By Fr. Jerry Hardy

Second Sunday: Isaias 11:1-10, Romans 15-:4-9, Matthew 3:1-2

Reflecting … It’s time to take a good hard look around to see how it goes with us and our God and the rest of His creation. That’s what reflecting is, a completing of last week’s “remembering”: not undirected day dreaming but purposeful looking around at our lives. Isaias will offer us today a reflective checklist of how things ought to be. How many are happening in your life? Paul will suggest that a grounding in all God has said leads to harmony. Are we thus grounded? John the Baptizer will do a number on otherwise religious folk challenging them (and us, since we can be just like them) to be more reflective about their behavior as living statements of their beliefs, hoping that they (and we) will make the connection (which always requires some reflection).

For Personal Prayer – Full Reflections

1. Isaias 35:1-10; Luke 5:17-27 – look in awe and astonishment for what His love does for us.
2. Isaias 40:1-11; Matthew 18:12-14 – alone we are helpless .. with Him, protected.
3. Isaias 40:25-31; Matthew 11:28-30 – an invitation to us … we are the poor and the weak.
4. Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Luke 1:26-38; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 – How unqualified is MY YES to Him?
5. Isaias 48:17-19; Matthew 11:16-19 – Am I willing to change my way of thinking?
6. Ecclesiasticus 48:1-4, 9-11; Matthew 17:10-13 – service and sacrifice equals sharing in His life.
7. When I think of the paralytic’s friend who took him to Jesus to be healed, I wonder.
8. How do I feel about being a “lost sheep”?
9. In what way has knowing Jesus brought peace and harmony into our lives?

T. When I think of Mary, Jesus’ Mother, I am glad she …

1. The times I appreciate God’s presence with me the most is …
2. I have learned more about Jesus from …
3. Mid-Week Talking and Listening

S. Jesus, for me is: (choose five and rank in importance)

…. God

…. Savior

…. Friend

…. Love

…. A second chance

…. Hope

…. Promise of peace

…. Challenge in integrity

…. The “way to the Father”

…. Other ….

The greatest challenge in following Jesus is:

1. Telling other people who He is
2. Trying again after failing
3. Seeing Jesus in everyone
4. Understanding the differences between “charity”
5. Being able to “love one another as …”
6. Spending time with Him in prayer
7. Accepting one another
8. Sharing His message with others.