"YOU Are MY Son, The Beloved, The One I Have Chosen."

 "He preached to the people, saying, 'After me comes one who is more powerful than I am; I have baptized you with water, but HE will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.'

At that time, JESUS came from Nazareth, a town of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  And the moment HE came up out of the water, heaven opened before HIM, and HE saw the Spirit coming down on HIM like a dove.  And these words were heard from heaven, 'YOU are MY Son, the Beloved, the One I have chosen.'" - Mark 1:7-11 

(In verses 1 to 13, Mark gives us in three short presentations three important insights about JESUS' salvation.

Verses 1-7.  John the Baptist announces the coming of the One sent by GOD: this JESUS about whom the Gospel will speak to us has been announced, prepared by all the great witnesses of the Old Testament.  In HIM and by HIM GOD's salvation will be accomplished.

Verses 9-10.  JESUS goes down into the Jordan to open the gates of the true Promised Land [see the Book of Joshua]: HE is the beloved Son of the FATHER on whom the Spirit rests.  JESUS comes to reveal the mystery of GOD, the mystery of the love of GOD--FATHER, SON and SPIRIT.

Verses 11-13.  JESUS is at peace with the wild animals as HE is with the angels.  In HIM and by HIM will be accomplished the reconciliation of all creation with its GOD.  Such had to be the Messiah announced by Isaiah [Isaiah 11].)

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It Is Necessary That HE Increase But That I Decrease

 "After this, JESUS went into the territory of Judea with HIS disciples.  HE stayed there with them and baptized.  John was also baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, where water was plentiful; people came to HIM and were baptized.  This happened before John was put in prison.

Now John's disciples had been questioned by a Jew about spiritual cleansing, so they came to John and said, 'Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, and about whom you spoke favorably, is now baptizing, and all are going to HIM.'

John answered, 'No one can receive anything, except what has been given to HIM from heaven.  You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the CHRIST, but I have been sent before HIM.'  Only the bridegroom has the bride; but the friend of the bridegroom stands by and listens, and rejoices to hear the bridegroom's voice.  My joy is now full.  It is necessary that HE increase, but that I decrease." - John 3:22-30 

(The Gospel admits that many disciples of John the Baptist did not recognize JESUS.  They had been drawn by their teacher's example: He was intense and outspoken, hard on himself in food, drink and clothing.  Somehow they had the hope, maybe because of John the Baptist's manner, that GOD's true justice would come and bring about direct punishment of the wicked.  Like militant followers of whatever good cause, John's disciples had this weakness: they were too focused on their own leaders and ways to consider other possibilities.  To become CHRIST's disciples, they would have to give up their own prophets.

It is necessary that HE increase but that I decrease, said the greatest of the prophets.  Only JESUS comes from On High, and can fully satisfy the human heart.  In HIM nothing of the good is lost, since HE embodies all.)

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Three Complementary Aspects Of The Christian Experience

 "Who has overcome the world?  The one who believes that JESUS is the Son of GOD.

JESUS CHRIST was acknowledged through water, but also through blood.

Not only water, but water and blood.

And the Spirit, too, witnesses to HIM, for the Spirit is truth.

There are, then, three testimonies:

the Spirit, the water and the blood, and these three witnesses agree.

If we accept human testimony, with greater reason must we accept that of GOD, given in favor of HIS Son.  If you believe in the Son of GOD, you have GOD's testimony in you.

But those who do not believe, make GOD a liar, since they do not believe HIS words when HE witnesses to HIS Son.

What had GOD said?  That HE has granted us eternal life, and this life is in HIS Son.  The one who has the Son has life, those who do not have the Son of GOD do not have the life.

I write you, then, all these things, that you may know, that you have eternal life, all you, who believe in the name of the Son of GOD." - 1 John 5:5-13 

(Verses 6-9 point out three complementary aspects of the Christian experience, which are first seen in JESUS HIMSELF.  John characterizes them with three words:

- water: water is the symbol of cleanliness and of new life.

- blood: the blood of the sacrifice, the painful atonement for sin, the blood of martyrs.

- Spirit: the uncontainable power that animates CHRIST's witnesses; the amazing creativity of the people and institutions that are rooted in faith.

These three witness to JESUS CHRIST and they also characterize Christian salvation.  We can easily see that they correspond to the three sacraments of baptism, eucharist and confirmation.)

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Faith Comes From GOD

 "All those, who believe that JESUS is the Anointed, are born of GOD; whoever loves the FATHER, loves the Son.  How may we know, that we love the children of GOD?  If we love GOD and fulfill HIS commands,

for GOD's love requires us to keep HIS commands.  In fact, HIS commandments are not a burden.

because all those born of GOD overcome the world.  And the victory, which overcomes the world, is our faith." - 1 John 5:1-4 

(GOD-Love is the one who asks us to believe in HIS Son, and faith is a victory.  John wrote the Book of Revelation to give hope to persecuted believers, showing them the victory they share with CHRIST simply because they believe in HIM.  John repeats the same thing here in a different way.

Our greatest victory is to attain our inheritance as children of GOD and to reach the eternal life of GOD HIMSELF.  Those who believe in CHRIST have already come to the Truth, to GOD.

How may we know that we love the children of GOD?  John already told us: the person who loves GOD also loves his brothers and sisters.  Here, however, John expresses it the other way around: those who love their brothers and sisters are known by the fact that they love GOD.

Many things are called love; there may be something of love in all of them, more or less.  The love of GOD for us and the love that HE gives us toward other people cannot be confused with other loves.  The love springing from an authentic communion with GOD does not resemble sentimental love, blind and fickle.  Rather, it is effective, both in the sense that it liberates others and it transforms us in CHRIST.)

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JESUS Walks On The Water

 "Immediately, JESUS obliged HIS disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of HIM to the other side, toward Bethsaida, while HE HIMSELF sent the crowd away.  And having sent the people off, HE went by HIMSELF to the hillside to pray.

When evening came, the boat was far out on the lake while HE was alone on the land.  JESUS saw HIS disciples straining at the oars for the wind was against them; and before daybreak HE came to them walking on the lake, and HE was going to pass them by.

When they saw HIM walking on the lake, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw HIM and were terrified.  But, at once, HE called to them, 'Courage!  It is I; don't be afraid!'  Then JESUS got into the boat with them and the wind died down.  They were completely astonished, for they had not really grasped the fact of the loaves; their minds were dull." - Mark 6:45-52 

(JESUS obliged them to get into the boat.  Why?  John's Gospel explains this [John 6:15].  Because the people, enthused by the miracle, wanted to make HIM a king and liberator sent by GOD.  Even the apostles were eager for this to happen.)

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They Were Like Sheep Without A Shepherd

 "As JESUS went ashore, HE saw a large crowd, and HE had compassion on them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd.  And HE began to teach them many things." - Mark 6:34 

(They were like sheep without a shepherd [Numbers 27:17; Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34; Zechariah 11:4-17; 12:8].  This refers to people who had not yet found true community, and JESUS had pity on them.  The prophet Ezekiel reproached the leaders of Israel for being bad pastors, but today he might reproach us for failing to be pastors and prophets in the midst of our world.  Why should we so often wait for priests, religious or a few handpicked by people to take the initiative of assembling new communities?  Why are we so timid in proposing to "those who are outside" the light of faith that we have gratuitously received and allow them to discover in the group or community this richness?

And HE began to teach them many things.  What did HE tell them?  All that makes up the Gospel.  Penetrating everyone's conscience with a prophetic gaze, JESUS showed each one where the real problem lay.  Speaking like the prophets, JESUS never enclosed and isolated the people within their personal problems: their personal progress had to be attained together with the renewal of their environment.

JESUS saw that they were burdened with difficulties but would lift them up by giving them "signs of hope."  In any situation there is something that we can do immediately to uplift ourselves; and even before any attempt of ours, GOD already gives us signs that HE does not abandon us and that we must trust totally in HIM.)

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Do Not Trust Every Inspiration

 "My beloved, do not trust every inspiration.  Test the spirits, to see, whether they come from GOD, because many false prophets are now in the world.

How will you recognize the Spirit of GOD?  Any spirit recognizing JESUS as the CHRIST, who has taken our flesh, is of GOD.  But any spirit that does not recognize JESUS, is not from GOD, it is the spirit of the antichrist.  You have heard of his coming, and even, now, he is in the world.

They are of the world and the world inspires them, and those of the world listen to them.

We are of GOD, and those who know GOD, listen to us, but those who are not of GOD, ignore us.  This is how we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of falsehood as well." - 1 John 4:1-6

(John underlined the role of the Holy Spirit to guide us in the truth, but now he is dealing with the case of the prophets who do not speak according to the faith received from the apostles through the Church.

There have always been conflicts between those in authority and those who speak freely.  It should  be clear that no inspired person would ever be able to speak against the traditional faith of the Church.  What if it deals with ways of being or doing in the Church?  Must we always support the people in charge in all circumstances?  That would be to forget that the Gospel forms free people.  We must never blindly follow the opinion of the pope, or the bishop, or the majority.  It is our responsibility to think for ourselves and to evaluate according to the criteria of the Gospel.

Can we then favor those who seem to be guided by the Spirit?  If the Holy Spirit really inspires them, however much they may criticize what must be criticized, they will never attempt to divide the Church.  The community may expel them, but they will not become responsible for the break.  Even when the local community rejects them, they will never be willing to separate themselves from the universal communion of the Church, which, with time, always recognizes true prophets.)

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GOD's Inheritance Is For All

 "You may have heard of the graces GOD bestowed on me, for your sake.  By a revelation, HE gave me the knowledge of HIS mysterious design, as I have explained in a few words.

This mystery was not made known to past generations, but only now, through revelations, given to holy apostles and prophets, by the Spirit.  Now, the non-Jews share the inheritance; in CHRIST JESUS, the non-Jews are incorporated, and are to enjoy the Promise.

This is the Good News,..." - Isaiah 3:2-3.5-6 

3;lkj987/(Paul writes this letter from his prison in Rome, but he does not say: prisoner "for the cause" of CHRIST.  He is prisoner of CHRIST, for he cannot escape from CHRIST's continual hold on  him, nor from the apostolate that GOD has destined for him [1 Corinthians 9:16].

Paul emphasizes what he has meditated on in jail, what seems most new in the work of CHRIST: this is the "mystery," or GOD's plan calling all people to become a single body, without any racial distinctions.  JESUS proclaimed this equality [Matthew 20], but the early Christians needed several divine interventions before they were convinced [Acts 10].)

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Who Is The Liar?

 "Who is the liar?

The one who denies that JESUS is the CHRIST.

This is an antichrist who denies both the FATHER and the Son.  The one who denies the Son is without the FATHER, and those who acknowledge the Son also have the FATHER.

Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.  If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you too will remain in the Son and in the FATHER.  And this is the promise HE, HIMSELF, gave us: eternal life.

I write this to you thinking of those who try to lead you astray.

You received from HIM an anointing, and it remains in you, so you do not need someone to teach you.  HIS anointing teaches you all things.  It speaks the truth and does not lie to you; so remain in HIM, and keep what HE has taught you.

And now, my children, live in HIM, so that when HE appears in HIS glory, we may be confident and not ashamed before HIM when HE comes." - 1 John 2:22-28 

(You received from HIM an anointing, and it remains in you.  John not only speaks of the anointing of oil in baptism and confirmation.  "CHRIST" signifies precisely, "he who is anointed," and this anointing was the presence in HIM of the Spirit of GOD, HIS FATHER.  John adds: "You cannot receive passively just any instruction in the Church, but you must discern whether the word of GOD is being faithfully transmitted."

HIS anointing [Spirit] teaches you all things.  In writing that, John had in mind the prophets who were the animators of the churches: through their inspired words the Spirit taught the community [see Acts 14:2 and 1 Thessalonians 5:19].  Today the Spirit also maintains us in the truth through the leaders of the community and those who teach but we are not dispensed from seeking by ourselves the meaning of the Word and discerning what others tell us.)

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The Blessing

 "Then YAHWEH spoke to Moses saying, 'Speak to Aaron and his sons and say to them: This is how you shall bless the people of Israel; you shall say:

May YAHWEH bless you and keep you!

May YAHWEH let HIS face shine on you, and be gracious to you!

May YAHWEH look kindly on you, and give you HIS peace!

In that way shall they put MY name on the people of Israel and I will bless them.'" - Numbers 6:22-27 

(Blessing of Moses which St. Francis of Assisi always used.)

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