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Word To Life
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Sunday Scripture Readings: Jan. 6, 2008
By Jean Denton
Catholic News Service
January 6, The Epiphany of the Lord
Cycle A Readings:
1) Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13
2) Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
Body language: Specialists in human behavior have helped the rest of us understand how important it is in communication. Psychologists explain that we can determine a great deal about a person's attitude underlying his or her words by observing body language.
In certain arenas, in fact, body language is actually taught. For example, it is part of the training for interviewing, sales pitching or athletic competition. I remember my son coming home from tennis team practice with written instructions regarding body language during a match. Peering over his shoulder at those instructions, I learned a few helpful physical attitudes. Don't drop your shoulders and head or slow your gait after losing a point, for instance.
When I applied this on the court, I realized it probably had more of an effect on me than on my opponent. Keeping my shoulders back, head up and moving purposefully into position for the next point, I was positive and focused, not feeling defeated.
I've realized the same influence of body language holds true when I approach God in prayer. I grew up Protestant, so the tradition of kneeling in community worship wasn't prevalent. I always bowed my head but rarely knelt in prayer. What a change in attitude I felt before God when I lowered my entire body to a posture of supplication.
I understood better who I was in relationship to my Savior, wholly dependent on his good graces, thankful for his mercy and amazed that he should care at all, much less love me.
In the Gospel reading for Epiphany, the Magi, who represented the greatest among human beings, searched for the light of God entering the world's darkness. Finding it, they brought their best stuff to the Savior and prostrated themselves before him.
They modeled for us with extreme body language an attitude in approaching Jesus that allows us to experience the awesomeness of his presence and blessings.
QUESTIONS:
What is your basic daily attitude in approaching God? Besides kneeling in prayer, what other kinds of body language have helped you develop an attitude of humility and gratitude to Jesus as your Savior?
SCRIPTURE TO BE ILLUSTRATED:
"We observed his star at its rising and have come to do him homage" (Matthew 2:2).
END
Copyright © 2006 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS Word To Life column may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
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