Questions for Reflection for January 7, 2023 HD

Reflection on Reading 1, First John 3:22-4:6 1. In our first reading for today’s Mass we hear once again from the Apostle and Beloved disciple John. He continues his instruction to the early churches on how to discern the difference between those who teach and live the truth of the Gospel and those who teach errant doctrines which will lead people astray. This was a serious problem in the early church. It is also a serious problem in today’s Church. False teachers who deny either the divinity of Jesus or His sacred humanity are still a threat. They must always be exposed and corrected by good Bishops, like the Apostle John. The Bishops are successors of the Apostles and are charged with guarding the Deposit of faith. We need to pray for them. Reflection on Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 2:7-8, 10-11 2. David the Psalmist calls us in today’s responsorial psalm “in fear be submissive to the Lord". Sometimes we hear the word fear in the Bible, and we misunderstand what holy fear really is. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit. As the Catholic Catechism, citing Isaiah Chapter 11, explains "The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. They belong in their fullness to Christ, Son of David. They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations." Are we obedient to the Lord? Do we cultivate a holy fear of God in our own lives? Proverbs 9: verses 10 and 11 tell us: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." Reflection on Gospel, Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25 3. In the Gospel of today’s Mass, we hear the words of Isaiah which we heard proclaimed on the Feast of the Epiphany. "The people that lived in darkness have seen a great light; on those who lived in a country of shadow dark as death a light has dawned." It is Jesus who is the light the great prophet foretold. He is the promised Messiah, of Israel and, of all the Nations. And, as we hear of His public ministry preaching, teaching, and proclaiming the Kingdom and hear of the blind being given their sight, the deaf hearing, the lame walking... we see Jesus Christ is inaugurating the kingdom of God. The ministry of Jesus continues today, in and through His mystical Body, the Church, of which we are members. Through the Sacraments of the Church, He conveys His very divine life, called grace. In the Word of God, and in faithful teaching and preaching based upon it, He continues His proclamation of the Kingdom. Like the crowds in the Gospel, let us follow Him and praise Him. The great Manifestation of the Lord continues. Hallelujah. Support Catholic Online by Subscribing to our Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/catholiconl... More on Daily Readings: https://www.catholic.org/bible/daily_... Catholic Online School: Free World Class Catholic Education for Anyone, Anywhere https://www.catholiconline.school/ Catholic Online: World's Catholic Library https://www.catholic.org/ Catholic Online Shopping: World's Catholic Store https://catholiconline.shopping/ Catholic Online Learning Resources: Free Printable Educational Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers https://catholicresources.education/ We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away. Hi, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of viewers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. https://ycvf.org/products/donate