From Prison to Freedom

Third Sunday of Advent

Now when John had heard in prison the works of Christ: sending two of his disciples he said to him: Art thou he that art to come, or look we for another? And Jesus making answer said to them: Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in me. And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to see? a man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments, are in the houses of kings. But what went you out to see? a prophet? yea I tell you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. Amen I say to you, there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is the lesser in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Matthew 11:2-11 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father what question can I ask that hasn't already been answered. You revealed the answers with my life and through my faith in you. John the Baptist asked a question of your Son even though he baptized him before. The question more or less was to reinforce his faith before the conclusion of his life. He became less so Jesus could become great. You gave us a man who showed us the way to You and your Son through the baptism of water. He lamented our fate and preached repentance. It is through these gifts of faith that we are born and where we die to sin. Why is it always so hard for us to go to another in the sacrament of Penance and receive the healing of Jesus' love. John gave us a way to you in this very way, repentance and Jesus gives us the greatest treasure of all that of Love. May we find the sacrament of Penance as a way of rebirth in our faith and come to love you with open hearts that are made whole in faith. Amen

Joy

Now the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spoke to them this parable, saying: What man of you that hath an hundred sheep: and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which was lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing: And coming home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them: Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost? I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance.

Or what woman having ten groats; if she lose one groat, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it? And when she hath found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying: Rejoice with me, because I have found the groat which I had lost. So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance.
Luke 15:1-10 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer

Dear Father how happy I must have made you on the day that I turned my life around and chose to follow you. How happy you have made my heart by choosing me. From throughout my life I have loved you and didn't realize how I have searched high and low for you. But in my life I kept my eyes shut to your wonderful ways. Oh how the heavens must have rejoiced when I was found and brought home to you. I dear Father have repented so much that doing your will is what I seek. My repentance has given you the key to my heart, one that I am glad to relinquish. If there is anything I could ever tell people about you dear Father, it would be the love you give when a sinner comes home to you. I pray that many will reconcile their lives and come to find the true treasure that is in you. And how heaven will rejoice over their repentance. Amen

Third Sunday of Lent

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans
whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.
Jesus said to them in reply,
"Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!
Or those eighteen people who were killed
when the tower at Siloam fell on them—
do you think they were more guilty
than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!"

And he told them this parable:
"There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard,
and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,
he said to the gardener,
'For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree
but have found none.
So cut it down.
Why should it exhaust the soil?'
He said to him in reply,
'Sir, leave it for this year also,
and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;
it may bear fruit in the future.
If not you can cut it down.'"
Luke 13:1-9

Prayer

Dear Father you teach us to repent of our sins or perish because of lack of repentance. In the parable we are given a chance to cultivate ourselves once we repented. We pray that the soil we fertilize in our life will bear fruit for the kingdom of God as long as we live our life in purity and repentance. Amen

Saturday of the Second Week of Advent

Advent Prayer

God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


In those days,
like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah
whose words were as a flaming furnace.
Sirach 48:1

Reflection:
Elijah is a powerful figure in the Old Testament, and John the Baptist was referred to him by Jesus as Elijah that came before him. Elijah's name means God. Yet in this sense Jesus meant that John the Baptist was a powerful prophet as close to God as anyone can get. And it is quite possible with God that John the Baptist was Elijah.

His words scorched the ears of those who listened to him preach repentance. Make way for the Lord. God in his goodness was paving the way for His Son, to show us the truth. He tried to bring about faithfulness in us and we didn't come about.

God tries in many ways to bring us closer to him, to the point of coming to us as a man, a powerful prophet. He even came to us in His Son, because when we see the Son we see God. If you ever get to see Veronica's Veil you will see not only Jesus but God too, for he is the image of his Father.