Tuesday after Epiphany
Lectionary: 213
Lectionary: 213
Beloved,
let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only-begotten Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only-begotten Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Responsorial
Psalm PS 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8
R.
(see 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The mountains shall yield peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the poor.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The mountains shall yield peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the poor.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
GospelMK 6:34-44
When
Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.
By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already very late.
Dismiss them so that they can go
to the surrounding farms and villages
and buy themselves something to eat.”
He said to them in reply,
“Give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food
and give it to them to eat?”
He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”
And when they had found out they said,
“Five loaves and two fish.”
So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass.
The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.
Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples
to set before the people;
he also divided the two fish among them all.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments
and what was left of the fish.
Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.
By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already very late.
Dismiss them so that they can go
to the surrounding farms and villages
and buy themselves something to eat.”
He said to them in reply,
“Give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food
and give it to them to eat?”
He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”
And when they had found out they said,
“Five loaves and two fish.”
So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass.
The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.
Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples
to set before the people;
he also divided the two fish among them all.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments
and what was left of the fish.
Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.
Meditation: "They all ate and were satisfied"
What can satisfy the deepest hunger you experience? When Jesus saw
people in hunger and want, he gave them more than they ever expected. Do
you approach the Lord with the expectation that he can satisfy you as well? Of
all the miracles Jesus did, the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and
fishes is the only one which is repeated in all four gospels. A great crowd of
people had gathered to hear Jesus because they were hungry for God's
word. Jesus’disciples wanted to send the crowd away at the end of the day
because they did not have the resources to feed them. They even
complained how much money it would take to feed such a crowd -- at least six
month’s wages! Jesus did the unthinkable. He took the little food
they had -- only five loaves and two fish -- and giving thanks to his heavenly
Father, distributed this small portion to the whole crowd. To the
amazement of all, there was more than enough food for everyone present.
And they ate until there were satisfied of their hunger. The twelve disciples
took up what was left over, twelve baskets full of fish and loaves, so that
nothing would be wasted.What is the significance of this miracle? The miraculous feeding of such a great multitude pointed to God's provision of manna in the wilderness for the people of Israel under Moses' leadership. This food foreshadowed the true heavenly bread which Jesus would offer his followers. Jesus makes a claim only God can make: He is the true bread of heaven that can satisfy the deepest hunger we experience. The feeding of the five thousand shows the remarkable generosity of God and his great kindness towards us. In the multiplication of the loaves and fishes we see a sign and a symbol of what God always does. When God gives, he gives abundantly. He gives more than we need for ourselves that we may have something to share with others, especially those who lack what they need. God takes the little we have and multiplies it for the good of others. Do you trust in God's provision for you and do you share freely with others, especially those who are in need or want?
"Lord Jesus Christ, you satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts and you feed us with the finest of wheat (Psalm 81:16). Fill me with gratitude for your blessings and give me a generous heart that I may freely share with others what you have given to me."
 The Power of My Nothingness |
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Tuesday After
Epiphany
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Mark 6:34-44
When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was
moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he
began to teach them many things. By now it was already late and his disciples
approached him and said, "This is a deserted place and it is already
very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and
villages and buy themselves something to eat." He said to them in reply,
"Give them some food yourselves." But they said to him, "Are
we to buy two hundred days´ wages worth of food and give it to them to
eat?" He asked them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and
see." And when they had found out they said, "Five loaves and two
fish." So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green
grass. The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties. Then,
taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the
blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the
people; he also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were
satisfied. And they picked up 12 wicker baskets full of fragments and what
was left of the fish. Those who ate of the loaves were five
thousand men.
Introductory Prayer: Lord I am nothing without you in my mission.
I believe that there is no difficulty in deepening my union with you that
cannot be overcome. I want to know and see with greater clarity that your
hand moves mine. You make possible what would otherwise be impossible.
Petition:Lord, increase my confidence and dependence on you.
1. “His Heart Was Moved with Pity for Them,
for They Were like Sheep Without a Shepherd.” A heart that loves expands to meet the needs
of those it loves. None could love as perfectly as Christ. Will I let Christ
move me in this prayer to see what he sees, suffer what he suffers, and love
what he loves? Who will teach the vast numbers of those who are lost,
especially the young? Who will console the sorrowing who fight the pervasive
darkness of despair, and guide with fidelity the hungry souls ready for the
fullness of God’s truth? Who can make present the power of the Shepherd to
heal and stay the force of evil in so many dark corners of the world? If I
open my heart to see what Christ sees, I will follow everyday what he asks of
me to remedy a broken world that needs salvation.
2. Give Them Some Food Yourselves: Our Lord insists that we be active
protagonists in tackling the most difficult problems in the world. Many only
sigh at the world’s miseries as if to say, “Lord, you have a problem. I will pray
for them.” Christ looks back and says to us, “This is your mission now. I put
it in your hands.” Will we panic? Will we wonder where we will get the time,
the resources, the wisdom? Will we imagine ourselves making it all happen?
Our Lord asks us to take responsibility, but he does not want us taking
control. There is a difference: One is the steward in the mission—us; the
other the owner—God. Taking responsibility means making the needs of souls
and the Church our own. Not taking control means we never lose sight of the
one who controls the plan. I want to do it his way, and not mine.
3. How Many Loaves Do You Have? When Christ chooses us for a mission, he
does not select us because he thinks we have what it takes, but rather
because he knows he will give us all that we need. Sometimes we are faced
with goals that are real, yet beyond our power to accomplish.
Anxiety––thinking we need to be superhuman before a superhuman
endeavor––inserts all sorts of complexes into the human spirit: shutting
down, feeling overwhelmed, uncontrolled anger, unjustly limiting our field of
action. What does Christ ask when we face the impossible? Just give what we
have––give it all and don’t hold back. Put all our loaves and fishes on the
table, and then Christ will work. Believe in the power of our poor
nothingness united to Christ.
Conversation with Christ:Lord, I believe in the power of my
nothingness united to your power and grace. Today I accept the challenge of
the mission before me, but only if I take each step depending on you. With
you every burden is sweet, and every impossible task is a new encounter with
the power of your hand.
Resolution:I will stop sometime in the middle of the
day to spiritually place what I am doing into Christ’s hands.
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, MARK 6:34-44
Christmas Weekday
(1 John 4:7-10; Psalm 72)
Christmas Weekday
(1 John 4:7-10; Psalm 72)
KEY VERSE: "They all ate and were satisfied" (v 42).
READING: The twelve apostles had been sent by Jesus to heal and preach, and to announce the coming of God's reign (Mk 6:7). When they returned from their first mission they reported all that had occurred. Jesus took his exhausted apostles across the Sea of Galilee to rest in a quiet place. When they arrived, a great crowd was there to greet them. Jesus was not upset by this interruption to their privacy, but was moved with compassion because the people were spiritually hungry. After he taught them at length, his followers urged Jesus to dismiss the crowds so they could find something to eat. Jesus told his disciples to feed the people themselves. Where they saw only scarcity, with only a few loaves and fish available, Jesus saw an abundance. He blessed the offering and fed the multitude. The miracle looks back to the feeding of Israel in the desert, and anticipates the Eucharistic banquet where all are fed by Christ.
REFLECTING: In what ways do I feed hungry souls?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to hunger for your presence in word and sacrament.
Optional Memorial of Raymond of Peñafort,
priest
Raymond of Peñafort joined the Dominicans in 1218 and became Master General, the second successor of St. Dominic himself. He was a much-revered canon (or church) lawyer, and was summoned to Rome in 1230 by Pope Gregory IX to organize the church laws (then called decretals). He assembled the Dominican constitutions which even today follow his structure. After he reviewed the Order's Rule, he resigned his position in 1240. The pope wanted to make Raymond an archbishop, but he declined, instead returning to Spain and the parish life he loved. Raymond's compassion helped many people return to God through the Sacrament of Penance. During his years in Rome, Raymond heard of the difficulties missionaries faced trying to reach non-Christians of Northern Africa and Spain. Raymond started a school to teach the language and culture of the people to be evangelized. His great influence on Church law led to his patronage of lawyers. St Raymond is possibly the longest-lived Dominican, dying at the age of 100.
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you
God, we thank you for Jesus who you sent into our world, born of a
woman, sharing our humanity, so that we share in his divinity.Your name is love, and this been revealed in the words and actions of Jesus among us. As the celebrations of Christmas conclude, we are grateful for the food and friendship that have marked this time. Jesus came among us and took pity on us, nourishing us with his teaching and his generosity. We recall that so many people in our world are starving, that so many tables are not laden with good things, that so many live in unhappiness and uncertainty. Let our love reach out to all these with joy.
January 7
St. Raymond of Peñafort
(1175-1275)
St. Raymond of Peñafort
(1175-1275)
Since Raymond lived into his hundredth year, he had a chance to do
many things. As a member of the Spanish nobility, he had the resources and the
education to get a good start in life.
By the
time he was 20, he was teaching philosophy. In his early 30s he earned a
doctorate in both canon and civil law. At 41 he became a Dominican. Pope
Gregory IX called him to Rome to work for him and to be his confessor. One of
the things the pope asked him to do was to gather together all the decrees of
popes and councils that had been made in 80 years since a similar collection by
Gratian. Raymond compiled five books called the Decretals. They
were looked upon as one of the best organized collections of Church law until
the 1917 codification of canon law.
Earlier,
Raymond had written for confessors a book of cases. It was called Summa
de Casibus Poenitentiae. More than simply a list of sins and penances,
it discussed pertinent doctrines and laws of the Church that pertained to the
problem or case brought to the confessor.
At the
age of 60, Raymond was appointed archbishop of Tarragona, the capital of
Aragon. He didn’t like the honor at all and ended up getting sick and resigning
in two years.
He didn’t
get to enjoy his peace long, however, because when he was 63 he was elected by
his fellow Dominicans to be the head of the whole Order, the successor of St.
Dominic. Raymond worked hard, visited on foot all the Dominicans, reorganized
their constitutions and managed to put through a provision that a master
general be allowed to resign. When the new constitutions were accepted,
Raymond, then 65, resigned.
He still
had 35 years to oppose heresy and work for the conversion of the Moors in
Spain. He convinced St. Thomas Aquinas to write his work Against the
Gentiles.
In his
100th year the Lord let Raymond retire.
Comment:
Raymond was a lawyer, a canonist. Legalism can suck the life out of genuine religion if it becomes too great a preoccupation with the letter of the law to the neglect of the spirit and purpose of the law. The law can become an end in itself, so that the value the law was intended to promote is overlooked. But we must guard against going to the opposite extreme and seeing law as useless or something to be lightly regarded. Laws ideally state those things that are for the best interests of everyone and make sure the rights of all are safeguarded. From Raymond, we can learn a respect for law as a means of serving the common good.
Raymond was a lawyer, a canonist. Legalism can suck the life out of genuine religion if it becomes too great a preoccupation with the letter of the law to the neglect of the spirit and purpose of the law. The law can become an end in itself, so that the value the law was intended to promote is overlooked. But we must guard against going to the opposite extreme and seeing law as useless or something to be lightly regarded. Laws ideally state those things that are for the best interests of everyone and make sure the rights of all are safeguarded. From Raymond, we can learn a respect for law as a means of serving the common good.
Quote:
“He who hates the law is without wisdom,/and is tossed about like a boat in a storm” (Sirach 33:2).
“He who hates the law is without wisdom,/and is tossed about like a boat in a storm” (Sirach 33:2).
Patron Saint of:
Attorneys
Lawyers
Attorneys
Lawyers
LECTIO DIVINA:
MARK 6,34-44
Lectio:
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Christmas Time
1) Opening prayer
Father, your Son became like us
when he revealed himself in our nature;
help us to become more like him,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Mark 6,34-44
So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.
By now it was getting very late, and his disciples came up to him and said, 'This is a lonely place and it is getting very late, so send them away, and they can go to the farms and villages round about, to buy themselves something to eat.' He replied, 'Give them something to eat yourselves.' They answered, 'Are we to go and spend two hundred denarii on bread for them to eat?' He asked, 'How many loaves have you? Go and see.' And when they had found out they said, 'Five, and two fish.' Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass, and they sat down on the ground in squares of hundreds and fifties. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing; then he broke the loaves and began handing them to his disciples to distribute among the people. He also shared out the two fish among them all.
They all ate as much as they wanted. They collected twelve basketfuls of scraps of bread and pieces of fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.
3) Reflection
• It is always good to look at the context in which the text of the Gospel is found, because it enlightens us in order to discover better the sense of it. A bit before (Mk 6, 17-19), Mark narrates the banquet of death, organized by Herod with the great persons of Galilee, in the Palace of the Capital city, during which John the Baptist was killed. In today’s text, he describes the banquet of life , promoted by Jesus with the hungry crowds of Galilee, there in the desert. The contrast of this context is great and enlightens the text.
• In Mark’s Gospel, the multiplication of the loaves is very important. It is mentioned twice: here and in Mk 8, 1-9. And Jesus himself questions the disciples on the multiplication of the loaves (Mk 8, 14-21). This is why it is worth while to observe and to reflect up to the point of discovering in what exactly consists the importance of the multiplication of the loaves.
• Jesus had invited the disciples to rest a bit in a place in the desert (Mk 6, 31). The crowds perceived that Jesus had gone to the other side of the lake, and they followed him and arrived there before he did (Mk 6, 33). When Jesus, getting down from the boat, sees that large crowd waiting for him, he becomes sad “because they were like sheep without a shepherd”. This phrase recalls the Psalm of the Good Shepherd (Ps 23). Before the people without a shepherd, Jesus forgets to rest and begins to teach, he begins to be a Shepherd. With his words he orientates and guides the crowds in the desert of life; and in this way the crowd could sing: “The Lord is my Shepherd! There is nothing I shall want!” (Ps 23, 1).
• Time went by and it began to be late and dark. The disciples were concerned and asked Jesus to send the people away. They affirm that there in the desert it is not possible to find anything to eat for so many people. Jesus says: “You, yourselves give them to eat!” But they were afraid: “Do you want us to go and buy bread for 200 denarius?” (that is, the salary of 200 days!). The disciples seek a solution outside the crowds and for the crowds. Jesus does not seek the solution outside, but rather within the crowd and for the crowd and he asks: “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” The answer is: “Five loaves and two fish!” It is very little for so many people! Jesus orders the crowd to sit down in groups and asks the disciples to distribute the bread and the fish. Everybody ate enough to be satisfied!
• It is important to observe how Mark describes this fact: Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to Heaven, pronounced the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to the disciples to distribute it”. This way of speaking makes the communities think about what? No doubt, this made them think about the Eucharist. Because these same words will be used (even now) in the celebration of the Supper of the Lord. Thus Mark suggests that the Eucharist has to lead us to share. It is the Bread of Life which gives us courage and leads us to face the problems of people in a different way, not from outside, but from inside.
• In the way of describing the facts, Mark recalls the Bible in order to enlighten the sense of the facts. To feed the hungry crowds in the desert, Moses was the first one to do it (cfr. Ex 16, 1-36). And to ask the people to organize themselves and sit down in groups of 50 or 100 reminds us of the census of the People in the desert after they left Egypt (cfr. Nb 1-4). In this way, Mark suggests that Jesus is the new Messiah. The people of the communities knew the Old Testament, and for one who understands well, few words suffice. In this way they discovered the mystery which surrounded the person of Jesus.
4) Personal questions
• Jesus forgets to rest in order to serve the people. Which is the message which I discover for myself?
• If today we would share what we have, there would be no hunger in the world. What can I do?
5) Concluding prayer
In his days uprightness shall flourish,
and peace in plenty till the moon is no more.
His empire shall stretch from sea to sea,
from the river to the limits of the earth. (Ps 72,7-8)
Father, your Son became like us
when he revealed himself in our nature;
help us to become more like him,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Mark 6,34-44
So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.
By now it was getting very late, and his disciples came up to him and said, 'This is a lonely place and it is getting very late, so send them away, and they can go to the farms and villages round about, to buy themselves something to eat.' He replied, 'Give them something to eat yourselves.' They answered, 'Are we to go and spend two hundred denarii on bread for them to eat?' He asked, 'How many loaves have you? Go and see.' And when they had found out they said, 'Five, and two fish.' Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass, and they sat down on the ground in squares of hundreds and fifties. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing; then he broke the loaves and began handing them to his disciples to distribute among the people. He also shared out the two fish among them all.
They all ate as much as they wanted. They collected twelve basketfuls of scraps of bread and pieces of fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.
3) Reflection
• It is always good to look at the context in which the text of the Gospel is found, because it enlightens us in order to discover better the sense of it. A bit before (Mk 6, 17-19), Mark narrates the banquet of death, organized by Herod with the great persons of Galilee, in the Palace of the Capital city, during which John the Baptist was killed. In today’s text, he describes the banquet of life , promoted by Jesus with the hungry crowds of Galilee, there in the desert. The contrast of this context is great and enlightens the text.
• In Mark’s Gospel, the multiplication of the loaves is very important. It is mentioned twice: here and in Mk 8, 1-9. And Jesus himself questions the disciples on the multiplication of the loaves (Mk 8, 14-21). This is why it is worth while to observe and to reflect up to the point of discovering in what exactly consists the importance of the multiplication of the loaves.
• Jesus had invited the disciples to rest a bit in a place in the desert (Mk 6, 31). The crowds perceived that Jesus had gone to the other side of the lake, and they followed him and arrived there before he did (Mk 6, 33). When Jesus, getting down from the boat, sees that large crowd waiting for him, he becomes sad “because they were like sheep without a shepherd”. This phrase recalls the Psalm of the Good Shepherd (Ps 23). Before the people without a shepherd, Jesus forgets to rest and begins to teach, he begins to be a Shepherd. With his words he orientates and guides the crowds in the desert of life; and in this way the crowd could sing: “The Lord is my Shepherd! There is nothing I shall want!” (Ps 23, 1).
• Time went by and it began to be late and dark. The disciples were concerned and asked Jesus to send the people away. They affirm that there in the desert it is not possible to find anything to eat for so many people. Jesus says: “You, yourselves give them to eat!” But they were afraid: “Do you want us to go and buy bread for 200 denarius?” (that is, the salary of 200 days!). The disciples seek a solution outside the crowds and for the crowds. Jesus does not seek the solution outside, but rather within the crowd and for the crowd and he asks: “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” The answer is: “Five loaves and two fish!” It is very little for so many people! Jesus orders the crowd to sit down in groups and asks the disciples to distribute the bread and the fish. Everybody ate enough to be satisfied!
• It is important to observe how Mark describes this fact: Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to Heaven, pronounced the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to the disciples to distribute it”. This way of speaking makes the communities think about what? No doubt, this made them think about the Eucharist. Because these same words will be used (even now) in the celebration of the Supper of the Lord. Thus Mark suggests that the Eucharist has to lead us to share. It is the Bread of Life which gives us courage and leads us to face the problems of people in a different way, not from outside, but from inside.
• In the way of describing the facts, Mark recalls the Bible in order to enlighten the sense of the facts. To feed the hungry crowds in the desert, Moses was the first one to do it (cfr. Ex 16, 1-36). And to ask the people to organize themselves and sit down in groups of 50 or 100 reminds us of the census of the People in the desert after they left Egypt (cfr. Nb 1-4). In this way, Mark suggests that Jesus is the new Messiah. The people of the communities knew the Old Testament, and for one who understands well, few words suffice. In this way they discovered the mystery which surrounded the person of Jesus.
4) Personal questions
• Jesus forgets to rest in order to serve the people. Which is the message which I discover for myself?
• If today we would share what we have, there would be no hunger in the world. What can I do?
5) Concluding prayer
In his days uprightness shall flourish,
and peace in plenty till the moon is no more.
His empire shall stretch from sea to sea,
from the river to the limits of the earth. (Ps 72,7-8)
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