Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 325
Lectionary: 325
Brothers and
sisters:
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children:
My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord
or lose heart when reproved by him;
for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines;
he scourges every son he acknowledges.
Endure your trials as “discipline”;
God treats you as his sons.
For what Ason” is there whom his father does not discipline?
At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain,
yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness
to those who are trained by it.
So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.
Make straight paths for your feet,
that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.
Strive for peace with everyone,
and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God,
that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble,
through which many may become defiled.
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children:
My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord
or lose heart when reproved by him;
for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines;
he scourges every son he acknowledges.
Endure your trials as “discipline”;
God treats you as his sons.
For what Ason” is there whom his father does not discipline?
At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain,
yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness
to those who are trained by it.
So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.
Make straight paths for your feet,
that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.
Strive for peace with everyone,
and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God,
that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble,
through which many may become defiled.
Responsorial PsalmPS 103:1-2, 13-14, 17-18A
R. (see 17) The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those
who fear him.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him,
For he knows how we are formed;
he remembers that we are dust.
R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
But the kindness of the LORD is from eternity
to eternity toward those who fear him,
And his justice toward children’s children
among those who keep his covenant.
R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him,
For he knows how we are formed;
he remembers that we are dust.
R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
But the kindness of the LORD is from eternity
to eternity toward those who fear him,
And his justice toward children’s children
among those who keep his covenant.
R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
AlleluiaJN 10:27
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 6:1-6
Jesus departed from
there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.
When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished.
They said, “Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?”
And they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house.”
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,
apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.
When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished.
They said, “Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?”
And they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house.”
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,
apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Meditation: Jesus marveled because of their unbelief
Are you critical towards others, especially those who may be
close to you? The most severe critics are often people very familiar to us, a
member of our family, a relative, or neighbor or co-worker we rub shoulders
with on a regular basis. Jesus faced a severe testing when he returned to his
home town, not simply as the carpenter's son, but now as a rabbi with
disciples. It would have been customary for Jesus to go to the synagogue each
week during the Sabbath, and when his turn came, to read from the scriptures
during the Sabbath service. His hometown folks listened with rapt attention on
this occasion because they had heard about the miracles he had performed in
other towns. What sign would he do in his hometown?
Jesus startled his familiar audience with a seeming rebuke
that no prophet or servant of God can receive honor among his own people. The
people of Nazareth took offense at Jesus and refused to listen to what he had
to say. They despised his preaching because he was a mere workman, a carpenter,
and a layman who had no formal training by a scholar or teacher. They also
despised him because of his undistinguished family background. How familiarity
can breed contempt. Jesus could do no mighty works in their midst because they
were closed-minded and unbelieving towards him. If people have come together to
hate and to refuse to understand, then they will see no other point of view
than their own and they will refuse to love and accept others. How do you treat
those who seem disagreeable to you?
The word "gospel" literally means "good
news". Isaiah had prophesied that the Messiah would come in the power of
the Holy Spirit to bring freedom to the afflicted who suffered from physical,
mental, or spiritual oppression (see Isaiah 61:1-2). Jesus came to set people
free – not only from their physical, mental, and spiritual infirmities - but
also from the worst affliction of all – the tyranny of slavery to sin, Satan,
and the fear of losing one's life. God's power alone can save us from
hopelessness, dejection, and emptiness of life. The gospel of salvation is
"good news" for everyone who will receive it. Do you know the joy and
freedom of the gospel?
"Lord Jesus, you are the fulfillment of all our hopes
and desires. Your Spirit brings grace, truth, freedom, and abundant life. Set
my heart on fire with your love and truth."
 Made for God |
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February 4, 2015.
Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
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Mark 6:1-6
He departed from there and came to his
native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he
began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They
said, "Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given
him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the
son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are
not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Jesus
said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house." So he was not able to
perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying
his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. He went around to
the villages in the vicinity teaching.
Introductory Prayer: O Lord, you said that blest are they who
find no stumbling block in you. I want to be a blest person, so that you may
find in me no obstacle to the holiness you want for me. I believe in you, but
I long for a greater faith to see and respond to the signs of your hand
moving in my world. I love you, Lord, and wish to lead my brothers and
sisters to you through my testimony, through my being truly convinced that
you are the life of men.
Petition: Lord, grant me the gift of total surrender
to your will for me in all things.
1. “Where did this man get all this? What
mighty deeds are wrought by his hands”: How beautiful it is to contemplate the
humble and meek Christ! He now manifests, to the shock and awe of the
worldly-minded, the signs of his true origin and the nature of his true
mission. The power of God, the power of the supernatural, now
intervenes in what is merely natural through the mere “carpenter’s son.” The
“signs of credibility” that Christ enacts through his mighty words and deeds
powerfully point to his divine origins and invite his contemporaries to
faith. It is an invitation to leave behind them the superficial
category of Jesus as just a nice neighbor (which means they can live the same
as before) and receive the gift of Christ as Redeemer (which means change and
conversion). Are there signs in my life that the Lord is looking to change
me, to change my behavior in some way so I might live more by faith and
charity? How much longer will I resist before I will am won over by his
goodness?
2. “And they took offense at him”: It is a sacrifice to give God his place in the ordinary flow of our day. To do so, we need to sacrifice our sense of self-sufficiency, by which we are inclined to be the prime mover of everything in our world. We need to sacrifice our vanity, which desists from efforts to adore God since they bring little or no applause from those around us. We need to sacrifice the comfort of our naturalism, our horizontal view of things. Ultimately this sacrifice is a work of love responding to a divine invitation to share in God’s life––love, because he is asking and wants to see us giving. Let us move our hearts to embrace this sacrifice joyfully, for the sake of love. It helps to see that in this passage there are no neutral states. Those who reject the invitation to love are turned to love’s opposite––hate, specifically the hatred of the supernatural. It is a tragedy at work in our culture in many places, giving rise to the forces of anti-evangelization. Let us pray and be vigilant that it may never become our tragedy.
3. “He was not able to perform any mighty
deed there”: Our Lord makes
himself vulnerable to us, to our willingness to believe. He comes only to
make us happy and to elevate our lives to be more beautiful, deeper in
meaning and richer in fruits. He wants to bring into our life his power to
work miracles and to move mountains of fear and burdens that we encounter. He
comes to be ointment for our wounds and consolation for our weary hearts. The
only thing he needs to make us happy, then, is our faith, our unconditional
and active faith. Without it (since he respects our freedom), we cripple his
capacity to act in our life as Savior and Lord. How sad it is to see how
easily we refuse such a selfless and beautiful gift.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, teach me to receive you with a heart
ready to leave my rationalistic way of acting and choosing. Help me to know
how to read your invitations with supernatural faith and to follow them in
true obedience, where true love proves itself.
Resolution: I will be very obedient to the lights I
receive today from the Holy Spirit, acting on them with promptness and
generosity.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, MARK 6:1-6
(Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15; Psalm 103)
(Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15; Psalm 103)
KEY VERSE: "He was amazed at their lack of faith" (v 4).
TO KNOW: Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth and his teachings were met with astonishment by his neighbors. They asked many questions. Where did Jesus get this wisdom and amazing power? Wasn't he a mere carpenter? (Greek, tekton, a "craftsman"). Was Jesus not the son of Mary? (a Jew was identified by his mother since one's paternity could not always be verified). Didn't his brothers and sisters (close relatives) live in their community? Jesus was distressed that his neighbors had taken offense in him. He sadly declared, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house" (v 4, see Dt 18:15). Like the prophets of old, Jesus was not accepted by the very people to whom he had been sent. Because the people showed so little faith, he was only able to cure a few of the sick. Jesus went on to teach in other villages, but there were few "mighty deeds" done in his own hometown.
TO LOVE: Lord Jesus, help me to be open to your voice in my neighbors and family.
TO SERVE: Who have I failed to listen to in my parish community?
Wednesday 4 February 2015
Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15. The
Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him—Ps 102(103):1-2, 13-14,
17-18. Mark 6:1-6.
Hold up your limp arms …
Every Christian, worthy of
the name, is in his or her own way a martyr. The word means ‘a witness’. By our
baptism we are called to witness to the presence of God in ourselves and the
world.
Lord, help me each day to
witness to your creative presence in your world, to witness by my appreciation,
my thanksgiving, my sharing with others. Help me to cherish the way that others
share with me their goodness, to rejoice with them in the goodness they
experience. Open my eyes to the love of a mother for her child, the compassion
people show for those who are in need. They witness to your faithful and
creative love.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
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Transforming People
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Remember, it is much easier for priests and congregations to
transform bread than to actually transform people, and further, the bread is
for the sake of the people and not an end in itself, as both St. Augustine and
even present canon law clearly teach.
February 4
St. Joseph of Leonissa
(1556-1612)
St. Joseph of Leonissa
(1556-1612)
Joseph avoided the safe compromises by which people sometimes
undercut the gospel. Born at Leonissa in the Kingdom of Naples, Joseph joined
the Capuchins in his hometown in 1573. Denying himself hearty meals and
comfortable quarters, he prepared for ordination and a life of preaching.
In 1587
he went to Constantinople to take care of the Christian galley slaves working
under Turkish masters. Imprisoned for this work, he was warned not to resume it
on his release. He did and was again imprisoned and then condemned to death.
Miraculously freed, he returned to Italy where he preached to the poor and reconciled
feuding families as well as warring cities which had been at odds for years. He
was canonized in 1746.
Comment:
Saints often jar us because they challenge our ideas about what we need for "the good life." "I’ll be happy when. . . ," we may say, wasting an incredible amount of time on the periphery of life. People like Joseph of Leonissa challenge us to face life courageously and get to the heart of it: life with God. Joseph was a compelling preacher because his life was as convincing as his words.
Saints often jar us because they challenge our ideas about what we need for "the good life." "I’ll be happy when. . . ," we may say, wasting an incredible amount of time on the periphery of life. People like Joseph of Leonissa challenge us to face life courageously and get to the heart of it: life with God. Joseph was a compelling preacher because his life was as convincing as his words.
Quote:
In one of his sermons, Joseph says: "Every Christian must be a living book wherein one can read the teaching of the gospel. This is what St. Paul says to the Corinthians, ‘Clearly you are a letter of Christ which I have delivered, a letter written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh in the heart’ (2 Corinthians 3:3). Our heart is the parchment; through my ministry the Holy Spirit is the writer because ‘my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe’ (Psalm 45:1)."
In one of his sermons, Joseph says: "Every Christian must be a living book wherein one can read the teaching of the gospel. This is what St. Paul says to the Corinthians, ‘Clearly you are a letter of Christ which I have delivered, a letter written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh in the heart’ (2 Corinthians 3:3). Our heart is the parchment; through my ministry the Holy Spirit is the writer because ‘my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe’ (Psalm 45:1)."
LECTIO DIVINA:
MARK 6,1-6
Lectio:
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God,
help us to love you with all our hearts
and to love all men as you love them.
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.
Lord our God,
help us to love you with all our hearts
and to love all men as you love them.
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 6,1-6
Jesus went to his home town, and his disciples accompanied him.
With the coming of the Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and most of them were astonished when they heard him. They said, 'Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joset and Jude and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here with us?' And they would not accept him.
And Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is despised only in his own country, among his own relations and in his own house'; and he could work no miracle there, except that he cured a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. He made a tour round the villages, teaching.
Jesus went to his home town, and his disciples accompanied him.
With the coming of the Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and most of them were astonished when they heard him. They said, 'Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joset and Jude and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here with us?' And they would not accept him.
And Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is despised only in his own country, among his own relations and in his own house'; and he could work no miracle there, except that he cured a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. He made a tour round the villages, teaching.
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today speaks of the visit of Jesus to Nazareth and describes the mental obstinacy of the people of Nazareth, who do not want to accept him. (Mk 6, 1-6). Tomorrow the Gospel describes the openness of Jesus toward the people of Galilee, shown through the sending out of his disciples on mission (Mk 6, 7-13).
• Mark 6, 1-2ª: Jesus returns to Nazareth. At that time Jesus went to his home town, and his disciples accompanied him. “With the coming of the Sabbath, he began teaching in the Synagogue”. It is always good to return to one’s own home town and to find the friends. After a long absence, Jesus also returns and, as usual, on Saturday, he goes to the Synagogue to participate in the meeting of the community. Jesus was not the coordinator of the community, but even if he was not he takes the floor and begins to teach. This is a sign that persons could participate and express their own opinion.
• Mark 6, 2b-3: Reaction of the people of Nazareth before Jesus. The people of Capernaum had accepted the teaching of Jesus (Mk 1, 22), but the people of Nazareth did not like the words of Jesus and were scandalized. For what reason? Jesus, the boy whom they had known since he was born, how is it that now he is so different? They do not accept God’s mystery present in Jesus, a human being, and common as they are, known by all! They think that to be able to speak of God, he should be different from them! As we can see, not everything went well for Jesus. The persons who should have been the first ones to accept the Good News were precisely those who had the greatest difficulty to accept it. The conflict was not only with foreigners, but also, and especially with his own relatives and with the people of Nazareth. They refused to believe in Jesus, because they could not understand the mystery of God embracing the person of Jesus. “From where do all these things come to him? And what wisdom is this which has been given to him? And these miracles which are worked by him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joseph and Jude and Simon? His sisters too, are they not here with us?” And they would not accept him, they do not believe in Jesus!
• The brothers and the sisters of Jesus. The expression “brothers of Jesus” causes much polemics among Catholics and Protestants. Basing themselves on this text and in others, the Protestants say that Jesus had more brothers and sisters and that Mary had more sons! The Catholics say that Mary had no other sons. What should we think about all this? In the first place, the two positions, that of Catholics and that of the Protestants, both have arguments taken from the Bible and from the tradition of their respective Churches. Therefore, it is not convenient to discuss this question with arguments drawn only from reason. This is a question of profound convictions, which have something to do with the faith and with the sentiments both of Catholics and of Protestants. An argument taken only from reason cannot succeed to change the conviction of the heart! On the other hand, it irritates and draws away! Even when I do not agree with an opinion of another, I should always respect it! And we, both Catholics and Protestants, instead of discussing on texts, we should unite to struggle in defence of life, created by God, a life which has been so disfigured by poverty and injustice, by the lack of faith. We should remember other phrases of Jesus: “I have come in order that they may have life and life in abundance” (Jn 10, 10). “That all may be one, so that the world may believe that you, Father, has sent me” (Jn 17, 21). “Who is not against us, is for us” (Mk 10, 39.40).
• Mark 6, 4-6. Reaction of Jesus before the attitude of the people of Nazareth. Jesus knows very well that “nobody is a prophet in his own country”. And he says: “A prophet is despised only in his own country, among his own relations and in his own house”. In fact, where there is no acceptance or faith, people can do nothing. The preconception prevents this. Even if Jesus wanted to do something, he cannot, and he is amazed at their lack of faith. For this reason, before the closed door of his community “he began to make a tour round the villages, teaching”. The experience of this rejection led Jesus to change his practice. He goes to the other villages and, as we shall see in tomorrow’s Gospel, he gets the disciples involved in the mission instructing them as to how they have to continue the mission.
• The Gospel today speaks of the visit of Jesus to Nazareth and describes the mental obstinacy of the people of Nazareth, who do not want to accept him. (Mk 6, 1-6). Tomorrow the Gospel describes the openness of Jesus toward the people of Galilee, shown through the sending out of his disciples on mission (Mk 6, 7-13).
• Mark 6, 1-2ª: Jesus returns to Nazareth. At that time Jesus went to his home town, and his disciples accompanied him. “With the coming of the Sabbath, he began teaching in the Synagogue”. It is always good to return to one’s own home town and to find the friends. After a long absence, Jesus also returns and, as usual, on Saturday, he goes to the Synagogue to participate in the meeting of the community. Jesus was not the coordinator of the community, but even if he was not he takes the floor and begins to teach. This is a sign that persons could participate and express their own opinion.
• Mark 6, 2b-3: Reaction of the people of Nazareth before Jesus. The people of Capernaum had accepted the teaching of Jesus (Mk 1, 22), but the people of Nazareth did not like the words of Jesus and were scandalized. For what reason? Jesus, the boy whom they had known since he was born, how is it that now he is so different? They do not accept God’s mystery present in Jesus, a human being, and common as they are, known by all! They think that to be able to speak of God, he should be different from them! As we can see, not everything went well for Jesus. The persons who should have been the first ones to accept the Good News were precisely those who had the greatest difficulty to accept it. The conflict was not only with foreigners, but also, and especially with his own relatives and with the people of Nazareth. They refused to believe in Jesus, because they could not understand the mystery of God embracing the person of Jesus. “From where do all these things come to him? And what wisdom is this which has been given to him? And these miracles which are worked by him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joseph and Jude and Simon? His sisters too, are they not here with us?” And they would not accept him, they do not believe in Jesus!
• The brothers and the sisters of Jesus. The expression “brothers of Jesus” causes much polemics among Catholics and Protestants. Basing themselves on this text and in others, the Protestants say that Jesus had more brothers and sisters and that Mary had more sons! The Catholics say that Mary had no other sons. What should we think about all this? In the first place, the two positions, that of Catholics and that of the Protestants, both have arguments taken from the Bible and from the tradition of their respective Churches. Therefore, it is not convenient to discuss this question with arguments drawn only from reason. This is a question of profound convictions, which have something to do with the faith and with the sentiments both of Catholics and of Protestants. An argument taken only from reason cannot succeed to change the conviction of the heart! On the other hand, it irritates and draws away! Even when I do not agree with an opinion of another, I should always respect it! And we, both Catholics and Protestants, instead of discussing on texts, we should unite to struggle in defence of life, created by God, a life which has been so disfigured by poverty and injustice, by the lack of faith. We should remember other phrases of Jesus: “I have come in order that they may have life and life in abundance” (Jn 10, 10). “That all may be one, so that the world may believe that you, Father, has sent me” (Jn 17, 21). “Who is not against us, is for us” (Mk 10, 39.40).
• Mark 6, 4-6. Reaction of Jesus before the attitude of the people of Nazareth. Jesus knows very well that “nobody is a prophet in his own country”. And he says: “A prophet is despised only in his own country, among his own relations and in his own house”. In fact, where there is no acceptance or faith, people can do nothing. The preconception prevents this. Even if Jesus wanted to do something, he cannot, and he is amazed at their lack of faith. For this reason, before the closed door of his community “he began to make a tour round the villages, teaching”. The experience of this rejection led Jesus to change his practice. He goes to the other villages and, as we shall see in tomorrow’s Gospel, he gets the disciples involved in the mission instructing them as to how they have to continue the mission.
4) Personal questions
• Jesus had problems with his relatives and with his community. From the time when you began to live the Gospel better, has something changed in your relationship with your family, with your relatives?
• Jesus cannot work many miracles in Nazareth because faith is lacking. And today, does he find faith in us, in me?
• Jesus had problems with his relatives and with his community. From the time when you began to live the Gospel better, has something changed in your relationship with your family, with your relatives?
• Jesus cannot work many miracles in Nazareth because faith is lacking. And today, does he find faith in us, in me?
5) Concluding prayer
How blessed are those whose offence is forgiven,
whose sin blotted out.
How blessed are those to whom Yahweh imputes no guilt,
whose spirit harbours no deceit. (Ps 32,1-2)
How blessed are those whose offence is forgiven,
whose sin blotted out.
How blessed are those to whom Yahweh imputes no guilt,
whose spirit harbours no deceit. (Ps 32,1-2)
How blessed are those whose offence is forgiven,
whose sin blotted out.
How blessed are those to whom Yahweh imputes no guilt,
whose spirit harbours no deceit. (Ps 32,1-2)
whose sin blotted out.
How blessed are those to whom Yahweh imputes no guilt,
whose spirit harbours no deceit. (Ps 32,1-2)
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