Thursday after Epiphany, Jan 7

1 John 4:19 - 5:4 / Luke 4:14-22

Jesus worships with the community; He went to the synagogue, as usual.

 Jesus worshiped with his friends and neighbours in two places: the synagogue and the Temple. Every village and town had a synagogue. But there was only one Temple, and that was in Jerusalem. The synagogue was chiefly a place of instruction.

Wednesday after Epiphany, Jan 6

1 John 4:11-18 / Mark 6:45-52

Jesus walks on the water; The disciples were utterly confused.

Mark, Matthew, and John describe Jesus' walking on water right after the miracle of the loaves and fishes. These two back-to-back events leave the disciples totally confused, They are amazed by both events, but they aren't absolutely sure what they means. This much is certain. After these two events, things were never the same for Jesus' disciples. Something beyond their wildest dreams was happening. Only time would tell what it was and how they fitted into it all. For the present, all they could do was to be patient.

Tuesday after Epiphany, Jan 5

1 John 4:7-10 / Mark 6:34-44 

Jesus feeds the crowd: Twelve baskets of leftovers remained.

There's only one miracle of Jesus that is reported by all four evangelists. It is the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Mark's description of the miracle is especially vivid. He describes the hungry people sitting "on the green grass in groups or parties" and "neatly arranged like flower beds." (NAB. 1970)

Jan 4-9, Week After Epiphany

 Jan 4-9: Jan 4 Monday (St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious (U. S. A.) (https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-elizabeth-ann-seton) : Mt 4: 12-17, 23-25: 12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulon and Naphtali, 14 that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

Monday after Epiphany, Jan 4

1 John 3:33 - 4:6 / Matthew 4: 12-17, 23-25

Jesus begins to preach; "Reform your lives. " 

One Sunday night a young man knelt down alone at his bedside. It was not a sudden impulse on his part but the result of some serious soul-searching. He decided that the time had finally come for him to open himself totally to Jesus Christ. There in the darkness of his room, the young man examined his conscience and thanked Jesus for making it possible to have his sins forgiven.

Baptism of Our Lord - shorter Reflection

Baptism of the Lord - 2021

Thomas O’Loughlin
Introduction to the Celebration

Today marks the beginning of the public life and ministry of Jesus Christ as he set out to do the Father’s will and announce the arrival of the kingdom of God. And the moment of the beginning of the messianic work of Jesus is marked by the moment of his baptism in the Jordan. He is acclaimed on earth by the prophet John and links himself to John by being baptised by him. He is acclaimed from heaven by the voice of the Father and the presence of the Spirit. As the people who have heard his preaching and accepted his call, who have confessed him as the Christ, and set out to follow his way, let us pause and consider the words addressed to Jesus: ‘Thou art my beloved Son, with thee I am well pleased.’ 

Dec 31: Christmas Octave

1 John 2:18-21 / John 1:1-18

Antichrists have appeared; They came from our ranks

 Renegade Christians were spreading heresy within the early Church. Influenced by Gnosticism (which derived its name from the Greek word for “knowledge”), they preached the doctrine that “knowledge” or faith sufficed for salvation. One’s moral conduct had little or nothing to do with it. John identifies these teachers as “antichrists,” “enemies of Christ.”

30th December, Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

1 John 2 : 12-17; Luke 2 : 36-40

Shun the world’s attractions: The world passes; God alone remains.

 

Photographer David Crocket of KOMO-TV, Seattle, was caught at the foot of Mt. St. Helens when it exploded on May 18, 1980. He was nearly buried in the falling ash. Ten hours later he was miraculously spotted, picked up by a helicopter, and rushed to a hospital.

29th December, St. Thomas Becket

1 John 2:3-11 / Luke 2:22-35  

A light for all the nations; The light is shining

 

If we don’t love, we are in darkness. Gnosticism was a thorn in the side of the early Church. This heresy derived its name from the Greek word for “knowledge.” Gnosticism took many twists and is difficult to define.