Category: Uncategorized

***

Gospel: John 1:43-51

Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. 
And Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” 
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.Philip found Nathanael and told him,
“We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”
But Nathanael said to him,
“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
“Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him.”
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” 
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this.”
And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

I’m sure we all have a favorite picture or family portrait hanging on a wall at home. Maybe it’s a picture from your wedding day; a photo of a family reunion; a picture of your pet.

Mine is an icon of Jesus. 

I pray before it every morning before I leave the house to come celebrate Mass. His is the first face I see. It’s a picture I’ve had for a few years now, yet every time I see it is as if it’s the very first time.

***

When looking at your favorite picture, one thing you might not think about is the nail behind the frame. Once that nail was driven into the wall and latched onto the frame, it was no longer visible. Naturally, we tend to forget about it.

But without that nail, the frame would slide off of the wall, shattering the glass all over the floor.

A nail, in that sense, serve two purposes: it brings two separate objects together – in this case it attaches a picture frame to a wall – and it provides enduring support, holding a frame up.

***

In today’s Gospel, the Apostle Philip plays the role of a nail.

First, he brings his brother, Nathanael, to Jesus by inviting him to, “Come and see.” Then he provides enduring support for his brother on his journey of faith.

That’s what we’re all called to do – to invite people to, “come and see,” then provide enduring support along their faith journey.

***

Think of yourself like a nail. It’s okay to be in the background. It’s okay to let something – or someone – else receive the attention. What matters most is that we bring people to Jesus.

Who might I invite today?

***

***

Image credits: (1) (2) Christ Pantocrator, St. Catherine’s Monastery (3) Ancient Faith Blogs-Ancient Faith Ministries

***

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. 

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, whose feast day we celebrate today, is the first American-born Saint. 

Born into a wealthy Episcopal family in New York City, her life was a series of ups and downs, of heartache and hope.

***

Her mom died when she was three. Her younger sister died a year later.

She was married at the age of 19, but became a penniless widow with five children to raise by the age of 28.

Once filled with fortune and promise, Elizabeth’s life seemed to reach a dead end.

But she believed that God wasn’t finished with her yet. 

Shortly after the death of her husband, she made a leap of faith, converting to Catholicism and becoming a nun. This decision led to a series of firsts.

She established the first American convent for nuns, the first Catholic school, and the first Catholic orphanage in the United States. She also became the namesake of my alma mater, Seton Hall University. 

One act of faith that led to another…and another….and another. By the end of her life, she changed thousands of lives for the better.

***

So, what can Elizabeth Ann Seton teach us today?

***

God always has a plan for our lives. Think of Elizabeth when she was penniless with five children at the age of 28. She had nothing – but she turned to Jesus.

That decision led to life in abundance.

The same can be true for us. When one door closes, another one can open. But sometimes a leap of faith is needed.

As the old saying goes, “Leap and the net will appear.” 

God will never let us down.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us.

***

***

Image credits: (1) simplehealthsource.com (2) National Catholic Register, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (3) Darrell Crewel

***

Gospel: John 1: 29-34

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel.”
John testified further, saying,
“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

What happens when we knock over a bowl of cereal?

***

The milk spills across the table.

***

And what do we do in order to clean it up? 

We rush into the kitchen and grab a roll of paper towels.

I prefer Bounty, “the quilted quicker picker upper.” 

They’ll absorb anything.

***

Think of Jesus like a roll of Bounty paper towels.

In the Gospel, John the Baptist calls him, “The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.”

Meaning, Jesus has come to clean up the mess we’ve made. Any arguments at home, lies we’ve told, leftover grudges or hurt feelings from the holidays.

He wants to wipe them all away like a puddle of spilt milk, because he is the, “quilted, quicker picker upper.”

***

In order to forgive us, it helps approaching him in confession.

Will we?

***

***

Image credits: (1) Pantocrator, St. Catherine’s Monastery (2) BJ’s Wholesale Club, Bounty (3) iStock