Today's Reflection
August 28, 2008
The Mysteries of Light
The Baptism in the Jordan
The Wedding at Cana
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
The Transfiguration
The Institution of the Eucharist
THE FATHER’S VIEW OF JESUS
Let us pray, that Christ may bring us to a deeper understanding of the Father’s view of Jesus through the Mysteries of Light.
“I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.” John 1:32
SOME day Jesus would be Christ the King of Heaven and Earth. You wouldn’t suspect that if you saw Him before John the Baptist, lowering Himself into the waters of the Jordan, symbolically dying to sin and then rising. No one in the crowd of onlookers looked twice at Jesus.
That is, until John spoke out in a thunderous voice, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and rest on Him. And in His turn, God the Father opened His heart as He proclaimed, ‘You are my own dear Son. I am well pleased with you’.”
Father, let me see Jesus as you see Him. And Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart Thine.
II. THE WEDDING AT CANA
“The mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ [And] Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servers, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’” John 2:3-5
THE Mother of Jesus was invited, as were Jesus and His disciples, to a wedding at Cana. Mary brought bad news to Jesus. “They have no more wine.”
“What is that to us? My time has not yet come.” Mary was asking for a miracle; Jesus was doing what He was best at, leading her to greater trust in Him. Mary responded to one of the waiters, “Do whatever He tells you.” Jesus smiled at His mother and asked the waiter to fill some earthen pots with water. That done, “Now bring a glass of it to the steward.” The steward said, “You’ve saved the best wine till now!”
Jesus would often say to His disciples, “The good you do, do secretly and your Father, who sees you in everything will repay you.”
III. THE PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
“Do not think I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17
JESUS came to change water into wine, the dead to life, bread and wine into Himself; in short, to befriend sinners and change them into saints.
He does it on every page of the Gospels. He knew precisely what is in mankind: the good and the bad, the wheat and the tares, the sheep and the goats, the heaven and the hell. What He was looking for in the men and women He met was not their failings, but their potential. Anything at all that He could grasp and use to their advantage. Jesus’ life was spent calling sinners and actualizing saints. He treated no two alike. He knew where all of them, all of us, were coming from.
Let us joyfully call ourselves what we are, sinners – that the fullness of Jesus may dwell in us.
Amen, so make it be.
IV. THE TRANSFIGURATION
“. . . Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up to a high mountain by themselves.” Matthew17:1
THERE is no question but that Jesus played favorites. Mary, Joseph, The Baptist, the apostles, dozens more throughout His earthly life. He was perfectly human and behaved much like any of us when it came to choosing intimate friends, or doing good to those whom He knew would be grateful for His help, even for His rescuing.
Each one of us has moments with Jesus that are unique to ourselves; bright spots in our dull days, as the transfiguration was to the apostles.
Yes, Jesus had His special friends. But more importantly He was a special friend; to His Father, who directed Him to a mountaintop to share His splendor with His best friends. And Jesus is special, not only to His Father, but to each of us.
And if we want it so, Moses and Elijah can become close to us in our prayer.
V. THE INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST
“Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” John 13:8/
IT has been a solemn, thought provoking Passover meal for the apostles under the guidance of Jesus’ providence. He had occasioned their wonderment and Peter’s scandal by kneeling before each in turn and washing their feet. Suddenly He groaned, revealing to them that one of their number was on the point of betraying Him to the watchful authorities. He gave His guests, and us, a new commandment: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” He promises them the Holy Spirit to finish in them what Jesus has so well begun. He calls them fruitful branches of the true vine Himself.
An hour later, the Jesus who had poured out His heart to His friends, was begging His Father to take His coming Passion from Him if at all possible. An angel, sent by the Father, came to console Him.