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
PsalmPS 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.
AlleluiaSEE 1 TM 3:16
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Glory to you, O Christ, proclaimed to the Gentiles.
Glory to you, O Christ, believed in throughout the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to you, O Christ, proclaimed to the Gentiles.
Glory to you, O Christ, believed in throughout the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 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"
Does
the Lord Jesus ever seem distant when trials or difficulties come your way?
Right after Jesus performed the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and
fishes, he left his disciples by themselves so he could go to a remote place to
pray alone.It was at Jesus' initiative that the disciples sailed across the
lake of Galilee, 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 whipped up by strong winds which swept
down from the nearby mountains. The disciples must have cried out for help when
they recognized that their boat was about to be capsized by the threatening
waves.
Jesus
always intercedes for us
Although Jesus was not physically with them in the boat, he nonetheless had been keeping vigilant watch for them in earnest prayer. When Jesus perceived their trouble he came to them walking on the sea and startled them with his sudden appearance. The disciples were terrified rather than joyful when they saw Jesus' presence on the water. They thought a ghost had appeared to seal their doom. They couldn't believe it was really him until he spoke words of assurance: "Don't 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.
Although Jesus was not physically with them in the boat, he nonetheless had been keeping vigilant watch for them in earnest prayer. When Jesus perceived their trouble he came to them walking on the sea and startled them with his sudden appearance. The disciples were terrified rather than joyful when they saw Jesus' presence on the water. They thought a ghost had appeared to seal their doom. They couldn't believe it was really him until he spoke words of assurance: "Don't 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.
Do
you recognize the Lord's abiding presence with you?
Does the Lord Jesus seem distant when trials and difficulties come your way? The Lord never 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 Jesus 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 love and presence with you?
Does the Lord Jesus seem distant when trials and difficulties come your way? The Lord never 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 Jesus 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 love and presence with you?
"Lord
Jesus, 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 steady perseverance that I may never waver in placing all my trust in you
who are my all."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: The wind was against them, by
Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD)
"Meanwhile
the boat carrying the disciples - that is, the church - is rocking and shaking
amid the storms of temptation, while the adverse wind rages on. That is to say,
its enemy the devil strives to keep the wind from calming down. But greater is
he who is persistent on our behalf, for amid the vicissitudes of our life he
gives us confidence. He comes to us and strengthens us, so we are not jostled
in the boat and tossed overboard. For although the boat is thrown into
disorder, it is still a boat. It alone carries the disciples and receives
Christ. It is in danger indeed on the water, but there would be certain death
without it. Therefore stay inside the boat and call upon God. When all good
advice fails and the rudder is useless and the spread of the sails presents
more of a danger than an advantage, when all human help and strength have been
abandoned, the only recourse left for the sailors is to cry out to God.
Therefore will he who helps those who are sailing to reach port safely, abandon
his church and prevent it from arriving in peace and tranquility?" (excerpt
from SERMON 75.4)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, MARK 6:45-52
Christmas Weekday
KEY VERSE: "Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!" (v 50).
TO KNOW: After feeding the hungry people in the wilderness, Jesus sent his disciples back across Lake Galilee to Bethsaida, and he went to a mountain to pray alone. While his disciples were at sea, a sudden storm threatened to capsize their small boat. Jesus, Master of all creation, walked on the water toward his terrified disciples. They were afraid that he was a ghost, but Jesus told his followers not to be frightened. He was with his people in all their needs, in their hunger and in their fears. When Jesus got into the boat, the storm subsided. Although the astonished disciples just witnessed the miracle of the loaves and fish, they still did not understand the meaning of these events. When there are storms in our lives, Christ is there to calm the storm. The tumult becomes peaceful, and the unbearable becomes bearable.
TO LOVE: Do I assure those in distress that Jesus is with them?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to know that 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;34:6-9) and also Elijah on Mt. Horeb (1 Kngs 19:11). When St. Augustine wrote 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?" To walk with Christ is the conquest of the trials in our lives.
Christmas Weekday
KEY VERSE: "Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!" (v 50).
TO KNOW: After feeding the hungry people in the wilderness, Jesus sent his disciples back across Lake Galilee to Bethsaida, and he went to a mountain to pray alone. While his disciples were at sea, a sudden storm threatened to capsize their small boat. Jesus, Master of all creation, walked on the water toward his terrified disciples. They were afraid that he was a ghost, but Jesus told his followers not to be frightened. He was with his people in all their needs, in their hunger and in their fears. When Jesus got into the boat, the storm subsided. Although the astonished disciples just witnessed the miracle of the loaves and fish, they still did not understand the meaning of these events. When there are storms in our lives, Christ is there to calm the storm. The tumult becomes peaceful, and the unbearable becomes bearable.
TO LOVE: Do I assure those in distress that Jesus is with them?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to know that 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;34:6-9) and also Elijah on Mt. Horeb (1 Kngs 19:11). When St. Augustine wrote 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?" To walk with Christ is the conquest of the trials in our lives.
Wednesday 9 January 2019
1 John 4:11-18. Psalm 71(72):1-2, 10-13. Mark 6:45-52.
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you –
Psalm 71(72):1-2, 10-13.
‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’
The disciples are terrified because they do not realise that it
is Jesus who walks towards them. Like them, we so often cannot see clearly what
is right in front of us, because we are afraid or hurting or proud. Awareness
of the presence of Jesus transforms these feelings and helps return us to full
vision.
Let us allow the truth of God’s message to permeate our being,
rather than regretting the past or worrying about the future. We are invited to
find the courage to simply rest in the presence of the God who seeks to
comfort, console, and give joy.
Saint Adrian of Canterbury
Saint of the Day for January 9
(d. January 9, 710)
Saint Adrian of Canterbury’s Story
Though Saint Adrian turned down a papal request to become
Archbishop of Canterbury, England, Pope Saint Vitalian accepted the
rejection on the condition that Adrian serve as the Holy Father’s assistant and
adviser. Adrian accepted, but ended up spending most of his life and doing most
of his work in Canterbury.
Born in Africa, Adrian was serving as an abbot in Italy when the
new Archbishop of Canterbury appointed him abbot of the monastery of
Saints Peter and Paul in Canterbury. Thanks to his leadership skills, the
facility became one of the most important centers of learning. The school
attracted many outstanding scholars from far and wide and produced numerous
future bishops and archbishops. Students reportedly learned Greek and Latin and
spoke Latin as well as their own native languages.
Adrian taught at the school for 40 years. He died there,
probably in the year 710, and was buried in the monastery. Several hundred
years later, when reconstruction was being done, Adrian’s body was discovered
in an incorrupt state. As word spread, people flocked to his tomb, which became
famous for miracles. Rumor had it that young schoolboys in trouble with their
masters made regular visits there.
Reflection
Saint Adrian spent most of his time in Canterbury not as
bishop, but as abbot and teacher. Often the Lord has plans for us that are
obvious only on hindsight. How often have we said no to something or someone
only to end up in much the same place anyway. The Lord knows what’s good for
us. Can we trust him?
LECTIO DIVINA: MARK 6:45-52
Lectio Divina:
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
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.
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
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.
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 (cf. Jn 6:14-15).
This decision of the people was a temptation for Jesus as well as for the
disciples. For this reason, Jesus obliged the disciples to take the boat and
leave. He wanted to avoid the risk of them being contaminated with the dominant
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 against 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! This is very symbolic of the times. But He was present and came close to them, and they, like the disciples on the way to 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 between faith in Jesus and 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 ghost. As it happens in the passage of the disciples on the way to 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!” (cf. 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!” (cf. 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 recognize the presence of God in Jesus and in the facts of life. Do not be afraid!
• Jesus got into the boat and the wind ceased. But the disciples’ fear, instead of disappearing, increases. Mark the Evangelist criticizes them and says, “They had not understood what the miracle of the loaves meant, and their minds were closed” (6:52). The affirmation that 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 (Num 20:2-10), where there was plenty of bread and meat to satisfy them (Ex 16:3).
• 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 against 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! This is very symbolic of the times. But He was present and came close to them, and they, like the disciples on the way to 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 between faith in Jesus and 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 ghost. As it happens in the passage of the disciples on the way to 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!” (cf. 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!” (cf. 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 recognize the presence of God in Jesus and in the facts of life. Do not be afraid!
• Jesus got into the boat and the wind ceased. But the disciples’ fear, instead of disappearing, increases. Mark the Evangelist criticizes them and says, “They had not understood what the miracle of the loaves meant, and their minds were closed” (6:52). The affirmation that 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 (Num 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?
• Have you been afraid so many times because you have not known how to recognize Jesus present and acting in your life?
• How does this passage apply to me personally and to the Church
today, with all the world problems and challenges?
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)
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)
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