Epiphany Sunday
HOLY NAME OF JESUS-ST. BASIL-9th Day-MOTIVATION
Sirach, Chapter 4, Verse 20
My son, watch for the right time; FEAR what is evil; do not bring shame upon yourself.
Shame is generally connected with sexual ungodliness. Leviticus which is the book of the law on holiness in chapter 18 lists every sort of sexual sin. Sex is good and was invented by God and carries no shame if it is done at the right time open to life between a husband and a wife.
Leviticus 18 begins with:
My
decrees you shall carry out, and my statutes you shall take care to follow. I,
the LORD, am your God. Keep, then, my
statutes and decrees, for the person who carries them out will find life through them. I am
the LORD.
None of
you shall approach a close relative to have sexual intercourse. I am the
LORD. (Lv. 18:4-6)
Leviticus 18 ends with:
You, however, must keep my statutes and decrees, avoiding all these abominations, both the natives and the aliens resident among you—because the previous inhabitants did all these abominations and the land became defiled; otherwise the land will vomit you out also for having defiled it, just as it vomited out the nations before you. For whoever does any of these abominations shall be cut off from the people. Heed my charge, then, not to observe the abominable customs that have been observed before your time, and thus become impure by them. I, the LORD, am your God. (Lv. 18:26-30)
Catechism of the Catholic Church
I.
"MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM . . ."
2331 "God is love and in himself
he lives a mystery of personal loving communion. Creating the human race in his
own image. God inscribed in the humanity of man and woman the vocation, and
thus the capacity and responsibility, of love and communion. "God created
man in his own image male and female he created them"; He blessed them and
said, "Be fruitful and multiply" "When God created man, he made
him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed
them and named them Man when they were created."
2332 Sexuality affects all aspects of
the human person in the unity of his body and soul. It especially concerns
affectivity, the capacity to love and to procreate, and in a more general way
the aptitude for forming bonds of communion with others.
2333 Everyone, man and woman, should
acknowledge and accept his sexual identity. Physical, moral, and spiritual
difference and complementarity are oriented toward the goods of marriage and
the flourishing of family life. The harmony of the couple and of society
depends in part on the way in which the complementarity, needs, and mutual
support between the sexes are lived out.
2334 "In creating men 'male and
female, God gives man and woman an equal personal dignity." "Man is a
person, man and woman equally so, since both were created in the image and
likeness of the personal God."
2335 Each of the two sexes is an image
of the power and tenderness of God, with equal dignity though in a different
way. The union of man and woman in marriage is a way of imitating in the flesh
the Creator's generosity and fecundity: "Therefore a man leaves his father
and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh." All
human generations proceed from this union.
2336 Jesus came to restore creation to
the purity of its origins. In the Sermon on the Mount, he interprets God's plan
strictly: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit
adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has
already committed adultery with her in his heart." What God has joined
together, let not man put asunder.
The
tradition of the Church has understood the sixth commandment as encompassing
the whole of human sexuality.
ON KEEPING THE LORD'S DAY HOLY[1]
Radio and television
54. Finally, the faithful who, because
of sickness, disability or some other serious cause, are prevented from taking
part, should as best they can unite themselves with the celebration of Sunday
Mass from afar, preferably by means of the readings and prayers for that day
from the Missal, as well as through their desire for the Eucharist. In many
countries, radio and television make it possible to join in the Eucharistic
celebration broadcast from some sacred place. Clearly, this kind of broadcast
does not in itself fulfil the Sunday obligation, which requires participation
in the fraternal assembly gathered in one place, where Eucharistic communion
can be received. But for those who cannot take part in the Eucharist and who
are therefore excused from the obligation, radio and television are a precious
help, especially if accompanied by the generous service of extraordinary
ministers who bring the Eucharist to the sick, also bringing them the greeting
and solidarity of the whole community. Sunday Mass thus produces rich fruits
for these Christians too, and they are truly enabled to experience Sunday as
"the Lord's Day" and "the Church’s Day".
Epiphany Sunday
WHAT
mystery does the Church celebrate to-day?
She
celebrates to-day a threefold mystery:
1. The arrival in Bethlehem
of the Wise Men from the East to adore the new-born Savior.
2. The baptism of Jesus in
the Jordan.
3. The first miracle of
Jesus at the wedding in Cana.
Why
is this festival called Epiphany, or the manifestation?
Because
in the three events just mentioned Jesus manifested Himself not only to the
Jews, but also to the gentiles, as the expected Messiah, the Redeemer of the
world, and the beloved of His heavenly Father. The Church sings to-day with joy
at the Introit, “Behold the Lord, the Ruler, is come, and a kingdom in his
hand, and power and dominion” (Mai. iii. 1). “Give to the king Thy judgment, O
God, and to the king’s son Thy justice” (Ps. Ixxi. 2).
Prayer.
O God, Who didst on this day reveal Thy
only-begotten Son to the gentiles by the guidance of a star, grant in Thy mercy
that we, who know Thee now by faith, may be brought to be hold the beauty of
Thy majesty.
EPISTLE. Is. Ix. 1-6.
Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for thy light
is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For behold darkness
shall cover the earth, and a mist the people: but the Lord shall arise upon
thee: and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the gentiles shall walk in thy
light, and kings in the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thy eyes round about
and see all these- are gathered together, they are come to thee: thy sons shall
come from afar and thy daughters shall rise up at thy side. Then shalt thou see
and abound, and thy heart shall wonder and be enlarged, when the multitude of
the sea shall be converted to thee, the strength of the gentiles shall come to
thee. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Madian and
Epha: all they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and frankincense, and
showing forth praise to the Lord.
Of
what does the prophet here speak?
He
foretells the future manifestation of the light of the Lord Jesus to Jerusalem,
which was a type of the Church, and that by that light the gentiles should
enter into the one Church of Christ.
Prayer.
Give
praise, O ye heavens, and rejoice, O earth; ye mountains, give praise with
jubilation, because the Lord hath comforted His people, and will have mercy
upon His poor ones (Is. xlix. 13).
GOSPEL. Matt. ii. 1-12.
When
Jesus, therefore, was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of King Herod,
behold, there came Wise Men from the East to Jerusalem, saying: Where is He
that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East, and are
come to adore Him. And King Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem
with him; and assembling together all the chief priests and scribes of the
people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born. But they said to him,
In Bethlehem of Juda: for so it is written by the prophet: And thou Bethlehem,
the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee
shall come forth the Captain that shall rule My people Israel. Then Herod,
privately calling the Wise Men, learned diligently of them the time of the star
which appeared to them: and sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go and
diligently inquire after the child: and when you have found Him, bring me word
again, that I also may come and adore Him. Who having heard the king, went
their way: and behold, the star which they had seen in the East, went before
them, until it came and stood over where the child was. And seeing the star,
they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And entering into the house, they found
the child with Mary, His Mother, and falling down, they adored Him: and opening
their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And
having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they
went back another way into their country.
Why
did the Wise Men come from afar to seek the Savior in Jerusalem?
They
lived in Arabia, and had acquired some information of the prophecies of Israel,
particularly of the noted prophecy of Balaam, “A star shall rise out of Jacob,
and a scepter shall spring up from Israel” (Num. xxiv. IT), which was the more
significant to them because they were, as their name denotes, skilled in
astronomy. But to these human considerations must be added the light of divine
inspiration, as St. Leo says, “The star shone also in their hearts a beautiful
example for us to follow, without delay, the inspirations of divine grace, and
to do the will of God without fear of men”.
What
was the significance of the presents which the Wise Men offered to the Savior?
In
offering gold, the Wise Men honored the infant Jesus as King; in frankincense,
as God; in myrrh, as suffering Man.
How
can we offer to Jesus similar gifts?
We
can present Him with gold by giving up to Him what we value most, our will;
also, by giving alms in His name to the poor. We can present Him incense in
fervent and devout prayers ascending to heaven; and myrrh, by preserving purity
of body and soul.
Prayer.
Give
to me, O my divine Savior, the faith of these Wise Men; enlighten my
understanding with the light which enlightened them; but move my heart also,
that I may follow that light, and sincerely seek Thee, and Thee only, Who didst
first seek me. Grant that I may find and adore Thee, with the Wise Men, in
spirit and in truth, offering to Thee, like them, gold in my obedience and
alms, incense in my prayers, myrrh in my penances and mortifications, that,
after having brought Thee the offerings of my faith on earth, I may adore Thee
in Thy eternal glory. Amen.
Holy Name of Jesus[2]
The Name Jesus as had been foretold by the angel. The feast
is meant to impress on us Christians the dignity of the Holy Name. What did a
name signify originally? The name should
express the nature of a thing. Thus, Adam in paradise gave the animals names in
accordance with their being. Among the Jews God's name expressed His essence,
Yahweh, i.e., I (alone) am who am (and cause all else to be). The Jews had the
highest respect for the name of God, a reverence that finds continuation in the
Our Father: "Hallowed be Thy Name." Persons who played prominent
roles in the history of salvation often received their names from God Himself.
Adam — man of the earth; Eve — mother of all the living; Abraham — father of
many nations; Peter — the rock. The Savior's precursor was given the name God
assigned him. According to divine precedent, then, the name of the Redeemer
should not be accidental, of human choosing, but given by God Himself. For His
name should express His mission. We read in Sacred Scripture how the angel
Gabriel revealed that name to Mary: "You shall call His name Jesus."
And to St. Joseph the angel not merely revealed the name but explained its
meaning: "You shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from
their sins." The Messiah should not only be the savior but should be
called Savior. With Jesus, therefore, the name actually tells the purpose of
His existence. This is why we must
esteem His name as sacred. Whenever we pronounce it, we ought to bow our heads;
for the very name reminds us of the greatest favor we have ever received,
salvation.
Jesus[3]
His name was called Jesus, which was called by the Angel
before He was conceived in the womb." LUKE ii. 21.
1. It is not difficult to meditate upon the Holy Name, or
to use the Holy Name in prayer. More than any other name, perhaps alone among
all proper names, it is appropriate to the One Who owned it. Usually, the names
of men are given at random; they mean nothing in themselves; a man who happens
to be called John might just as well have been called Thomas or William; the
mere name tells us nothing about him; it is a convenient means of
distinguishing him from others, a label put upon him and little or no more With
a few human beings it has been otherwise: Adam, Abraham, Josue, John the
Baptist were given names that signified the men on whom they were bestowed. But
with none is this so true as it is with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. With
care the Angel impressed it on His Mother's mind: "Thou shalt call His
name Jesus," he said, and there followed the description of His future
greatness. With care it was repeated to Joseph: Thou shalt call His name Jesus,
for He shall save His people from their sins.
2. The Name stands as a complete summary and description of
our Lord's character and office, and it is under this aspect that it has been
regarded by thousands of saints, whose hearts have melted at its mere sound. To
them Jesus is their God, Jesus is their King, Jesus is their Redeemer, Jesus is
their Mediator, Jesus is their Savior, Jesus is their great Priest, Jesus is
their Intercessor, Jesus is the Captain under Whom they fight, Jesus is the
Leader Whom they follow, Jesus is their Teacher, Jesus is the Giver of their law,
Jesus is the Spouse and Shepherd of their souls, Jesus is their Light, Jesus is
their Life, Jesus is the Judge before Whom they rejoice to think that they must
one day stand, Jesus is their final and eternal Reward, for which alone they
live.
3. But He is also to them the mirror of all the most
glorious and winning virtues. He is, and His Name tells them that He is,
unbounded Charity, infinite Mercy, extremist Kindness, deepest Humility, most
devoted Piety, transparent Simplicity, uttermost Poverty, Chastity without a
stain. It is the prerogative of love to transform those who love into the
likeness of Him Whom they love; and as the mere name of one who is loved cannot
sound in the ear or be thought of in the mind without adding to the love which
is already there, so the thought of the Holy Name and the mention of the Holy
Name have a kind of sacramental power in the hearts of His saints. They seem to
convey the grace which enables men to think like Him, to speak like Him, to act
like Him, to sacrifice themselves like Him, and to Him, and for Him, and along
with Him, to make Him known to others, not by word only, but also by
reproduction of Him in themselves, and to win all men to love Him.
Bless the Lord, O
my soul, and let all that is within thee bless His Holy Name. Bless the Lord, O
my soul, and never forget all He hath done for thee. Ps. cii. i, 2.
Names are important.[4]
Most of us remember the elementary school playground and the mean names kids called each other. Author and speaker, Kary Oberbrunner, states that we all have a secret name that the One who made us gives us. Oberbrunner said, “My name is Kary, and I have a girl’s name.” He was no stranger to mean names on the playground. He went on to say that each of us has three names:
1.
Our
birth name – the name assigned to us when we arrive in this world
2.
Our
given names – the names assigned to us as we walk through the world. These
names can be positive and negative, ranging from successful, beautiful, star
athlete to those names assigned by mean kids, like concentration camp victim,
stupid, addict.
3.
Our
secret name – the name granted to us by God, Oberbrunner said the problem is
our birth names and given names don’t ever fill up the void inside us. We
pretend and wear masks.
What would God call you? When Christ called his apostles; He revealed to some of them God’s name for them. Sons of Thunder for John and James and for Simon son of John, He called him Peter which means “Rock”.
9th day of Christmas
The
nine lady’s dancing is a sign of the fruits of the Holy Spirit for those who
are not afraid: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Christmas
Calendar[5]
Read: Today we read about St. Basil the Great, revered as a Doctor of the
Church.
Reflect: "St. Basil, in a much-quoted
homily, once declared that the bread we clutch in our hands belongs to the
starving, the cloak we keep locked in our closet belongs to the naked, the
shoes we are not using belong to the barefooted. In these ways in the
post-biblical age Christians strove to keep a religious perspective on their
use of material things."
Pray: As many prepare to return to work
after this Holy season, say a prayer for
work.
Act: St. Basil once wrote, "Do
everything possible to make yourself worthy of the Kingdom. Do not disdain the invitation
you have received" (Exhortation to Baptism, 7-8).
When
I think of all this, I am left terrorized and swallowed up with fear that,
because of fickleness of heart or preoccupation with things of no importance, I
may weaken in my love of God and even become a reason of shame or disorder for
Christ.”
St. Basil’s Bread[6]
In the Eastern
Churches St. Basil's Bread is blessed on his feast day. This blessing has been
adapted for home use. The family gathers at the table where the bread is placed
along with an icon of St. Basil (if available). The parts marked leader are
done by the father or other suitable person.
Prayer
Leader: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus
Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us!
All: Amen.
Holy God, Holy Mighty,
Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (three times) Glory to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
Most holy Trinity, have
mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us of our sins. Master, forgive our transgressions.
Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities for Your Name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. (three
times)
Glory to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
Our Father, who art in
heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it
is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as
we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but
deliver us from evil.
Leader: For
Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
now and ever, and forever.
All: Amen.
Troparion - Tone 1 Your voice resounds throughout the world * which has
excepted the lessons so well taught by you. * You have given explanation of
divine truths. * You have clarified the nature of created things. * You have
made a rule of life for men. * By your royal priesthood, O venerable father
Basil, * intercede with Christ to save our souls.
Glory to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
Kondakion - Tone 4 O venerable and heavenly inspired
Basil, * you were a firm foundation of the Church * by giving to all treasure *
and impressing them with your teachings.
Leader: Let
us pray to the Lord. All: Lord, have mercy.
Prayer of Blessing
Leader: O
Lord, King of the Ages and Creator of all things; You are abounding in mercy
and plenteous in goodness! You accepted the gifts of the Wise Men in Bethlehem.
You are the Bread of Life Who came down from heaven. You put times and years
under Your authority and hold our lives in Your hands. Hear us on this
auspicious day of the beginning of this New Year of (name the year) and bless +
this sweet bread which is offered for Your glory and honor and in memory of our
Father among the Saints Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappodocia.
O Generous One, look down from heaven and send down Your heavenly gifts upon
us, those who prepared this bread and all who shall partake of it, because we
have placed our hope in You, the Eternal Living God! Bless our coming and
going, enrich our lives with Your abundant blessings and direct our steps in
the working of Your Divine commandments, because we shall not live by bread
alone. Through the intercessions of Your all-pure and holy Mother, of our
Father among the Saints, Basil the Great, and of all Your Saints, who have
pleased You over the ages.
All:
Amen.
The leader takes a
knife and incises the sign of the Cross in the bottom of the loaf. It is then
cut. It is eaten after the prayers are complete.
Closing Prayers
All:
Lord, have mercy. (three
times)
Glory to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
More honorable than the
Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who, a virgin,
gave birth to God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify you!
Leader: Lord
Jesus Christ, our true God, circumcised in the flesh, through the prayers of
His most pure Mother, of Saint Basil the Great, whom we honor this day and of
all the saints, have mercy on us and save us.
All:
Amen.
Motivation and Inspiration
Day[7]
It’s January 2nd, the
beginning of a whole new year, and you’ve just gotten over your hangover—what
time could possibly be better to be motivated and inspired? You have a whole
365 days ahead of you, and now is the time to start making them count! Even
though to many, January 2nd is in fact just about finally getting over your New
Year’s Party hangover, the history of Motivation and Inspiration Day is much
more somber. National Motivation & Inspiration Day was passed by The United
States Congress on December 18th, 2001, after the tragic events of September
11th, 2001. That was when Kevin L. McCrudden became the first and so far, only
motivational and leadership speaker to ever have had such a day passed by
Congress, acknowledging the importance of “motivation” and “inspiration” in our
daily lives. After the tragedy that was September 11th, 2001, McCrudden felt
that all Americans needed something to remind them that there were still many
things to live on for. The reality was bleak at that time, and many people felt
sad, scared or lost—especially those whose family members or friends had gotten
killed suddenly in the World Trade Center attacks of just a few months before.
McCrudden originally intended for this day to be dedicated to helping
people become the best they can be and maximize their potential through the
creation of annual goals. The idea caught on quite quickly, and Motivation and
Inspiration Day is now celebrated in different places across the world as well
as in the United States, encouraging people everywhere to change their lives
for the better.
How to Celebrate
Motivation and Inspiration Day
Daily Devotions
·
Today in honor of the Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your day
to God. To honor God REST: no shopping after 6 pm Saturday till Monday. Don’t
forget the internet.
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Restoring
the Church
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Try a buffet after Mass it is national buffet day.
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
·
Rosary
[3]Goffine’s
Devout Instructions, 1896.
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