Gospel Today & Reflection, Monday, January 30, 2012

2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13, 1^st Reading
Psalm 30
Mark 5:1-20

Worship Song: Sing to the Mountains http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hikl2dLRMCc&feature=related

Antiphon: Alleluia, alleluia! Lord, rise up and save me O LORD. Alleluia, alleluia!

The Healing of the Gerasene Demoniac

1[Jesus and his disciples] came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. 2When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. 3The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. 4In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. 6Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, 7crying out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” 8(He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”) 9He asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.” 10And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory.

11Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside. 12And they pleaded with him, “Send us into the swine. Let us enter them.” 13And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea, where they were drowned... 18As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. 19But he would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” 20Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.

Reflection

“Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” ~ v. 19

The Mormons and the Jehovah’s Witnesses are well-known for their home visitation ministry. Sometimes, I make a big fuss about this in my parish. I just can’t accept the fact that Catholics are being visited by non-Catholics. Anyway, several years ago my son had an illiterate housekeeper. One day, this housekeeper asked my son if she could have JW people visit her regularly. He couldn’t refuse because the request came from her. Sometime later, my son was surprised to see her reading the Bible. The Witnesses had taught her to read! Lesson: “We are often too close to the tree we don’t see the forest!” The opportunity to evangelize is under our nose and we miss it.

Prayer Response

Dear Lord, Give us the Spirit of courage and fortitude to speak openly of Christ to our friends and neighbors. Amen.

Action Response

Think of at least one way you can bring the Good News to someone. Act on your plan.

 

“Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” ~ Jesus in Luke 9:26

For the other readings today please go to http://www.usccb.org/nab/

Gospel Today & Reflection, Sunday, January 29, 2012

Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1^st Reading

Psalm 95

1 Corinthians 7:32-35, 2^nd Reading

Mark 1:21-28

Worship Song: Come, Worship the Lord http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP22zL_TSpE

Antiphon: Alleluia, alleluia! If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus Taught with Authority

21Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. 23In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; 24 he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 25Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” 26The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. 27All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” 28His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

Reflection

What emerges from this narrative of exorcism is a man whose power amazes everybody but who remains a “stranger” because nobody can quite explain where his authority comes from. Examining the Gospel of Mark, biblical scholars have realized that the evangelist pictures the crowd and even Jesus’ disciples as often “not understanding” Jesus. Jesus does not fully reveal his identity (as the Messiah) because they are not prepared to accept the kind of Messiah that he is: indeed, one with authority to teach and work miracles, but one who has to undergo humiliation, suffering and death. The people are waiting instead for a glorious political leader.

Jesus’ presence continues to disturb, for he challenges us to a new way of thinking. He is a “revolutionary,” not quite in the mold we make of him. When justice seems to be served by vengeance (“a tooth for a tooth), he teaches that greater justice is to conquer one’s enemy with goodness. When he can destroy his tormentors on Calvary, he chooses to hang on the cross.

Jesus’ “new authority” summons us to a higher kind of morality and spirituality. By that authority we are called to become holy and struggle for perfection, at the same time to challenge the ways of the satisfied and the complacent.

Credits: Fr. Gil A. Alinsangan, SSP; On the Way of the Cross, excerpts

Prayer Response

Lord Jesus, you came to us and healed us from every kind of affliction. Today we are still tormented and possessed by demons. The demons of hate, prejudice, greed, pride, gluttony and lust. Liberate us, Lord Jesus, from these demons which possess us.

Action Response

Prayer has the power to free us from the demons that posses us. That has been my experience and the experience of millions of believers. Make it a habit to pray for liberation from your demons. Consider also going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation or a Healing Mass.

“Be firm in your faith and resist the devil.” ~ 1 Peter 5:9, paraphrased

For the other readings today please go to http://www.usccb.org/nab/

Gospel Today & Reflection, Saturday, January 28, 2012

2 Samuel 12:1-7a, 10-17, 1^st Reading

Psalm 51

Mark 4:35-41

Worship Song: Create in me a Clean Heart O God http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGPmMcDeRpM

Antiphon: Alleluia, alleluia! “Create a clean heart in me, O God. A steadfast spirit renew within me.” Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus Calms a Storm

35On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.” 36Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. 38Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”^* The wind ceased and there was great calm.40Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” 41They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

Reflection

[Jesus] woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”^* The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” ~ v. 39-40

Sometimes in the midst of the storms of life, my little boat begins to sink and I wonder why God doesn’t seem to care. As usual, I get it wrong. God is not the problem; it’s my understanding of God that needs an upgrade. God is the creator who loves me. That means God is always working to bring about what is best for me out of a profound and infinite love for me.

That doesn’t mean there won’t be storms. After all, weather is what makes life possible, and life, because it is so manifold and complex, sometimes looks to be a little crazy. But when the craziness of life seems to be overwhelming, God is still with me, loving me and creating a future that will save me. This is true whether I believe it or not. I just need to believe it and live according to that belief.

Prayer Response

O my God, you hold the whole world in your hands and order life in such a way that it always benefits your beloved. In your love for me, keep me safe from all harm and help me to believe in your love.

Action Response

Think back to the worst time you ever had in your life and trace the way God let you out of it.


Credits: Fr. Paul Boudreau, Between Sundays

“Learn the heart of God from the Word of God.” ~ Pope St. Gregory

For the other readings today please go to http://www.usccb.org/nab/

Gospel Today & Reflection, Friday, January 27, 2012

2 Samuel 11:1-4a, 13-17

Psalm 51

Mark 4:26-34

Worship Song: Sing a joyful Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJppShWnALk

Antiphon: Alleluia, alleluia! Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Alleluia, alleluia!

Seed Grows of Itself

He said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land 27and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”

30He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? 31It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. 32But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”  33With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. 34Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

Reflection

“Of its own accord the land yields fruit.” ~ Jesus in V.28

Jesus says evangelization is a lot like watching a garden. Our job is to plant the seeds, not to worry about when they will sprout. We may not know how people will react to our witness. But we can be sure that no seed sown will end up fruitless! God even guarantees that his word will go forth and accomplish the purpose for which he sent it out (Isaiah 55:11).

We can’t control the mystery of conversion. Once we sow the seed of God’s word, no matter how much we may want to hurry things along, it remains God’s work! Conversion doesn’t depend on our ability to tell a good story or give a good witness. It depends on the mystery of God’s revelation in the secret place of each person’s heart. In the same way that Jesus told parables, knowing that people will hear them differently and respond to them differently, we know that our love and service and witness to others will elicit different responses. But even if we can’t see the growth, Jesus assures us that our work of sowing seeds will indeed bear fruit.

So what do we do? Keep sowing! Keep praying for people! Keep looking for opportunities to share God’s work in your life! Keep giving of yourself, letting your life tell the story of Jesus. Then just trust God to take those seeds and make them grow, bearing fruit for his kingdom!

Prayer Response

Lord, thank you for your work in my life! Thank you for making the seed of faith sprout and grow in me, bringing me to conversion. Now teach me how to sow these same seeds in other people’s lives so that you may draw them to yourself.

Credits: the WORD among us, excerpts

Action Response

Invite someone to attend a renewal program like PREX, CLSS, CLP or RCIA. Keep praying for them if they don’t accept your invitation.

“God chose what the world considers weak …to shame the powerful.” ~ St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:27

For the other readings today please go to http://www.usccb.org/nab/

Gospel Today & Reflection, Thursday, January 26, 2012

Memorial of St. Timothy and St. Titus, bishops

2 Timothy 1:1-8, 1^st Reading

[or Titus 1:1-5]

Psalm 96

Luke 10:1-9

Worship Song: Here I Am, Lord http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiGZ9j3OD88

Antiphon: Alleluia, alleluia! Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations. Alleluia, alleluia!

The Mission of the Seventy-Two

1After this the Lord appointed seventy [-two] others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. 2He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. 3Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’  6If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. 8Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’

Reflection

“I remember you constantly in my prayers.” ~ St. Paul in 2 Timothy 1:3, 1^st Reading

Our world places a high value on self-reliance. But not even the great saints of the past operated alone. Either they were part of a faith community or they were accountable to someone who could help them in their spiritual journey. As Timothy needed the support of Paul, we need the support of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We also need to give out that support as well. None of us will get to heaven by ourselves.

There is a reason why Jesus told his disciples: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). It’s not that he isn’t with us as individuals. No, it’s that we function best when we are united to the body of Christ. As we gather in Jesus’ name, the Holy Spirit ministers not only to us but through us. It doesn’t matter how “little” our ministry, parish group, or small group is. It’s not little to God. So give thanks for your fellow believers. You really do need them!

Prayer Response

Lord, help me to see the gift that my fellow Christians are to me – and the gift that I can be to them. Show me how to participate more fully in your body, Lord.

Credits: the WORD among us, excerpts

Action Response

Volunteer your talents to your community. If you are already helping out, try to give more of your time.

“This I command you: Love one another.” ~ Jesus in John 15:17

For the other readings today please go to http://www.usccb.org/nab/