Daily Reflections - January 31, 2012

Win Over the Enemy

 

Today’s First Reading presents to us the end of the rebellion mounted against the reign of King David. Absalom, David’s own son, was overcome by ambition and led a mutiny against his father, King David. He did not succeed and today’s reading narrates how he fell from the sword of Joab the Cushite, killed as he lay helpless, hanging by his hair stuck in the terebinth tree. Excited over Absalom’s death, the Cushite reported to King David, “Let my lord the King receive the good news!” A king usually rejoices at the news of a traitor’s end but the first thing David asked was, “Is young Absalom safe?” Discovering that he has been killed, David wept bitterly crying out, “My son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you.” The reading ended with the words, “That day’s victory was turned into mourning.”

Today’s reading gives us once more an intimate look at David’s heart. Remember when King Saul was madly trying to kill the young David? David tried reasoning with Saul again and again, longing to win him over, even once purposely sparing Saul’s life when he had the chance to kill him (see 1 Samuel 24:4ff). David is a different kind of king. His goal is not only to win. His goal is to win over. He does not rejoice at the elimination of an enemy. His desire is the elimination of the enmity. That’s why he did not kill Saul when he had the chance and reason to do so. That’s why he mourned the death of the rebellious Absalom.

David truly is a king after God’s heart. The way of the world is to win. Its instrument is violence and uses power to eliminate and silence the enemy. It uses its fists to do the talking. That way the enemy is eliminated, but not the enmity, and so the cycle of violence continues.

The way of God’s kingdom is to win over by reason, dialogue and love. Winning over also “eliminates” the enemy because it resolves the enmity, and so the enemy is transformed into a friend.Fr. Joel Jason

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: In resolving your conflicts with others, do you try to win or to win over? Do you try to eliminate your enemy or the enmity?

 

Lord Jesus, Prince of peace, transform my heart after the pattern of Your own heart. Amen.

 

Daily Bible Readings - January 31, 2012

1^st READING

 

David is alone is his desire to spare the life of his son, Absalom. Yet, beyond David’s control, Absalom dies. David mourns the death of his son and his powerlessness to alter this outcome. We should reflect upon David’s mourning and pray for the grace to be as merciful as he was to his enemy (in war). Yes, David’s enemy is his son, but that fact should not weaken our resolve to act mercifully and desire the best for those who oppose us. The law of love is greater than any opposition someone can give to our projects. Let us seek always to find the path that will lead to greater love and never to greater hostility.

 

2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14, 24-25, 30-19:3

9 Absalom unexpectedly came up against David’s servants. He was mounted on a mule, and, as the mule passed under the branches of a large terebinth, his hair caught fast in the tree. He hung between heaven and earth while the mule he had been riding ran off. 10 Someone saw this and reported to Joab that he had seen Absalom hanging from a terebinth. 14 And taking three pikes in hand, he thrust for the heart of Absalom, still  hanging from the tree alive. 24 Now David was sitting between the two gates, and a lookout mounted to the roof of the gate above the city wall, where he looked about and saw a man running all alone. 25 The lookout shouted to inform the king, who said, “If he is alone, he has good news to report.” 30 The king said, “Step aside and remain in attendance here.” So he stepped aside and remained there. 31 When the Cushite messenger came in, he said, “Let my Lord the king receive the good news that this day the Lord has taken your part, freeing you from the grasp of all who rebelled against you.” 32 But the king asked the Cushite, “Is young Absalom safe?” The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my Lord the king and all who rebel against you with evil intent be as that young man!” 19: 1 The king was shaken, and went up to the room over the city gate to weep. He said as he wept, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!” 2 Joab was told that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom; 3 and that day’s victory was turned into mourning for the whole army when they heard that the king was grieving for his son.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R: Listen, Lord, and answer me.

1 Incline your ear, O Lord; answer me, for I am afflicted and poor. 2 Keep my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you. 3 You are my God. (R) Have mercy on me, O Lord, for to you I call all the day. 4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; (R) 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. 6 Hearken, O Lord, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Faith is the answer to all our questions and problems in life … at least in one respect, namely that of our relationship with God. Yes, there are times when we have to be practical and do what is necessary to bring about a certain result, but ultimately the thing that matters most is our relationship with God. This is governed by faith – by what God has already done, is doing and will do in our lives, not what we can achieve. Let us pray for the simple faith of the woman with a hemorrhage and Jairus as we seek to grow in the way of a disciple of Jesus.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.

 

Mark 5:21-43

21 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. 22 One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet 23 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.” 24 He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him. 25 There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. 26 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. 27 She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. 28 She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” 29 Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30 Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” 31 But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” 35 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?” 36 Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” 37 He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 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. 41 He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” 42 The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. 43 He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

READING 2nd READING

TODAY’S

LIST

think: Faith is the answer to all our questions and problems in life.

 

 

 

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

 

_______________________________________________________

 

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________

_________________________________________________________

 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Acts 9-12

 

Daily Reflections - January 30, 2012

His Name is Legion

 

Today’s Gospel narrates another instance of Jesus exorcising a man possessed by the devil. Jesus asks the name of the unclean spirit. In response, it said, “Legion is my name,” for they are many. Yes, the Bible affirms the existence of the devil.

Several years ago, a random survey of 1,500 respondents conducted by a famous Philippine college revealed a contradiction that 81 percent believed in heaven but only 42 percent believed in hell or the existence of the devil. Why the contradiction? It’s probably because we all want a God who rewards but not a God who “punishes.” We all want a God who gives blessings but not a God who calls us to task and responsibility.

The devil deceives by making himself unknown. If you do not believe in him, you will not do anything to put up a fight or any form of defense against him. Satan is then able to act with much more freedom.

Here are some facts about the reality of the devil from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

391. The Church teaches that Satan was at first a good angel, made by God: “The devil and the other demons were indeed created naturally good by God, but they became evil by their own doing.”

392. This “fall” consists in the free choice of these created spirits, who radically and irrevocably rejected God and his reign.

393. It is the irrevocable character of their choice, and not a defect in the infinite divine mercy, that makes the angels’ sin unforgivable. “There is no repentance for the angels after their fall, just as there is no repentance for men after death.”

Jesus asks the name of the unclean spirit because knowledge of the enemy is the first step to victory over that enemy. Let us know our enemy and its ways that we may always be on guard and victorious against its cunning. Fr. Joel Jason

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you aware of the entry points of the devil in your life?

 

“Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.”

 

Daily Bible Readings - January 30, 2012

1^st READING

 

David has problems within his house. This is probably something we have all experienced at one time or another – being let down by those who are closest to us. Read the next few chapters and examine David’s response. He does not seek the blood of his son but his conversion. This is the attitude we must learn for our own lives — peace, not war, will ultimately prevail. We will be far more powerful and successful in what we seek to achieve for the Kingdom of God if we do it together with others and not in spite of or against them.

 

2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13

13 An informant came to David with the report, “The children of Israel have transferred their loyalty to Absalom.” 14 At this, David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem: “Up! Let us take flight, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Leave quickly, lest he hurry and overtake us, then visit disaster upon us and put the city to the sword.” 30 As David went up the Mount of Olives, he wept without ceasing. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. All those who were with him also had their heads covered and were weeping as they went. 16: 5 As David was approaching Bahurim, a man named Shimei, the son of Gera of the same clan as Saul’s family, was coming out of the place, cursing as he came. 6 He threw stones at David and at all the king’s officers, even though all the soldiers, including the royal guard, were on David’s right and on his left. 7 Shimei was saying as he cursed: “Away, away, you murderous and wicked man! 8 The Lord has requited you for all the bloodshed in the family of Saul, in whose stead you became king, and the Lord has given over the kingdom to your son Absalom. And now you suffer ruin because you are a murderer.” 9 Abishai, son of Zeruiah, said to the king: “Why should this dead dog curse my Lord the king? Let me go over, please, and lop off his head.” 10 But the king replied: “What business is it of mine or of yours, sons of Zeruiah, that he curses? Suppose the Lord has told him to curse David; who then will dare to say, ‘Why are you doing this?’” 11 Then the king said to Abishai and to all his servants: “If my own son, who came forth from my loins, is seeking my life, how much more might this Benjaminite do so! Let him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12 Perhaps the Lord will look upon my affliction and make it up to me with benefits for the curses he is uttering this day.” 13 David and his men continued on the road, while Shimei kept abreast of them on the hillside, all the while cursing and throwing stones and dirt as he went.

 

P S A L M

 

Psalm 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R: Lord, rise up and save me.

1 [2] O Lord, how many are my adversaries! Many rise up against me! 2 [3] Many are saying of me, “There is no salvation for him in God.” (R) 3 [4] But you, O Lord, are my shield; my glory, you lift up my head! 4 [5] When I call out to the Lord, he answers me from his holy mountain. (R) 5 [6] When I lie down in sleep, I wake again, for the Lord sustains me. 6 [7] I fear not the myriads of people arrayed against me on every side. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

Jesus has already demonstrated He has power over sickness. He now shows us that the devil is under His power as well. We are all followers of Christ; where He goes, we go, too. This means that He has given us authority to reject the advances of the devil and his minions and live without their influence. Let us pray for the grace to do this – to humbly accept the victory Christ offers us over sin and to live in it all the days of our lives.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.

 

Mark 5:1-20

1 Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. 2 When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. 3 The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. 4 In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. 6 Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, 7 crying out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” 8 (He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”) 9 He asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.” 10 And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory. 11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside. 12 And they pleaded with him, “Send us into the swine. Let us enter them.” 13 And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea, where they were drowned. 14 The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. And people came out to see what had happened. 15 As they approached Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear. 16 Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine. 17 Then they began to beg him to leave their district. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. 19 But he would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” 20 Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.

 

think: Let us pray for the grace to humbly accept the victory Christ offers us over sin and live in it all the days of our lives.

 

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

 

_______________________________________________________

 

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________

_________________________________________________________

 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Acts 5-8

 

 

Daily Reflections - January 29, 2012

Say it in Faith

In today’s Gospel, we hear a declaration of the true identity of Jesus: “I know who you are — the holy One of God!” Biblical scholars call it an indirect theophany, i.e., a manifestation of the Divinity of Jesus by another other than God Himself. It is just ironic that such declaration came from an unclean spirit that possessed a man in the synagogue. In response to such declaration, Jesus rebuked the evil spirit sharply and commanded, “Be quiet! Come out of the man!” Jesus obviously was not flattered by the declaration.

In some other parts of the Gospels, Peter also made an indirect theophany when, in response to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” he declared in behalf of the Apostles, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus commended Peter for such declaration. It is worth noting that Jesus said to Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon…” while to the evil spirit Jesus said, “Be quiet!” Both Peter and the evil spirit made the same declaration. But the same declaration received a different response from Jesus. What accounts for the difference? The evil spirit simply made a declaration of fact. Peter made a declaration of faith. The devil cannot avoid the fact. Jesus is God. But it is simply a dry fact for the devil. Even if he does not want to, the devil has no choice but to acknowledge it. The devil may have even uttered it in fear.

For Peter, it was different. It was a declaration borne out of love, out of a personal relationship with Jesus.

Every Sunday, we go to church and profess and declare our faith in the living God. But we are not simply there to declare a fact. If we do that, our declaration will be no different from that of the devil. We need more than a declaration of fact. God does not need to be reminded of the fact of His divinity. He does not need a massage to the divine ego. He knows it from eternity. But God does long to hear a declaration of faith and love from His children.

So what is it for you — fact or faith?Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you cultivate a personal relationship with God in your prayer, study, and a life of righteousness?

“Lord, You have no need of our praise, but our desire to thank You is itself Your gift. Our prayer of praise adds nothing to Your greatness but makes us grow in Your grace. Amen!”

Daily Bible Readings - January 29, 2012

1^st READING

It is not easy to be a prophet. Most of them suffered greatly at the hands of those to whom they were sent by God. Prophets will also be held to a higher accountability because they have been especially blessed in hearing God’s Word; they now have a responsibility to share it with others. Let us pray for the prophets of our time that they will be faithful in proclaiming God’s truth to us and that we will be faithful in responding.

Deuteronomy 18:15-20

15 Moses spoke to all the people, saying: “A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own kin; to him you shall listen. 16 This is exactly what you requested of the Lord, your God, at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let us not again hear the voice of the Lord, our God, nor see this great fire any more, lest we die.’ 17 And the Lord said to me, ‘This was well said. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him. 19 Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it. 20 But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die.’”

P S A L M

Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9

R: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

1 Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord; let us acclaim the rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalm to him. (R) 6 Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the Lord who made us. 7 For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides. (R) Oh, that today you would hear his voice: 8 “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, 9 where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works.” (R)

2^ND READING

It is not so much a matter of whether we are married or not. What matters is how faithful we are to living and proclaiming God’s Word as He calls us to do it. Let us always seek to make ourselves available to serve the Gospel whenever we can so that as many people as possible will have the opportunity to hear the Good News of salvation and respond to it.

1 Corinthians 7:32-35

32 Brothers and sisters: I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. 33 But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34 and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction.

GOSPEL

Some people think they can emphasize a point by saying it louder or by giving better arguments in favor of a certain conclusion. We all know that the best way to present a truth is to live it in our lives. The lived witness of the Gospel is what the world needs most; it is this that gives the Church any authority it has. Let us make sure that we always provide faithful witness to the truth of the Gospel.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light; on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen.

Mark 1:21-28

21 Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. 22 The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. 23 In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; 24 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!” 25 Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” 26 The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. 27 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.” 28 His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

1st READING 2nd READING

GOSPEL PSALM

TODAY’S

LIST

think: The best way to present a truth is to live it in our lives.

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________

_________________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Acts 1-4

SABBATH PAUSE

My weekly time with God

THANK YOU LIST

Things to be grateful for from the past week

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

SPECIAL NEEDS

Things to ask God for in the coming week

________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

HIDDEN TREASURE

Most important word God told me this week

________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

John 19-21

2nd READING

PSALM

TODAY’S

Daily Reflections - January 28, 2012

COMMUNICATING THE TRUTH IN LOVE

A family of four was in a car that was cruising on the expressway. The couple had a little argument earlier before they left home and the situation was tense. The husband was driving fast and a little carelessly. The wife notices it and fears for their safety. The wife snaps at the husband and says, “You’re such a reckless driver! You don’t even care for me and our children!” Threatened, the husband will most probably snap back in anger and say, “So you think you can drive better? Why don’t you drive yourself?”

But what if the wife says, “I know you’re upset over our argument. Is it distracting you and your driving right now? I’m just nervous and worried, especially that we have our kids with us.” Not threatened at all, the husband will most probably say, “I’m just a little distracted. It’s OK, I’ll be fine, and you and our children as well.” And he pays extra attention to his driving.       

The first approach is a direct judgment on the other person and usually elicits a defensive, angry reaction. The second approach is not a judgment at all. The wife simply “reported” her own feelings over the situation, which elicited a response, not a reaction.

Today’s First Reading is a beautiful model for conflict management. Nathan, sent by God to confront King David over his crime of murder and adultery, made David see and realize the greatness of his sin by means of a parable. In response, David was overcome by remorse and acknowledged his guilt. This led him to compose today’s responsorial psalm, traditionally called the Miserere (Latin for “Have Mercy”). Had Nathan used the first approach above, David would have made life miserable for Nathan.

It is always important to communicate the unblemished truth, even when it hurts, but just as important to convey the truth in love. Love allows the incommunicable to be communicable. This has always been the principle the Church has tried to live by. This is why She is also known as Mater et Magistra (Mother and Teacher). She is first a mother before She is a teacher. The Church in Her proclamation never imposes; She proposes. Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTION: How do you usually communicate a negative truth?

Lord Jesus, You are the Truth. May I be an ardent but gentle proclaimer of Your message of love. Give me the humility to always propose and never impose. Amen!

Daily Bible Readings - January 28, 2012

1^st READING

 

David is inspired by the story of Nathan to repent of his sin in having Uriah the Hittite murdered. It is important for us to remember that there is always a remedy for sin. God gives us a way out of our sinfulness through repentance and His forgiveness. However, this does not mean that we should be slack in avoiding sin. Just because there is a way out of the hole does not mean that we should allow ourselves to fall into it. We might break our leg or cause unnecessary harm to ourselves or others if we do this.

 

2 Samuel 12:1-7, 10-17

1 The Lord sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him, Nathan said “Judge this case for me! In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor. 2 The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers. 3 But the poor man had nothing at all except one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children. She shared the little food he had and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom. She was like a daughter to him. 4 Now, the rich man received a visitor, but he would not take from his own flocks and herds to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him. Instead he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and made a meal of it for his visitor.” 5 David grew very angry with that man and said to him: “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this merits death! 6 He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold because he has done this and has had no pity.” 7 Then Nathan said to David: “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: 10 ‘The sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord: ‘I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12 You have done this deed in secret, but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, and with the sun looking down.’” 13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan answered David: “The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die. 14 But since you have utterly spurned the Lord by this deed, the child born to you must surely die.” 15 Then Nathan returned to his house. The Lord struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and it became desperately ill. 16 David besought God for the child. He kept a fast, retiring for the night to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth. 17 The elders of his house stood beside him urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor would he take food with them.

 

P S A L M 1st READING 2nd READING

GOSPEL PSALM

TODAY’S

Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

R: Create a clean heart in me, O God.

10 [12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11 [13] Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) 12 [14] Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. 13 [15] I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you. (R) 14 [16] Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God; then my tongue shall revel in your justice. 15 [17] O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (R)

 

GOSPEL

 

There will be numerous storms in our lives as we follow Jesus. This does not mean He has abandoned us, just that the path of righteousness has its difficult moments. We will never be able to fully understand the wisdom of God. One of the greatest theologians of all time, St. Thomas Aquinas, whose feast it is today, was reported to have regarded all his writings and theology as “straw” in comparison to knowing the gift of salvation. That is, holiness is not dependent upon how smart we are but how willing we are to surrender our lives to the Gospel.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

 

Mark 4:35-41

35 On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. 38 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?” 39 He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” 41 They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?” READING 2nd READING

GOSPEL PSALM

TODAY’S

BLESSING

think: Holiness is not dependent upon how smart we are but how willing we are to surrender our lives to the Gospel.

 

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

 

_______________________________________________________

 

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________

_________________________________________________________

 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR John 19-21

 

John 19-21

Daily Reflections - January 27, 2012

Calling a Spade a Spade

Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate. Instead of the usual pleasantries, this is what they heard:

Heavenly Father, we come before You today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, “Woe to those who call evil good,” but that is exactly what we have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.

We have abused power and called it politics.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Many legislators in the room walked out in protest over the prayer. But many other Churches asked for copies of the prayer and utilized it for their own prayer worships. This is a reflection of our times. When confronted of the reality of sin, we protest, we walk out, we cry “hypocrisy.”

Today’s Responsorial Psalm is King David’s heartfelt remorse over the sin of murder and adultery he has committed. He had his weaknesses, but he knows his strength as well: hope in the mercy of God. Read Psalm 51 which David composed after his sin. There is no watering down of his guilt. There is no sugarcoating of the malice of his actions: “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight” (Psalm 51:3-4).

Would that we have more King Davids — not the sinner but the contrite one!Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTION: What area of your life do you justify with rationalizations and excuses?

“Have mercy on me, O God, in Your kindness. In Your compassion blot out my offense. O wash me more and more from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. Amen!”

Daily Bible Readings - January 27, 2012

1st READING   This is the worst moment in David’s life. He has a man murdered so that he can take his wife. This is total abuse of his power as a result of giving in to lust. It is important to remember that while we may not have murdered anyone, we are probably all guilty of having given in to disordered passion. David had greater power available to him than us to fulfill his passion. Sometimes it is a blessing to be weak and powerless to fulfill a disordered desire.   2 Samuel 11:1-4, 5-10, 13-17 1 At the turn of the year, when kings go out on campaign, David sent out Joab along with his officers and the army of Israel, and they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. David, however, remained in Jerusalem. 2 One evening David rose from his siesta and strolled about on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, who was very beautiful. 3 David had inquiries made about the woman and was told, “She is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, and wife of Joab’s armor bearer Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers and took her. When she came to him, he had relations with her. She then returned to her house. 5 But the woman had conceived, and sent the information to David, “I am with child.” 6 David therefore sent a message to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When he came, David questioned him about Joab, the soldiers, and how the war was going, and Uriah answered that all was well. 8 David then said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and bathe your feet.” Uriah left the palace, and a portion was sent out after him from the king’s table. 9 But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace with the other officers of his Lord, and did not go down to his own house. 10 David was told that Uriah had not gone home. 13 On the day following, David summoned him, and he ate and drank with David, who made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his bed among his Lord’s servants, and did not go down to his home. 14 The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab which he sent by Uriah. 15 In it he directed: “Place Uriah up front, where the fighting is fierce. Then pull back and leave him to be struck down dead.” 16 So while Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew the defenders were strong. 17 When the men of the city made a sortie against Joab, some officers of David’s army fell, and among them Uriah the Hittite died.   P S A L M   Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 6-7, 10-11 R: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. 1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 3 [5] For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always: 4 [6] “Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” (R) I have done such evil in your sight that you are just in your sentence, blameless when you condemn. 5 [7] True, I was born guilty, a sinner, even as my mother conceived me. (R) 8 [10] Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness; the bones you have crushed shall rejoice. 9 [11] Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my guilt. (R)   GOSPEL   Yes, it is God who gives the increase in any work we undertake for Him. We can never take the credit for ourselves; it always belongs to Him. Today is the Feast of St. Angela Merici, the founder of the Ursuline teaching order. It always amazes me when I read the history of religious orders how they grow into something far greater than the founder ever intended. This is the principle we see here in the Gospel. If we leave the growth up to God and surrender all to His will, then anything is possible.   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.   Mark 4:26-34 26 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 27 and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” 30 He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. 32 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.” 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to understand it. 34 Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private. 1st READING 2nd READING GOSPEL PSALM think: If we leave the growth up to God and surrender all to His will, then anything is possible.   T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________   _______________________________________________________   God’s special verse/thought for me today________________ _________________________________________________________   READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR John 16-18   John 19-21