I will bear witness to You in the world O Jesus.

"Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”  (John 1: 34 NABRE)

I have chosen you to go and bear witness about Me in the world, says Jesus.  (John 15: 16)
What is your response? Or what are your excuses? Can you bear witness to somebody you don't know? John the Baptizer says he can bear witness to Jesus because he knows Him.  (John 1: 34)

How do you come to know Jesus so that you can bear witness to Him?  Consider a few of these points:
#1.  Jesus listens to what you say when you pray.  Every word.
#2.  Now listen to Jesus when He speaks to you in His word.
#3.  Embrace Him warmly in the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of our life.
#4.  Don't forget to serve Him in the poor.  What you do to the least of His brothers and sisters, you do to Jesus.  (Matthew 25:  40)

What is an appropriate response to our Savior and Redeemer?
"I will bear witness to You in the world O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of Your name among my brothers and sisters.  (Psalm 17: 50 ; 21:23 RM)

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Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

"So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help."  (Hebrews 4: 16 NABRE)

The Lord says that the pathway to the peace, freedom and victory that we so desperately desire is easier and simpler than we think.  It is to pray confidently for grace and mercy.  You may call this THE ABC OF MERCY:

ASK FOR MERCY
BE MERCIFUL
COMPLETELY TRUST JESUS FOR MERCY.

You may ask:  What are the grounds that Jesus will grant us grace and mercy?  He will.  First, because as our High Priest, He pleads our cause at the Father's throne of Mercy.   Secondly, He sympathizes deeply with us, because He has been tested in every way and in everything.  (Hebrews 4: 15) Thirdly,  He urges us to pray and promised to answer.

Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

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Strive to enter into His rest.

“They shall not enter into my rest.”  (Hebrews 4: 5 NABRE)

When I was in grade 2 and still in the early stages  of learning the English language,  one phrase we played with often was:  "There is no rest for the wicked."  How Hebrews 4: 5 validates this childish talk. "Out of the mouth of babes come wisdom."

What would you think if a father swears an oath that his son would never inherit his name or his property? You consider it a very severe indictment.  What if God swore such an oath vis-á-vis one of His children?  That would be a catastrophe except in the case of God that oath is conditional.  God gives us ample opportunity to change and bear fruit.

What type of sin could evoke such a wrath from God?  Disobedience!  Disobedience is a sin that covers a multitude of sins.  The Bible says that a person with a spirit of disobedience or rebellion is no different from a person with a spirit of witchcraft.

“Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
‘Harden not your hearts.’” (Hebrews 4: 7)

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Come, let us bow down in worship.

“Oh, that today you would hear his voice,
‘Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion in the day of testing in the desert, where your ancestors tested and tried me and saw my works for forty years."  (Hebrews 3: 8 -  10 NABRE)

Meribah was the Desert of testing, the combat zone between God and His people.  God tested the people to see if they had an obedient heart.   The people tested God by their obstinacy.  There ensued a battle of two strong wills.  Who won?  It took 40 years to subdue the people.

Lesson:  "Oh, that today you would hear his voice, ‘Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion."
Where is your Meribah?  Please yield to God.  Rebellion is worthless.

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Jesus teaches that Prayer is a vital necessity.

"Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed."  (Mark 1: 35 NABRE)

Jesus our Lord and Savior is not too busy to pray.  He offers to God early in the morning the sacrifice of His time in prayer.  Prayer is so critical in life that it should be the first habit a child forms.  This habit of prayer could sustain, make a difference in the quality of life any person.

Are you one of those that sigh for time to pray?  Do you have time when the ambulance arrives at your door?  Would you argue with the medicos if they decide to institutionalize you because they consider you a danger to yourself or society?

Twice in the Gospel, Jesus calls prayer a vital necessity.  On the night before He died, He prayed more intensely.   What would it take to convince you that prayer is free, powerful and vital?

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Have you experienced the Power of of the Source?

"The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes."  (Mark 1: 22 NABRE)

In the public ministry of Jesus, he was called most often Rabbi than any other title.   Even the professional rabbis recognized Jesus as a great teacher.  

What made the teaching of Jesus so stellar?  Mark the Evangelist describes it simply as not teaching "as the scribes."  The scribes show off their learning by quoting authorities.  Jesus speaks directly as the Source of Truth.   Jesus is Truth Himself and therefore the very Source of the content of His teaching.   You may call it the power of the Source.

As we draw nearer to Jesus, we become drawn to the Source of Truth and our thoughts and speech reflect the Master's.   Consider the teachings of these simple saints:  St Teresa of Avila and St Therese of Lisieux, both Doctors of the Church and none with formal education.  They experienced the Power of the Source.

Believe what you read.
Practice what you believe.
Teach what you practice.

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The Lord has called you for the victory of justice.

"I, the Lord, have called you for justice, I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations. " (Isaiah 42: 6 NABRE)

Today is the feast of the Baptism of Jesus Christ and marks the end of the Christmas season.  It is a hard time for me emotionally as I wish Christmas to last for months.  I turn off the Christmas lights tomorrow but Christmas music will go on for a couple of weeks.

What do you think of the above Scripture (Isaiah 42 : 6)?  Can you too claim the promise?  Do you ever feel that God has called you too to the victory of justice?  Don't you notice injustice that surrounds you?

The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus after His Baptism.  The Holy Spirit is the key to the ministry of Jesus Christ.  He is also the key to our ministry.  No Holy Spirit, no ministry; no evangelization.    Activate the Holy Spirit within you.

Come O Holy Spirit.  Come and kindle in us the fire of Your love.

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