Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest
Lectionary: 320
Lectionary: 320
Brothers and sisters:
Since through the Blood of Jesus
we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary
by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil,
that is, his flesh,
and since we have "a great priest over the house of God,"
let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust,
with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience
and our bodies washed in pure water.
Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope,
for he who made the promise is trustworthy.
We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.
We should not stay away from our assembly,
as is the custom of some, but encourage one another,
and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Since through the Blood of Jesus
we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary
by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil,
that is, his flesh,
and since we have "a great priest over the house of God,"
let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust,
with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience
and our bodies washed in pure water.
Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope,
for he who made the promise is trustworthy.
We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.
We should not stay away from our assembly,
as is the custom of some, but encourage one another,
and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 24:1-2, 3-4AB, 5-6
R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
AlleluiaPS 119:105
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 4:21-25
Jesus said to his disciples,
"Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed,
and not to be placed on a lampstand?
For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;
nothing is secret except to come to light.
Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear."
He also told them, "Take care what you hear.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you,
and still more will be given to you.
To the one who has, more will be given;
from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."
"Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed,
and not to be placed on a lampstand?
For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;
nothing is secret except to come to light.
Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear."
He also told them, "Take care what you hear.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you,
and still more will be given to you.
To the one who has, more will be given;
from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."
For the readings of the Memorial of Saint John Bosco, please go here.
Meditation:
Living in the light of God's truth and wisdom
What
does the image of light and a lamp tell us about God's kingdom? Lamps in the
ancient world served a vital function, much like they do today. They enable
people to see and work in the dark and to avoid stumbling or losing their way.
The Jews also understood "light" as an expression of the inner
beauty, truth, and goodness of God. Many passages from the Old Testament
Scriptures describe how God's light guides and helps us grow in our knowledge
of him and his truth and wisdom for our lives. In his light we see
light ( Psalm 36:9). His word is a lamp that guides our
steps (Psalm 119:105).
We
are light-bearers of God's truth and love
The truth cannot remain hidden, or suppressed, or destroyed. We might refuse to face the truth or try to suppress it, or destroy it, but the truth will always prevail because it is indestructible. That is why God wants us to know the truth and to stake our lives on it. God's grace (his indwelling presence and power at work in us) and his word of truth enable us to hear, believe, and obey him without fear or reservation. Just as natural light prevails over the darkness around us and enable us to see clearly, so the light of Christ shines in the hearts of all who hear and believe his word. God wants to fill us with his Holy Spirit so that we may shine brightly with the radiance of his truth, love, and goodness.
The truth cannot remain hidden, or suppressed, or destroyed. We might refuse to face the truth or try to suppress it, or destroy it, but the truth will always prevail because it is indestructible. That is why God wants us to know the truth and to stake our lives on it. God's grace (his indwelling presence and power at work in us) and his word of truth enable us to hear, believe, and obey him without fear or reservation. Just as natural light prevails over the darkness around us and enable us to see clearly, so the light of Christ shines in the hearts of all who hear and believe his word. God wants to fill us with his Holy Spirit so that we may shine brightly with the radiance of his truth, love, and goodness.
Jesus
called John the Baptist "a burning and shining lamp" (John 5:35)
because he bore witness to God's word and pointed others to Jesus, the true
Light and Savior of the world. Our call and mission, like John the Baptist, is
to be light-bearers of Jesus Christ so that many others may
hear and understand the truth of the Gospel (the good news of
Jesus Christ) and be set free from the blindness of sin, ignorance, and
deception.
Living
in the light brings true freedom and joy
Jesus remarks that nothing can remain hidden or secret. We can try to hide things from others, from ourselves, and from God. How tempting to shut our eyes from the consequences of our sinful ways or bad habits, even when we know what those consequences are. And how tempting to hide them from others and even from God. But, nonetheless, everything is known to God who sees all.
Jesus remarks that nothing can remain hidden or secret. We can try to hide things from others, from ourselves, and from God. How tempting to shut our eyes from the consequences of our sinful ways or bad habits, even when we know what those consequences are. And how tempting to hide them from others and even from God. But, nonetheless, everything is known to God who sees all.
There
is great freedom and joy for those who live in God's light and who seek his
truth and goodness. Those who listen to God and heed his voice will receive
more from him. And they will not lack what they need to live as Christ's disciples.
And they will shine as lights that show the wisdom and truth of God's word. Do
you know the joy and freedom of living in God's light and truth?
"Lord
Jesus, you guide me by the light of your saving truth. Fill my heart and mind
with your light and truth and free me from the blindness of sin, ignorance, and
deception that I may see your ways clearly and understand your will for my
life. May I radiate your light and truth to others in word and deed."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: Called to shine in the midst
of darkness, by Tertullian, 160-225 A.D.
"Why
does the Lord call us the light of the world? Why has he compared us to a city
on a hill (Matthew 5:14)? Are we not called to shine in the midst of darkness,
and stand up high for those most sunk down? If you hide your lamp beneath a
bushel (Matthew 5:15; Luke 8:16, 11:33), you will soon notice that you yourself
will be in the dark. You will find others bumping into you. So what can you do
to illumine the world? Let your faith produce good works. Be a reflection of
God's light. The good is not preoccupied with darkness. It rejoices in being
seen (John 3:21). It exults over the very pointings which are made at it.
Christian modesty not only wishes to be modest, but also it wishes to be beheld
as what it actually is." (excerpt from ON THE APPAREL OF
WOMEN 2.13)
THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, MARK 4:21-25
(Hebrews 10:19-25; Psalm 24)
(Hebrews 10:19-25; Psalm 24)
KEY VERSE: "Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear" (v 23).
TO KNOW: Jesus regularly taught by means of parables but many people were unresponsive to his message. He cited the prophet Isaiah (6: 9) to show that the reason why they did not get the point of his teachings was that their eyes, ears and hearts were closed to his revelation. Jesus admonished his disciples to listen carefully. God had blessed them abundantly through his teaching; therefore, much would be expected of them. Since they had been given the light of faith, they had the obligation to share their belief with others. Their faith must not be hidden, but must shine brightly like a lamp that illuminated the whole household. Anyone who rejected the light of truth would continue to live in darkness.
TO LOVE: Have I been a source of light or darkness to others today?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, I pray that your light will shine through me in all that I do.
Memorial of Saint John Bosco, priest
John Bosco was ordained in 1841. He worked with youth, taught catechism to orphans and apprentices and was a chaplain in a hospice for girls. John wrote short treatises aimed at explaining the faith to children, and then taught children how to print them. He founded the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) in 1859, priests who work with and educate boys under the protection of Our Lady, Help of Christians, and Saint Francis de Sales. He founded the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians in 1872, and the Union of Cooperator Salesians in 1875. Don Bosco's method of study involved observance of rules by instilling a sense of duty, by removing all occasions for disobedience, and by allowing no effort toward virtue to pass unappreciated. He held that the teacher should be father, adviser, and friend, and he was the first to adopt the preventive method rather than punishment. He wrote: "As far as possible avoid punishing . . . try to gain love before inspiring fear." At the time of Don Bosco's death in 1888 there were 250 houses of the Salesian Society in all parts of the world.
Thursday 31 January 2019
St John Bosco.
Hebrews 10:19-25. Psalm 23(24):1-6. Mark 4:21-25.
Hebrews 10:19-25. Psalm 23(24):1-6. Mark 4:21-25.
Lord, this is the people that longs to see
your face – Psalm 23(24):1-6.
‘Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed?
Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?’
One sign of spiritual growth is an increased self-acceptance.
Most of us dread total transparency. Yet under the gaze of God’s love we find
that we are willing to bring our dark side out into the open. God’s light heals
our darkness. We discover the joy of being forgiven.
Our friendships deepen as we find that we are able to become
more transparent in our dealings with people. We receive a new freedom in being
able to present ourselves to people as we are rather than as we should be. Once
we live out of this freedom, God’s light really starts to shine forth.
Saint John Bosco
Saint of the Day for January 31
(August 16, 1815 – January 31, 1888)
 |
| Statue of Don Bosco at St. John Bosco Parish Church, Taipei, Taiwan | photo by Bernard Gagnon |
Saint John Bosco’s Story
John Bosco’s theory of education could well be used in today’s
schools. It was a preventive system, rejecting corporal punishment and placing
students in surroundings removed from the likelihood of committing sin. He
advocated frequent reception of the sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion.
He combined catechetical training and fatherly guidance, seeking to unite the
spiritual life with one’s work, study and play.
Encouraged during his youth in Sardinia to become a priest so he
could work with young boys, John was ordained in 1841. His service to young
people started when he met a poor orphan in Turin, and instructed him in
preparation for receiving Holy Communion. He then gathered young apprentices
and taught them catechism.
After serving as chaplain in a hospice for working girls, Don
Bosco opened the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales for boys. Several wealthy and
powerful patrons contributed money, enabling him to provide two workshops for
the boys, shoemaking and tailoring.
By 1856, the institution had grown to 150 boys and had added a
printing press for publication of religious and catechetical pamphlets. John’s
interest in vocational education and publishing justify him as patron of young
apprentices and Catholic publishers.
John’s preaching fame spread and by 1850 he had trained his own
helpers because of difficulties in retaining young priests. In 1854, he and his
followers informally banded together, inspired by Saint Francis de Sales.
With Pope Pius IX’s encouragement, John gathered 17 men and
founded the Salesians in 1859. Their activity concentrated on education and
mission work. Later, he organized a group of Salesian Sisters to assist girls.
Reflection
John Bosco educated the whole person—body and soul united. He
believed that Christ’s love and our faith in that love should pervade
everything we do—work, study, play. For John Bosco, being a Christian was a
full-time effort, not a once-a-week, Mass-on-Sunday experience. It is searching
and finding God and Jesus in everything we do, letting their love lead us. Yet,
because John realized the importance of job-training and the self-worth and
pride that come with talent and ability, he trained his students in the trade
crafts, too.
Saint John Bosco is the Patron Saint of:
Boys
Editors
Youth
Editors
Youth
LECTIO DIVINA: MARK 4:21-25
Lectio Divina:
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Ordinary Time
1) OPENING PRAYER
All-powerful and ever-living God,
direct Your love that is within us,
that our efforts in the name of Your Son
may bring mankind to unity and peace.
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.
direct Your love that is within us,
that our efforts in the name of Your Son
may bring mankind to unity and peace.
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 4:21-25
Jesus said to his disciples, "Is a lamp brought in to be
placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a
lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is
secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to
hear." He also told them, "Take care what you hear. The measure with
which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to
you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even
what he has will be taken away."
3) REFLECTION
• The lamp which gives light. At that time, there was no
electric light. Imagine all that follows. The family is at home. It begins to
get dark. The father lifts up the small lamp, lights it and places it under the
tub or under the bed. What will the others say? They will began to scream, “Father,
place it on the table!” This is the story that Jesus tells. He does not
explain. He only says, “Anyone who has ears to listen, should listen!” The Word
of God is the lamp which should be lit in the darkness of the night. If it
remains hidden in the closed book of the bible, it is like a small lamp under
the tub. When it is united to the life in community, there it is placed on the
table and it gives light!
• Be attentive to preconceptions. Jesus asks the disciples to become aware of the preconceptions with which they listen to the teaching He offers. We should be attentive to the ideas which we have when we look at Jesus! If the lenses over the eyes are green, everything seems to be green. If they are blue, everything will be blue! If the idea with which we look at Jesus is mistaken, everything which I think about Jesus will be subject to error. If I think that the Messiah has to be a glorious king, I will understand nothing of what the Lord teaches and I will conclude that everything is mistaken.
• Parable: a new way of teaching and speaking of Jesus. Jesus used parables, above all, to teach; this was His way. He had an enormous capacity to find very simple images to compare the things of God with the things of the life which people knew and experienced in the daily struggle to survive. This presupposes two things: to be inside, involved in the things of life, and to be inside, involved in the things of the Kingdom of God.
• Jesus’ teaching was different from the teaching of the scribes. It was Good News for the poor, because Jesus revealed a new face of God, in which people could recognize themselves and rejoice. “I bless You, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to little children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased You to do!” (Mt 11:25-28).
• Be attentive to preconceptions. Jesus asks the disciples to become aware of the preconceptions with which they listen to the teaching He offers. We should be attentive to the ideas which we have when we look at Jesus! If the lenses over the eyes are green, everything seems to be green. If they are blue, everything will be blue! If the idea with which we look at Jesus is mistaken, everything which I think about Jesus will be subject to error. If I think that the Messiah has to be a glorious king, I will understand nothing of what the Lord teaches and I will conclude that everything is mistaken.
• Parable: a new way of teaching and speaking of Jesus. Jesus used parables, above all, to teach; this was His way. He had an enormous capacity to find very simple images to compare the things of God with the things of the life which people knew and experienced in the daily struggle to survive. This presupposes two things: to be inside, involved in the things of life, and to be inside, involved in the things of the Kingdom of God.
• Jesus’ teaching was different from the teaching of the scribes. It was Good News for the poor, because Jesus revealed a new face of God, in which people could recognize themselves and rejoice. “I bless You, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to little children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased You to do!” (Mt 11:25-28).
4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• The Word of God, a lamp which gives light. What place does the
Bible have in my life? What light do I receive?
• What is the image of Jesus that I have within me? Who is Jesus for me and who am I for Jesus?
• What is the image of Jesus that I have within me? Who is Jesus for me and who am I for Jesus?
• What can I do, on a regular basis, to further learn the
context of the bible and His teaching, to reduce my preconceptions, so I too
won't have on colored lenses and will be able to see and act clearly?
5) CONCLUDING PRAYER
Taste and see that Yahweh is good.
How blessed are those who take refuge in Him. (Ps 34:8)
How blessed are those who take refuge in Him. (Ps 34:8)
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