January 11, 2013

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Friday after Epiphany
Lectionary: 216

Reading 1
1 Jn 5:5-13

Beloved:
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

If we believe in Jesus Christ, we will conquer sin and the flesh and the devil.

This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and Blood.

I think this is a reference to Jesus Christ death upon the Cross:

John 19:33-35
King James Version (KJV)
33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:  34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.  35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

St. John is the one who witnessed this and is here recounting the event.

"not by water alone", I think that is a reference to His birth.  He wasn't just born, but He also died by the shedding of His Blood.

The Spirit is the one who testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.

The Spirit which testifies and which is truth, is the Spirit of God.  The Holy Spirit.

So there are three who testify,
the Spirit, the water, and the Blood,
and the three are of one accord.

Now, here it gets a bit confusing.  Because the Spirit, the water and the Blood are a reference to two of the Divine Persons.  The Holy Spirit (the Spirit) and the Son of God (the water and the Blood).

If we accept human testimony,
the testimony of God is surely greater.

This is the Third:

Luke 9:35
And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

But there may be another meaning to that verse which I don't yet see.

Now the testimony of God is this,
that he has testified on behalf of his Son.
Whoever believes in the Son of God
has this testimony within himself.
Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar
by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son.
And this is the testimony:
God gave us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son.
Whoever possesses the Son has life;
whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.
I write these things to you so that you may know
that you have eternal life,
you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

Those who believe in the Son of God and keep His Commandments, will be saved. 

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20

R. (12a) Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. or:
R. Alleluia.

Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.

R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.or:
R. Alleluia.

He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!

R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.or:
R. Alleluia.

He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.

R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.or:
R. Alleluia.

We, in the Church, are the New Israel.  God has made known to us His will.  He has offered to the whole world the opportunity to come into His House.  But they have refused and so, He continues to lead us and to teach us.  

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke
Lk 5:12-16

It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was;
and when he saw Jesus,
he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said,
“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”

A leper approached Jesus and asked to be made clean.

Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”

Jesus immediately granted the prayer.

And the leprosy left him immediately.
Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but
“Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing
what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”

Jesus then commanded the man to show himself to a priest and to keep the incident quiet.

The report about him spread all the more,
and great crowds assembled to listen to him
and to be cured of their ailments,
but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

But His fame grew throughout the land.  And He would heal many and preach to many.  And then He would withdraw by Himself to pray.

Sincerely,

De Maria