Wednesday after Epiphany
Lectionary: 214
Lectionary: 214
Beloved, if God so
loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.
God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.
In this is love brought to perfection among us,
that we have confidence on the day of judgment
because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love,
but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment,
and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.
God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.
In this is love brought to perfection among us,
that we have confidence on the day of judgment
because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love,
but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment,
and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.
Responsorial Psalm PS 72:1-2, 10, 12-13
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 kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
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 kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Gospel MK 6:45-52
After the five
thousand had eaten and were satisfied,
Jesus made his disciples get into the boat
and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,
while he dismissed the crowd.
And when he had taken leave of them,
he went off to the mountain to pray.
When it was evening,
the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore.
Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing,
for the wind was against them.
About the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea.
He meant to pass by them.
But when they saw him walking on the sea,
they thought it was a ghost and cried out.
They had all seen him and were terrified.
But at once he spoke with them,
“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”
He got into the boat with them and the wind died down.
They were completely astounded.
They had not understood the incident of the loaves.
On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.
Jesus made his disciples get into the boat
and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,
while he dismissed the crowd.
And when he had taken leave of them,
he went off to the mountain to pray.
When it was evening,
the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore.
Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing,
for the wind was against them.
About the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea.
He meant to pass by them.
But when they saw him walking on the sea,
they thought it was a ghost and cried out.
They had all seen him and were terrified.
But at once he spoke with them,
“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”
He got into the boat with them and the wind died down.
They were completely astounded.
They had not understood the incident of the loaves.
On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.
Meditation: "Take heart, it is I; have no fear"
Do you ever feel tested or let down by the Lord? Right after
Jesus performed the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, he
left his disciples by themselves so he could go away and pray alone for a
while. It was at Jesus' initiative that the disciples set sail across the
lake, only to find themselves in a life-threatening storm. Although they were
experienced fishermen, they feared for their lives. The Lake of Galilee was
known for its sudden storms which sank many boats because of its fierce winds
which swept down from the nearby mountains. The disciples must have called out
for their Master to come and rescue them. Although Jesus was not with
them in the boat, he, nonetheless watched for them in earnest prayer. When he
perceived their trouble and heard their cries, he came out to them walking on
the troubled waters. The disciples were terrified rather than joyful when
they saw Jesus' presence on the water. They couldn't believe it was
really him until he spoke words of assurance: "Dont give in to fear
or panic, but take courage and be calm, because I am here for you and ready to
help you in your need." Jesus not only calmed their fears, but the
threatening waves and storm as well.
Does the Lord seem distant when trials and difficulties come
your way? The Lord nevers leaves us alone, but keeps constant watch over
us at all times, especially when we are tempted and feel weak or
helpless. Do you look to the Lord to give you his strength and help when
you are in need? Jesus assures us that we do not have to give into fear
or discouragement if we put our trust in Him and remember his great love for
us. He will see us through any trial that comes our way. When calamities
and trials threaten to overwhelm you, do you respond with faith and hope in
God's loving care and presence with you?
"Lord, may I never doubt your saving help and your ever
watchful presence, especially in times of adversity. Fortify my faith with
courage and my hope with perseverance that I may never waver in my trust in
you".
www.dailyscripture.net
www.dailyscripture.net
 Walking with Christ |
|
Wednesday After
Epiphany
|
|
Mark 6:45-52
After the five thousand had eaten and were
satisfied, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the
other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And when he had
taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray. When it was
evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. Then he
saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them.
About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea.
He meant to pass by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they
thought it was a ghost and cried out. They had all seen him and were
terrified. But at once he spoke with them, "Take courage, it is I, do
not be afraid!" He got into the boat with them and the wind died down.
They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the
loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I see in you how to live life with the
Spirit as my foundation, as the rock that permits me to walk through any
troubled moment with peace and joyful abandonment to your will. Gratefully I
put all my trust in you and offer all my meager love in return.
Petition:Lord, grant me the grace not only to know, but to live your
presence as the one and only foundation of my hope and happiness.
1. He Went off to the Mountain to
Pray: Christ did not run
his interior life on the thrill of immediate success. The core of what
consoled and sustained his heart was not splendid results in the apostolate,
but rather his prayerful union with his Father in heaven. Whether results for
his mission were easy or hard to obtain, Christ was equally given and equally
motivated. Constancy of spirit and firmness of will are founded not on
momentary results, but on the peace and deep joy of living the Father’s will.
Christ defends this sacred place in his heart with one key element: time.
Making time for prayer builds the wall that defends God’s sanctuary in our
soul. Time for him alone is what establishes a beachhead for the Kingdom in
us, so that we can establish it around us. From there we see what is passing,
superficial or vain. This leads us to embrace what is eternal, self-giving
and perfect in love.
2. He Saw That They Were Tossed About While
Rowing: Whenever the
apostles pushed out on the water, it was a time to learn. Water symbolizes
life, and waves symbolize all the uncertainties of this life, all the trials
and sufferings that seemingly labor to bring our world to a bad end. Christ
consistently tests and forms more deeply those whom he loves. Troubles are
not eliminated because we have found Christ. Rather, at times they may
increase, for they are the training ground of a saint and an apostle. Christ
saw the apostles in trouble, but they were never alone—the watchful gaze of
Christ never left them, his care was never absent. Let my faith bring me to
confidence in that gaze, the all-knowing presence of Christ, in all I do and
suffer for him.
3. "Take Courage, It Is I, Do Not Be
Afraid!": St. Augustine wrote
of this passage, "He came treading the waves; and so he puts all the
swelling tumults of life under his feet. Christians -- why be afraid?"
Walking with Christ permits us to conquer the waves that wish to overwhelm
us. Contact with him in prayer helps us to find solid ground in the midst of
quicksand. The conquering Christ reminds us that no evil is stronger than he,
that there is no sin or temptation that cannot be put behind us, and that
there is no setback in health or business or disappointment in a loved one
that cannot ultimately become a new good when we walk in cadence with Christ.
Conversation with Christ:Lord, at times I experience all my human
successes and securities with such satisfaction that I forget that in a
moment they could all be taken from me. In an instant, what was once stable
could turn into a stormy sea. What are these comforts and goods to me, if
from the beginning they have not been for you, have not honored you? Will I
be able to cling to them in eternity? Forgive my superficiality in these
moments. I seek now to ground myself more firmly in you, the true and eternal
rock of my life.
Resolution:I will seek to remember the goals I have to
achieve today for eternity: holiness of life, fulfillment of God’s will, and
service of my neighbor.
|
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, MARK 6:45-52
Christmas Weekday
(1 John 4:11-18; Psalm 72)
Christmas Weekday
(1 John 4:11-18; Psalm 72)
KEY VERSE: "Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!" (v 50).
READING: After feeding the hungry people in the wilderness, Jesus sent his disciples back across Lake Galilee to Bethsaida. While his disciples were at sea, he went to a mountain to pray alone. A sudden storm threatened to capsize the disciples' small boat. Jesus, the master of all creation, walked on the water toward his terrified disciples who feared that he was a ghost. Jesus told them not to be frightened, and when he got into the boat, the storm subsided. Although the astonished disciples had witnessed the miracle of the loaves and fish, they still did not understand the meaning of these events. When St. Augustine was writing about this incident he said, "He came treading the waves; and so he put all the swelling tumults of life under his feet. Christians―why be afraid?" When Christ is there the storm becomes calm, the turmoil becomes peaceful, and the unbearable becomes bearable. To walk with Christ is to trust him in all the storms in our lives.
REFLECTING: Do I assure those in distress that Jesus is with them?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to know you are with me when I am afraid.
NOTE: One explanation for the puzzling phrase, "He intended to pass them by" (Mk 6:48), is that Mark refers to the episode on Mt. Sinai in which God's glory passed by Moses (Ex 33:18-23). In keeping with this, Jesus told his followers, "It is I" which literally means, "I AM" (Mk 6:50), which echos the divine name given to Moses at the burning bush (Ex 3:14).
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you
As long
as we love one another, God will live in us and God’s love will be complete in
us.
We
sometimes speak of ‘being God to others, of being God’s hands and feet, of
speaking God’s words’. Clearly, through our loving actions, we can bring God to
others. But how do we do that every day? Consider writer Stephanie Dowrick’s
thoughts: ‘Love can be delighted for someone else’s sake but can also stay
around in times of difficulty and pain. Love can listen with an open mind and
is willing to tolerate imperfection without blaming. Love mends wounds and
dissolves hurts. Love is willing to surrender control and the need to always be
right. Love opens you up to all you are capable of.’ Can we allow God’s love to
be complete in us, the foundation of our being where kindness, forgiveness,
respect and gratitude are our default mode?
January 7
St. Angela of Foligno
(1248-1309)
St. Angela of Foligno
(1248-1309)
Some saints show marks of holiness very early. Not Angela! Born of
a leading family in Foligno, Italy, she became immersed in the quest for wealth
and social position. As a wife and mother, she continued this life of
distraction.
Around
the age of 40 she recognized the emptiness of her life and sought God’s help in
the Sacrament of Penance. Her Franciscan confessor helped Angela to seek God’s
pardon for her previous life and to dedicate herself to prayer and the works of
charity.
Shortly
after her conversion, her husband and children died. Selling most of her
possessions, she entered the Secular Franciscan Order. She was alternately
absorbed by meditating on the crucified Christ and by serving the poor of
Foligno as a nurse and beggar for their needs. Other women joined her in a
religious community.
At her
confessor’s advice, Angela wrote her Book of Visions and Instructions.
In it she recalls some of the temptations she suffered after her conversion;
she also expresses her thanks to God for the Incarnation of Jesus. This book
and her life earned for Angela the title "Teacher of Theologians."
She was beatified in 1693.
Comment:
People who live in the United States today can understand St. Angela’s temptation to increase her sense of self-worth by accumulating money, fame or power. Striving to possess more and more, she became more and more self-centered. When she realized she was priceless because she was created and loved by God, she became very penitential and very charitable to the poor. What had seemed foolish early in her life now became very important. The path of self-emptying she followed is the path all holy men and women must follow.
People who live in the United States today can understand St. Angela’s temptation to increase her sense of self-worth by accumulating money, fame or power. Striving to possess more and more, she became more and more self-centered. When she realized she was priceless because she was created and loved by God, she became very penitential and very charitable to the poor. What had seemed foolish early in her life now became very important. The path of self-emptying she followed is the path all holy men and women must follow.
Quote:
Pope John Paul II wrote: “Christ the Redeemer of the World is the one who penetrated in a unique, unrepeatable way into the mystery of the human person and entered our ‘hearts.’ Rightly therefore does the Second Vatican Council teach: ‘The truth is that only in the mystery of the Incarnate Word does the mystery of the human person take on light.... Christ the New Adam, in the very revelation of the mystery of the Father and his love, fully reveals human beings to themselves and brings to light their most high calling’” (Redemptor Hominis, 8).
Pope John Paul II wrote: “Christ the Redeemer of the World is the one who penetrated in a unique, unrepeatable way into the mystery of the human person and entered our ‘hearts.’ Rightly therefore does the Second Vatican Council teach: ‘The truth is that only in the mystery of the Incarnate Word does the mystery of the human person take on light.... Christ the New Adam, in the very revelation of the mystery of the Father and his love, fully reveals human beings to themselves and brings to light their most high calling’” (Redemptor Hominis, 8).
LECTIO DIVINA:
MARK 6,45-52
Lectio:
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Christmas Time
1) Opening prayer
God, light of all nations,
give us the joy of lasting peace,
and fill us with your radiance
as you filled the hearts of our fathers.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Mark 6,45-52
And at once he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side near Bethsaida, while he himself sent the crowd away. After saying goodbye to them he went off into the hills to pray.
When evening came, the boat was far out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. He could see that they were hard pressed in their rowing, for the wind was against them; and about the fourth watch of the night he came towards them, walking on the sea. He was going to pass them by, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke to them and said, 'Courage! It's me! Don't be afraid.' Then he got into the boat with them and the wind dropped. They were utterly and completely dumbfounded,
because they had not seen what the miracle of the loaves meant; their minds were closed.
3) Reflection
• After the multiplication of the loaves (yesterday’s Gospel), Jesus ordered the disciples to go into the boat. Why? Mark does not explain this. The Gospel of John says the following. According to the hope people had at that time, the Messiah would repeat the gesture of Moses and would feed the multitude in the desert. This is why, before the multiplication of the loaves, the people concluded that Jesus must be the expected Messiah, announced by Moses (cf. Dt 18, 15-18) and they wanted to make him a King (cfr. Jn 6, 14-15). This decision of the people was a temptation for Jesus as well as for the disciples. And for this reason, Jesus obliged the disciples to take the boat and leave. He wanted to avoid that they got contaminated with the dominating ideology, because the “leaven of Herod and of the Pharisees was very strong (Mk 8, 15). Jesus himself faces the temptation through prayer.
• Mark describes the events with great art. On one side, Jesus goes up to the mountain to pray. On the other, the disciples go toward the sea and get into the boat. It almost seems like a symbolical picture which foreshadows the future: it is as if Jesus went up to Heaven, leaving the disciples alone in the midst of the contradictions of life, in the fragile boat of the community. It was night. They are in the high seas, all together in the small boat, trying to advance, rowing, but the wind was strong and contrary to them. They were tired. It was night, between three and six o’clock in the morning. The communities of the time of Mark were like the disciples. In the night! Contrary wind! They caught no fish, in spite of the efforts made! Jesus seemed to be absent! But he was present and came close to them, but they, like the disciples of Emmaus, did not recognize him (Lk 24, 16).
• At the time of Mark, around the year 70, the small boat of the communities had to face the contrary wind on the part of some converted Jews who wished to reduce the mystery of Jesus to the prophecies and figures of the Old Testament, as well as some converted Pagans who thought it was possible to have a certain alliance of the faith in Jesus with the empire. Mark tries to help the Christians to respect the Mystery of Jesus and not to want to reduce Jesus to their own desires and ideas.
• Jesus arrives walking on the water of the sea of life. They scream taken up by fear, because they think that it is a question of a phantasm. As it happens in the passage of the Disciples of Emmaus, Jesus pretends that he wants to continue to walk (Lk 24, 28). But they cry out and this causes him to change the way, he gets close to them and says: “Courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”. Here, once again, for one who knows the story of the Old Testament this recalls some very important facts: (a) Remember that the people, protected by God, crossed the Red Sea without fear; (b) Remember, that God calling Moses, declared his name several times, saying “I am he who is!” (cfr. Ex 3, 15); (c) Remember also the Book of Isaiah which represents the return from the exile as a new Exodus, where God appears repeating numerous times: “I am he who is!” (cfr. Is 42, 8; 43, 5-11-13; 44, 6.25; 45, 5-7). This way of recalling the Old Testament, of using the Bible, helped the communities to perceive better the presence of God in Jesus and in the facts of life. Do not be afraid!
• Jesus goes into the boat and the wind ceased. But the fear of the disciples, instead of disappearing, increases. Mark, the Evangelist, makes a commentary criticizing them and says: “They had not understood what the miracle of the loaves meant, their minds were closed” (6, 52). The affirmation their minds were closed reminds us of the heart of Pharaoh which was hardened (Ex 7, 3.13.22) and of the people in the desert (Ps 95, 8) who did not want to listen to Moses and thought only of returning to Egypt (Nb 20, 2-10), where there was plenty of bread and meat to satisfy them (Ex 16, 3).
4) Personal questions
• Night, stormy sea, contrary wind! Have you ever felt like this? What have you done to overcome it?
• Have you been afraid so many times because you have not known how to recognize Jesus present and acting in your life?
5) Concluding prayer
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the needy from death.
From oppression and violence he redeems their lives,
their blood is precious in his sight. (Ps 72,13-14)
God, light of all nations,
give us the joy of lasting peace,
and fill us with your radiance
as you filled the hearts of our fathers.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Mark 6,45-52
And at once he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side near Bethsaida, while he himself sent the crowd away. After saying goodbye to them he went off into the hills to pray.
When evening came, the boat was far out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. He could see that they were hard pressed in their rowing, for the wind was against them; and about the fourth watch of the night he came towards them, walking on the sea. He was going to pass them by, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke to them and said, 'Courage! It's me! Don't be afraid.' Then he got into the boat with them and the wind dropped. They were utterly and completely dumbfounded,
because they had not seen what the miracle of the loaves meant; their minds were closed.
3) Reflection
• After the multiplication of the loaves (yesterday’s Gospel), Jesus ordered the disciples to go into the boat. Why? Mark does not explain this. The Gospel of John says the following. According to the hope people had at that time, the Messiah would repeat the gesture of Moses and would feed the multitude in the desert. This is why, before the multiplication of the loaves, the people concluded that Jesus must be the expected Messiah, announced by Moses (cf. Dt 18, 15-18) and they wanted to make him a King (cfr. Jn 6, 14-15). This decision of the people was a temptation for Jesus as well as for the disciples. And for this reason, Jesus obliged the disciples to take the boat and leave. He wanted to avoid that they got contaminated with the dominating ideology, because the “leaven of Herod and of the Pharisees was very strong (Mk 8, 15). Jesus himself faces the temptation through prayer.
• Mark describes the events with great art. On one side, Jesus goes up to the mountain to pray. On the other, the disciples go toward the sea and get into the boat. It almost seems like a symbolical picture which foreshadows the future: it is as if Jesus went up to Heaven, leaving the disciples alone in the midst of the contradictions of life, in the fragile boat of the community. It was night. They are in the high seas, all together in the small boat, trying to advance, rowing, but the wind was strong and contrary to them. They were tired. It was night, between three and six o’clock in the morning. The communities of the time of Mark were like the disciples. In the night! Contrary wind! They caught no fish, in spite of the efforts made! Jesus seemed to be absent! But he was present and came close to them, but they, like the disciples of Emmaus, did not recognize him (Lk 24, 16).
• At the time of Mark, around the year 70, the small boat of the communities had to face the contrary wind on the part of some converted Jews who wished to reduce the mystery of Jesus to the prophecies and figures of the Old Testament, as well as some converted Pagans who thought it was possible to have a certain alliance of the faith in Jesus with the empire. Mark tries to help the Christians to respect the Mystery of Jesus and not to want to reduce Jesus to their own desires and ideas.
• Jesus arrives walking on the water of the sea of life. They scream taken up by fear, because they think that it is a question of a phantasm. As it happens in the passage of the Disciples of Emmaus, Jesus pretends that he wants to continue to walk (Lk 24, 28). But they cry out and this causes him to change the way, he gets close to them and says: “Courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”. Here, once again, for one who knows the story of the Old Testament this recalls some very important facts: (a) Remember that the people, protected by God, crossed the Red Sea without fear; (b) Remember, that God calling Moses, declared his name several times, saying “I am he who is!” (cfr. Ex 3, 15); (c) Remember also the Book of Isaiah which represents the return from the exile as a new Exodus, where God appears repeating numerous times: “I am he who is!” (cfr. Is 42, 8; 43, 5-11-13; 44, 6.25; 45, 5-7). This way of recalling the Old Testament, of using the Bible, helped the communities to perceive better the presence of God in Jesus and in the facts of life. Do not be afraid!
• Jesus goes into the boat and the wind ceased. But the fear of the disciples, instead of disappearing, increases. Mark, the Evangelist, makes a commentary criticizing them and says: “They had not understood what the miracle of the loaves meant, their minds were closed” (6, 52). The affirmation their minds were closed reminds us of the heart of Pharaoh which was hardened (Ex 7, 3.13.22) and of the people in the desert (Ps 95, 8) who did not want to listen to Moses and thought only of returning to Egypt (Nb 20, 2-10), where there was plenty of bread and meat to satisfy them (Ex 16, 3).
4) Personal questions
• Night, stormy sea, contrary wind! Have you ever felt like this? What have you done to overcome it?
• Have you been afraid so many times because you have not known how to recognize Jesus present and acting in your life?
5) Concluding prayer
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the needy from death.
From oppression and violence he redeems their lives,
their blood is precious in his sight. (Ps 72,13-14)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét