Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary
Time
Lectionary: 329
Lectionary: 329
In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth,
the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss,
while a mighty wind swept over the waters.
Then God said,
"Let there be light," and there was light.
God saw how good the light was.
God then separated the light from the darkness.
God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night."
Thus evening came, and morning followed–the first day.
Then God said,
"Let there be a dome in the middle of the waters,
to separate one body of water from the other."
And so it happened:
God made the dome,
and it separated the water above the dome from the water below it.
God called the dome "the sky."
Evening came, and morning followed–the second day.
Then God said,
"Let the water under the sky be gathered into a single basin,
so that the dry land may appear."
And so it happened:
the water under the sky was gathered into its basin,
and the dry land appeared.
God called the dry land "the earth,"
and the basin of the water he called "the sea."
God saw how good it was.
Then God said,
"Let the earth bring forth vegetation:
every kind of plant that bears seed
and every kind of fruit tree on earth
that bears fruit with its seed in it."
And so it happened:
the earth brought forth every kind of plant that bears seed
and every kind of fruit tree on earth that
bears fruit with its seed in it.
God saw how good it was.
Evening came, and morning followed–the third day.
Then God said:
"Let there be lights in the dome of the sky,
to separate day from night.
Let them mark the fixed times, the days and the years,
and serve as luminaries in the dome of the sky,
to shed light upon the earth."
And so it happened:
God made the two great lights,
the greater one to govern the day,
and the lesser one to govern the night;
and he made the stars.
God set them in the dome of the sky,
to shed light upon the earth,
to govern the day and the night,
and to separate the light from the darkness.
God saw how good it was.
Evening came, and morning followed–the fourth day.
the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss,
while a mighty wind swept over the waters.
Then God said,
"Let there be light," and there was light.
God saw how good the light was.
God then separated the light from the darkness.
God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night."
Thus evening came, and morning followed–the first day.
Then God said,
"Let there be a dome in the middle of the waters,
to separate one body of water from the other."
And so it happened:
God made the dome,
and it separated the water above the dome from the water below it.
God called the dome "the sky."
Evening came, and morning followed–the second day.
Then God said,
"Let the water under the sky be gathered into a single basin,
so that the dry land may appear."
And so it happened:
the water under the sky was gathered into its basin,
and the dry land appeared.
God called the dry land "the earth,"
and the basin of the water he called "the sea."
God saw how good it was.
Then God said,
"Let the earth bring forth vegetation:
every kind of plant that bears seed
and every kind of fruit tree on earth
that bears fruit with its seed in it."
And so it happened:
the earth brought forth every kind of plant that bears seed
and every kind of fruit tree on earth that
bears fruit with its seed in it.
God saw how good it was.
Evening came, and morning followed–the third day.
Then God said:
"Let there be lights in the dome of the sky,
to separate day from night.
Let them mark the fixed times, the days and the years,
and serve as luminaries in the dome of the sky,
to shed light upon the earth."
And so it happened:
God made the two great lights,
the greater one to govern the day,
and the lesser one to govern the night;
and he made the stars.
God set them in the dome of the sky,
to shed light upon the earth,
to govern the day and the night,
and to separate the light from the darkness.
God saw how good it was.
Evening came, and morning followed–the fourth day.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 104:1-2A, 5-6, 10 AND
12, 24 AND 35C
R. (31b) May the Lord be glad in his works.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
You are clothed with majesty and glory,
robed in light as with a cloak.
R. May the Lord be glad in his works.
You fixed the earth upon its foundation,
not to be moved forever;
With the ocean, as with a garment, you covered it;
above the mountains the waters stood.
R. May the Lord be glad in his works.
You send forth springs into the watercourses
that wind among the mountains.
Beside them the birds of heaven dwell;
from among the branches they send forth their song.
R. May the Lord be glad in his works.
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you have wrought them all—
the earth is full of your creatures;
Bless the LORD, O my soul! Alleluia.
R. May the Lord be glad in his works.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
You are clothed with majesty and glory,
robed in light as with a cloak.
R. May the Lord be glad in his works.
You fixed the earth upon its foundation,
not to be moved forever;
With the ocean, as with a garment, you covered it;
above the mountains the waters stood.
R. May the Lord be glad in his works.
You send forth springs into the watercourses
that wind among the mountains.
Beside them the birds of heaven dwell;
from among the branches they send forth their song.
R. May the Lord be glad in his works.
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you have wrought them all—
the earth is full of your creatures;
Bless the LORD, O my soul! Alleluia.
R. May the Lord be glad in his works.
AlleluiaSEE MT 4:23
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 6:53-56
After making the crossing to the other side of the sea,
Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret
and tied up there.
As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him.
They scurried about the surrounding country
and began to bring in the sick on mats
to wherever they heard he was.
Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered,
they laid the sick in the marketplaces
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak;
and as many as touched it were healed.
Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret
and tied up there.
As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him.
They scurried about the surrounding country
and began to bring in the sick on mats
to wherever they heard he was.
Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered,
they laid the sick in the marketplaces
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak;
and as many as touched it were healed.
For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, please
go here.
Meditation:
"Many were made well"
Do
you recognize the Lord's presence in your life? The Gospel records that when
Jesus disembarked from the boat the people immediately recognized him.
What did they recognize in Jesus? A prophet, a healer, the Messiah, the Son of
God? For sure they recognized that Jesus had power from God to heal and to make
whole bodies, limbs, minds, and hearts that were beset with disease,
affliction, and sin. What happened when they pressed upon him and touched the
fringe of his garment? They were made well. The Lord Jesus is ever
ready to meet our needs as well. Do you approach him with expectant faith?
Do
you recognize the Lord's presence with you and the power of his word for your
life?
Faith is an entirely free gift which God makes to us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Believing and trusting in God to act in our lives is only possible by the grace and help of the Holy Spirit who moves the heart and converts it to God. The Holy Spirit opens the eyes of the mind and helps us to understand, accept, and believe God's word. How do we grow in faith? By listening to God's word with trust and submission. Faith also grows through testing and perseverance. The Lord wants to teach us how to pray in faith for his will for our lives and for the things he wishes to give us to enable us to follow him faithfully and serve him generously.
Faith is an entirely free gift which God makes to us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Believing and trusting in God to act in our lives is only possible by the grace and help of the Holy Spirit who moves the heart and converts it to God. The Holy Spirit opens the eyes of the mind and helps us to understand, accept, and believe God's word. How do we grow in faith? By listening to God's word with trust and submission. Faith also grows through testing and perseverance. The Lord wants to teach us how to pray in faith for his will for our lives and for the things he wishes to give us to enable us to follow him faithfully and serve him generously.
Do
you seek the Lord Jesus and put his kingdom first?
Jesus gave his disciples the perfect prayer which acknowledges God as our Father who provides generously for his children. The Lord's prayer teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God and to pray that God's will be accomplished in our lives. The Lord in turn, gives us what we need to live each day for his glory. The Lord is never too distant nor too busy to meet us and to give his blessing. Do you pray to the Father with confidence that he will show you his will and give you what you need to follow him? Ask the Lord to increase your faith and gratitude for his merciful love and provision for your life.
Jesus gave his disciples the perfect prayer which acknowledges God as our Father who provides generously for his children. The Lord's prayer teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God and to pray that God's will be accomplished in our lives. The Lord in turn, gives us what we need to live each day for his glory. The Lord is never too distant nor too busy to meet us and to give his blessing. Do you pray to the Father with confidence that he will show you his will and give you what you need to follow him? Ask the Lord to increase your faith and gratitude for his merciful love and provision for your life.
"Lord
Jesus, let my heart sing for joy in your presence. Give me eyes of faith to
recognize your presence and fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may walk in
your way of love and peace."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: Christ's wounds bring healing and life,
by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.
"The
Lord of hosts was not signaling weakness as he gave sight to the blind, made
the crooked to stand upright, raised the dead to life (Matthew 11:5),
anticipated the effects of medicine at our prayers, and cured those who sought
after him. Those who merely touched the fringe of his robe were healed (Mark
6:56). Surely you did not think it was some divine weakness, you speculators,
when you saw him wounded. Indeed there were wounds that pierced his body (Matthew
27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:33; John 19:18, 31-37), but they did not demonstrate
weakness but strength. For from these wounds flowed life to all, from the One
who was the life of all." (excerpt from ON THE CHRISTIAN
FAITH 4.5.54–55.16)
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, MARK 6:53-56
Weekday
(Genesis 1:1-19; Psalm 104)
Weekday
(Genesis 1:1-19; Psalm 104)
KEY VERSE: "They laid their sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak" (v 56).
TO KNOW: Jesus' fame had spread throughout the land, so wherever he went, people flocked to him for healing. Picture the excitement when Jesus entered a town or village. Whether at the crossroads or in the marketplace, the people scurried about bringing their sick to him. When Jesus and his disciples arrived by boat at the shore of Gennesaret (Lake Galilee), the crowds gathered again, bringing their sick from far and wide. Their faith was so great that they were healed just by touching the tassel on his cloak (the tassels worn by observant Jews represented the 613 Laws of the Jewish Torah). Although the disciples had seen Jesus' mighty deeds in the wilderness (vs 34-44), at sea (vs 45-51), and now in the villages, they still did not understand the full meaning of these events.
TO LOVE: Do I have more interest in seeing miracles than I have in knowing Jesus?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to have faith in your words and works.
Optional Memorial to Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous, a poor, young girl in the grotto of Masabielle, close to Lourdes in France in 1858. Our Lady asked for a chapel to be built on the site of the apparitions and when Bernadette asked her who she was, she replied: "I am the Immaculate Conception." Our Lady asked Bernadette to wash her face at the fountain but there was no fountain there, so Bernadette dug a hole in the ground, and washed her face with muddy water. People ridiculed her, but there sprung up the famous fountain of water that has healing attributes. Many sick people have bathed themselves in that water and from the time of the Apparitions until now. Sixty-nine miraculous cures have been recognized by the Church. Millions of people from all over the world go to Lourdes yearly in the hope of obtaining help from our generous Mother of God. Bernadette became a nun. She died when she was 35 and her body is still incorrupt.
WORLD DAY OF THE SICK
Pope John Paul II initiated the Word Day of the Sick in 1992 to encourage people to pray for those who suffer from illness and for their caregivers. The Pope himself had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s a year before, in 1991, and it is considered that his own illness was the impetus for his designation of the day. People around the world take the time to pray for the sick and for caregivers who work very hard to alleviate the sufferings of the sick. Faith organizations mark this day especially to provide the sick with medicines, food, and spiritual guidance.
Monday 11 February 2019
Genesis 1:1-19. Psalm 103(104):1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 24, 35. Mark
6:53-56.
May the Lord be glad in his works – Psalm 103(104):1-2, 5-6, 10,
12, 24, 35.
‘And all those who touched him were cured.’
All of us are in need of healing. No one is excluded. We are not
yet whole or entire. We are in the process of becoming. Our creation is not
complete. Today, more than ever, we need to turn to Jesus, and allow him to
touch us in our everyday experiences.
Lord Jesus, you call us to yourself, to your wounded heart.
There you want us to know true joy and peace. You invite us to enter into your
compassionate heart, with our whole heart, and come to know there the healing
love of God. Bring true healing to my entire body, mind and heart. May you be
glad in us, Lord.
Our Lady of Lourdes
Saint of the Day for February 11
 |
| Our Lady of Lourdes in Rosary Square – Lourdes | José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro |
The Story of Our Lady of Lourdes
On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the
Immaculate Conception in the apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus.
A little more than three years later, on February 11, 1858, a young lady
appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. This began a series of visions. During the
apparition on March 25, the lady identified herself with the words: “I am the
Immaculate Conception.”
Bernadette was a sickly child of poor parents. Their practice of
the Catholic faith was scarcely more than lukewarm. Bernadette could pray the
Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Creed. She also knew the prayer of the
Miraculous Medal: “O Mary conceived without sin.”
During interrogations Bernadette gave an account of what she
saw. It was “something white in the shape of a girl.” She used the word aquero,
a dialect term meaning “this thing.” It was “a pretty young girl with a rosary
over her arm.” Her white robe was encircled by a blue girdle. She wore a white
veil. There was a yellow rose on each foot. A rosary was in her hand. Bernadette
was also impressed by the fact that the lady did not use the informal form of
address (tu), but the polite form (vous). The humble virgin
appeared to a humble girl and treated her with dignity.
Through that humble girl, Mary revitalized and continues to
revitalize the faith of millions of people. People began to flock to Lourdes
from other parts of France and from all over the world. In 1862 Church
authorities confirmed the authenticity of the apparitions and authorized the
cult of Our Lady of Lourdes for the diocese. The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
became worldwide in 1907.
Reflection
Lourdes has become a place of pilgrimage and healing, but even
more of faith. Church authorities have recognized over 60 miraculous cures,
although there have probably been many more. To people of faith this is not
surprising. It is a continuation of Jesus’ healing miracles—now performed at
the intercession of his mother. Some would say that the greater miracles are
hidden. Many who visit Lourdes return home with renewed faith and a readiness
to serve God in their needy brothers and sisters.
There still may be people who doubt the apparitions of Lourdes.
Perhaps the best that can be said to them are the words that introduce the
film The Song of Bernadette: “For those who believe in God, no
explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe, no explanation is
possible.”
Our Lady of Lourdes if the Patron Saint of:
Bodily Ills
LECTIO DIVINA: MARK 6:53-56
Lectio Divina:
Monday, February 11, 2019
1) OPENING PRAYER
Father,
watch over Your family
and keep us safe in Your care,
for all our hope is in You.
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 6:53-56
After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus
and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving
the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the
surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they
heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid
the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the
tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.
3) REFLECTION
The text of today’s Gospel is the final part of the whole
passage of Mark 6:45-56, which presents three different themes: a) Jesus goes
to the mountain alone to pray (Mk 6:45-46); b) Immediately after, He walks on
the water, goes toward the disciples who are struggling against the waves of
the sea (Mk 6: 47-52); 3) Now, in today s Gospel, when they were already on the
shore, the people look for Jesus so that He can cure their sick (Mk 6:53-56).
Mark 6: 53-56. The search of the people. At that time, Jesus and
His disciples having made the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When
they disembarked, the people recognized Him at once. The people were numerous.
They came from all parts, bringing their sick. The enthusiasm of the people who
look for Jesus, recognize Him, and follow Him is surprising. What impels people
to search for Jesus is not only the desire to encounter Him, to be with Him,
but rather the desire to be cured of their sicknesses. Hurrying through the
countryside, they brought the sick on stretchers to wherever they heard He
went.
And wherever He went, to village or town or farm, they laid down
the sick in the open spaces, begging Him to let them touch even the fringe of
His cloak, and all those who touched Him were saved. The Gospel of Matthew
comments and enlightens this fact quoting the figure of the Servant of Yahweh,
of whom Isaiah says, “Yet ours were the sufferings he was bearing, ours the
sorrows he was carrying.” (Is 53: 4 and Mt 8: 16-17)
To teach and to cure, to cure and to teach. Right from the
beginning of His apostolic activity, Jesus goes through all the villages of
Galilee, to speak to the people about the imminent coming of the Kingdom of God
(Mk 1: 14-15). There, wherever He finds people to listen to Him, He speaks and
transmits the Good News of God; He accepts the sick, in all places: in
the synagogues during the celebration of the Word on Saturday (Mk 1: 21; 3: 1;
6: 2); in the informal meetings in the houses of friends (Mk 2: 1,15; 7: 17;
9:28; 10:10); walking on the street with the disciples (Mk 2: 23); along the
beach, sitting in a boat (Mk 4: 1); in the desert where He took refuge and
where people looked for Him (Mk 1: 45; 6: 32-34); on the mountain from where He
proclaimed the Beatitudes (Mt 5: 1); in the squares of the villages and of the
cities, where the people took their sick (Mk 6: 55-56); in the Temple of
Jerusalem, on the occasion of pilgrimages, every day without fear (Mk 14: 49)!
To cure and to teach, to teach and to cure, that is what Jesus did the most (Mk
2: 13; 4: 1-2; 6: 34). This is what He used to do (Mk 10:1). The people were
amazed (Mk 12: 37; 1: 22,27; 11:18) and they looked for Him, as a crowd.
The origin of this great enthusiasm of the people was, on the
one hand, the person of Jesus who called and attracted and, on the other hand,
the abandonment in which people lived, they were like sheep without a shepherd
(cf. Mk 6:34). In Jesus, everything was revelation of what impelled Him from
within! He not only spoke of God, but He also revealed Him. He communicated
something of what He Himself lived and experienced. He not only announced the
Good News. He Himself was a proof, a living witness of the Kingdom. In Him was
manifested what happens when a human being allows God to reign in His life.
What has value, what is important, is not only the words, but also, and above
all, the witness, the concrete gesture. This is the Good News which attracts!
4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS
The enthusiasm of the people for Jesus, looking for the sense of
life and a solution for their ills. Where does this exist today? Does in exist
in you? Does it exist in others?
What attracts is Jesus’ loving attitude toward the poor and the
abandoned. And I? How do I deal with the people excluded by society?
5) CONCLUDING PRAYER
How countless are Your works, Yahweh,
all of them made so wisely!
The earth is full of Your creatures.
Bless Yahweh, my soul. (Ps 104:24,35)
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