“and so (He) revealed His glory, and His disciples began to believe in Him.”
What does it take for us to believe? Do we need to see water changed to wine in order to trust? The Prophet Isaiah tells us how much we will receive—what is promised to us—by our belief: “you shall be called “My Delight” and “your God will rejoice in you.”
The reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians is one of my personal favorites—all about the different spiritual gifts and service, but the same Spirit. As we begin a new season today, this Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, we hear about the miracle at Cana; the third “manifestation’ (theophany) of Jesus. So what do these three readings today have to do with our lives, our belief in Christ now?
I believe we will see personal evidence of God’s grace as fruit of our life choices. I believe that we will see this as a result of what we do with the gifts we are given; the gifts for which we are responsible. St. Paul says: “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” We are supposed to be God’s glory revealed by who we are, by what we say and do. This is God’s glory revealed to all!
So, as we begin this new season, we might say a prayer for personal change (and for keeping those New Year resolutions!), that will reveal God’s glory to those around us—that all may begin to believe.
Holy God of Heaven and Earth, Father,
I know that a thousand years are as a day to you, but we humans are bound up in time. As a new season is beginning please teach me to care more about people and less about money, to enjoy my work but not let it enslave me, and to laugh more easily than I did last year.
Help me to remember the things that are easy to forget: that it might well be my last year—that some people are counting on me and that you have things for me to do.
Lord, please let me shake off the monotony of life, try some new things, and mend broken fences.
Father of Mercies please teach me in this new year to lighten up and let go, to enjoy people, sunsets, reading, and long walks, avoid quarrels, and work at being a peacemaker in this world, and to start the year with fewer regrets. May we live always for your glory!
I cannot know what this year will bring, and I am grateful for that! Help me to eat less junk food, exercise and take better care of my body (the Spirit’s temple). Help me to engage my intellect, and to learn to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Above all other things, Father, I want to be your instrument for easing somebody's too-heavy load, relieving some sad person's misery, and introducing some lost soul to Jesus and His love and peace. In this year of mercy, help me to be merciful. In this year of Jubilee and hope, may I be a source of positivity to those around me. Come what may, may we all live for your revealed glory, within your will, and to your delight. We pray all in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
What does it take for us to believe? Do we need to see water changed to wine in order to trust? The Prophet Isaiah tells us how much we will receive—what is promised to us—by our belief: “you shall be called “My Delight” and “your God will rejoice in you.”
The reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians is one of my personal favorites—all about the different spiritual gifts and service, but the same Spirit. As we begin a new season today, this Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, we hear about the miracle at Cana; the third “manifestation’ (theophany) of Jesus. So what do these three readings today have to do with our lives, our belief in Christ now?
I believe we will see personal evidence of God’s grace as fruit of our life choices. I believe that we will see this as a result of what we do with the gifts we are given; the gifts for which we are responsible. St. Paul says: “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” We are supposed to be God’s glory revealed by who we are, by what we say and do. This is God’s glory revealed to all!
So, as we begin this new season, we might say a prayer for personal change (and for keeping those New Year resolutions!), that will reveal God’s glory to those around us—that all may begin to believe.
Holy God of Heaven and Earth, Father,
I know that a thousand years are as a day to you, but we humans are bound up in time. As a new season is beginning please teach me to care more about people and less about money, to enjoy my work but not let it enslave me, and to laugh more easily than I did last year.
Help me to remember the things that are easy to forget: that it might well be my last year—that some people are counting on me and that you have things for me to do.
Lord, please let me shake off the monotony of life, try some new things, and mend broken fences.
Father of Mercies please teach me in this new year to lighten up and let go, to enjoy people, sunsets, reading, and long walks, avoid quarrels, and work at being a peacemaker in this world, and to start the year with fewer regrets. May we live always for your glory!
I cannot know what this year will bring, and I am grateful for that! Help me to eat less junk food, exercise and take better care of my body (the Spirit’s temple). Help me to engage my intellect, and to learn to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Above all other things, Father, I want to be your instrument for easing somebody's too-heavy load, relieving some sad person's misery, and introducing some lost soul to Jesus and His love and peace. In this year of mercy, help me to be merciful. In this year of Jubilee and hope, may I be a source of positivity to those around me. Come what may, may we all live for your revealed glory, within your will, and to your delight. We pray all in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
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