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Gospel for Tuesday, January 30th

Gospel
Mk 5:21-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side,
a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.
One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward.
Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying,
“My daughter is at the point of death.
Please, come lay your hands on her
that she may get well and live.”
He went off with him
and a large crowd followed him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.
She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors
and had spent all that she had.
Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.
She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd
and touched his cloak.
She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.”
Immediately her flow of blood dried up.
She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him,
turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?”
But his disciples said to him,
“You see how the crowd is pressing upon you,
and yet you ask, Who touched me?”
And he looked around to see who had done it.
The woman, realizing what had happened to her,
approached in fear and trembling.
She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.
He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you.
Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

While he was still speaking,
people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said,
“Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?”
Disregarding the message that was reported,
Jesus said to the synagogue official,
“Do not be afraid; just have faith.”
He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside
except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official,

he caught sight of a commotion,
people weeping and wailing loudly.
So he went in and said to them,
“Why this commotion and weeping?
The child is not dead but asleep.”
And they ridiculed him.
Then he put them all out.
He took along the child’s father and mother
and those who were with him
and entered the room where the child was.
He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,”
which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”
The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.
At that they were utterly astounded.
He gave strict orders that no one should know this
and said that she should be given something to eat.

Reflection:
We should take our burdens to Jesus. Jairus is exercising the faith that is he is given. What a blessed thing to exercise our faith in Christ. Jesus shows His divinity by raising this little girl from the dead.

Why does Jesus give strict orders that no one should know this? I think because it was not His time to reveal Himself to the world yet.

Gospel for Sunday, January 28th

Gospel
Lk 4:21-30

Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying:
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”
He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb,
‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say,
‘Do here in your native place
the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”
And he said, “Amen, I say to you,
no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you,
there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah
when the sky was closed for three and a half years
and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,
but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel
during the time of Elisha the prophet;
yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
When the people in the synagogue heard this,
they were all filled with fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town,
and led him to the brow of the hill
on which their town had been built,
to hurl him down headlong.
But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away.

Comments:
The first thing that stands out is how fickle the people are. One minute they all were speaking highly of Him amazed at the graciousness of His words and the next minute they want to throw Him off a cliff.

It seems like Jesus was trying to provoke the people when He tells them that they will say to Him "physician cure yourself" and "do here what you did in Capernaum"

Gospel for Saturday, January 27th

Gospel
Mk 4:35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:
“Let us cross to the other side.”
Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.
And other boats were with him.
A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,
so that it was already filling up.
Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.
They woke him and said to him,
“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
He woke up,
rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”
The wind ceased and there was great calm.
Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?
Do you not yet have faith?”
They were filled with great awe and said to one another,
“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

Comments:
One thing that jumps out is that they were probably in Peter's boat. How many events did the writers of the Gospels mention concerning Peter's boat and the sea of Galilee. A quick search on boat in the Gospel's shows 45 hits. I'm researching Sea of Galilee.

Gospel for Friday, January 26th

Gospel
Mk 4:26-34

Jesus said to the crowds:
“This is how it is with the Kingdom of God;
it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land
and would sleep and rise night and day
and the seed would sprout and grow,
he knows not how.
Of its own accord the land yields fruit,
first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once,
for the harvest has come.”

He said,
“To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God,
or what parable can we use for it?
It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,
is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants
and puts forth large branches,
so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”
With many such parables
he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.
Without parables he did not speak to them,
but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

Comments:
Jesus is speaking in parables about His Kingdom which he is inaugurating. In both of these parables He speaks of His Kingdom beginning as a seed. Surely I can see how the Church can be compared to a seed which grows into a field of wheat or a great tree.

I thought about this some last night. I thought about the Church being compared to a field of wheat. I thought about the Church in its divided state. I thought about the individual as being compared to a single grain of wheat in an entire field of wheat. How can the individual consider himself from the field. Surely we are connected in this analogy. We must not separate ourselves in from the rest of the field. How dangerous it would be for one grain of wheat to try to grow all by itself apart from the rest of the field.

Also how can one part of the field separate itself from the rest of the field? How can the Church divide and say that another part of the field is not really the field? This follows the thinking of the apostle Paul in saying that one part of the body cannot say to another part "I have no need of you".

It is also interesting that Jesus speaks to the crowds in parables but he explained everything to His disciples in private. Why does He do this? Why does God show this favoritism? Surely God's ways are mysterious. Was it because God wants us to be dependent upon His chosen vessels? Maybe God doesn't give everyone all the information so we must humbly go to the ones He has chosen. Maybe this is a gift to everyone to keep us from becoming proud.

St. Timothy and Titus,
Pray for me.

Gospel for Monday, January 22nd

Gospel
Mk 3:22-30

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus,
“He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and
“By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables,
“How can Satan drive out Satan?
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a house is divided against itself,
that house will not be able to stand.
And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided,
he cannot stand;
that is the end of him.
But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property
unless he first ties up the strong man.
Then he can plunder his house.
Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies
that people utter will be forgiven them.
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will never have forgiveness,
but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”
For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Comments:
The scribes and pharisees are in a head on clash with the Lord Jesus Christ. The spiritual realm is also in a head on clash with Jesus. He has arrived on the scene and is showing His authority over everything. The scribes and pharisees are following him around trying to trip him up or catch him doing some unlawful thing.

Jesus was angered and grieved at their hardness of heart. He knows the hearts of all men. It seems that the scribes and pharisees were afraid of losing their authority with the people. They could see that their authority was coming to an end. The demons also recognized their time was coming to an end. Jesus this newcomer from Nazareth, this uneducated carpenter from just a poor small town was showing everyone that he was and is the final authority. The King of the world has arrived. This is God in the flesh. It took many years for this great truth to sink in and many in the world still do not recognize this truth. Jesus Christ is God and also Man. The second Adam. He has come to restore everything and save us from our sins.

Jesus says to me the same thing he said to these scribes. "whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”
How can I blaspheme the Holy Spirit? By not acknowledging His presence. By attributing the miracles that he performs to just chance. By knowing what I should do and continuing to make excuses to avoid doing it. By persisting in my sin when I know this grieves the heart of God.

Lord Jesus Christ; Son of God; Have mercy on me a sinner.

Gospel for Friday January 19th

Gospel
Mk 3:13-19

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted
and they came to him.
He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,
that they might be with him
and he might send them forth to preach
and to have authority to drive out demons:
He appointed the Twelve:
Simon, whom he named Peter;
James, son of Zebedee,
and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,
that is, sons of thunder;
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;
Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,
and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

Comments:
Jesus called the men who would be his Apostles up to the mountain. God seems to meet his people on the mountain for important events. Its amazing to look at a map of Israel and see all the Mountains and the important events that have taken place in history on these mountains.

Jesus chose 12 Apostles. The number is 12 is used by God throughout salvation history. The number 12 has mystical meanings.

Gospel for Thursday, January 18th

Gospel
Mk 3:7-12

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples.
A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.
Hearing what he was doing,
a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem,
from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan,
and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.
He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd,
so that they would not crush him.
He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases
were pressing upon him to touch him.
And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him
and shout, “You are the Son of God.”
He warned them sternly not to make him known.

Comments:
This is awesome. People were coming from everywhere to see Jesus. The people who had diseases were trying to touch him. We all have our diseases; spiritual and physical. How can I go to where he is today? We can go to him in many ways. Prayer. Other Christians. We can seek him in every day occurances. We can also go to him in the Church that he instituted. He says to the Apostles "behold I am with you always, till the end of the age". Jesus says to us "blessed are those who believe but have not seen me".

Some of these people traveled from very far distances with many inconveniences and burdens along the way. We should put aside our irritations and inconveniences to do what ever it takes to go to where he is today. Only with eyes of faith can we see him today. Unless we put our faith into action we will not see him. We will continue to live with our diseases unless we touch him.

The unclean spirits fell down before him. All spirits and all creation will fall down before the King. I should fall down before him everyday. How often I fail to fall down before Him when I have the opportunity. Lord help me to see past the physical and into the spiritual world where spirit is united with flesh. Let the scales fall from my eyes to see into spiritual realities. Even the demons recognized you as the Son of God. How often I fail to see this.

Gospel for Tuesday, January 16th

Gospel
Mk 2:23-28

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath,
his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain.
At this the Pharisees said to him,
“Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”
He said to them,
“Have you never read what David did
when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry?
How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest
and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat,
and shared it with his companions?”
Then he said to them,
“The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.
That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

Comments:
The disciples began eating the heads of grain while they were passing through someone's field. In Deuteronomy 23:25 it shows that it was lawful for travelers to eat the heads of grain while passing through even though the fields belonged to someone else. It seems that that the Pharisees were spying on Jesus and His disciples in order for them to know about this.
When they accused the followers of Jesus he appealed to the scriptures. "Have you never read"
The Pharisees were the scripture experts but Jesus is Lord of everything. Even Lord of the sabbath.

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. The Church has changed the day of obligation to Sunday instead of Saturday. Sunday is the resurrection day. Jesus has the authority to make this change. He gave this authority to His Church. Oh how many people have failed to see this. To worship on Sunday instead of Saturday is testimony to one's belief in this Church that Jesus founded.

Gospel for Friday, January 12th

Gospel
Mk 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,
it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,
not even around the door,
and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,
they opened up the roof above him.
After they had broken through,
they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him,
“Child, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
Jesus immediately knew in his mind what
they were thinking to themselves,
so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”
--he said to the paralytic,
“I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”
He rose, picked up his mat at once,
and went away in the sight of everyone.
They were all astounded
and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

Comments:

Gospel for Tuesday, January 9th

Gospel
Mk 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers,
and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.
The people were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.
In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;
he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!”
The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.
All were amazed and asked one another,
“What is this?
A new teaching with authority.
He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”
His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

Comments:
Jesus came to Capernaum with His followers.
Alot of Jesus' ministry was around Lake Galilee. Capernaum was located on the north shore of the famous lake. Jesus was intent on entering the synagogues and bringing the truth to His chosen people the Jews. As Saint Paul says "to the Jew first and then to the Gentile". Jesus was a Jew and he loves His people to the end.

The people were astonished at His teaching. The people were always amazed at the words that flowed from the Lord Jesus lips. We will also be amazed if we listen to Him.

He taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.
There is no higher authority that the words of Jesus. The scribes were the people whose job it was to copy the holy scriptures. The people looked to these men as the ones who could surely teach the truth to the people. But the words of Jesus were authoritative like nothing these people have ever heard. This was God in the flesh speaking to the people.

In the synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit.
This proves that unclean evil demons can even enter places of religious worship. We should never doubt where the unseen world of evil may show up.

“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
The demons know what their final fate will be. How easy we are convinced that evil will always be with us. But the fallen angels know there time is short. We would do well to remember that they are going to be banished forever. Let us never follow them in their lies.

I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!”
The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.
Even if demons speak the truth - Jesus stops them and doesn't allow them to speak. He doesn't allow the father of lies to have any part in what he is doing in the world. The demons are screaching because they know they are forever fallen from the presence of God.

All were amazed and asked one another,
“What is this?
A new teaching with authority.
He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”
His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
The people were amazed. We will always be amazed by the power of Jesus and His authoritative teaching. We should submit ourselves constantly to listening to Him as he speaks to us everyday.

His fame is still spreading throughout the world. His kingdom will have no end. We should pray everyday - Thy kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

We can see his Lordship over all the earth. We can be participators in His kingdom today.

Gospel for January 6th

Gospel

This is what John the Baptist proclaimed:
“One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee
and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open
and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens,
“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Comments:
John the Baptist said "One mightier than I is coming after me". The people must have been really amazed at the power that shown by John the Baptist. He surely was a great man. People came from all around to hear him speak. God gifts people with other people. It has always been this way. God sends messengers to his creation that He loves dearly.

Great speakers can capture an audience. Great speakers can hold entire populations of people in awe of their powerful speaking ability. But John was unique. He was humble with his gift. He realized that he was very small compared to the King that was coming. John was the fore-runner to the King. He was humble enough to realize that he was not worthy to stoop down and touch his sandals. John was also humble and resigned to God's will. He showed this when he was taken to prison. He was bold. He was brave. He was faithful. He was a martyr for faith in the Lord Jesus. Jesus said there was none born of women greater than John the Baptist, but the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than him.

John said that Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to his followers. The Holy Spirit - The third person the the blessed Trinity. How mysterious is this teaching! John came proclaiming a baptism of repentance. Jesus gives a baptism of the Holy Spirit. A baptism of cleansing.

The Gospel for January 4th

Gospel
Jn 1:35-42

John was standing with two of his disciples,
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God.”
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
“What are you looking for?”
They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher),
“where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come, and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying,
and they stayed with him that day.
It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
“We have found the Messiah,” which is translated Christ.
Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said,
“You are Simon the son of John;
you will be called Cephas,” which is translated Peter.

Comments:
John the Baptist saw the Messiah and cried out "Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world".

An issue not directly related to this passage:
I found out today while reading another blog that John's Gospel is addressing a problem in the early Church. The problem was that some groups thought that John the Baptist was the Messiah. One of the Apostle's reason for speaking the way he did was to show that John the Baptist was the fore-runner to Jesus Christ. He pointed to Christ. He, John the Baptist, was not the Christ. John's Gospel reiterates this over and over. It really stands out and one can see that this is the message that John was trying to get across. Jesus was the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world.

What are you looking for?
Jesus' question rings throughout the centuries. What are we looking for? God knocks on the door of the heart of every person. Everyone hears the faint small voice of God calling them to Himself. He always seems to be saying - What are you looking for?

Peter and Andrew respond to Jesus. "Rabbi - where are you staying?"
We should have the same response to Jesus' question. Where are you staying? We should always be looking for Jesus in our lives. To find out where he is staying. A devout Christian is always looking for Christ in everything and everyone. As the deer pants for the stream our souls thirst for God.


"It was about 4 in the afternoon". I don't know why the Apostle John mentioned this but I'm sure there was a good reason.

Andrew heard John the Baptist say "Behold the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world". Andrew heard John and believed him. Jesus is the Messiah. Many people thought that John was the long awaited Messiah of Israel. John stated that I must decrease and He must increase. God's servants are always gifted with humility. We should pray for this kind of humility. What kind of humility John was displaying when he declared this! He stepped away from being the center of attention. He could have resisted and kept his followers. He could have rationalized in his mind that God had given him this ministry and all these followers needed him. But he knew it was his time to step aside and so he did. The Messiah has arrived.

Andrew the Apostle chosen by Christ to be one of the 12 pillars of the Church. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia - The Churches in Greece, Turkey and that region were led by the Apostle Andrew.

Andrew went and told his brother "we have found the Messiah".
The Messiah had been prophesied from long ago. Israel had waited for their Messiah for so long. The time has finally come. The Messiah has begun His work and is choosing his followers to build His Kingdom. He chooses the pillars of his Kingdom from such an unlikely place from such unlikely people. These are the ways in which God acts and it boggles our minds. Just ordinary fishermen on a lake in Galilee.


He then took Peter to Jesus. We should take the people who are the closest to us to Jesus. The people who know us should see that we have been with the Messiah. People will know when someone has been with Jesus. It is undeniable.

Jesus says to Peter - "You are Simon son of John; You will be called Cephas or Peter". Jesus surely has foreseen this event since time immemorial. I can envision that when God saw his creation being torn apart by the fallen angels and man give in to the temptation of the Devil, he foresaw this day of meeting with this man Peter. Peter the man to whom Jesus said "you are Rock and upon you the Rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it". This is God continuing to reconstruct what fallen Angels and fallen men have torn down. The perfect truth, beauty and goodness of creation is beginning to see the true light shining even brighter with this announcement from the Lord Jesus.

Peter, pray for us.
John the Baptist, pray for us.
John the Apostle, pray for us.

Gospel for December 30th

Gospel
Lk 2:36-40

There was a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.

Comments:
An old widow named Anna who lived at the temple worshiping God and fasting was allowed to see the Christ before she died. God blesses those who truly seek him. We are reminded of this promise over and over in the Holy Scriptures. How few people take this promise to heart. Out of the thousands of people in Israel only a few people were allowed to see the King in his infancy. A few humble shepherds and an Old man Simeon and an Old lady Anna. I'm sure many others saw the infant Jesus but only a few recognized him as Lord and King.

The Scripture specifically mentions that Anna remained a widow after the death of her husband. This shows how God gives a special grace and honor to those who choose to renounce everything in this world to devote their lives completely to Him.

Anna spoke to all the people who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. I wonder how many people really listened to this old woman? How often do we pass by God's messengers in our lives? God uses strange means to speak to us sometimes. The people of Israel were longing for their redemption. God sent the redeemer but it wasn't in the way they were expecting.

Joseph and Mary obeyed the commands of the Lord. With what little they had they obeyed. Despite the difficulty they faced they still obeyed. Obedience to God is so important. We should fulfill the commandments of God in spirit and to the letter. How easy it is to cut corners when things are inconvenient to us. Joseph and Mary are our examples to fulfill all the prescriptions of the law in our lives no matter how difficult it may seem. Here's something I read the other day - "Religion without devotion is a burden".

Unless we are devoted to God with our heart our obedience to Him may just become a burden. If we are in love with God the obedience is so much easier.


The Holy family returned to Nazareth - The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.

This verse speaks of the humanity of Jesus. It is important to never forget that Jesus was True God and True Man. Most of the heresies of the Church has resulted in seeing Jesus as only Spirit or only Man. The Church has been guided through the centuries by the Holy Spirit and led to the truth of seeing Jesus as the incarnate Son of God. True God and True Man. We are safe to stay with the Church.

Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ

Gospel for December 29th

Gospel
Lk 2:22-35

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
(and you yourself a sword will pierce)
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Comments:
Jesus submitted himself fully to the Law of God. He kept the law perfectly. There was never and never will be any accusation of sin that men or angels can bring against the Lord Jesus Christ. How fitting that the parents of our Lord kept the law also. Our Catholic faith teaches us that Mary never sinned. To be in such close proximity of the Lord God - Jesus Christ - True God and True Man - It seems so much clearer now of how Mary was preserved from sin by being so near to Christ.

Simeon - An old man - righteous and devout - awaiting the consolation of Israel - The Holy Spirit was upon him. Simeon was given the grace to see the Messiah. Its wonderful to think of an old holy man waiting for God. This is repeated so many times in the Holy Scriptures. God always fulfills his promises. When it seems that time is running out and things are the darkest in situations that face God's people. He shows up in the most unlikely and surprising way.

The old man Simeon blesses them and then speaks to Mary. This child is destined for the rise and fall of many in Israel. How was this prophecy fulfilled? How many leaders fell and how many poor and humble arose to serve in the Kingdom that was established by Jesus the Christ?

A sign of contradiction - A sign spoken against - a sign that is opposed. Jesus Christ always brings controversy because He is so Holy and unlike us in so many ways. We are sinful fallen creatures. Jesus is miraculous and supernatural. Jesus says things that seem impossible and contradictory. Only those who are humble and given faith are able to accept the teachings of Christ.

And you yourself a sword will pierce. Mary's soul was pierced by the sword of pain and suffering that began so early in her life. She accepted the will of God when she said to the angel messenger "may it be done unto me according to you word; Behold the handmaid of the Lord" Mary probably had no idea of the journey that she had embarked on when she gave the first - Yes - to God. Mary watched as God worked his salvation plan before her very eyes. God used Mary from the beginning to the very end. She suffered with Christ and still suffers with Christ as the Kingdom of God marches forward in time.

So that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. God knows the thoughts and intents of the heart of every person. What an astounding thing to ponder - What a scary thing to ponder. The greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and the second is like it - to love your neighbor as yourself. We can only keep this command by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Come Holy Spirit. Ignite our hearts with the fire of your love.

Gospel for December 28th

Gospel
Mt 2:13-18

When the magi had departed, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you.
Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night
and departed for Egypt.
He stayed there until the death of Herod,
that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,
Out of Egypt I called my son.

When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi,
he became furious.
He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity
two years old and under,
in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.
Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:

A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.

Commentary:
Today is the feast of the holy martyred Innocents. What can I say about this day? I've just begun to consider how this day fits into the Christian's life. How much time do we dedicate in our lives to considering the events that took place around the birth of our Savior. This episode in human history will never be forgotten. How could I have been a Christian for 19 years and given this event such little thought? How terrible this must have been for the people of Bethlehem! I think that being a Father of a two year old son this strikes me much harder that it ever has before.

Joseph is warned in a dream to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus. The Angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in dreams. These dreams are only mentioned in Matthew in chapters 1 and 2. The Angel tells Joseph to not fear to take Mary as his wife. Then the Angel tells him to take the Child and his Mother to Egypt. After Herod dies the Angel tells him to return to Isreal. When he gets to Isreal he finds out that Herod's Son is reigning in his place and the Angel warns him in another dream and so he goes to Nazarath. What kind of man Joseph must have been! Did he ever doubt that he was being fooled by these dreams? How did he know for sure that this Angel of the Lord wasn't his imagination. Dreams are not a very reliable source for guiding your life. Joseph follows in the footsteps of all the other heros of Salvation history. Abraham, Moses, Joseph (son of Jacob), Job etc...



I happened to find a writing by St. Ephraim the Syriac, a Deacon in the 4th century. I think this applies to commenting on any scripture. I really needed to read this.

St. Ephraim the Syriac, 4th century:

Lord, who can grasp all the wealth of just one of your words. What we understand is much less than what we leave behind. Like thirsty people who drink from a fountain, for your word, Lord, has many shades of meaning, just as those who study it have many points of view. The Lord has colored his word with many hues, so that each person who studies it can see in it what he loves. He has hidden many treasures in his word, so that each of us is enriched as we meditate on it. The word of God is a tree of life that from all its parts offers you fruit that is blessed. It is like that rock that is open in the desert, which from all its parts gave forth a spiritual drink. He, who comes into contact with some share of its treasure, should not think that the only thing contained in the word is what he himself has found. He should realize that he has only been able to find that one thing from among many others. Nor, because only that one part has become his should he say that the word is void, empty, and look down on it. Because he could not exhaust it, he should give thanks for its riches. Be glad that you are overcome and do not be sad that it overcame you. The thirsty man rejoices when he drinks, he is not downcast because he cannot empty the fountain. Rather let the fountain quench your thirst, than have your thirst quench the fountain. Because if your thirst is quenched and the fountain is not exhausted, you can drink from it again whenever you are thirsty. But if, when your thirst is quenched, the fountain also is dried up, your victory will bode evil for you. So be grateful for what you have recieved and don't grumble about the abundance left behind. What you have received and what you have reached is your share. What remains is your heritage. What at one time you are unable to receive, because of your weakness, you will be able to receive at other times, if you persevere. Do not have the presumption to try to take in one draft what cannot be taken in one draft. And do not abandon out of laziness what you may only consume little by little.

[St. Ephraim, cited by Dr. Scott Hahn, The End: A Study of the Book of Revelation, (St. Joseph Communications, audio series)]

Gospel for December 27th

Gospel
Jn 20:1a and 2-8

On the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we do not know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.

Comments:
John is recalling the events of the day of resurrection. This happened on Sunday the first day of the week. The old has passed away behold all things have become new. John refers to himself as "the disciple who Jesus loved". John recalls how Mary Magdalene runs to tell them "they have taken the Lord from the tomb and we do not know where they have put him".

All four gospels mention that Mary Magdalene and the other Women ran to tell the others. John mentions that he ran faster than Peter. He made it to the tomb first but out of respect to Peter he doesn't go in to the tomb until Peter has entered. He saw the cloths but didn't go in.

Gospel for December 26th

Gospel
Mt 10:17-22

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”

Comments:
Jesus is speaking to his disciples about the persecution that will come when they follow him. These promises came true in their lives and they will come to our lives as well if we closely follow Jesus.

There is no way to avoid suffering in this world. It is so great to be able to offer our sufferings to the building of the Kingdom of God instead of wasting our sufferings on our selves.

Some disciples of Christ will face persecution in the courts, some in religious institutions and some will face persecution among family members. When we face persecution we can trust in Jesus to speak through us in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus promises that his followers will be hated by all. I believe this means that always in every place there will be unbelievers who hate the message of Jesus Christ.

"He who endures to the end will be saved" is a message that is repeated over and over in the Holy scriptures. This promise is a warning that will always cause us to repent of our sins when we fall. This promise causes us to look back to Peter and see how he fell but Jesus was forgiving and welcomed him back in tears.

Gospel Reading for the day

I think I will post the Gospel reading for the day and give my thoughts and comments.

Gospel
Lk 1:26-38

In the sixth month,
the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”

But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.

This is the first event we are to meditate on while saying the rosary. The Annunciation. This is a focal point in human history. This is God coming to man to save him from his sins. This is the beginning of the prophecied event spoken of in the book of Genisis. I'll work on this some more tomorrow.

Eucharist

I'm thinking about the Eucharist. I just read an article from the Fr. John Hardon archives about Christmas and the Eucharist. As I was reading the article I was thinking about how the Eucharist really puts our faith to the test. Imagine yourself being faced with mocking ridicule from the people who are closest to you for worshipping what you think is God being in a piece of bread. Imagine them saying to you "how can you possibly believe this?" "you have been lied to by these people - Why can't you see that?". Now imagine your self on some kind of trial where you are faced with prison unless you renounce your belief about the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Will you still believe? What if you are faced with death? Do you still believe in this ridiculous claim? That God has become a piece of bread just because a Catholic Priest pronounces some words over it? Would you stand the test? Or would you say with the disciples that left Jesus "this is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" - and then leave him. The Eucharist really puts us between a rock and a hard place to say the least. This is a very hard thing to believe. Am I willing to give my life for it?