Gospel Reflection1124

Gospel Reflection1124 – Wednesday, November 24th 2010
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Luke 21:12-19 (NRSV-Catholic Edition for India)

12: But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.
13: This will give you an opportunity to testify.
14: So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance;
15: for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.
16: You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.
17: You will be hated by all because of my name.
18: But not a hair of your head will perish.
19: By your endurance you will gain your souls.

The words which touch my heart:
1. Name (the Name of Jesus)
2. The word ‘WILL’ – this reading has 11 ‘will’
3. Opportunity & testify/witness
4. Mind (Mind of Christ)
5. Words/Tongue & Wisdom (Gifts of the Holy Spirit)
6. Hated & Betray & Death (Fruits of bad Tree)
7. Enemy within the Church (parents, brothers, relatives and friends)
8. Assurance & comfort – not a hair will perish, cling to the name and gain our soul.
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My mind searching for the name but my heart stood still.

And questions start to come.

“WHAT IS THIS ‘NAME’ THAT WORTH DYING FOR”, shout my mind.

“Be silent, mind. Jesus is here”, affirmed my heart.

My mind goes back to the temple in Jerusalem where an old man Simeon waiting at the gate.

An old man Simeon said to Mary about her child;
“This child is destined for the falling and the raising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts will be revealed-and a sword will pierce your own soul too." (Luke 2:34-35) (NRSV)

This baby boy knows human hearts.
That is good but it comes with a heavy responsibility to human.
He will be opposed by many and so will be His followers.
No wonder his followers will hated, betray and put to death. It’s being prophesied by Simeon.

What about the boy name? Why is it so special to God? My mind grumbles again.
After a short silent, my mind recalls that the name of the boy was given by an angel from God. My heart rejoices as the name is revealed.

And the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.”
Luke 1:30-31 (NRSV)

So JESUS is ‘the Name or Word’ that is so precious to God and always in His bosoms.

Saint John wrote in his gospel in this way about the Word;
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1(NRSV)

What did Jesus said about the name?
“Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son;”
John14:13(RSV)
Jesus promised to do whatever we ask in His Name. This is getting better. Then we should ask him things that we need but not things that we want.

Then Jesus added;
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
John14:26(RSV)

“Jesus also promised us the Holy Spirit. This is great. I won’t be lonely again.” My heart rejoices and added, “Gifts of the Holy Spirit will empower the believers to be the witness of Christ and have the mind of Christ as the Holy Spirit knows the depth of God.” No wonder Jesus said, “ So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance.”
The Holy Spirit also gives gift of the Discernment of Spirits so that we will bear the good fruits and do the will of the Father.
(For further reading on Gifts of the Holy Spirit, read I Corithians 12 but do not forget about Isaiah 11)

“And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name, which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in thy name, which thou hast given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled.
John 17:11-12(RSV)

“O my God!” my mind exclaimed as I read the underline words over and over again. “No wonder the ‘Name’ is so special and worth dying for.” My mind stood still and thinking of God and His greatness and majesty.

John answered, "Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us."
Luke 9:49(NRSV)
Even Demon knows the Name and they flee. Who am I not fear and terrified by the Name.

And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 (RSV)
Peter revealed the name the people.

But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
Acts 3:6-7 (RSV)

Power of God is manifested by invoked the name of Jesus. There is great power in the name.
The Apostles knew that power in the name and they invoke the name.
The Satan knows that power in the name and they flee.
The diseases and sickness knows that power and they leave.
The Saints knew the power in the name and they hold on to the name until the end of their days. They are willing to die for the name.
Who are we not to imitate them to hold on the name until the end of our days.

I will end with God’s promise in the psalm.

Those who love me, I will deliver;
I will protect those who know my name.
When they call me, I will answer them;
I will be with them in trouble;
I will rescue them and honor them.
With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.
Psalm 91:14-16(NRSV)

Cling to the name, fathers.
Cling to the name, brothers.
Cling to the name, sisters.
cling to the name, sons and daughters.
So that we are worthy of the name.

Praise and glory be to God.

Let the Name of Jesus be always on our lips.
JESUS, JESUS, JESUS.

Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Amen. Amen.

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Lent in 2011 will start on Wednesday, the 9th of March
and will continue for 46 days until Saturday, the 23rd of April.