A Word of Hope

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us that whoever does the will of God is his mother, brother and sister. As related by Fr. Scott, Fr. Brendan tells us of an interreligious group founded my muslims in the Chicago area that does amazing work bringing God's compassion to war-torn areas of our world. Certainly, these people are Jesus' mother, brother, and sister.

In today's scripture we hear of Jesus establishing a new covenant with his own blood, one sacrifice with the power to save "the many," and we ponder how many might be able to be saved by this one act.

Today we celebrate Word of God Sunday and hear how Jesus was handed the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth, found the passage "I have come to bring good news to the poor," and declared that he was fulfilling that passage that very day. Scripture tells us who we are, giving us roots, but every time we return to it scripture also gives us wings, sending us out to fulfil its promises in our own age.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Conversion of Paul, whose conversion was both based on his own experiences and choices, and made possible and fostered by the people around him. This was not unusual, and it seems that all conversions are both individual and communal.

In our Gospel today, Jesus calls the 12 apostles to be with him, to preach, and to cast out demons. Only demons are their enemies, not people who disagree with them or even oppose them. For these people, the apostles should give witness to their joy and friendship with Jesus to perhaps win them over. This is good advice for us today as well.

The psalmist says, "Here I am Lord, I come to do your will." That is what God is looking for, and what we saw in the human response to the tragic fires in Los Angeles. People came from all over to help, to donate money, to distribute food, to so something to help in response to the devastation. God surely smiled.

On this day when the Church prays for the the legal protection of unborn children, we hear of how Jesus heals a man with a withered hand. Thus we pray for legal protections for the unborn and the born, so that everyone might have what they need to live a fulfilling life.

The Letter to the Hebrews recalls how Abraham trusted God's promise to him and so obtained it. St. Agnes, a 4th century martyr, also trusted God and witnessed her faith to the end, and so obtained the promise of salvation. We should seek that which allows us to trust God's promise and we will find peace, and joy, and ultimately, salvation.

People came to Jesus and asked why his disciples did not fast. He replied that they could not fast while the bridegroom was with them, indicating himself as the divine presence with them. But, why do we fast? To show that God is first in our life, before our own desire for food and gratification.

At the wedding feast at Cana, Mary sees a problem and solves it—getting Jesus to perform his first miracle of changing water to wine. We can turn to Mary to petition her son to solve the problems or "untie the knots" in our own lives, but we then have to trust that God hears and do what Jesus says.

Today we hear the call of Levi. Jesus said "Follow me" and he left everything and followed. That is the heart of discipleship. May we follow our own call by God.

On this memorial of St. Anthony, Abbot (also known as St. Anthony of the Desert), we remember this courageous Desert Father who fought the devil with prayer. Prayer can be a powerful tools for keeping the evil that creeps into all of our lives at bay.

"If today you hear God's voice, harden not your heart." There are many ways in which God speaks to us, and perhaps the most clear way is through the humanity of the people we encounter. Be open to them and how they are doing, not just what they are doing.

Our love has to reach out to heal others, starting at home and then reaching out beyond our home, always rooted in prayer.

Unlike other teachers of his day, Jesus taught with authority and his words liberated people from suffering. Perhaps we can make a New Year's resolution to make our words liberate others.

As we return to Ordinary Time, we hear the call of Peter and Andrew, ordinary people who did the extraordinary thing of dropping everything to follow Jesus. Will we even hear when God calls us?

On this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we recall that Jesus was baptised to carry out the the commission of the Prophet Isaiah, "Give Comfort to my People." May all of us who are baptised fulfil this mission.

After Jesus was baptised by John, Jesus went on to baptise others. When John was asked about it, he was happy that Jesus was doing this and becoming greater than he. All of the blessings God gives us should be nurtured, and multiplied, and then passed along to more people, until the whole world is blessed.

Jesus is the source of all truth. Do we ask for God's help in finding the truth?

Jesus came to bring Good News to the poor. It is incumbent on Christians to help the poor and alleviate their suffering, but even more than that, the Better News is that Jesus brings forgiveness, which starts with the poor, and promises a better life in heaven than anything we could imagine in this world.

The First Letter of John assures us that if we believe in Jesus and strive to love as he did, we will be prepared for life everlasting with God in heaven.

In miraculously feeding the multitudes, Jesus invites his disciples to collaborate with him in God's saving work. His disciples are not sure they can.

In the Gospel, Jesus leaves home and starts preaching and developing a following. In the First Letter of John we are challenged to test the voices we hear and to place Jesus' message above all others. Ask yourself, why do you believe in Jesus?

On this Epiphany Sunday, we remember that the magi used their reason and science to find the Christ child. May we do the same.