Despite our personal inadequacies and repeated failures to measure up to how we would like to be, Jesus keeps on assuring us that he wants to use our feeble efforts to bring life, love and encouragement to those around us. We may never experience the satisfaction of seeing our metaphorical nets filled to breaking-point, but it will be a source of great consolation when our hearts are broken open with compassion for the imprisoned, the oppressed and the needy, reflects Christian Brother Julian McDonald.
Bringing Good News - the mission of every Christian
As baptised members of the Christian community, we have inherited the blessing of God’s Spirit and the invitation to “bring glad tidings and “proclaim the Lord’s favour” to the poor, the blind, people in prison, the oppressed, the forgotten and the helpless, reflects Christian Brother Julian McDonald. We all have the potential to breathe life and hope into others … knowing that God’s Spirit is our guide.
'Do whatever he tells you'
The new wine in the story of Jesus’ miracle at the Wedding at Cana is a powerful symbol of hope and a tangible statement that God is establishing a new relationship of life and love with the people of Israel, reflects Christian Brother Julian McDonald. God is offering them the elixir of life, symbolised by the new wine. God’s life and love is also offered to us, but to avail of it we need to be on the same wavelength as Jesus. For that to happen, we could do no better than to take the cue Mary gave to the catering staff: “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2, 5). That means keeping our ears open.
The Baptism of the Lord
The Epiphany - searching for the only one who will satisfy us.
The Magi represent for all of us the wisdom that recognises human life to be a journey taken in search of the One who calls us beyond ourselves into faithful service; the One before whom we are prepared to kneel, and to whom we offer the best of our gifts, flawed and unworthy though they be, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald.