Saturday after the Epiphany Gospel: John 3:22 – 30 He Must Increase, I Must Decrease
We may often ponder such a question: Jesus and His precursor John were both baptizing the crowds. Whose baptism was more spiritually beneficial? From a liturgical perspective, the water used in baptism is meant to bring new life and, more importantly, purification. Thus, the water itself does not produce any actual effect.
If we read the Gospel carefully, we will find that when St. Luke spoke of the baptism administered by St. John the Baptist, he recorded: “John came throughout the region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”(cf. Lk 3:3) When John spoke of Christ, he testified thus: “I baptize you with water; but one mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and water.”(cf. Lk 3:16) From this we can see that John’s baptism was merely an expression of our renunciation of our own sins. When we receive the Sacrament of Baptism from Christ through the hands of a priest, we are once and for all cleansed of original sin by the blood and water that flowed from Christ’s Sacred Side. When we receive the Holy Spirit of Christ, this Divine Spirit infuses His Word into our hearts, enabling us to live in the infinite love of God.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ! Since we have been united with Christ through the Sacrament of Baptism and have become children of God by receiving the Anointing of the Holy Spirit, we must imitate the humility of St. John the Baptist, the meekness of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the holiness of the Holy Spirit. We must put God and the spread of the Gospel first in all things, and with a completely renewed attitude of life, fully assist Christ and His Church in proclaiming the Word of God to this changing world. May all peoples of the earth, by receiving the Word of God, no longer live in bondage but always dwell in the grace of God.
Friday after the Epiphany Gospel: Luke 5:12-16 Leprosy
In today’s Gospel, we see a man afflicted with leprosy. In Jesus’ time, those who had leprosy were often seen as unclean. Leprosy, like leprosy today, was highly contagious. For this reason, in the Book of Leviticus, the Lord instructed Moses: “The person who has a case of serious skin disease is to have his clothes torn and his hair left uncombed, and he must cover his mouth and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ He will be unclean as long as he has the disease. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.” (cf. Lev 13:45-46) From this, we can see that for the Jews of Jesus’ time, one who had leprosy had to be separated from family and social relations, resulting in isolation by the entire community.
Luke tells us: A man afflicted with leprosy came to Jesus seeking His healing. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not regard this man as unclean. Through an action the leper could perceive, He touched the sick man. In Luke’s words: Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing. Be cleansed.” And the leprosy left him immediately. (cf. Luke 5:13) Thus, He set an example for us.
In the past, we too lived in various states of uncleanness. Because of original sin, we have suffered from all kinds of leprosies—not only physical and psychological, but also spiritual leprosy. This leprosy is sin, which distances us from God and makes us unclean. Therefore, today, let us imitate this leper, find the courage to approach God, and ask for His healing, so that we may become clean. And let us share the good news of our cleansing with others through appropriate and dignified actions, so that the world may, like us, be cleansed through faith in God and the mercy of Jesus Christ, restoring all of creation to the harmony of its original creation by God.
Thursday after the Epiphany Gospel: Luke 4:14-22 Jesus, the Messiah of God
On the Sabbath, according to the Jewish Sabbath worship ritual, it was customary for an adult male to read from the Book of the Law, followed by the Prophets, and then deliver a sermon. Today, after returning to His hometown where He had grown up by the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus, in accordance with His custom and observance of the rites, entered the synagogue on the Sabbath to read (cf. Luke 4:16), setting a holy example for us. What He read was the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the Messiah: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.(cf. Luke 4:17-19). Through His words, He wanted those who knew Him to realize that the Messiah they awaited had come. We have all received the baptism of Jesus Christ and the anointing of the Holy Spirit of God. United with Christ through this baptism and anointing, our behaviour and conduct must be like that of our Lord Jesus Christ—fulfilling the will of God at all times and in all places, and worthily accomplishing the mission entrusted to us by God. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ! In this ever-changing and complex world, we often miss opportunities to preach, so that our preaching becomes mere words without effect. Therefore, let us follow the example of Christ today. With concrete actions, manifest the infinite mercy of God to those who do not yet know Christ and to those whose hearts are wounded. May they, through all we do, receive God’s healing; may they boldly renounce their past lives of sin and self-denial, join us in renouncing all that holds them back, turn away from all persons, places, and things that lead to sin, and begin a new life in Christ. O Savior Jesus Christ, You who are the true Messiah of God, grant us all the graces we need. Amen.
全属于祢 
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