February 28, 2023
“This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Jesus is the fulfillment of all the petitions of the Our Father. Jesus gives glory to the Father’s name by his life, The Kingdom has now come because of the birth of Jesus, he totally fulfills the will of the Father by giving his life for us, he gives us the bread which is himself, he forgives us our sins, he perfectly forgives his enemies even those who are killing him, he leads us by right ways and delivers us from all evil. The prayer of the Our Father should so transform our lives that the Father can use us to answer the petitions of our own prayer.
February 27, 2023
And the king will say to them in reply, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Jesus is a king but he is also every poor person. Because he is a king, he can so closely identify with his brothers that he regards everything done to them as done to him. Jesus wants us to realize that it is no longer we who live but he who lives in us. So now the way we treat others is the way we treat Jesus.
February 26, 2023
The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.
Jesus is someone who can not be turned away from his mission. Nothing can make him look away from his Father. If we want to be like Jesus, we will not allow ourselves to be tempted by things that appear good but are not our Father’s will.
February 25, 2023
“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus is the one who eats with sinners. This is really good news since we are all sinners! We might expect Jesus to avoid us because of our sins. Instead, he took on our flesh, lived our life, carried our sins, and died our death. And because he accepted our weakness, we will be able to receive his strength and rise from the dead with him.
February 24, 2023
“Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?”
Jesus is the one who brings joy to our lives. Whether we are feasting or fasting, every day should be a celebration because we know that Jesus is with us.
February 23, 2023
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected.”
Jesus is someone who has suffered rejection. He brought the great gift of himself to us and by our sins, we reject him. But Jesus does not become bitter or unforgiving. He is always giving us a chance to repent and give him our lives.
February 22, 2023
“And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
Jesus is a hidden God. He is there in unexpected places like the stable and the Cross. He is also hidden in our good works, our prayer and our sacrifices.
February 21, 2023
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me.”
Jesus is someone who identifies himself with a child. What is it about children that makes them like Jesus? Children do not have any power and have to rely totally on their parents. When Jesus became man, he set aside his power and relied only on his Father.
February 20, 2023
“This kind can only come out through prayer.”
Jesus is our only hope because he is the only one who lives constantly in relationship to his Father which is prayer. From this relationship, he can drive out all evil and replace it with healing.
February 19, 2023
“So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Jesus is perfect Love. He did not offer any resistance to those who wished to kill him. He loved his enemies and prayed for those who persecuted him. And he loves even those who do not love him.
February 18, 2023
“This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
Jesus is the beloved Son of his Father. He does not desire to be anything else even when this relationship means suffering and death. Because he is the obedient Son, he rises from the dead. Death can not keep him away from his Father. Nothing can separate him from his Father. If we are united to Jesus, nothing can separate us from the Father either.
February 17, 2023
“What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”
Jesus is someone who knows the value of everything. Today he reminds us that our life has so much value that if we spend it for him, he will reward us with eternal life.
February 16, 2023
Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.”
Jesus is the Christ. But who is the Christ? He is the one anointed by God to save us from all our sins and errors so that we can be like God.
February 15, 2023
“I see people looking like trees and walking.”
Jesus is someone who wants us to see. Sometimes even when we think we see, we do not see clearly. Jesus continues to work with us until we can see as he sees.
February 14, 2023
“Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened?”
Jesus is someone who warns us when he sees us hardhearted and forgetful of all he has done for us. He reminds us to pay attention and to remember his deeds.
February 13, 2023
“Why does this generation seek a sign?”
Jesus is the sign. His life and actions, his death and Resurrection are a sign from Heaven calling us to repentance and new life. We should not fail to see this sign.
February 12, 2023
“I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”
Jesus is the Lawgiver. He is also the fulfillment of the law. This is good news for us. Jesus wants us to be peaceable, faithful, honest, and simple. On our own, this is impossible but with Jesus, all things are possible.
February 11, 2023
They ate and were satisfied.
Jesus is generous. When he sees the need of the crowd, he doesn’t only give them just enough to get by. They are all satisfied and there is even an abundance left over.
February 10, 2023
“He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Jesus has done all things well. All things were made through him and all things are restored through him. Everything that is good comes from him. This is a great reason for gratitude.
February 9, 2023
“Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.”
Jesus is the one who leads us to faith. In today’s Gospel, it doesn’t seem like he is going to help the Greek woman. When confronted with a difficulty, what will we do? Jesus wants all things to lead us to an increase in faith.
February 8, 2023
“Are even you likewise without understanding?”
Jesus is someone who is determined to save us. Therefore he teaches us the important lessons over and over again throughout our lives. It is important for us to realize what evil things dwell in our hearts and to ask Jesus to deliver us from them.
February 7, 2023
“You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on.”
Sometimes when thinking about who Jesus is, it can be helpful to think about who he isn’t. Jesus is not someone who you can fool. Jesus is not impressed by any outward show or observance. He is only interested in your heart.
February 6, 2023
Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.
Jesus is the one who brings healing. When we draw close to him, we are healed. In the beginning, God’s Word brought everything into existence, and everything was good. Jesus is God’s eternal Word, and he renews all things so that they are become good again.
February 5, 2023
“You are the light of the world.”
Who is Jesus? He is the light of the world. Who are we? We are also the light of the world. How can it be that we and Jesus are the same thing? Jesus wants to identify with us so much that he shares everything with us!
February 4, 2023
“When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.”
Jesus is a merciful shepherd. Even when he has other plans, the sight of the needy sheep fills him with pity. He takes care of them and teaches them.
February 3, 2023
And people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; That is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.”
Some people thought that Jesus was John the Baptist or Elijah or another prophet. Some people today are also confused about who Jesus is. If we want to know who Jesus is, we have to spend time getting to know him. As with any relationship, we need to spend time seeing and hearing Jesus and then we will begin to understand who he is.
February 2, 2023
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord.
Today Jesus is consecrated to the Lord. Mary and Joseph also gave the required offering for Jesus to be redeemed. Isn’t it interesting that the Redeemer was redeemed? He, of course, did not have to be redeemed but he is our model in everything.
February 1, 2023
“Where did this man get all this?”
I began writing this series so that we all could think deeply about who Jesus is. If we don’t, we may find ourselves in the position of the people in today’s Gospel. They thought they knew all about him. Because their minds and hearts were closed, Jesus was not able to work in their lives. Jesus is someone who waits for our trust.