Breaking the Word – Page 2155 – Rev. Dr. Victor Antonyraj SDB

01.01.2012 JESUS IN THE MANGER

Posted under Reflections on January 24th, 2012 by

GOSPEL READING: Luke 2:16-21

Today's reading says that Jesus is an infant and he is lying in a manger. He could have been placed in any other place. Why was he placed in the manger? Manger is the place where food is kept for the cattle. Jesus is being placed there. Could this be a prophetic action? Jesus is already announced without word that he is going to be the food for many. It is a symbolic action.

Mary kept all these things in her heart. Mary the mother Jesus was a keen observer of things and not only that but she was also a person of reflection. Everything that happens around is not mere chances but they are of divine intervention for her. Every event revealed something of God to her. The arrival of shepherds and the information that the shepherds gave her made her reflect.

31.12.11 JESUS THE GOD MAN

Posted under Reflections on December 31st, 2011 by

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…. (Jn 1:1-18)

John the Evangelist writes about Jesus. He speaks about the origin of Jesus and the mission (destiny) of Jesus. Of course Jesus had no beginning. But, Jesus was with God and that was the beginning. So it a beginningless beginning. Through Jesus all things were created. So Jesus’ origin is that he had no beginning but he was with God and he was at the creation and through him all things came to be. And he was God.

Mission (destiny) of Jesus is the world and redemption of the world. He comes to the world which was created through him. The world is his own. But the world did not accept him. Only those who accepted him are redeemed. So men have the freedom to accept the work of Jesus. From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace.

John the author is bearing witness to this event: the event of the arrival of Jesus and his dwelling among us. Arrival of Jesus was announced by John the Baptist who in turn was sent by God. John has come to prepare the people. He has come to bear witness to the arrival of Jesus and mission of Jesus.