Love of one rsquo s enemies is among Jesus rsquo most distinctive characteristic and difficult teachings Most of us have a hard enough time loving our family and friends or even loving ourselves But to do good to those who hate us bless those who curse us and pray for those who mistreat us see

What is happiness Where is it to be found Who is happy These questions arise in every generation and in every culture In our early 21st-century American situation it seems that for most of us happiness consists in having money and other possessions ensuring that our material needs and desires

Christian spirituality is discipleship that is a positive response to the call of Jesus despite or even because of our personal unworthiness In answering this call we have the examples of Simon Peter and other biblical figures like Isaiah and Paul who are led by the Holy Spirit Today rsquo s

In 2007 the Sunday Gospel reading is almost always from Luke The first part of today rsquo s text Luke 1 1-4 is the Evangelist rsquo s preface in which he explains how and why he wrote this Gospel Luke sought to provide an orderly account based on traditions about Jesus rsquo birth teaching

Today rsquo s selection from Luke rsquo s Gospel continues the narrative begun last Sunday The setting is the synagogue at Nazareth Jesus has read passages from the book of Isaiah concerning the anointed prophet of God and declared that ldquo today rdquo this passage was being fulfilled in him

nbsp The word Epiphany derives from a Greek term that means ldquo showing forth manifestation making public rdquo According to the account of the Epiphany in Matthew 2 magi or wise men from the East perhaps Persia or Babylonia came to Israel to pay homage to the newborn king of the Jews