Morning Coffee Meditations.

DEAL GENTLY WITH THE IGNORANT…

Hebrews 5:1-10
1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.3 Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people.4 And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was.5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee”;6 as he says also in another place, “Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.”7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard for his godly fear.
8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered;
9 and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Mark 2:18-22

18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
20 The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; if he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made.22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but new wine is for fresh skins.”

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING: The author juxtapose the call and vocation of the Hebrew highpriest who was appointed by men with the call of Christ. He makes the point that the offering of the Sacrifice of the Mass is by far the most important duty of the high priest for the remittance of his sins and the sins of his flock. Secondly, the high priest should deal considerately with wayward obdurate individuals who are ignorant about ecclesiastical matters and dictates. To be sure the highpriests godly fear should move him to be Christlike, precluding him from disobeying Christ’s teachings even if he should suffer pain and persecution.

THE GOSPEL READING: The pharisees challenge Christ’s wisdom when they compared the obedience of John the baptists disciples who obeyed the call to fast, with His disciples who were not honoring the Sabbath prescription. Instead of directly responding to the objections of the pharisees which was in keeping with the Sabbath laws, Jesus appealed to the required practice of not storing new wine in old wineskins—veiling the fact that He was about to establish a New Covenant Sabbath before He the Bridegroom is taken away to be crucified!

It is indeed regrettable that in the aftermath of Father Martin Luther’s disobedience, he separated himself from the teaching authority of the magisterial Papal office— watering down the New Covenant Sacrifice of the Mass, the Extraordinary Sacrament of grace and mercy where Christ is truly present forgiving our venial sins. Let us deal gently with ignorant disbelievers who negate the New Covenant teaching (Jer 31:31;Lk 22:15-20), hoping and praying that they come home to the Church founded by Christ Jesus!

LET US PRAY:Psalms 110:1-4 1 A Psalm of David.The LORD says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.”2 The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your foes!3 Your people will offer themselves freely on the day you lead your host upon the holy mountains. From the womb of the morning like dew your youth will come to you.4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.

THE THRONE OF GRACE…

Hebrews 4:12-16
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.13 And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Mark 2:13-17

13 He went out again beside the sea; and all the crowd gathered about him, and he taught them.14 And as he passed on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.15 And as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him.
16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

MEDITATION

THE HEBREW WRITER makes the point that when we rightly indulge and submit to the Word of God, then our cognitive faculties;senses, deep rooted thoughts, desires, temptations and intentions will be laid bare to Him. Athough the Son sympathize with our afflictions, disorders—temptations and trials that He was able to avoid—we are called to confide in Him in the sacrament of reconciliation (v16) the throne of grace, mercy and deliverance!

St MARK capture the occasion when the Pharisees; experts of the ‘Gamara’,—commentaries of the Mishna and Torah— called into question Jesus’ presence never mind Him sharing a meal with the ‘dregs of society,’ which the Rabbis condemned in the Gamara. It can be said the Gamara was what the Catechism of the Catholic Church is in our time—the expositor of Christ’s teachings– clarifying how to understand and apply sacred scripture, as well as teach on matters of human dignity, our acts of worship and adoration and how we aught to live the word of God on a daily basis!

Christs outreach to sinners; meeting them where they are, sharing a meal with the outcast did not comport with the Gamaras teaching of seperation between the just and the public sinners. The hymn “They will know us by our love” call us to not reject the sinner or outcast of society, but to meet them where they are; invite them to the Throne of Grace so the may taste and see the love of God in us and our place of Worship, where Christ stand ready to forgive our most wretched sins in the sacrament of reconciliation.

LET US PRAY:Psalms 19:8-10 8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

MY SON, YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN…

Hebrews 4:1-5,11
1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest remains, let us fear lest any of you be judged to have failed to reach it.2 For good news came to us just as to them; but the message which they heard did not benefit them, because it did not meet with faith in the hearers.3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall never enter my rest,” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way, “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”
5 And again in this place he said, “They shall never enter my rest.”l11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, that no one fall by the same sort of disobedience.

Mark 2:1-12

1 And when he returned to Caperna-um after some days, it was reported that he was at home.2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them.3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay.5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,7 “Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question thus in your hearts?9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say,’ Rise, take up your pallet and walk?10 But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins”–he said to the paralytic–11 “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.”12 And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING: The author posits that when we truly love the Lord, we have entered His rest, meaning that we have naturally engendered a filliail fear—which is to live prudently, carefully, justly and selflessly avoiding any displeasing act of betrayal, that is contrary to the love of God, implying that our way of life cannot be in opposition to Gods commandments! Fundamentally we are called to place our complete trust in God by not picking and choosing which commandments we shall obey or dismiss.

St MARK describe an event witnessed by a few recorders of the law, scribes who observed Christ lifting up the lifeless body of a compromised sinner, owing to the compelling faith of his four friends who lowered him to Christ for healing. The well versed scribes who knew the books of the law and prophets by heart, were taken aback when they heard Christ forgive the sins of this man, because they were not aware of any such act ever being recorded in the books of the law!

Knowing the hearts and minds of the scribes who did not verbalize their unbelief and dubiety, Christ adress these doubters by questionably pointing out that they prefer bodily healing miracles at the expense of sanitizing a compromised sick soul wherein sin is hidden. Well aware that Satan is not allowing the sons and daughters of the Father to rest our soul, Christ bequeathed to us the Sacrament of mercy (Jn 20:22-23), a Rite whereby a consacrated priest absolve us from our misdeeds! You see, we have to verbalize our deep rooted sins hidden in our subconscious; a causal link to our unhappiness and sickness because of our rebellious behaviors that have paralyzed the soul, so that we can audibly hear the words from the priest; “My son, your sins are forgiven,” setting us free to glorify God by turning over a new page, doing what is right, good and meritorious of His mercy.

LET US PRAY:Psalms 78:3-4,6-8

3 things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us.4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders which he has wrought.6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children,
7 so that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;8 and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS…

Hebrews 3:7-14
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, when you hear his voice,8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their hearts; they have not known my ways.’11 As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall never enter my rest.'”
12 Take care, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.14 For we share in Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end,

Mark 1:40-45

40 And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.”41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I will; be clean.”42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
43 And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once,44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people.”45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

MEDITATION

THE HEBREW AUTHOR Issue a stern warning to the Christian community to hold one another accountable as and when things fall apart, rather than delay and wait for the morrow! He recall the rebellious behavior of many Israelites that was on full display during their testing walk with Yahweh in the desert, which caused numerous men and women to not reach the promised land—precluding them from experiencing or receiving Yahwehs grace, mercy and deliverance.

THE GOSPEL READING: An ambivilent nervous leper who tested Jesus’ willingness to heal him, is more than pleasantly surprised that Christ responded to his petition, such that he did not honor Christs request that he not trumpet the work of healing and mercy he had received. The overzealous exuberance of the former leper made it difficult for Christ to openly enter the town to reach the hardened, stubborn unbelieving sinners who were hiding, because he trumpted his healing to those who have already heard about Christ.

Believers “who have been blessed” and have a penchant to publicly pat ourselves on the back by constantly displaying our achievements and gloating about our success, never uttering a word about what we have lost because of our stupidity and stubbornness, can disuade and harden the heart of the; lonely, afflicted, marginalized, hungry and unemployed unbelieving hopeless ‘sinner’ who does not know what tommorow will bring. Those of us who are at the end of our tether not knowing which way to turn are called to not harden our hearts, but to have the courage to kneel and petition Christ to attend to our needs and deliver us from our waywardness and stubbornness. Moreover, let us approach a consecrated priest and make a sincere confession and be freed from sin.

LET US PRAY: Psalms 95:6-11

6 O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would hearken to his voice!8 Harden not your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,9 when your fathers tested me, and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
10 For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who err in heart, and they do not regard my ways.”11 Therefore I swore in my anger that they should not enter my rest.

THE HOUSE OF SIMON…

Hebrews 2:14-18
14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil,15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage.
16 For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham.17 Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people.18 For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Mark 1:29-39

29 And immediately he left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her.31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them.
32 That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons.33 And the whole city was gathered together about the door.34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.35 And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed.
36 And Simon and those who were with him pursued him,37 and they found him and said to him, “Every one is searching for you.”38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out.”39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING: The author let it be known that Christ who share the same nature as man; implying that his body is prone to death—a work of the devil who use the eminence of death to keep us in bondage by instilling fear in us. It was nessesary that Christ be born and share the image of man exposed to the same temptations and pain, for Him to be a forgiving, merciful, faithful healer and High priest to His people.

THE GOSPEL READING: Christ performed the first bodily healing miracle when Simon and Andrew informed Him that Simons mother in law was bedridden. These two brothers brought more people who were sick and demon possessed to Simon Peters house, so Christ may heal them.

Note the typological inference; ‘Simon Peters house,’ the Church founded on rock, would be the “pillar and bulwark of the truth (Isa 51:1;17:10;1Tim 3:15), the home where God’s children will be healed and comforted. St Mark found it nessesary to inform us that Christ rose early the next morning to isolate and pray whilst Simon, Andrew and a few other followers overslept in his house. Notwithstanding their tardiness, these men got up from their laizy beds to search and pursue Christ! We who have been confirmed in the faith founded upon Peter are obligated to persue Christ, sing His praises, moreover we must search and invite the fallen away; those in bondage or sick and lonely to come, see taste and meet Christ who is perpetually resident in the house of Simon Peter!

LET US PRAY: Psalms 105:1-4,6-9

1 O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples!2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works!3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
4 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his presence continually!6 O offspring of Abraham his servant, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!7 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.8 He is mindful of his covenant for ever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,9 the covenant which he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac,

WHAT IS MAN THAT THOU ART MINDFUL OF HIM…

Hebrews 2:5-12
5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking.6 It has been testified somewhere, “What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou carest for him?7 Thou didst make him for a little while lower than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honor,8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.
9 But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every one.10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren,12 saying, “I will proclaim thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee.”

Mark 1:21-28

21 And they went into Caperna-um; and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit;

24 and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING: The author preface his discourse with a quote (v6) from Job and the psalms (Job 7:17,Ps 8:4), to illustrate that God was and is always alive to the struggles and pain of His people, to the extent that God gave expression to mans needs when He lowered Himself; becoming one of us by tasting suffering and death through which He modeled that notwithstanding our strife, pain and unworthiness, we can pioneer our human afflictions and shortcomings!

THE GOSPEL READING: Satans attempt to accost, silence and besmirch Christ in a packed synagogue whilst He was teaching, led him the former leader of the angels who fell from heaven (Lk 10:18); to honor, venerate and explicitly acknowledge that Christ was unquestionably the ‘Holy One of God!’ Christ rebuked and evicted Satan who has captured the soul of an afflicted sinful Jew who wanted to clean up his miserable disconsolate life.

Christ is mindfull of our afflictions; shortcomings, misgivings, self-loathing and self deprecating state which is the work of the devil, who wish to repel Christ from reaching, touching and healing us! Christ is ever mindful of our beleagered state, wherefore He call upon us to present ourselves to Him in the confessional and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; where deliverance, mercy, forgiveness, heavenly love and reconciliation await us! Let us not consider what others will say or do by humbly showing up in church, pleading with Jesus to free us from our debilitating condition.

LET US PRAY:Psalms 8:2,5-9

2 by the mouth of babes and infants, thou hast founded a bulwark because of thy foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.5 Yet thou hast made him little less than God, and dost crown him with glory and honor.
6 Thou hast given him dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet,7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the sea.9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all the earth!

GOD SHOWS NO PARTIALITY…

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD.

Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7
1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations.2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.4 He will not fail or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.6 “I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations,7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

Acts 10:34-38

34 And Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality,35 but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.36 You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),37 the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Matthew 3:13-17

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.16 And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him;17 and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

MEDITATION

ISAIAH PROPHECY God’s promise that He will send to the nations one without fanforanade, who will not fail in His mission to be just and impartial to the extent that He will listen to the brokenhearted and the “dimly burning wick,”—those with little faith—who wish to live a righteous life in the Lord.

THE SECOND READING: Called and invited to the house of a Roman civil servant Cornelius who had a vision from God, Peter who similarly had a vision and voice commanding him to eat anything—, accepted the invite to make Christ known to the gentiles. Peter begin his discourse by affirming that God shows no partiality—meaning that God is not indifferent or bias toward any nation or bedevilled individual who wish to hear the Good news and desire healing peace and transformation.

THE GOSPEL READING: Fabbersgasted and ambivilent that a lowly unworthy man such as him should baptise the Son of God, John the Baptist waisted no time to assent to this once in a lifetime request that he perform the Rite of baptism on Christ the Son of God in the middle of the Jordan river (Josh 4:9) as prefigurded by Joshua. With this said, John witnessed a supernatural event when the heavens opened; the Fathers voice was heard and the Spirit of God exuded the Fathers light over Jesus the beloved Son with whom He is well pleased!

Baptism, an impartial unprejudiced once off Sacrament —if canonically administered—that does not judge the personality, character or the nationality of the neophyte who desire to pass-over in haste and be transformed into the image of Christ Jesus. Their is however a caveat or condition that require the baptized to submit to Sacred Scripture and the Petrine teaching authority vested in the Church that was founded by Christ, implying that we cannot obfuscate nor befog objective truth by demanding that the Church submit to our personal will on matters such as faith, belief, doctrine and distinct ethical moral principles that seperate good from bad or evil!

LET US PRAY:Psalms 29:1-4,9-10

1 A Psalm of David.
Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; worship the LORD in holy array.
3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, upon many waters.4 The voice of the LORD is powerful, the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.9 the voice of the LORD makes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forests bare; and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king for ever.

JESUS WAS ALSO INVITED…

1 John 5:14-21
14 And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.16 If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that.17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal.
18 We know that any one born of God does not sin, but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world is in the power of the evil one.20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, to know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ.This is the true God and eternal life.21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

John 2:1-11

1 On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there;2 Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples.3 When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”4 And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.” So they took it.9 When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom10 and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.”11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

MEDITATION

St JOHN write that all wrongdoing is sin, however he makes a distinction between sin that is not mortal and sin which is mortal, implying that the stubborn unrepentant sinner is damned and shall suffer eternal punishment. God will forgive “sin both mortal and venial,” if the sinner appeal to God’s mercy and forgiveness. John makes the point that we who are “born of God” in baptism was given understanding to discern between right and wrong and good and evil wherefore we are obligated to remain in Him always.

THE GOSPEL READING: A wedding couple faced much embarressment when they had no wine, a nessesary component required by the Rabbi to validate the nuptial union. Because this couple were wise to invite both Jesus together with the apostles and His mother to partake in their wedding ceremony, Mary saved the day for the red-faced couple, when she persuaded her somewhat dismissive Son who figured that He was not quite ready to begin His ministry, to fill the empty barrels with the very best wine!

These days wedding couples spend excessive amounts of resources to host their wedding at a secular venue or a magistrates office instead of presenting themselves before the altar where Christ, shall forgive their sins in the liturgy of the Holy Eucharist. Moreover, Mary and the saints are ever present enjoining themselves to the couple, validating their nuptial union in and through Christ who shall feed them with the best wine and food, His flesh and blood to remit their venial sins and sustain them in good and bad times.

LET US PRAY:Psalms 149:1-6,9

1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful! 2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker, let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King!3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with timbrel and lyre!
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.5 Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, 9 to execute on them the judgment written! This is glory for all his faithful ones. Praise the LORD!

THREE WITNESSES…

1 John 5:5-13
5 Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?6 This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood.
7 And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth.8 There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree.9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has borne witness to his Son.10 He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne to his Son.11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.12 He who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life.13 I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

Mark 1:7-11 7

And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove;11 and a voice came from heaven, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.”

MEDITATION

St JOHN THE APOSTLE harkens to the victorious exodus account whereby the Hebrew people escaped from bondage, leaving behind the defeated army of Pharough who drowned in blood and water, when by Gods command Moses struck the water of the Nile.Exo 7:17 John makes the point that God gave us eternal life through Christ who completed the exodus journey begun by Moses, when blood and water (Jn 19:34) came out of His peirced side after He expired on the cross.

St MARK recount the episodic event when Christ presented Himself for baptism that saw the opening of Heaven, God the Father and Spirit reaching down affirming the Divine nature of His Son in whom He is “well pleased.” Unlike the bloody waters of the Nile, the Jordan river was freshed, made holy by the Trinity; when Father, Son and Spirit worked in concert with John the Baptist who administered the baptism of Christ.

We who have been validly baptised in the Trinitarian rite cannot be indifferent or neutral on matters of faith, morals and ethics that have gone beserk. It displeases God to see that the surgical transformation of the human body has become the new god, to affirm disordered thoughts and lustfull desires. We are called to submit to the three Divine witnesses who wish to reform and rejuvenate mans; heart, conscience and the soul to please God the maker and author of life, rather than trying to reform external looks to appease internal carnal disorders.

LET US PRAY: Psalms 147:12-15,19-20

12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your sons within you.14 He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat.15 He sends forth his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel.20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. Praise the LORD!

LET US NOT LOVE IN WORDS OR SPEECH…

1 John 3:11-21
11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,12 and not be like Cain who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.13 Do not wonder, brethren, that the world hates you.14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.15 Any one who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.17 But if any one has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth.19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and reassure our hearts before him20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

John 1:43-51

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”44 Now Philip was from Beth-saida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip found Nathana-el, and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”46 Nathana-el said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47 Jesus saw Nathana-el coming to him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!”48 Nathana-el said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”49 Nathana-el answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.”51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING: John recall the senseless tragic story when Cain who had the world’s crops that by far acceded Abel’s few lambs, took his brothers life motivated by anger and jealousy, because God was more pleased with Abel’s sacrificial offering. John makes the point that our pious words or claims that we are saved and without sin is a lie, if our heart or mind is subconsciously populated by; anger, hatred, jealousy, evil, pride or vindictiveness, which makes it impossible for Gods Spirit to reign in our hearts! To be sure, our sincere loving God-fearing deeds and actions or the lack of it, will be the rule by which we will be judged on the last day.

THE GOSPEL READING: John describe a chain reaction that followed when John the Baptist pointed two of his disciples (Jn 1:35-36) to Christ, who in turn recruited Peter and Andrew. On this occasion Jesus also called Philip who in turn recruited Nathana-el, who acknowledged Christ as “Rabbi,” the Son of God!

It is patently obvious that Christ sought out joy filled faithful disciples, virtuous men who longed to meet Him and be taught by Him.He aslo welcomed men who were refered to Him, by those who encountered Him. To put it another way, Christ did not intent to recruit; deceitful, dishonest, hypocritical jealous men whose underlying motives were questionable or underhanded. Eloquent words or speech is not nesseserily the measure of the content of ones heart. Love is best and more wholly expressed in our doing—actions— that evidence what is harvested, stored in our mind and subconscience—which may or may not be a cognitive barrier that negate or neuter the material or monetary gifts and offerings we present to God.

LET US PRAY:Psalms 100:1-5

1 A Psalm for the thank offering.
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the lands!2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the LORD is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name!5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.