the One who manifested Himself and has shone over all.

The eyes of the children of earth have received the strength to behold the heavenly Face, the sight of the creatures of clay, (Gn 2:7) has perceived the undimmed shining of the immaterial Light, that prophets and kings have not seen but longed to see (Mt 13:17). Great Daniel was called a man of desires because he desired to contemplate Him whom we behold.   David, too, hoped for this decree, now we can understand what lay hidden, the One who manifested Himself and illuminated all.” … St Romanos Melodios (c 490-c 556) Monk, Composer of Hymns, Poet – 2nd hymn for the Epiphany, 1,3,8john 1 32 I saw the spirit come down like a dove - he has come down to earth - st romanus melodios 3 jan 2020.jpg

PRAYER – Almighty God, Your Son’s manhood, born of the Virgin, was a new creation, untainted by our sinful condition.   Renew us then, in Christ and cleanse us from our sins.   May the Holy Name of Jesus, be our light, our safeguard and our shield.   Through Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for all time and forever, amen.the jesus prayer - 3 jan 2018.jpg