In today's first reading, Isaiah 7: 1-9, the House of David is informed that the enemies of Judah are encamped in Ephraim and planning to attack the city of Jerusalem. The heart of the king trembled in fear. The prophet tells King Ahaz to fear not because his enemies "will not be able to conquer [the city of Jerusalem]." Isaiah is sent to say to Ahaz: "Take care [that] you remain tranquil and do not fear; let not your courage fail before" those who are determined to "tear Judah asunder, [to] make [Judah their] own by force, and appoint the son of Tabeel king there." The Lord continued to assure Ahaz: "This shall not be....[W]ithin sixty years and five, Ephraim shall be crushed, no longer a nation. Unless your faith is firm you shall not be firm."
The response to today's responsorial psalm reminds us that "God upholds his city for ever." We go on to pray: "Great is the Lord and wholly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, fairest of heights, is the joy of all the earth. Mount Zion, 'the recesses of the North,' is the city of the great King. God is with her castles; renowned is he as a stronghold...."
Jerusalem is a symbol of the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of God, that stands forever. As people of God we are part of that heavenly Kingdom, a Kingdom being built here on earth of living stones with God as our stronghold. Of whom need we fear! In Jeremiah 29:11, we are promised, that God has a future full of hope for us, not disaster. It seems that is what Isaiah is trying to get through to King Ahaz and us! Let us stand firm in our faith that God is with us as we stand up to the enemies who seems to be destroying truth and courting evil instead of good for all peoples! And let us stand firm in our abilities to cooperate with God in building a kingdom of justice and peace for all!
Showing posts with label Fear Not. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fear Not. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Monday, March 19, 2018
Feast of St.Joseph, the Foster Father of Jesus
God promised Abraham that he would he would be made the father of many nations. Paul reminds us in the first reading of today's liturgy, Romans 4: 13, 16-18, 22, that it "was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes through faith." In the Gospel, Matthew 1: 16, 18-21, 24a, Matthew calls Joseph a righteous man. Joseph, in faith, takes Mary home to be his wife after an angel appears to him in his sleep and says to him: "'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.'"
We, too, are made righteous, not through the law, but through our faith in Christ Jesus and in the Spirit leading us through life's challenges. Our faith may be tested many times, as was Abraham's when asked to sacrifice his son Isaac and as was Joseph's in discovering Mary's pregnancy, deciding to divorce her privately, and asked by he angel to not let fear dictate his choices. We may find ourselves in many dilemmas, as did Mary and Joseph, as we follow God's will throughout our lifetimes. To triumph over fears that could block us from following the Spirit's lead, we, like Mary and Joseph, need to recognize God-with-us and develop an intimacy with Jesus.
We, too, are made righteous, not through the law, but through our faith in Christ Jesus and in the Spirit leading us through life's challenges. Our faith may be tested many times, as was Abraham's when asked to sacrifice his son Isaac and as was Joseph's in discovering Mary's pregnancy, deciding to divorce her privately, and asked by he angel to not let fear dictate his choices. We may find ourselves in many dilemmas, as did Mary and Joseph, as we follow God's will throughout our lifetimes. To triumph over fears that could block us from following the Spirit's lead, we, like Mary and Joseph, need to recognize God-with-us and develop an intimacy with Jesus.
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
God's Plan of Salvation and Our Part in It
In today's readings, Judges 13: 2-7, 24-25a and Luke 1: 5-25, we meet two barren women, a person who doubts God's plan to transform that barrenness into fertility, and two little boys taking shape in their mother's wombs who are destined to be very important persons in our salvation history. We also encounter two angels, both of whom open their conversation with : "Do not be afraid". Zachary, who doubts God's power to transform Elizabeth's barrenness into fertility consequently loses his ability to speak for nine months.
You and I may identify with the barren women in this story or with Zachary who scoffs at the angel's announcement that his elderly wife will bear a child. Are we experiencing a barrenness in our faith life, in our relationship with our loved ones, in our work environment, in the giving of our best selves in all that we do? For sure, we are,like John the Baptist and Samson in that, we, too, have an important part to play in salvation history now in the 21st century. Do we know what that part is? Perhaps we identify with Zachary in his doubting of God's plan of salvation, in His promises of great things to happen for a family member or for ourselves.
Lord, give us the knowledge of who we are in this Scripture passage and the courage to address the issues that we need to address for the plan of God to bear fruit in our life and the lives of those we love and in the lives of those to whom You send us to proclaim the good News in word by the way we live the Gospel message.
You and I may identify with the barren women in this story or with Zachary who scoffs at the angel's announcement that his elderly wife will bear a child. Are we experiencing a barrenness in our faith life, in our relationship with our loved ones, in our work environment, in the giving of our best selves in all that we do? For sure, we are,like John the Baptist and Samson in that, we, too, have an important part to play in salvation history now in the 21st century. Do we know what that part is? Perhaps we identify with Zachary in his doubting of God's plan of salvation, in His promises of great things to happen for a family member or for ourselves.
Lord, give us the knowledge of who we are in this Scripture passage and the courage to address the issues that we need to address for the plan of God to bear fruit in our life and the lives of those we love and in the lives of those to whom You send us to proclaim the good News in word by the way we live the Gospel message.
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