Bible Study: 1 John 3, 22 to 4,6. And Matthew 4, 12 to 25.
Yesterday, we read of how the three Wise Men (Magi) from the East
followed the star to the child Jesus and when they saw him, they prostrated
themselves in adoration before him and opening their treasures, they presented
to Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense and Myrrh. In the course of this week, we
are called to follow in the steps of these three Wise men and embark on a pilgrimage
to the Infant Jesus ourselves. And what gifts are we to present to Jesus? They
are:
1. The Gift of our Repentance.
2. The Gift of our Time.
3. The Gift of our Faith. (Trust, Confidence).
4. The Gift of our Tongue.
5. The Gift of our Devotion.
6. The Gift of our Humility. (Worship).
Each of these gifts corresponds with the readings we shall be looking at
this week and they all culminate in the celebration of the Baptism of Jesus.
Today, we read about how Jesus makes a personal retreat into the region of
Zebulon and Naphtali in Galilee having heard of the arrest of John the Baptist
thereby fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah regarding that area. “The people that
walked in darkness have seen a great light.” And Jesus preached throughout the
towns saying “REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.”
The best gift we can actually give to Jesus is the gift of our Personal
Repentance. To repent means to acknowledge one’s imperfections and faults,
admit one’s errors and deliberately decide to change. Repentance begins from
the heart. A heart that is unaware of its sinfulness is incapable of repentance.
A heart that is proud and boastful or self-conceited is incapable of
repentance. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not
in us. 1st John 1, 8.
Nothing pleases God as much as a heart that repents and decides to turn
from its sinful ways. The aroma of repentance is far more pleasing than that of
sacrifices of fat rams and bulls. As the Psalmist declares; “For thou hast no
delight in sacrifice; were I to give a burnt offering, thou wouldst not be
pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and
contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51, 16 to 17.
God pays close attention to the prayers of a repentant person. As the
Prophet Isaiah makes us understand: “Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is my
throne and the earth is my footstool; what is the house which you would build
for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made,
and so all these things are mine, says the LORD. But this is the man to whom I
will look, he that is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.”
Isaiah 66, 1 to 2. Repentance is deciding from today to pick up the Bible and
tremble at God’s words and allowing those words become a lamp for our feet and
a light for our paths. Psalm 119 verse 105.
Repentance brings healing. Notice that in today’s Gospel passage, Jesus
began with calling the people to repentance and what followed next was healing.
“And he went about all Galilee, TEACHING in their synagogues and PREACHING the
gospel of the kingdom and HEALING every disease and every infirmity among the
people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the
sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics,
and paralytics, and he healed them. Matthew 4, 23 to 24. Take note of the
sequence, teaching comes before preaching and preaching comes before healing.
A reception of God’s words is always necessary to bring about healing.
You cannot be healed physically unless you are healed from within, from the
heart. It is the healing of your heart
due to a reception of God’s words that translates into the physical realm which
you see. Now, this is how it works, the word of God is God himself, when you
assimilate the words, you are assimilating God himself. When you keep the words
of God, God comes to dwell with you. This is the secret John reveals in today’s
first reading. “All who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And
by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.” 1
John 3, 24.
It takes a lot on our part to give up our old ways but then, when we
actually consider what we stand to gain by presenting to Jesus this beautiful
gift of repentance, we can see nothing but pure wisdom at play. No wonder the Magi
are called wise men. They gave gifts to Jesus but they got back greater
treasures.
Let us Pray:
Lord Jesus, may my life itself be my gift to you. Amen.
God bless you. Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is
well with you.
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