*My TWO CENTS WORTH for the Gospel reading of Friday/Weekday of Christmas before Epiphany (02 January 2015) > John 1:19-28 After having completed the Octave of Christmas, we now savor the great significance of the Birth of the Messiah into our lives. We let this grace-filled moment sink deep within our hearts. We allow His presence as Emmanuel to take root in everything we have believed. And in so doing letting Him nourish the faith that we cherish most. With Saint John the Baptizers vehement witness about the one coming after him, our challenge lies both in being true to ourselves and being true to the Lord. Knowing ourselves and acknowledging who we really are in the eyes of God form the first step towards responding to that challenge. And the underlying principle is humility. In fact, Christmas can only be savored when we know how to humble ourselves. When we receive gifts, for example, it is in the heartfelt acceptance of such presents that we give sense to the truth that we are not self-sufficient. Somehow the gifts themselves speak loudly to us that we need others in our lives. To give a gift in exchange is a wonderful idea for those who can afford. But a simple gesture of gratitude would be just as great a response. Giving becomes genuine only when we do not expect something in return. However, the most priceless gift of all is prayer, because all of us need it. And this is where and how we accept in humility that we need God and prayer, and even more prayers from people we care and who care for us. Amen!
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 12:12:10 +0000