We Have Seen The Lord!

The Gospel reading today comes from John 20:24-29

Where was Thomas when Jesus appeared to the other disciples for the first time?  Thomas doubted his brother's words. How typical of some of us still today. We want to see with our own eyes but believing with faith is a grace and a blessing too. More blessed are those who have not seen but believed.

His touching and seeing Jesus should have made him fall prostrate at His feet, honestly. "My Lord and my God!" sounds lame. Shouldn't he have praised Him by using the name of Jesus? lol j/k

What possessed these pigs to jump into the water?

Demons are the reason they jumped off a cliff. The gospel reading for July 1st was from Matthew 8:28-34. Jesus heals two demoniacs. The demons knew who Jesus was and tormented by the sight of him, they asked to be sent into a herd of pigs nearby.

30 Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. 31 The demons begged him, ‘If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.’ 32 And he said to them, ‘Go!’ So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and perished in the water.

As soon as Jesus commanded them to "Go!" the pigs rushed down the hill into the water and drowned. What bold proclamation they made though! Jesus is the Beloved Son of God, and he had the power to cast out demons! Praise God! It must have been horrible for that town and for those two Gadarenes living in the cave to be possessed by a Legion of demons. UGH! I can't imagine. Anyway, the pigs were another thing. Better the pigs dying then the humans I guess. IDK. I don't think the Jews should have been keeping pigs anyway. They are unclean and for them to be keeping a herd of pigs is a no-no. Idk that is what I gather from doing a little research.

I drew my pigs cute, but picture them dirtier and scarier lol. What plagues me is Jesus and his disciples got back into their boat and crossed the same waters that just swallowed up not only a herd of pigs but a legion of demons! What? I wonder if their journey was a more harrowing experience. Anyway...

'Practice what you preach'

In todays gospel reading Jesus is basically telling us to be true to what we believe and to let that show in the way we live our lives.

 Matthew 7:21-29  

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. When the day comes many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name?” Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, you evil men!

‘Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!’

Jesus had now finished what he wanted to say, and his teaching made a deep impression on the people because he taught them with authority, and not like their own scribes.

Epiphany

Matthew 2:1-12. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit . Amen.

This Sundays gospel is about the Magi's journey to worship the newborn King born in Bethlehem of Judea . Isaiah had foretold that "all the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God." and "To those who did accept Him, He gave power to become children of God." And now, on the Epiphany, the light from the skies is intensified a hundred, even a thousandfold, and the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that "nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance."

To the amazement of all in that region, there came foreign camels bearing foreign scholars - wise men - kings! Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh! What courage and perseverance those strangers showed, to brave the dangers of travel, skepticism, and political intrigue. But they found what they were looking for. That star gave trustworthy guidance and now triumphantly shone as guard over the lowly dwelling wherein rested the child who possessed all meaning. They fell to their knees in homage, for their learning had made them humble, and their wisdom led them to recognize the Divine in the fragile flesh of a child.

What a silent Adoration! What loving glances they exchanged with Mary and Joseph!

But for all their simple faith, their wisdom was sharp enough to detect the sham delight and murderous intentions of the wily Herod. And so they paid their respects, left their gifts, and modestly departed for their homeland, sorrowfully aware of the terrible price justice must pay for Peace.

Their role in history has been accomplished - to teach us all to follow the guidance of the Almighty, to accept our own role as Bearers of the Light, and to follow this Christ into His Mission, to partake of His Passion, and to join the millions through the ages who will preach His Gospel of universal salvation.

The Son of God is the one Judge and Arbiter of Truth and the one Source of Light, but we are all called to be "epiphanies," providing glimpses of that Truth, showing the way in our own small spots of time and circumstance to a larger plan and destiny.

O Princely Child, make of us all wise men, courageous women, obedient children who will follow wherever You lead us. May we be faithful to prayer, diligently reading articles and booklets about our faith, sharing what we learn with others, taking part when possible in prayer and study groups. This is the way for us to be light-bearers, lighting up the darkness and the confusion in the world in which we live. 

from the Journey website daily-meditations ~ Msgr. Paul Whitmore