Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary
Time
Lectionary: 328
Lectionary: 328
Brothers and sisters:
Through Jesus, let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise,
that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have;
God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.
Obey your leaders and defer to them,
for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account,
that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow,
for that would be of no advantage to you.
May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead
the great shepherd of the sheep
by the Blood of the eternal covenant,
furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will.
May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Through Jesus, let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise,
that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have;
God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.
Obey your leaders and defer to them,
for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account,
that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow,
for that would be of no advantage to you.
May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead
the great shepherd of the sheep
by the Blood of the eternal covenant,
furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will.
May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6
R. (1) The
Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose.
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose.
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
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 6:30-34
The Apostles gathered together with Jesus
and reported all they had done and taught.
He said to them,
"Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."
People were coming and going in great numbers,
and they had no opportunity even to eat.
So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.
People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.
They hastened there on foot from all the towns
and arrived at the place before them.
When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.
and reported all they had done and taught.
He said to them,
"Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."
People were coming and going in great numbers,
and they had no opportunity even to eat.
So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.
People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.
They hastened there on foot from all the towns
and arrived at the place before them.
When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.
Meditation:
"Come away and rest a while"
What
does the image of a shepherd tell us about God's care for us? Shepherding was
one of the oldest of callings in Israel, even before farming, since the Chosen
People had traveled from place to place, living in tents, and driving their
flocks from one pasture to another. Looking after sheep was no easy calling. It
required great skill and courage. Herds were often quite large, thousands or
even ten thousands of sheep. The flocks spent a good part of the year in the
open country. Watching over them required a great deal of attention and
care.
Stray
sheep must be brought back lest they die
Sheep who strayed from the flock had to be sought out and brought back by the shepherd. Since hyenas, jackals, wolves, and even bear were common and fed on sheep, the shepherds often had to do battle with these wild and dangerous beasts. A shepherd literally had to put his life on the line in defending his sheep. Shepherds took turns watching the sheep at night to ward off any attackers. The sheep and their shepherds continually lived together. Their life was so intimately bound together that individual sheep, even when mixed with other flocks, could recognize the voice of their own shepherd and would come immediately when called by name.
Sheep who strayed from the flock had to be sought out and brought back by the shepherd. Since hyenas, jackals, wolves, and even bear were common and fed on sheep, the shepherds often had to do battle with these wild and dangerous beasts. A shepherd literally had to put his life on the line in defending his sheep. Shepherds took turns watching the sheep at night to ward off any attackers. The sheep and their shepherds continually lived together. Their life was so intimately bound together that individual sheep, even when mixed with other flocks, could recognize the voice of their own shepherd and would come immediately when called by name.
God
himself leads us like a good shepherd
The Old Testament often spoke of God as shepherd of his people, Israel. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want (Psalm 23:1). Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! (Psalm 80:1) We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3). The Messiah is also pictured as the shepherd of God's people: He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms (Isaiah 40:11).
The Old Testament often spoke of God as shepherd of his people, Israel. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want (Psalm 23:1). Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! (Psalm 80:1) We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3). The Messiah is also pictured as the shepherd of God's people: He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms (Isaiah 40:11).
Jesus
told his disciples that he was the Good Shepherd who was willing to lay down
his life for his sheep (Matthew 18:12, Luke 15:4, John 10). When he saw the
multitude of people in need of protection and care, he was moved to respond
with compassionate concern. His love was a personal love for each and every
person who came to him in need.
Jesus
is the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls
Peter the apostle called Jesus the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls (1 Peter 2:25). Do you know the peace and security of a life freely submitted to Jesus, the Good Shepherd? In the person of the Lord Jesus we see the unceasing vigilance and patience of God's love. In our battle against sin and evil, Jesus is ever ready to give us help, strength, and refuge. Do you trust in his grace and help at all times?
Peter the apostle called Jesus the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls (1 Peter 2:25). Do you know the peace and security of a life freely submitted to Jesus, the Good Shepherd? In the person of the Lord Jesus we see the unceasing vigilance and patience of God's love. In our battle against sin and evil, Jesus is ever ready to give us help, strength, and refuge. Do you trust in his grace and help at all times?
"Lord
Jesus, you guard and protect us from all evil. Help me to stand firm in your
word and to trust in your help in all circumstances. May I always find rest and
refuge in the shelter of your presence."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: The good shepherd feeds us with the
words of God, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"The
pastures that this good shepherd has prepared for you, in which he has settled
you for you to take your fill, are not various kinds of grasses and green
things, among which some are sweet to the taste, some extremely bitter, which
as the seasons succeed one another are sometimes there and sometimes not. Your
pastures are the words of God and his commandments, and they have all been sown
as sweet grasses. These pastures had been tasted by that man who said to God,
'How sweet are your words to my palate, more so than honey and the honeycomb in
my mouth!' (Psalm 119:103)." (excerpt from Sermon 366.3)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, MARK 6:30-34
Weekday
(Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21; Psalm 23)
Weekday
(Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21; Psalm 23)
KEY VERSE: "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while" (v 31).
TO KNOW: The Twelve Apostles had been sent by Jesus to heal and preach the coming of God's reign (Mk 6:7-13). When they returned from their first mission they reported to Jesus all that had occurred. Because the needs of the people had been so great, the apostles scarcely had time to eat. As a wise leader, Jesus knew that these servants of God must tend to their physical necessities as well as to their spiritual needs. So he invited them to go with him to rest at a secluded place across the lake. The crowds saw Jesus going away so they went around the lake on foot. When Jesus and his men arrived, they discovered that the people were already there to meet them. Instead of being annoyed by this interruption, Jesus took pity on the crowd, for they were "like sheep without a shepherd." Ignoring his own need for rest, Jesus began to "teach them many things" (v 34).
TO LOVE: Do I pray for the physical and spiritual needs of those who minister in my community?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to balance my work with prayer and recreation.
OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Chapter V of the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, issued by the Holy See in December 2001, describes the Church's traditional dedication of Saturday to the Virgin Mary. "Saturdays stand out among those days dedicated to the Virgin Mary. These are designated as memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary" (218). The chapter also describes the importance of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, in Catholic devotional life, in the Liturgy, and reflections on popular devotions to Mary, her feast days, and the Rosary.
Saturday 9 February 2019
Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21. Psalm 22(23). Mark 6:30-34.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want – Psalm
22(23).
‘Come away and rest for a while.’
With their life on the road, the apostles needed rest for their
bodies. They experienced refreshment for their souls and a recharging of their
spirits through friendship with Jesus. He recognised their need for rest and
quiet. This should remind many of us that rest is not an indulgence we may
allow ourselves only in extreme circumstances but part of the necessary rhythm
of our lives.
For Christians, there should be a corresponding rhythm in our
spiritual lives. Like the apostles, we are at the service of our brothers and
sisters. We too need to turn to God continually for the recharging and renewal
of our spirits, for God’s work cannot be done by human means alone.
Saint Jerome Emiliani
Saint of the Day for February 9
(1486 – February 8, 1537)
 |
| Statue of Saint Jerome Emiliani | Bataan, Philippines | photo by Judgefloro |
Saint Jerome Emiliani’s Story
A careless and irreligious soldier for the city-state of Venice,
Jerome was captured in a skirmish at an outpost town and chained in a dungeon.
In prison Jerome had a lot of time to think, and he gradually learned how to
pray. When he escaped, he returned to Venice where he took charge of the
education of his nephews—and began his own studies for the priesthood.
In the years after his ordination, events again called Jerome to
a decision and a new lifestyle. Plague and famine swept northern Italy. Jerome
began caring for the sick and feeding the hungry at his own expense. While
serving the sick and the poor, he soon resolved to devote himself and his
property solely to others, particularly to abandoned children. He founded three
orphanages, a shelter for penitent prostitutes and a hospital.
Around 1532, Jerome and two other priests established a
congregation, the Clerks Regular of Somasca, dedicated to the care of orphans
and the education of youth. Jerome died in 1537 from a disease he caught while
tending the sick. He was canonized in 1767. In 1928, Pius Xl named him the
patron of orphans and abandoned children. His Liturgical Feast Day is February
8.
Reflection
Very often in our lives it seems to take some kind of
“imprisonment” to free us from the shackles of our self-centeredness. When
we’re “caught” in some situation we don’t want to be in, we finally come to
know the liberating power of Another. Only then can we become another for “the
imprisoned” and “the orphaned” all around us.
Saint Jerome Emiliani is the Patron Saint of:
Orphans
Abandoned Children
Abandoned Children
LECTIO DIVINA: MARK 6:30-34
Lectio Divina:
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Ordinary Time
1) OPENING PRAYER
Lord our God,
help us to love You with all our hearts
and to love all people 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, forever and ever. Amen.
2) GOSPEL READING - MARK 6:30-34
The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they
had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted
place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and
they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves
to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.
They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before
them. When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with
pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to
teach them many things.
3) REFLECTION
The Gospel today is in great contrast with that of yesterday. On
one side, the banquet of death, wanted by Herod with the great of his kingdom
in the Palace of the Capital, during which John the Baptist was murdered (Mk 6:
17-29); on the other side, the banquet of life promoted by Jesus with the
hungry people of Galilee in the desert (Mk 6: 30-44).The Gospel today presents
only the introduction to the multiplication of the loaves and describes the
teaching of Jesus.
Mark 6: 30-32. The welcome given to the disciples. At that time,
the apostles rejoined Jesus and told Him all they had done and taught. And He
said to them, “Come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a
while.” These verses show how Jesus formed His disciples. He was not
concerned only with the content of the preaching, but also with rest for the
disciples. He invited them to go to a lonely place so as to be able to rest and
review what they had done.
Mark 6: 33-34. The welcome given to the people. The people
noticed that Jesus had gone to the other side of the lake, and they followed
Him trying to go to Him by foot, to the other shore. So as He stepped ashore He
saw a large crowd, and He took pity on them because they were like sheep
without a shepherd and He began to teach them at some length. Seeing that
crowd, Jesus was sad, because they were like sheep without a shepherd . He
forgets about His own rest and begins to teach them. In becoming aware that the
people have no shepherd, Jesus began to be their shepherd. He begins to teach
them. As the psalm says, “The Lord is my Shepherd! I lack nothing. In grassy
meadows He lets me lie. By tranquil streams He leads me to restore my spirit.
He guides me in paths of saving justice as befits His name. Even were I to walk
in a ravine as dark as death I should fear no danger, for You are at my side.
Your staff and Your crook are there to soothe me. You prepare a table for me in
the sight of my enemies.” (Ps 23: 1:3-5). Jesus wanted to rest together with
His disciples, but the desire to respond to the needs of the people impels Him
to leave rest aside. Something similar happens when He meets the Samaritan
woman. The disciples went to get some food. When they returned they said to
Jesus, “Master, eat something!” (Jn 4: 31), but He answers, “I have food to eat
that you do not know about.” (Jn 4: 32). The desire to respond to the needs of
the Samaritan people leads Him to forget His hunger. My food is to do the will
of the One who sent Me and to complete His work (Jn 4: 34). The first thing is
to respond to the people who look for Him. Then He can eat.
Then Jesus began to teach them many things. The Gospel of Mark
tells us many things that Jesus taught. The people were impressed: A new
teaching! He taught them with authority! It was unlike that of the scribes! (Mk
1: 22.27). Teaching was what Jesus did the most (Mk 2: 13; 4: 1-2; 6: 34). This
is what He usually did (Mk 10: 1). For another fifteen times Mark says that
Jesus taught. Was it perhaps because Mark was not interested in the content? It
depends on what people understand when they speak about content! To teach is
not only a question of teaching new truths in order to say something. The
content which Jesus gave did not only appear in His words, but also in His
gestures and in His way of relating with people. The content is never separated
from the person who communicates it. Jesus was a welcoming person (Mk 6: 34).
He wanted the good of the people. The goodness and the love which came from His
words formed part of the content. They were His temperament. A good content
without goodness and kindness would be like milk poured on the floor. Jesus’
teaching manifested itself in a thousand ways. Jesus accepts as disciples not
only men, but also women. He does not only teach in the synagogue, but also in
any place where there were people to listen to Him: in the synagogue, in the
house, on the shore, on the mountain, on the plain, in the boat, in the desert.
It was not the relationship of pupil-teacher, but of disciple to Master. The
professor teaches and the pupil is with him during the time of the class. The
Master gives witness and the disciple lives with Him 24 hours a day. It is more
difficult to be a Master than a teacher! We are not pupils of Jesus, we are His
disciples! The teaching of Jesus was a communication that came from the
abundance of His heart in the most varied forms: like a conversation by which
He tries to clarify the facts (Mk 9: 9-13), like a comparison or parable that
invites people to think and to participate (Mk 4: 33), like an explanation of
what He Himself thought and did (Mk 7: 17-23), like a discussion which does not
necessarily avoid polemics (Mk 2: 6-12), like a criticism that denounces what
is false and mistaken (Mk 12: 38-40). It was always a witness of what He
Himself lived, an expression of His love! (Mt 11: 28-30).
4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS
What do you do when you want to teach others something about
your faith and your religion? Do you imitate Jesus?
Jesus is concerned not only about the content, but also about
rest. How was the religious education that you received as a child? Did the
catechists imitate Jesus?
5) CONCLUDING PRAYER
How can a young man keep his way spotless?
By keeping your words.
With all my heart I seek You;
do not let me stray from Your commandments. (Ps 119:9-10)
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