Meditations on the Sunday Gospel for the Year of the Eucharist
desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" It
was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one
crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.
John wore clothing made of camel's hair and had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the
whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized
by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.When he saw many
of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You
brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good
fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves,
'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God can raise up children to
Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.
Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown
into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is
coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will
clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will
burn with unquenchable fire." - Matthew 3:1-12
Lord Jesus, too often I
assume that simply because I am
Catholic or because I assist at
Mass every Sunday I will escape
the unquenchable fire that John
speaks of. Too often I become
comfortable with You and begin to
conform my idea of who You are
to who I want You to be. Lord,
help me to take the words of John
the Baptist seriously. Help me to
not only love You with all of my
heart, mind, body, and soul but
also to regain a Holy fear of You
and of offending You. Give me
the strength, here and now, to
truly repent of my sins, renew my
baptismal promises, and begin
once again to bear *good fruit* in
my thoughts, words, and actions.
to illustrate for the reader that Jesus is a descendant of Abraham and King
David. The second chapter shows that Jesus was rejected by the descendants
of Abraham and King David even in His infancy while being accepted by the
Gentiles.
In this chapter, Matthew confirms the long standing Jewish belief that the
coming Messiah would be preceded by the prophet Elijah. The image of John
that Matthew provides reminds the reader of the fiery words and ascetic dress of
the prophet Elijah. (cf. 2 Kings 1:8)
In this scene, which would grab anyone*s attention, we hear John the Baptist,
the modern day Elijah, speak forcefully with the Pharisees and Sadducees. He
calls even them to repentance. Then as if to read their thoughts, thoughts that
would deny the need for their repentance, he tells them not to be too sure of
themselves simply because they are the sons of Abraham.
Here John is *making straight* the erroneous thought that simply because
one belongs to a certain family they will be saved or they are in some way
special. John tells all within earshot that things have changed and everyone will
be judged according to their *good fruit* regardless of family affiliation.
Apostles and You
from your spot the leaders from the Temple in their robes with their escorts and
assistants. There, a little ways off shore in the river, stands this man. He is dressed
in camel hair which makes you itch when you look at it and wears a leather belt
around his waist. His disheveled hair and beard blow wildly in the breeze as he
raises his voice to the leaders and the group.
Your hair stands on end when he addresses them as a "brood of vipers." At
first you fear for his safety but then you take his address into consideration. He
repeats many words in his discourse and they begin to stick out in your mind. Over
and over you hear words like repent, baptism, good fruit, and even fire.
What goes through your mind as you listen to these words? Do you recognize
that these words are addressed to you as well as the Pharisees and Sadducees?
What are some of the "presumptions" you have been "saying to yourself"?
repent. Open my heart, mind, and soul and let the light of Your love reveal to me that which is keeping me from You.
[pause and listen for ten minutes]
Jesus, in the Sacrament of Confirmation I received the gifts and the power of the Holy Spirit. Many times I have
neglected these gifts out of fear. I didn*t speak up or act out of love when I should have. I want You to stir up in me
those gifts so that I might act as John the Baptist making straight the paths for You in my own life. Lord, I want you to
use me for Your Kingdom. Reveal to me the ways in which You would like to use me. [ask Jesus to reveal to you the
gifts He has given you that could be used to serve Him better]
Lord, your followers once said, *this is a hard saying, who can accept it*. As I meditate on this Gospel I find it to be
a hard saying as well. The world tells me to celebrate this time of the year one way while this Gospel tells me to
prepare another way. The world encourages me to indulge in things while John the Baptist gives me the example of
one who lives a life of simplicity of heart. The world says that whatever I believe is okay while this Gospel tells me that I
will be judged by You. This is a hard saying indeed. Reveal to me Lord the choices I need to make to prepare myself
to receive You. [pause and listen for ten minutes]
EUCHARIST
presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament? Roses bloomed in the snow. A
poor garment is imprinted with an image of Our Blessed Mother. It has lasted for
centuries and no scientist can figure out how the image is on the cloth. She is the
woman clothed with the sun. The sun is symbolic of her Eucharistic Son. Both
hearts beat as one. Look at her request to the Bishop. Build a chapel. Who is in
the chapel? Her Eucharistic Son! Mary brings all of her children to the Eucharist.
During our holy hour of prayer there is always the beauty of Guadalupe. No
matter how cold our heart, the roses of holiness bloom. The fragrance of sanctity
will last for all eternity. Each moment we spend in His presence we grow, we
bloom, we blossom like roses in the snow. And with each holy hour there is a new
and special image indelibly imprinted on our soul. This image is far more beautiful
than the one here at the shrine, where people come from all over the world and
look with awe-inspiring amazement. - All the angels of heaven gaze in ecstasy at
the image left on your soul, dear Thomas, after each holy hour you make in the
presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. - from Letters to a Brother Priest
make radiant the night of the waiting world. May the lure of greed not impede us from joy which moves
the hearts of those who seek Him. May the darkness not blind us to the vision of wisdom which fills the
minds of those who find Him. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. [Alternative Opening Prayer for
the Mass on the Second Sunday of Advent]
Year of the Eucharist Page