11 January 2019 - victory song

Today's Readings 

(Audio)

God wants us to have confidence in Jesus Christ. In order to have victory we must believe. It is for this reason that the Spirit himself testifies. He wants to convince us and to convict us of the truth of who Jesus is.

So there are three who testify,
the Spirit, the water, and the Blood, 
and the three are of one accord. 

The Spirit reveals Jesus to us. In the living waters of baptism, in the water flowing from the side of Christ, the Spirit himself comes to us as a living revelation. And only along side the precious blood of Christ does the living water of the Spirit flow. Wherever Jesus expresses his heart of love for us the Spirit bears witness and the Father confirms the testimony, either by his voice at the baptism, or by raising Jesus from the dead, or again by pouring out the Spirit at Pentecost. The Spirit is not merely floating around us telling us about Jesus. He actually comes into our hearts as we enter into the mysteries of the life of Jesus. We enter the mysteries in many ways, foremost among them are sacred scripture and the sacraments. In this way he provides a deeper confirmation than mere intellectual data.

Whoever believes in the Son of God
has this testimony within himself.

If we have this testimony within us, not just in our heads, but, as it were, in our bones, we have life. If we believe in the name of the Son of God we have victory. Believing in his name and his testimony means believing in his power. It means becoming convinced of the love he has for us.

"Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean." 
Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said,
"I do will it.  Be made clean." 

It is certain that we all need more victory and more life. Let us begin with the testimony that God provides. Let us become ever more convinced of the love of Christ so that we can experience that victory for ourselves. Both promise and fulfillment are given to us in the Eucharist where he who eats with faith eats "Fire and Spirit" as St. Ephrem says.

And the leprosy left him immediately. 

Let us sing songs of victory today. If they don't feel sincere at first, let us listen once more to the testimony which the Trinity never seeks to offer. They long for us to know the joyful shout of victory.

Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.