2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A, Year I)
(International Districts)
Community Word:
God’s presence brings unspeakable joy to His people.
Theme:
We experience God’s presence when we acknowledge Jesus as His son.
Promise:
“I will make you a light to the nation.” (Is 49:6b)
Reflection:
The Lord says to John the Baptist:“On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit,” (Jn 1: 33b). So, as soon as he saw the Spirit came down like a dove and remained upon Jesus, he testified that Jesus is the Son of God. Without any doubt, John immediately recognized Jesus as who He is. John called the people to repentance andbaptized them with water, but Jesus is the true Savior who baptizes all believers with the Holy Spirit. John’s role was to point Christ to us: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” (Jn 1:29). The testimony of John the Baptist is crucial in that with His baptism, Jesus starts His mission for the salvation of man.
Though Jesus is described in many ways, it is our faith that brings us to recognize who Jesus truly is. In Isaiah 49, Jesus is revealed as the “Suffering Servant” and “Light to the Nations” who would lead all people back to God. He is the “Christ” and our “Lord” who calls us to holiness. He is the “Lamb of God” and “Savior” on whom God’s favor rests. The many names and attributes of Jesus help us in relating to Him and deepening our relationship with our Abba Father.
On the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, our theme – We experience God’s presence when we acknowledge Jesus as His son, allows us to reflect on and understand the unity of Jesus with His Father. Though He is God, Jesus, by His obedience, became man so that God’s loving plan to bring us back to Him will take place. So, in our gratitude to God’s unconditional love and mercy, we continue to walk in faith and deepen our relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ.
In our reflection and continued awareness, we must always realize that Jesus is God made flesh who came to fulfill His promise and bring about God’s Kingdom on earth. He saves us from sinfulness and gave us back our inheritance as children of God by His death and resurrection. Jesus is telling us that we can call upon God as our Abba Father, just as Jesus calls God His Abba Father. Because of Christ, we are united as one body, brothers and sisters belonging to the One, Holy and Immortal God.
Let us spend more time with Jesus, acknowledging Him as our Lord and Savior, so that we will come to know God even more. Let us humbly come before Him and be grateful for all that He has done and continue to do for us. In return for His goodness, let us wait upon Him and receive His promise – “I will make you a light to the nations,” (Is 49: 6b). And for this, let our response be – ‘Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will.’
Prayer:
O my God, You are my delight and my portion. I thank You for giving us Jesus, the Lamb of God, who has taken away our sins by His blood on the cross. By Your saving grace, we are able to see You in the face of Jesus and experience Your awesome presence, bringing great joy into our hearts. As You made us “light of the nations,” continue to bless and enable us to share the Good News with others who are searching to feel Your presence as well. Draw us closer that we will always feel Your mercy, Your compassion, and Your eternal love for us. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
1. How can I deepen my relationship with Jesus so that I may always experience and feel God’s presence in my life?
2. In what ways can I identify myself with Christ as His true follower so that I may testify to others as who Christ is?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
January 15, 2017 (Sun) -Is 49:3, 5, 6/Ps 40:4, 7-10/1Cor 1:1-3/ Jn 1:29-34
January 16, 2017 (Mon)- Heb 5:1-10/Ps110:1-4/Mk2:18-22
January 17, 2017 (Tue) – Heb 6:10-20/Ps 111:1-5,9,10/Mk 2:23-28
January 18, 2017 (Wed)-Heb 7:1-3,15-17/Ps 110:1-4/Mk3:1-6
January 19, 2017 (Thu)- Heb7:25-8:6/Ps40:7-10,17/Mk3:7-12
January 20,2017 (Fri) – Heb 8:6-13/Ps 85:8,10-14/Mk 3:13-19
January 21, 2017 (Sat) -Heb 9:2,3,11-14/Ps47:2-3,6-9/Mk 3:20-21
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
WSC Reflection 15 Jan 2017 Intl
