Embracing Christ for Who He is – Dec 14 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Dec 14, 2022, based on John the Baptist's question to Jesus about whether Jesus is the Messiah and how we should embrace Christ our Savior and Messiah for who He is in this Advent season.

Luke 7: 18 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/7?18

John knew He was the Messiah:

John 1: 29 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?29 - Behold, the Lamb of God

John 1: 34  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?34 - John 3: 30 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3?30 - Mark 1: 7 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1?7

He [Jesus] must increase, and I must decrease

John asked for the benefit of his disciples to believe Jesus is the Messiah and should be followed

John 14: 6 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/14?6 - I am the way and the truth and the life

Luke 7 28 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/7?28 John is the greatest of prophets and saints, so they needed some encouragement to give him up and follow Jesus

Some, including John's disciples, were scandalized by Jesus' less penitential

Believe in his works, cures, resurrections, exorcisms preaching the Gospel, John 10: 37-38 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/10?38 - John 10: 25 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/10?25 - Believe in my works

Jesus does not want slave followers but those happy to serve and follow him

Luke 7 22-23 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/7?22 Jesus is doing exactly what the prophets said he would do

He does both spiritual and physical healing, freeing from spiritual bondage

Blessed he who is not scandalized by me. because maybe he was not as penitential or exalted as expected.

Isaiah 55 8-9 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/55?8 my ways and thoughts are higher than yours

Ask our Lady for grace to see life with the heart and mind of Christ

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. John of the Cross - Mem
Readings: Wednesday in the 3rd Week in Advent - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/121422.cfm
1st: isa 45:6C-8, 18, 21C-25
Resp: psa 85:9-14
Gsp: luk 7:18B-23

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1215&r=1261

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