Wednesday
of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 307
Lectionary: 307
During
the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli,
a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent.
One day Eli was asleep in his usual place.
His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see.
The lamp of God was not yet extinguished,
and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD
where the ark of God was.
The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.”
Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.”
“I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.”
So he went back to sleep.
Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli.
“Here I am,” he said. “You called me.”
But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.”
At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD,
because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.
The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time.
Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am.
You called me.”
Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
So Eli said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’”
When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the LORD came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him,
not permitting any word of his to be without effect.
Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba
came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the LORD.
a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent.
One day Eli was asleep in his usual place.
His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see.
The lamp of God was not yet extinguished,
and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD
where the ark of God was.
The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.”
Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.”
“I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.”
So he went back to sleep.
Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli.
“Here I am,” he said. “You called me.”
But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.”
At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD,
because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.
The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time.
Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am.
You called me.”
Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
So Eli said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’”
When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the LORD came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him,
not permitting any word of his to be without effect.
Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba
came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the LORD.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 40:2 AND 5, 7-8A,
8B-9, 10
R.
(8a and 9a) Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust;
who turns not to idolatry
or to those who stray after falsehood.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.”
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me.
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!”
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust;
who turns not to idolatry
or to those who stray after falsehood.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.”
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me.
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!”
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
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 1:29-39
On
leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
Rising very early before dawn,
he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come.”
So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons
throughout the whole of Galilee.
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
Rising very early before dawn,
he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come.”
So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons
throughout the whole of Galilee.
Meditation: Jesus healed many who were sick
Who
do you take your troubles to? Jesus' disciples freely brought their troubles to
him because they found him ready and able to deal with any difficulty,
affliction, or sickness which they encountered. When Simon brought Jesus to his
home, his mother-in-law was instantly healed because Jesus heard Simon's
prayer. Jerome, an early church bible scholar and translator (c. 347-420),
reflects on this passage:
“Can
you imagine Jesus standing before your bed and you continue sleeping? It is
absurd that you would remain in bed in his presence. Where is Jesus? He is
already here offering himself to us. 'In the middle,' he says, 'among you he
stands, whom you do not recognize' (Cf. John 1:26) 'The kingdom of God is in
your midst' (Mark 1:15). Faith beholds Jesus among us. If we are unable to
seize his hand, let us prostrate ourselves at his feet. If we are unable to
reach his head, let us wash his feet with our tears. Our repentance is the
perfume of the Savior. See how costly is the compassion of the Savior."
Do
you allow Jesus to be the Lord and healer in your personal life, family, and
community? Approach the Lord with expectant faith. God's healing power restores
us not only to health but to active service and care of others. There is no
trouble he does not want to help us with and there is no bondage he can't set
us free from. Do you take your troubles to him with expectant faith that he
will help you?
"Lord
Jesus Christ, you have all power to heal and to deliver from harm. There is no
trouble nor bondage you cannot overcome. Set me free to serve you joyfully and
to love and serve others generously. May nothing hinder me from giving myself
wholly to you and to your service."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: The habit of prayer, by
Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)
"Jesus prayed and
did not pray in vain, since he received what he asked for in prayer when he
might have done so without prayer. If so, who among us would neglect to pray?
Mark says that 'in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out
to a lonely place, and there he prayed' (Mark 1:35). And Luke says, 'He was
praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to
him, "Lord, teach us to pray,"' (Luke 11:1) and elsewhere, 'And all
night he continued in prayer to God' (Luke 6:12). And John records his prayer,
saying, 'When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and
said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may
glorify you"' (John 17:1). The same Evangelist writes that the Lord said
that he knew 'you hear me always' (John 11:42). All this shows that the one who
prays always is always heard." (excerpt from ON PRAYER 13.1)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13,
MARK 1:29-39
Weekday
(1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20; Psalm 40)
Weekday
(1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20; Psalm 40)
KEY VERSE: "He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons" (v 34).
TO KNOW: After the Sabbath service in Capernaum, Jesus went with his four disciples, Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John, to Simon Peter’s home. When Simon informed Jesus that his mother-in-law was gravely ill, Jesus simply took her by the hand and helped her to get up. The woman was immediately healed by his touch, and in gratitude, she waited on all in the house. When the Sabbath ended at sundown, the people were free to bring their sick to Jesus. The whole town gathered at Jesus' door and he cured many of their illnesses. The miracles that Jesus worked, combined with his authoritative teaching, were signs pointing to the coming of God's reign, which he announced at the beginning of his ministry (Mk 1:15). Rising early the next morning, Jesus went to a deserted place for prayer, but even there his disciples sought him, pressing him to return to Capernaum. Jesus told them that he must take his message to other villages throughout Galilee to reveal God's kingdom of compassion and mercy.
TO LOVE: Do I run after signs and wonders or do I seek Jesus?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, teach me so that I might better serve others.
Optional
Memorial of Hilary, bishop and doctor of the Church
Hilary's early life was uneventful. He married and had children (including St. Abra). As he studied the Bible for the first time, he literally read himself into the faith, and was converted by the time he finished the New Testament. Hilary lived the faith so well that he was made bishop of Poitiers from 353 to 368. Hilary opposed the emperor's attempt to run Church matters, and he was exiled. He used the time to write works explaining the faith. His teaching and writings converted many, and in an attempt to reduce his notoriety he was returned to the small town of Poitiers where his enemies hoped he would fade into obscurity. His writings continued to convert unbelievers. Hilary introduced Eastern theology to the Western Church, and fought Arianism with the help of St. Viventius. He was proclaimed Doctor of the Church in 1851.
NOTE: Arianism taught that Christ was a creation of the Father, a creature, and not part of God. Athanasius formulated the doctrine of homoousianism which said that Christ was "consubstantial with the Father,” as we pray in the Nicene Creed.
Wednesday 13 January, 2016
Wed 13th. St Hilary. 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20. Here am
I, Lord; I come to do your will—Ps 39(40):2, 5, 7-10. Mark 1:29-39.
He did not let a single word fall to the ground of all
that he’d told him.
Samuel listened to God and became a wonderful prophet.
The psalm too follows the theme of listening and heeding God's call. Oh that we
could all respond as readily.
Jesus responded by going straight to heal Simon's
mother-in-law. He healed her and she responded by serving them. She felt
herself changed and maybe even felt called to follow Jesus.
Jesus’ whole life was a loving response to his
father's call to proclaim the message even in places where he wouldn’t be
welcomed.
But first he would always go off to a lonely place to
pray. Let’s make time in our busy lives as Jesus did to find our own lonely
place for quiet and prayer. Then we’ll be refreshed and ready to say ‘Here I
am. I’m coming.’
MINUTE
MEDITATIONS
|
Peace is Perfection
|
Peace is simplicity of heart, serenity of mind, tranquility of
soul, the bond of love. Peace means order, harmony in our whole being; it means
continual contentment springing from the knowledge of a good conscience; it is
the holy joy of a heart in which God reigns.
January
13
St. Hilary
(315?-368)
St. Hilary
(315?-368)
This
staunch defender of the divinity of Christ was a gentle and courteous man,
devoted to writing some of the greatest theology on the Trinity, and was like
his Master in being labeled a “disturber of the peace.” In a very troubled
period in the Church, his holiness was lived out in both scholarship and
controversy. He was bishop of Poitiers in France.
Raised
a pagan, he was converted to Christianity when he met his God of nature in the
Scriptures. His wife was still living when he was chosen, against his will, to
be the bishop of Poitiers in France. He was soon taken up with battling what
became the scourge of the fourth century, Arianism, which denied the divinity
of Christ.
The
heresy spread rapidly. St. Jerome said “The world groaned and marveled to find
that it was Arian.” When Emperor Constantius ordered all the bishops of the
West to sign a condemnation of Athanasius, the great defender of the faith in
the East, Hilary refused and was banished from France to far off Phrygia (in
modern-day Turkey). Eventually he was called the “Athanasius of the West.”
While writing in exile, he was invited by some semi-Arians (hoping for
reconciliation) to a council the emperor called to counteract the Council of
Nicea. But Hilary predictably defended the Church, and when he sought public
debate with the heretical bishop who had exiled him, the Arians, dreading the
meeting and its outcome, pleaded with the emperor to send this troublemaker
back home. Hilary was welcomed by his people.
Comment:
Christ said his coming would bring not peace but a sword (see Matthew 10:34). The Gospels offer no support for us if we fantasize about a sunlit holiness that knows no problems. Christ did not escape at the last moment, though he did live happily ever after—after a life of controversy, problems, pain and frustration. Hilary, like all saints, simply had more of the same.
Christ said his coming would bring not peace but a sword (see Matthew 10:34). The Gospels offer no support for us if we fantasize about a sunlit holiness that knows no problems. Christ did not escape at the last moment, though he did live happily ever after—after a life of controversy, problems, pain and frustration. Hilary, like all saints, simply had more of the same.
LECTIO DIVINA: MARK 1,29-39
Lectio:
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father of love, hear our prayers.
Help us to know your will
and to do it with courage and faith.
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.
Father of love, hear our prayers.
Help us to know your will
and to do it with courage and faith.
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 1,29-39
And at once on leaving the synagogue, he went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed and feverish, and at once they told him about her. He went in to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to serve them.
That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were sick with diseases of one kind or another; he also drove out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.
In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house and went off to a lonely place and prayed there.
Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, 'Everybody is looking for you.' He answered, 'Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can proclaim the message there too, because that is why I came.'
And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out devils.
And at once on leaving the synagogue, he went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed and feverish, and at once they told him about her. He went in to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to serve them.
That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were sick with diseases of one kind or another; he also drove out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.
In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house and went off to a lonely place and prayed there.
Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, 'Everybody is looking for you.' He answered, 'Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can proclaim the message there too, because that is why I came.'
And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out devils.
3) Reflection
• Jesus restores life for the service. After having participated in the celebration of Saturday in the Synagogue, Jesus went to Peter’s house and cured his mother-in-law. Once healed, she gets up and, with her health restored and having recovered her dignity, she begins to serve the persons. Jesus does not only heal the person, but he does it in such a way that she begins to serve life.
• Jesus accepts the marginalized. When it begins to get dark, in the afternoon, at the end of Saturday when the first star shines in the sky, Jesus accepts and cures the sick and those possessed whom people had brought to him. The sick and those possessed were the most marginalized persons of that time. They had nobody to whom to have recourse. They depended on public charity. Besides this, religion considered them impure. They could not participate in the community, it was as if God rejected and excluded them. Therefore, it can very clearly be seen in what the Good News of God consists and that which he wants to do in the life of people: to accept the marginalized and the excluded, and to insert them again to live together in the community.
• To remain united to the Father, in prayer. Jesus is presented to us while he prays. He makes a great effort to have the time and the adequate environment to pray. He rises before the others and goes to a deserted place, to be able to be alone with God. Many times the Gospels speak to us about the prayer of Jesus, in silence (Mt 14, 22-23); Mk 1, 35; Lk 5, 15-16; 3, 21-22). Through prayer he maintains alive the awareness of his mission.
• To maintain alive the awareness of the mission and not to close oneself up in the results already obtained. Jesus is known. Everybody follows him. This publicity pleases the disciples. They go to look for Jesus to take him back to the people who were seeking for him, and they tell him: All are looking for you. They thought that Jesus would go to the banquet. They were disillusioned! Jesus does not pay attention and tells them: Let us go elsewhere. It is precisely for this that I have come! Surely, they must have been surprised! Jesus was not like what they had imagined him to be. Jesus had a very clear conscience of the mission and wants to transmit this to the disciples. He does not want them to close up themselves in the results already obtained. They should not look back. But, like Jesus, they should maintain alive the conscience of their mission. It is the mission received from the Father, which has to orientate their decisions.
• It is precisely for this that I have come! This was the first misunderstanding between Jesus and his disciples. At present, it is only a question of a small divergence. Later on, in the Gospel of Mark, this misunderstanding, in spite of the many advertences of Jesus, will grow and will practically become almost a break between Jesus and the disciples (cf. Mk 8, 14-21. 32-33; 9, 32; 14, 27). Today also, there are some misunderstandings on the way of the proclamation of the Good News. Mark helps one to be attentive to the divergences so as not to allow them to grow until they produce a break.
• Jesus restores life for the service. After having participated in the celebration of Saturday in the Synagogue, Jesus went to Peter’s house and cured his mother-in-law. Once healed, she gets up and, with her health restored and having recovered her dignity, she begins to serve the persons. Jesus does not only heal the person, but he does it in such a way that she begins to serve life.
• Jesus accepts the marginalized. When it begins to get dark, in the afternoon, at the end of Saturday when the first star shines in the sky, Jesus accepts and cures the sick and those possessed whom people had brought to him. The sick and those possessed were the most marginalized persons of that time. They had nobody to whom to have recourse. They depended on public charity. Besides this, religion considered them impure. They could not participate in the community, it was as if God rejected and excluded them. Therefore, it can very clearly be seen in what the Good News of God consists and that which he wants to do in the life of people: to accept the marginalized and the excluded, and to insert them again to live together in the community.
• To remain united to the Father, in prayer. Jesus is presented to us while he prays. He makes a great effort to have the time and the adequate environment to pray. He rises before the others and goes to a deserted place, to be able to be alone with God. Many times the Gospels speak to us about the prayer of Jesus, in silence (Mt 14, 22-23); Mk 1, 35; Lk 5, 15-16; 3, 21-22). Through prayer he maintains alive the awareness of his mission.
• To maintain alive the awareness of the mission and not to close oneself up in the results already obtained. Jesus is known. Everybody follows him. This publicity pleases the disciples. They go to look for Jesus to take him back to the people who were seeking for him, and they tell him: All are looking for you. They thought that Jesus would go to the banquet. They were disillusioned! Jesus does not pay attention and tells them: Let us go elsewhere. It is precisely for this that I have come! Surely, they must have been surprised! Jesus was not like what they had imagined him to be. Jesus had a very clear conscience of the mission and wants to transmit this to the disciples. He does not want them to close up themselves in the results already obtained. They should not look back. But, like Jesus, they should maintain alive the conscience of their mission. It is the mission received from the Father, which has to orientate their decisions.
• It is precisely for this that I have come! This was the first misunderstanding between Jesus and his disciples. At present, it is only a question of a small divergence. Later on, in the Gospel of Mark, this misunderstanding, in spite of the many advertences of Jesus, will grow and will practically become almost a break between Jesus and the disciples (cf. Mk 8, 14-21. 32-33; 9, 32; 14, 27). Today also, there are some misunderstandings on the way of the proclamation of the Good News. Mark helps one to be attentive to the divergences so as not to allow them to grow until they produce a break.
4) Personal questions
• Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve. Peter’s mother-in-law began to serve. And I, do I act in such a way that my life is a service to God and to my brothers and sisters?
• Jesus is conscious, aware of his mission through prayer. And my prayer?
• Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve. Peter’s mother-in-law began to serve. And I, do I act in such a way that my life is a service to God and to my brothers and sisters?
• Jesus is conscious, aware of his mission through prayer. And my prayer?
5) Concluding prayer
Sing to Yahweh, bless his name!
Proclaim his salvation day after day,
declare his glory among the nations,
his marvels to every people! (Ps 96,2-3)
Sing to Yahweh, bless his name!
Proclaim his salvation day after day,
declare his glory among the nations,
his marvels to every people! (Ps 96,2-3)
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