Wednesday after Epiphany

Reading I 1 John 4:11-18

Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another. 
No one has ever seen God. 
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.

This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit. 
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world. 
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God. 
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.

God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. 
In this is love brought to perfection among us,
that we have confidence on the day of judgment
because as he is, so are we in this world. 
There is no fear in love,
but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment,
and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 72:1-2, 10, 12-13

R.    (see 11)  Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R.    Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
R.    Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R.    Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Alleluia 1 Timothy 3:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to you, O Christ, proclaimed to the Gentiles.
Glory to you, O Christ, believed in throughout the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
 

Gospel Mark 6:45-52

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied,
Jesus made his disciples get into the boat
and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,
while he dismissed the crowd. 
And when he had taken leave of them,
he went off to the mountain to pray. 
When it was evening,
the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. 
Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing,
for the wind was against them. 
About the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea. 
He meant to pass by them.  
But when they saw him walking on the sea,
they thought it was a ghost and cried out. 
They had all seen him and were terrified. 
But at once he spoke with them,
“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” 
He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. 
They were completely astounded. 
They had not understood the incident of the loaves. 
On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Jesus Passes ByJesús iba a pasar de largo

The Word of God is truly living and dynamic and surprises me every time I ponder it. Like the whispers where God says we’ll hear His voice, it is the subtle lines that jump off the page that usually get my attention, although I have read the passage a million times. In today’s Gospel from Mark the simple line, “He meant to pass by them,” caused me to pause. Wait, Jesus saw the Apostles in a boat and decided He’d just walk to the other side, not bothering to join them? It seems odd, but the prophet Isaiah writes, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,” (Isaiah 55:7).

These are the moments I am most grateful for Scripture scholars! Brant Pitre clarifies in The Case for Jesus (129-130) that this expression is used to describe what God does when he appears to human beings (see Exodus 33:19, 22; 34:6; 1 Kings 19:11). Commentaries suggest Jesus’ intention was to be seen and for His glory to be revealed, and not, as I had wrongly assumed, to sneak past the disciples unnoticed. That seems much more Christ-like than the “I’ll see you on the other side” initial meaning I gave to the passage! 

Jesus’ actions, words, and teachings are intended to encourage us in our faith, and some scholars believe that Jesus’ intention was to emulate His pre-incarnate experiences with Moses and Elijah. Displaying His glory, power, and dominion would therefore encourage the Apostles, and, as we read of the account, give strength to our faith as well. 

Interestingly, in their fear (or perhaps anxiety), they misread the entire situation, much as I did at first glance of this passage. Fear clouds our judgment and does not allow us to think clearly. It is also fascinating, at least in my own life, how my anxiety tends to cast a darkness over every situation – I am so quick to see (or assume) the worst! It is no accident the first reading from 1 John includes, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear.” Jesus’ words, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” and the fact that He “got “into the boat with them and the wind died down” teach us not to fear. 

When Jesus passes by, when we recognize His divine presence, trust Him and let Him into our lives (our boats, so to speak), we too can see the winds of fear swirling around us subside!

Contact the author


La Palabra de Dios es verdaderamente viva y dinámica y me sorprende cada vez que reflexiono sobre ella. Al igual que los susurros en los que Dios dice que escucharemos su voz, son las líneas sutiles que saltan de la página que generalmente me llaman la atención, aunque he leído el pasaje un millón de veces. En el Evangelio de hoy de Marcos, la simple frase: “parecía que iba a pasar de largo”, me hizo detenerme. Un momento, ¿Jesús vio a los apóstoles en una barca y decidió simplemente caminar hacia el otro lado, sin molestarse en unirse a ellos? Parece extraño, pero el profeta Isaías escribe: “Porque mis pensamientos no son tus pensamientos, ni tus caminos mis caminos” (Isaías 55,7).

¡En estos momentos estoy tan agradecida por los académicos de las Escrituras! Brant Pitre aclara en The Case for Jesus (129-130) que esta expresión se utiliza para describir lo que Dios hace cuando se aparece a los seres humanos (ver a Éxodo 33,19 y 22; 34,6; 1 Reyes 19,11). Los comentarios sugieren que la intención de Jesús era ser visto y que Su gloria fuera revelada, y no, como yo había supuesto erróneamente, pasar desapercibido ante los discípulos. ¡Eso parece mucho más como algo que Cristo haría en lugar del significado inicial de “nos vemos al otro lado” que yo le di al pasaje!

Las acciones, palabras y enseñanzas de Jesús tienen como objetivo alentarnos en la fe, y algunos eruditos creen que la intención de Jesús era emular Sus experiencias antes de encarnarse con Moisés y Elías. Por lo tanto, mostrar Su gloria, poder y dominio alentaría a los Apóstoles y, cuando nosotros leemos el relato, también daría fuerza a nuestra fe.

Curiosamente, en su miedo (o quizás ansiedad), malinterpretaron toda la situación, de la misma manera que yo lo hice al ver este pasaje a primera vista. El miedo nubla el juicio y no nos permite pensar con claridad. También es fascinante, al menos en mi propia vida, cómo mi ansiedad tiende a ensombrecer cada situación: ¡soy tan rápida para ver (o suponer) lo peor! No es casualidad que la primera lectura de 1 Juan incluya: “En el amor no hay temor. Al contrario, el amor perfecto excluye el temor”. Las palabras de Jesús: “¡Ánimo! soy yo; no teman” y el hecho de que “[s]ubió a la barca con ellos y se calmó el viento” nos enseñan a no tener miedo.

Cuando Jesús pasa en frente nuestro, cuando reconocemos su presencia divina, confiamos en Él y lo dejamos entrar en nuestras vidas (nuestras barcas, por así decirlo), ¡también nosotros podemos ver cómo los vientos del miedo que se arremolinan a nuestro alrededor se calman!

Comunicarse con la autora

Allison Gingras (www.ReconciledToYou.com ) shares an everyday Catholic faith with humor and honesty. Her writing includes The Handy Little Guide to Novenas (OSV), Encountering Signs of Faith (Ave Maria Press), and the Stay Connected Journals for Catholic Women (Our Sunday Visitor), with a new edition “Jesus Heals,” coming in 2025. Allison is the Director of Digital Evangelization for Family Rosary USA.

Feature Image Credit: jplenio, pixabay.com/photos/sunset-nature-waters-dusk-dawn-3087790/

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

The post Jesus Passes By
Jesús iba a pasar de largo
appeared first on Diocesan.

St. Thorfinn: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, January 08, 2025

In the year 1285, there died in the Cistercian monastery at TerDoest, near Bruges, a Norwegian bishop named Thorfinn. He had never attracted particular attention and was soon forgotten. But over fifty years later, in the course of some building operations, his tomb in the Church was opened and it was reported that the remains gave out a strong and pleasing spell. The Abbot made inquiries and found that one of his monks, and aged man named Walter de Muda, remembered Bishop Thorfinn staying in …

Tuesday after Epiphany

Reading 1 1 John 4:7-10

Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only-begotten Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8

R. (see 11)  Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The mountains shall yield peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the poor.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Alleluia Luke 4:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mark 6:34-44

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.
By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already very late.
Dismiss them so that they can go
to the surrounding farms and villages
and buy themselves something to eat.”
He said to them in reply,
“Give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food
and give it to them to eat?”
He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?  Go and see.”
And when they had found out they said,
“Five loaves and two fish.”
So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass.
The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.
Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples
to set before the people;
he also divided the two fish among them all.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments
and what was left of the fish.
Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The Good Shepherd Provides for Our Needs & BeyondEl Buen Pastor provee nuestras necesidades y mucho más

In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ pity spills out of the Gospel and I imagine He takes our world in with a similar kind of pity. Sheep with no shepherd. But we have a Shepherd and He is teaching us to remember where to look for leadership, for answers, for satisfaction: to Him.

Sheep without a shepherd are wandering. They don’t know their way home. They roam aimlessly. They become heavy with wool so that they cannot see or move. They wander into danger, and they have no order. Jesus sees these people and thinks of shepherdless sheep. Desiring to fill the void He sees in front of Him, Jesus begins to teach the people He pities, filling them with spiritual food. When His teaching is done, He does not stop there. 

The disciples feel like He has done enough: it’s time to send the people to find food. However, Jesus does not let them. He is not willing to send them elsewhere for food. He knows a good shepherd would care for all the needs of his flock, not send them out on their own after tending to them all day. Would a good Shepherd allow his flock to wander and perhaps never find anything to eat?

Jesus desires to shepherd and nourish each of us. He wants to be the source of our food. 

So instead of sending them away searching for food, Jesus tells the disciples to see what they have: two fish and five loaves. This small portion of food is enough to feed the 5,000! Jesus takes what little we can offer and multiplies it so much so that the new amount of food exceeds the needs of the crowd. He not only feeds them, but gives them enough for future needs. 

Jesus is showing us that, with Him, we have more than we realize. We simply need to give Him the things in our life that we feel are not nearly enough to meet the task at hand and He will take those things, bless them and give us more. He will meet our need and have more waiting for the future. Jesus knows our needs. He wants us to stop looking everywhere else. He desires for us to give Him what we have and look to Him to produce everything to meet (and exceed) our needs.

We must remember that through Him all things are possible, even the impossible. He wants to be your source of life, and He wants you to trust that He can work with as little or as much as you have available to give to Him. He wants to be the source of your food, the source of your life.

Contact the author


En el Evangelio de hoy, la compasión de Jesús se desborda del Evangelio y me imagino que Él acoge nuestro mundo con un tipo de compasión semejante. Ve ovejas sin pastor. Pero tenemos un Pastor y nos está enseñando a recordar dónde buscar el liderazgo, las respuestas, y la satisfacción: en Él.

Las ovejas sin pastor están vagando. No saben el camino a casa. Vagan sin rumbo. Se vuelven tan pesadas de lana que no pueden ver ni moverse. Vagan hacia el peligro y no tienen ningún orden. Jesús ve a la gente y piensa en ovejas sin pastor. Deseando llenar el vacío que ve frente a Él, Jesús comienza a enseñar a las personas que le dan lástima, llenándolas de alimento espiritual. Cuando termina su enseñanza, no se detiene allí.

Los discípulos sienten que Él ha hecho suficiente: es hora de enviar a la gente a buscar comida. Sin embargo, Jesús no los deja. No está dispuesto a enviarlos a otro lugar para buscar comida. Jesús sabe que un buen pastor se ocuparía de todas las necesidades de su rebaño, no los dejaría solos después de haberlos cuidado todo el día. ¿Permitiría un buen pastor que su rebaño vagara y tal vez nunca encontrara nada para comer?

Jesús desea pastorear y nutrir a cada uno de nosotros. Quiere ser la fuente de nuestro alimento. Así que en lugar de enviarlos lejos en busca de comida, Jesús les dice a los discípulos que vean lo que tienen: dos peces y cinco panes. ¡Esta pequeña porción de comida es suficiente para alimentar a los 5.000! Jesús toma lo poco que podemos ofrecer y lo multiplica tanto que la nueva cantidad de comida excede las necesidades de la multitud. No solo los alimenta, sino que les da lo suficiente para sus necesidades a futuro.

Jesús nos está mostrando que, con Él, tenemos más de lo que nos damos cuenta. Simplemente tenemos que darle las cosas en nuestra vida que sentimos que no son suficientes para cumplir con la tarea en cuestión y Él tomará esas cosas, las bendecirá y nos dará más. Satisfará la necesidad y tendrá más esperando para el futuro. Jesús conoce nuestras necesidades. Quiere que dejemos de buscar satisfacerlas por todos lados. Desea que le demos lo que tenemos y que esperemos que Él produzca todo lo que satisfaga (y supere) nuestras necesidades.

Debemos recordar que a través de Él todas las cosas son posibles, incluso lo imposible. Quiere ser tu fuente de vida y quiere que confíes en que Él puede obrar con lo poco o lo mucho que tengas disponible para darle. Quiere ser la fuente de tu alimento, la fuente de tu vida.

Comunicarse con la autora

Nicole Berlucchi is a faith and family blogger (www.nicoleberlucchi.com) and Catholic blog contributor. She has worked in a number of roles in the nonprofit world, but helping people realize their vision and make an impact, seems to be her sweet spot. Nicole owns Coley B. Creative, LLC, a marketing company providing support to small businesses. She is also the author Magnify Love: Unlocking the Heart of Jesus in Your Marriage and Your Life. A native of Philadelphia, she now resides in the Nashville area with her husband, Joe, and their four children. She’s a big fan of brilliant skies, salted caramel with chocolate, books and more books. She loves sharing her journey with Jesus so that others might: Come and see.

Feature Image Credit: Pixabay, pexels.com/photo/herd-of-sheep-on-grass-field-462119/

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

The post The Good Shepherd Provides for Our Needs & Beyond
El Buen Pastor provee nuestras necesidades y mucho más
appeared first on Diocesan.

Monday after Epiphany

Reading 1 1 John 3:22–4:6

Beloved:
We receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit whom he gave us.

Beloved, do not trust every spirit
but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God,
because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
This is how you can know the Spirit of God:
every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh
belongs to God,
and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus
does not belong to God.
This is the spirit of the antichrist
who, as you heard, is to come,
but in fact is already in the world.
You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them,
for the one who is in you
is greater than the one who is in the world.
They belong to the world;
accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world,
and the world listens to them.
We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us,
while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us.
This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 2:7bc-8, 10-12a

R. (8ab)  I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
The LORD said to me, “”You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.””
R. I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
And now, O kings, give heed;
take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
with trembling rejoice.
R. I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.

Alleluia See Matthew 4:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:

Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness
have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
“Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

He went around all of Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness among the people.
His fame spread to all of Syria,
and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases
and racked with pain,
those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics,
and he cured them.
And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea,
and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

 

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The BribeEl soborno

It is a little strange being a parent of two little boys. There are so many moments that I look back and remember myself as a child and I start to slip into the same verbiage my parents would use on me. One of those classic parent examples is when we bribe our kids. Please just go to bed and I will give you anything you want tomorrow. Bribing is a last ditch effort after we have exhausted every other possibility and it shows us concretely that we are not perfect. 

But then we come to the first reading today. We hear about a God who will give us everything we ask as long as we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. Doesn’t it sound like God is bribing us? As if we are those little children fighting sleep, God is simply asking us to obey His commandments and we will get whatever we want. 

If you are anything like me, this verse is a little troubling at first glance. It doesn’t seem like a loving God should be bribing us. Maybe another thought you are having is that you have followed God’s commandments and asked for something and did not receive it in the exact way that you wanted. So we have two “issues” that I want to address today. 

Both of these can be addressed with a simple reality. The reality is that we are made by God and our hearts long for Him. If God has created us then it is in living by His laws that we will be most perfectly happy and fulfilled. With this principle in mind, I think it opens up the beauty of this verse and destroys the questions. God asks us to obey his commandments. He doesn’t do this as a bribe, but rather because as a loving father. He knows that if we follow his ways we will be living our lives to the fullest. If we disobey Him we start to lose a part of who we are. 

Further, God is not a magic genie. He is not here to grant us three wishes. God desires more than anything that we become united fully with Him in heaven. If we are living in accord with our Creator then our deepest desire will be union with Him. In this sense, God answers our deepest desire when we follow His commandments. Notice that it is not out of duty or expectation, but we follow Him out of love because we desire unity with Him. 

Let’s pray for the grace today and every day that we would be able to follow God’s commandments so that we can ultimately have our deepest desire filled, the desire of unity with Him. 

Contact the author


Es un poco extraño ser padre de dos niños pequeños. Hay muchos momentos en los que miro hacia atrás y me acuerdo de ser niño y empiezo a recurrir a la misma palabrería que mis padres utilizaban conmigo. Uno de esos ejemplos clásicos de padres es cuando sobornamos a nuestros hijos. Por favor, vete a la cama y te daré lo que quieras mañana. El soborno es un último esfuerzo después de haber agotado todas las demás posibilidades y nos muestra concretamente que no somos perfectos.

Pero luego llegamos a la primera lectura de hoy. Oímos hablar de un Dios que nos dará todo lo que le pidamos siempre y cuando cumplamos sus mandamientos y hagamos lo que le agrada. ¿No suena como si Dios nos estuviera sobornando? Como si fuéramos esos niños pequeños que pelean por no ir a dormir, Dios simplemente nos está pidiendo que obedezcamos sus mandamientos y obtendremos todo lo que queramos.

Si eres como yo, este versículo es un poco inquietante a primera vista. No parece que un Dios amoroso deba sobornarnos. Quizás otro pensamiento que tengas es que has seguido los mandamientos de Dios y has pedido algo y no lo has recibido exactamente de la manera que querías. Así que tenemos dos “asuntos” que quiero abordar hoy.

Ambos pueden abordarse con una simple realidad. La realidad es que fuimos creados por Dios y nuestros corazones anhelan estar con Él. Si Dios nos ha creado, entonces al vivir según sus leyes seremos más felices y realizados. Con este principio en mente, creo que se abre la belleza de este versículo y se destruyen las preguntas. Dios nos pide que obedezcamos sus mandamientos. No lo hace como un soborno, sino más bien como un Padre amoroso. Él sabe que si seguimos sus caminos vamos a vivir la vida al máximo. Si lo desobedecemos, comenzamos a perder una parte de lo que somos.

Además, Dios no es un genio mágico. No está aquí para concedernos tres deseos. Dios desea más que nada que nos unamos plenamente a Él en el cielo. Si vivimos de acuerdo con nuestro Creador, nuestro deseo más profundo será la unión con Él. En este sentido, Dios responde a nuestro deseo más profundo cuando seguimos sus mandamientos. Ten en cuenta que no lo hacemos por obligación ni por expectativa, sino que lo seguimos por amor porque deseamos la unidad con Él.

Oremos hoy y todos los días por la gracia de poder seguir los mandamientos de Dios para que finalmente podamos ver satisfecho nuestro deseo más profundo, el deseo de la unidad con Él.

Comunicarse con el autor

Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”

Feature Image Credit: Yarenci Hdz, unsplash.com/photos/boy-in-white-dress-shirt-qwVcVAHsfaM

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

The post The Bribe
El soborno
appeared first on Diocesan.

The Epiphany of the Lord

Reading I Isaiah 60:1-6

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem!  Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13.

R. (cf. 11)  Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Reading II Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6

Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace 
that was given to me for your benefit, 
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations 
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Alleluia Matthew 2:2

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Matthew 2:1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod, 
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled, 
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, 
he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, 
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.

Then Herod called the magi secretly 
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word, 
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, 
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures 
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, 
they departed for their country by another way.

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

EpiphaniesLas epifanias

The journey of our lives to Christ is rarely a straight path. Especially for those who were baptized into the Catholic faith as babies, we often need to find our own way by winding roads and paths until we arrive at and embrace faith as our own. Merriam-Webster defines “epiphany” as “a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something.” Almost always, this entails a “Aha!” moment, which changes the course of the story. 

I experienced this in my own life in the middle of the Covid pandemic. When the world began to shut down, I finally knew that I was not alone, and that I never had been. You see, I found myself newly pregnant for the fifth time with no living children, after having experienced loss after loss. In my pain and struggle, I had turned from God the previous fall when it seemed door after door had closed for the opportunity to have a child. 

But while the world was radically changing, I had an incredible moment which can only be described as an epiphany from the Holy Spirit: I became acutely aware that I was not alone, nor had I ever been alone. Struggling with feeling alone was something that had plagued me throughout my life. And now, suddenly, in the middle of a world that was radically shifting toward being apart, I came to believe that I was not alone, had never been alone, and will never be alone. How radical! 

It is also radical that, in the course of human history – of salvation history – God would reveal Himself to all of humanity. After all, God was the God of Israel. And yet, God planned to reveal Himself in the form of a helpless baby to all nations. Juxtapositions abound with God, and somehow they all make sense. Today, as we celebrate the Solemnity of The Epiphany of the Lord, may we always be open to the seeming contradictions that God places in our lives and be willing to learn from them.

Contact the author


El camino de nuestra vida hacia Cristo rara vez es un camino recto. Especialmente para aquellos que fueron bautizados en la fe católica cuando eran bebés, a menudo tenemos que  encontrar nuestro propio camino por calles y senderos curvados hasta que llegamos a la fe y la abrazamos como propia. Merriam-Webster define “epifanía” como “una manifestación o percepción generalmente repentina de la naturaleza o el significado esencial de algo”. Casi siempre, esto implica un momento “¡Ajá!”, que cambia el curso de la historia.

Experimenté esto en mi propia vida en medio de la pandemia de Covid. Cuando el mundo comenzó a cerrarse, finalmente supe que no estaba sola y que nunca lo había estado. Me encontré embarazada por la quinta vez sin ningún hijo vivo, después de haber experimentado pérdida tras pérdida. En mi dolor y batalla, me había alejado de Dios el otoño anterior cuando parecía que se había cerrado puerta tras puerta acerca de la oportunidad de tener un hijo.

Pero mientras el mundo cambiaba radicalmente, tuve un momento increíble que sólo puede describirse como una epifanía del Espíritu Santo: me di cuenta de que no estaba sola, ni nunca lo había estado. Pelear con la sensación de soledad era algo que me había atormentado durante toda la vida. Y ahora, de repente, en medio de un mundo que estaba cambiando radicalmente hacia la separación, llegué a creer que no estaba sola, que nunca había estado sola y que nunca lo estaría. ¡Qué radical!

También es radical que, en el curso de la historia humana – de la historia de la salvación – Dios se revelara a toda la humanidad. Después de todo, Dios era el Dios de Israel. Y, sin embargo, Dios planeó revelarse en la forma de un bebé indefenso a todas las naciones. Las yuxtaposiciones abundan con Dios, y de alguna manera todas tienen sentido. Hoy, mientras celebramos la Solemnidad de la Epifanía del Señor, que siempre estemos abiertos a las aparentes contradicciones que Dios pone en nuestras vidas y estemos dispuestos a aprender de ellas.

Comunicarse con la autora

Mary Thissen is a St. Louis native living in East Central Illinois with her husband and children. She is blessed with twin boys Earthside and four children now living in Heaven. When she is not working as a healthcare data analyst or caring for her boys, she enjoys studying and writing about the Catholic faith and ministering to women who are suffering through miscarriage or infertility. You can connect with Mary on Instagram @waitingonmiracles. 

Feature Image Credit: Adam_Tumidajewicz, pixabay.com/photos/path-rural-nature-road-countryside-6567149/

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

The post Epiphanies
Las epifanias
appeared first on Diocesan.

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious

Reading 1 1 John 3:7-10

Children, let no one deceive you.
The person who acts in righteousness is righteous,
just as he is righteous.
Whoever sins belongs to the Devil,
because the Devil has sinned from the beginning.
Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the Devil.
No one who is begotten by God commits sin,
because God’s seed remains in him;
he cannot sin because he is begotten by God.
In this way,
the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain;
no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God,
nor anyone who does not love his brother.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 98:1, 7-8, 9

R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy before the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD comes;
he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Alleluia Hebrews 1:1-2

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets:
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel John 1:35-42

John was standing with two of his disciples,
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God.”
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
“What are you looking for?”
They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher),
“where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come, and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying,
and they stayed with him that day.
It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
“We have found the Messiah,” which is translated Christ.
Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said,
“You are Simon the son of John;
you will be called Cephas,” which is translated Peter. 

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.