“SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER”
Daily Spiritual Reflections
6th January 2022
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THURSDAY, OCTAVE OF EPIPHANY
1 Jn 4: 19 - 5: 4; Ps 72: 1-2, 14-15, 17; Lk 4: 14-22
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GOD LOVED US FIRST
The first letter of St John and the first reading today, assures us that God loved us first – he loved us when we were unloving and unlovely – he loves us so much that he seeks our love by reconciling with us through his son Jesus. The apostle John further assures us that for all those who love God, all things will work together for their good. However, he makes it very clear that we cannot love God without loving our brothers and sisters. He is thoroughly convinced that those who love God have to love their brothers and sisters also. In fact, he who loves God must love his brothers and sisters because we are all children of God. We love God in loving our brothers and sisters – God is loved in them.
In today’s Gospel, we see the people were marvelled at the Lord’s preaching, wherever he went. Yet, when he came to Nazareth, his own country, the people looked on him with contempt. When Jesus opened the book of the Old Testament in their presence, he also opened to the congregation its meaning and significance. Still, the people did not understand. They had been reading the prophets every Sabbath but failed to recognize Jesus in them.
However, the beloved disciple John, through his immense love for the Lord, recognized him. And it is about this same love that he writes in his letter. Through love, we are reconciled with God and become his children. Once we become God’s children, it is out of this sheer love for God that we are able to recognize him. The people failed to love Jesus and thus could not recognize him, and hence, would not believe in him. It was this closed attitude towards Jesus that made them question his origin and his teachings. They simply called him “Joseph’s son” and spoke about him with contempt. It is only through love that we can recognize God and reconcile with him – because God loved us first.
Response: All nations on earth shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord
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