Luminous
A Catholic Woman and Her Thoughts on Life, the Universe, and Everything
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
You were chosen.
Have a happy, healthy, peaceful, and grace-filled New Year!  Happy Feast of Epiphany!
 
If Jesus truly is who he claims to be, the eternal Son of God and Savior of the world, then why is he not recognized by everyone who hears his word and sees his works? John the Evangelist states that when Jesus came into the world "the world knew him not and his own people received him not" (John 1:10-11). Jesus was born in obscurity. Only the lowly shepherds recognized him at his birth. Some Wise Men also found their way to Bethlehem to pay homage to the newborn King of Israel.
 
Today is traditionally celebrated as the Feast of the Three Kings - the day that the Three Kings came to Our Lord Jesus Christ, bearing him the gifts of gold, frankencense and myrrh, heralding him as King, Priest, and Savior. In their thirst for knowledge of God, the wise men from the East willingly left everything, their home and country, in pursuit of that quest. In their diligent search they were led to the source of true knowledge – to Jesus Christ, the Light and Wisdom of God. When they found the newborn King they humbly worshiped him and gave him gifts fitting for a king. How could they recognize this infant as both divine and a human king - born of flesh yet sent from heaven?
 
They perceived one thing with the eyes of their bodies but another with the perceptions of their hearts. The humblenss of the body he assumed was seen, but the glory of his divinity is now made manifest as it touches their soul. An infant he is, but it is God who is adored. The invisible and eternal nature did not hesitate to take on the weaknesses of the flesh on our behalf. In the Christ Child, Heaven and Earth touch each other, Eternity is joined with our weak matter for all time. This is the bridge that Christ has given us when the Majesty of the Lord humbled himself and took on humanity, becoming truly one of us, body and soul, the Son of God, who is God of the universe, born of a human being in the flesh, born into poverty, placed into a feeding trough, to become the Bread of Life for us all, the heavens within a manger! He is heard in the voice of a crying infant. This is the same one for whose voice the whole world would tremble in the hour of his passion. Thus he is the One, the God of glory and the Lord of majesty, whom as a tiny infant the magi recognize.
 
To know and to encounter Jesus Christ is to know God personally. In the encounter of the wise men with Jesus we see the plan of God to give his only Son as King and Savior, not just for the Jewish people, who awaited their Messaiah, but for all the nations as well. The Lord Jesus came that all people might find true and lasting peace with God.  Let us pray today that all people around the world will find the Lord and Savior on their journey of life. Do you bring the light of Jesus Christ to those you meet through the witness of your life and testimony?
 
Let us pray:
 

"Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for bringing salvation to all the nations. May the gospel of salvation be proclaimed to every nation today, through this New Year, and every day, to every person on the face of the earth.  Help me to be a good witness of the joy of the gospel to all I meet."
 
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13
 
1 Give the king thy justice, O God, and thy righteousness to the royal son!
2 May he judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with justice!
7 In his days may righteousness flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!
8 May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba  bring gifts!
11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!
12 For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.
 
 
Our Father, who art in Heaven;
hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth
as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
Amen
 
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen
 
O Mary, Mother of Jesus and Mother of us all, we turn to you today as the one who said "Yes" to Life. "You will conceive and bear a Son," the angel told you. Despite the surprise and the uncertainty about how this could be, you said yes. "Be it done unto me according to your word." Mary, we pray today for all mothers who are afraid to be mothers. We pray for those who feel threatened and overwhelmed by their pregnancy. Intercede for them, that God may give them the grace to say yes and the courage to go on. May they have the grace to reject the false solution of abortion. May they say with you, "Be it done unto me according to your word." May they experience the help of Christian people, and know the peace that comes from doing God's will. Amen.
God, our Father, I offer this prayer to you on the behalf of those people who seek Your divine help and guidence as they look for suitable employment. They need Your wisdom to guide their footsteps along the right path, and to lead them to find the proper things to say and do in this quest. Help them to use the gifts and talents You have given them with the opportunity to do so with gainful employment. Do not abandon them, dear Father, in this search, but rather grant them this favor that they seek, so that they may return to You with praise and thanksgiving for Your gracious assistance. Grant this through Christ, our Lord, Amen
 
O merciful God, take pity on those souls  who have no particular friends and intercessors to recommend them to Thee, who, either through the negligence of those who are alive, or through length of time are forgotten by their friends and by all. Spare them, O Lord, and remember Thine own mercy, when others forget to appeal to it. Let not the souls which Thou hast created be parted from thee, their Creator. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
 
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
 
 
 
 
 
Written at 11:58 AM by Luminaria2112.
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