Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary
Time
Lectionary: 336
Lectionary: 336
Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation,
for when he has been proven he will receive the crown of life
that he promised to those who love him.
No one experiencing temptation should say,
"I am being tempted by God";
for God is not subject to temptation to evil,
and he himself tempts no one.
Rather, each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire.
Then desire conceives and brings forth sin,
and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters:
all good giving and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.
He willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
for when he has been proven he will receive the crown of life
that he promised to those who love him.
No one experiencing temptation should say,
"I am being tempted by God";
for God is not subject to temptation to evil,
and he himself tempts no one.
Rather, each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire.
Then desire conceives and brings forth sin,
and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters:
all good giving and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.
He willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 94:12-13A, 14-15,
18-19
R. (12a) Blessed
the man you instruct, O Lord.
Blessed the man whom you instruct, O LORD,
whom by your law you teach,
Giving him rest from evil days.
R. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
For the LORD will not cast off his people,
nor abandon his inheritance;
But judgment shall again be with justice,
and all the upright of heart shall follow it.
R. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
When I say, "My foot is slipping,"
your mercy, O LORD, sustains me;
When cares abound within me,
your comfort gladdens my soul.
R. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
Blessed the man whom you instruct, O LORD,
whom by your law you teach,
Giving him rest from evil days.
R. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
For the LORD will not cast off his people,
nor abandon his inheritance;
But judgment shall again be with justice,
and all the upright of heart shall follow it.
R. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
When I say, "My foot is slipping,"
your mercy, O LORD, sustains me;
When cares abound within me,
your comfort gladdens my soul.
R. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
AlleluiaJN 14:23
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord;
and my Father will love him
and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord;
and my Father will love him
and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 8:14-21
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread,
and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.
Jesus enjoined them, "Watch out,
guard against the leaven of the Pharisees
and the leaven of Herod."
They concluded among themselves that
it was because they had no bread.
When he became aware of this he said to them,
"Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread?
Do you not yet understand or comprehend?
Are your hearts hardened?
Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?
And do you not remember,
when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand,
how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?"
They answered him, "Twelve."
"When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand,
how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?"
They answered him, "Seven."
He said to them, "Do you still not understand?"
and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.
Jesus enjoined them, "Watch out,
guard against the leaven of the Pharisees
and the leaven of Herod."
They concluded among themselves that
it was because they had no bread.
When he became aware of this he said to them,
"Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread?
Do you not yet understand or comprehend?
Are your hearts hardened?
Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?
And do you not remember,
when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand,
how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?"
They answered him, "Twelve."
"When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand,
how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?"
They answered him, "Seven."
He said to them, "Do you still not understand?"
Meditation: "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees
and Herod"
Do you allow anxiety or fear to keep you from trusting
in God's provision for your life? The apostles worried because they forgot to
bring bread for their journey. And that was right after Jesus miraculously fed
a group of five thousand people (Mark 6:41-44, Matthew 14:17-21), and then on
another occasion four thousand people (Mark 8:1-10, Matthew 15:34-38)! How easy
it is to forget what God has already done for us and to doubt what he promises
to do for us in the future as well. Scripture tells us that "perfect love
casts out fear" (1 John 4:18). Ask the Lord Jesus to fill your heart with
his love and to increase your faith in his provident care for you.
Beware the "leaven" which corrupts mind,
body, and soul
Jesus cautioned the disciples to beware of bread that corrupts, such as the "leaven of the Pharisees." When leaven ferments a lump of wet dough, it transforms the dough and changes it into life-enriching bread when heated. Left-over dough which had been leavened (but not baked) would rot and become putrified. For the Jew leaven was a sign or symbol of evil influence. It signified anything which rots and corrupts, not just physically but spiritually and morally as well.
Jesus cautioned the disciples to beware of bread that corrupts, such as the "leaven of the Pharisees." When leaven ferments a lump of wet dough, it transforms the dough and changes it into life-enriching bread when heated. Left-over dough which had been leavened (but not baked) would rot and become putrified. For the Jew leaven was a sign or symbol of evil influence. It signified anything which rots and corrupts, not just physically but spiritually and morally as well.
Jesus warned his disciples to avoid the way of the
Pharisees and Sadducees who sought their own counsels rather than the mind of
God. They were blinded by their own arrogance and were unable to recognize the
truth and wisdom which Jesus spoke in the name of his Father in heaven. What
kind of leaven (spiritual, moral, intellectual) do you allow to influence your
way of thinking and living? Jesus sharply contrasts the bread and leaven which
produces life, especially the abundant life which God offers through Jesus, the
true bread of heaven, with the bread and leaven which rots and corrupts mind,
body, and soul.
Let God's word nourish and strengthen you in faith,
hope, and love
As the disciples continued to worry about their lack of physical bread for the journey, Jesus reminded them of his miraculous provision of bread in the feeding of the five thousand and the four thousand. He then upbraided them for their lack of trust in God. Aren't we like the apostles? We too easily get preoccupied with the problems, needs, and worries of the present moment, and we forget the most important reality of all - God's abiding presence with us!
As the disciples continued to worry about their lack of physical bread for the journey, Jesus reminded them of his miraculous provision of bread in the feeding of the five thousand and the four thousand. He then upbraided them for their lack of trust in God. Aren't we like the apostles? We too easily get preoccupied with the problems, needs, and worries of the present moment, and we forget the most important reality of all - God's abiding presence with us!
When the people of Israel wandered in the desert
homeless and helpless for forty years, God was with them every step of the way.
And he provided for them shelter, food, water, and provision, as long as they
trusted in him. Each day he gave them just what they needed. Jesus teaches us
to trust in God's abiding presence with us and in his promise to provide us
what we need each and every day to live as his sons and daughters. Do you pray
with joyful confidence, "Father, give us this day our daily bread"?
"Lord Jesus, you
alone are the true bread of life which sustains us each and every day. Give me
joy and strength to serve you always and help me to turn away from the leaven
of sin and worldliness which brings corruption and death."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Heed the truth of the Gospel, by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD)
"The apostles are ordered to watch out for the
leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They are warned not to be involved in
the disputes of the Jews. The works of the law are now to be viewed in the
light of faith. They are forewarned that they, into whose time and age the
truth had appeared incarnate, should judge nothing except which lies within the
position of hope in likeness of the truth that is revealed. They are warned
against allowing the doctrine of the Pharisees, who are unaware of Christ, to
corrupt the effectiveness of the truth of the gospel." (excerpt from commentary ON MATTHEW 16.3)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, MARK
8:14-21
Weekday
(James 1:12-18; Psalm 94)
Weekday
(James 1:12-18; Psalm 94)
KEY VERSE: "Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod" (v 15).
TO KNOW: Jesus and his disciples journeyed by boat to Bethsaida. On the way, the disciples realized that they had forgotten to bring enough provisions. Jesus used this as an opportunity to warn them about the corrupting influence of Herod and the Pharisees. Since yeast, or leaven, induced fermentation in bread dough, it was an apt symbol of the insidious effect of those who opposed Jesus. The disciples failed to understand Jesus, and he castigated them for being blind and deaf to his words and deeds. Did they not just witness the extraordinary multiplication of loaves? (Mk 6:34-44; 8:1-9). The religious leaders had missed the meaning of the miracle. Did his disciples miss it too?
TO LOVE: Do I influence others for good or evil?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to understand your words and deeds.
MARDI GRAS
Mardi Gras, meaning “Fat Tuesday” in French, has its origins in medieval Europe. What became a legal holiday in Louisiana in 1875 was once a Christian holiday with roots in ancient Rome. Instead of abolishing certain pagan traditions, religious leaders decided to incorporate them into the new faith. Eventually, the celebration spread from Rome across Europe to the colonies of the New World. “Carnival” means “farewell to the flesh” in its Latin roots, so it’s all about indulging one last time before the 40 days of penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. The day is also called Shrove Tuesday, which comes from the word shrive, meaning "absolve." Shrove Tuesday is observed by many Christians, including Roman Catholics, who make a point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they have committed or areas of spiritual growth they need God's help.
Tuesday 13
February 2018
St Catherine De Ricci.
James 1:12-18. Psalm 93(94):12-15, 18-19. Mark 8:14-21.
Happy are those you teach, O Lord—Psalm 93(94):12-15, 18-19.
Jesus, I am very often envious of the disciples.
They could touch you, talk to you, listen to you, all day every
day. They saw you heal the sick, feed the hungry, give sight to the blind.
Their hearts must often have been moved as they listened to your parables and
your teaching. How exciting it must have been for them!
Yet in today’s gospel you sound exasperated with them. In spite
of being so close to you, they still had difficulty in understanding what you
were on about. I too feel exasperated with these men of Galilee, critical of
their diminished understanding. Surely I would have understood. Or would I?
You have performed miracles in my life and I do not see. Open my
eyes and ears, Lord, that I may know and serve you.
Saint Giles Mary of St. Joseph
Saint of the Day for February 13
(November 16, 1729 – February 7, 1812)
Saint Giles Mary of Saint Joseph’s Story
In the same year that a power-hungry Napoleon Bonaparte led his
army into Russia, Giles Mary of Saint Joseph ended a life of humble
service to his Franciscan community and to the citizens of Naples.
Francesco was born in Taranto to very poor parents. His father’s
death left the 18-year-old Francesco to care for the family. Having secured
their future, he entered the Friars Minor at Galatone in 1754. For 53 years, he
served at St. Paschal’s Hospice in Naples in various roles, such as cook,
porter, or most often as official beggar for that community.
“Love God, love God” was his characteristic phrase as he
gathered food for the friars and shared some of his bounty with the poor—all
the while consoling the troubled and urging everyone to repent. The charity
which he reflected on the streets of Naples was born in prayer and nurtured in
the common life of the friars. The people whom Giles met on his begging rounds
nicknamed him the “Consoler of Naples.” He was canonized in 1996.
Reflection
People often become arrogant and power hungry when they forget
their own sinfulness and ignore the gifts God has given to other people. Giles
had a healthy sense of his own sinfulness—not paralyzing but not superficial
either. He invited men and women to recognize their own gifts and to live out
their dignity as people made in God’s divine image. Knowing someone like Giles
can help us on our own spiritual journey.
LECTIO DIVINA: MARK 8,14-21
Lectio Divina:
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Ordinary
Time
1) OPENING PRAYER
Lord
our God,
when
we do not see clearly in life,
when
suffering comes our way,
we
tend to blame You or people.
Help
us to realize clearly
how
much of the evil around us
comes
from within ourselves:
from
our greed for riches and power,
from
our self-complacency and selfishness.
Speak
to us Your word of forgiveness
and
change us from a silent majority of evil
into
solidarity of love,
by
the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord.
2) GOSPEL READING - MARK
8:14-21
The
disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in
the boat. Jesus enjoined them, "Watch out, guard against the leaven of the
Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." They concluded among themselves that
it was because they had no bread. When he became aware of this he said to them,
"Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet
understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not
see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves
for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked
up?" They answered Him, "Twelve." "When I broke the seven
loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick
up?" They answered Him, "Seven." He said to them, "Do you
still not understand?"
3) REFLECTION
Yesterday’s
Gospel spoke of the misunderstanding between Jesus and the Pharisees. Today’s
Gospel speaks of the misunderstanding between Jesus and the disciples and shows
that the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod (religion and government), had
taken possession of the mentality of the disciples to the point of hindering
them from listening to the Good News.
Mark
8: 14-16: Attention to the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod. Jesus warns the
disciples to look out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.
But they do not understand the words of Jesus. They think that He is speaking
like that because they forgot to buy bread. Jesus says one thing and they
understood another. This clash was the result of the insidious influence of the
yeast of the Pharisees on the mentality and on the life of the disciples.
Mark
8: 17-18a: Jesus’ question. In the face of this almost total lack of perception
in the disciples, Jesus rapidly asks them a series of questions, without
waiting for an answer. They are hard questions which express very serious
things and reveal the total lack of understanding on the part of the disciples.
Even if it seems unbelievable, the disciples reach the point in which there is
no difference between them and the enemies of Jesus. First, Jesus had become
sad seeing the hardness of heart of the Pharisees and of the Herodians (Mk 3:
5). Now, the disciples themselves have hardened their hearts (Mk 8: 17). First,
those outside (Mk 4:11) do not understand the parables because they have eyes
and do not see, listen but do not understand (Mk 4:12). Now, the disciples
themselves understand nothing, because they have eyes and do not see, listen,
but do not understand (Mk 8:18). Besides, the image of the hardened heart
evoked the hardness of heart of the people of the Old Testament who always
drifted away from the path. It also evoked the hardened heart of Pharaoh who
oppressed and persecuted the people (Ex 4: 21; 7: 13; 8: 11, 15, 28; 9: 7 ).
The expression “they have eyes and do not see, listen but do not understand”
evoked not only the people without faith criticized by Isaiah (Is 6: 9-10), but
also the adorers of false gods, of whom the psalm says, “They have eyes and see
nothing, have ears and hear nothing” (Ps 115: 5-6).
Mark
8: 18b-21: The two questions regarding the bread. The two final questions refer
to the multiplication of the loaves: How many baskets did they gather the first
time? Twelve! And the second time? Seven! Like the Pharisees, the disciples
also, though they had collaborated actively in the multiplication of the
loaves, did not succeed in understanding the meaning. Jesus ends by saying, “Do
you still not understand?” The way in which Jesus asks these questions, one
after the other, almost without waiting for an answer, seems to cut the
conversation. It reveals a very big clash. What is the cause of this clash?
The
cause of the clash between Jesus and the disciples. The cause of the clash
between Jesus and the disciples was not due to ill will on their part. The
disciples were not like the Pharisees. The Pharisees did not understand, but in
them there was malice. They used religion to criticize and to condemn Jesus (Mk
2: 7,16,18,24; 3: 5, 22-30). The disciples were good people. Theirs was not ill
will, because even if they were victims of the yeast of the Pharisees and of
the Herodians , they were not interested in defending the system of the
Pharisees and the Herodians against Jesus. Then, what was the cause? The cause
of the clash between Jesus and the disciples had something to do with the
Messianic hope. Firstly, among the Jews there was an enormous variety of
Messianic expectations. Second, the diverse interpretations of the prophecies:
there were people who expected a Messiah King (cf. Mk 15: 9, 32); others, a
Messiah Saint or Priest (cf. Mk1:24); others, a Messiah subversive Warrior (cf.
Lk 23:5; Mk 15: 6; 13: 6-8); others, a Messiah Doctor (cf. Jn 4: 25; Mk 1:
22-27); still others, a Messiah Judge (cf. Lk 3: 5-9; Mk 1:8); others, a
Messiah Prophet (6: 4, 14, 65). It seems that nobody expected a Messiah
Servant, announced by the Prophet Isaiah (Is 42: 1; 49: 3; 52: 13). They did
not consider the messianic hope as a service of the people of God to humanity.
Each group, according to their own interests and according to their social
class, awaited the Messiah, but wanted to reduce Him to their own hope. This is
why the title Messiah, according to the person or social position, could mean
very different things. There was a great confusion of ideas! And precisely in
this attitude of Servant is found the key which turns on a light in the
disciples’ darkness and helps them toward conversion. It is only in accepting
the Messiah as the Suffering Servant in Isaiah, that they will be capable of
opening their eyes and understanding the Mystery of God in Jesus.
4) FOR PERSONAL CONFRONTATION
What
is for us today the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod? What does it mean
today for me to have a hardened heart?
The
yeast of Herod and the Pharisees prevents the disciples from understanding the
Good News. Perhaps, today the propaganda of television prevents us from
understanding the Good News of Jesus?
5) CONCLUDING PRAYER
I
need only say, “I am slipping,”
for
Your faithful love, Yahweh, to support me;
however
great the anxiety of my heart,
Your
consolations soothe me. (Ps 94:18-19)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét