01-FEB-'24, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 326

Reading 1

1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12

When the time of David's death drew near,

he gave these instructions to his son Solomon:

"I am going the way of all flesh.

Take courage and be a man.

Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his ways

and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees

as they are written in the law of Moses,

that you may succeed in whatever you do,

wherever you turn, and the LORD may fulfill

the promise he made on my behalf when he said,

'If your sons so conduct themselves

that they remain faithful to me with their whole heart

and with their whole soul,

you shall always have someone of your line

on the throne of Israel.'"

David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David.

The length of David's reign over Israel was forty years:

he reigned seven years in Hebron

and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

Solomon was seated on the throne of his father David,

with his sovereignty firmly established.

Responsorial Psalm

1 Chronicles 29:10, 11ab, 11d-12a, 12bcd

R. (12b) Lord, you are exalted over all.

"Blessed may you be, O LORD,

God of Israel our father,

from eternity to eternity."

R. Lord, you are exalted over all.

"Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,

majesty, splendor, and glory."

R. Lord, you are exalted over all.

"LORD, you are exalted over all.

Yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty;

you are exalted as head over all.

Riches and honor are from you."

R. Lord, you are exalted over all.

"In your hand are power and might;

it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all."

R. Lord, you are exalted over all.

Alleluia

Mark 1:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Kingdom of God is at hand;

repent and believe in the Gospel.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mark 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two

and gave them authority over unclean spirits.

He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick

–no food, no sack, no money in their belts.

They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.

He said to them,

"Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there.

Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,

leave there and shake the dust off your feet

in testimony against them."

So they went off and preached repentance.

The Twelve drove out many demons,

and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

Reflection 1

Catholic Daily Reflections 

Relying Upon Divine Providence

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts. Mark 6:7–8

Why would Jesus instruct the Twelve to go forth to preach with authority but to take nothing with them on the journey? Most people who set out on a journey prepare ahead and make sure to pack what they need. Jesus’ instruction was not so much a lesson in relying upon others for basic needs as it was a lesson on reliance upon divine providence for their ministry.

The material world is good in and of itself. All creation is good. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with having possessions and using them for our good and for the good of those who have been entrusted to our care. But there are times when God wants us to rely more upon Him than upon ourselves. The story above is one of those situations.

By instructing the Twelve to go forth on their mission without bringing the basic necessities of life, Jesus was helping them to trust not only in His providence for those basic needs but also to trust that He would provide for them spiritually in their mission of preaching, teaching and healing. They were given great spiritual authority and responsibility and, for that reason, needed to rely upon the providence of God to a far greater extent than others. Thus, Jesus exhorts them to trust Him regarding their basic needs so that they will also be disposed to trust Him on this new spiritual mission.

The same is true in our lives. When God entrusts us with a mission to share the Gospel with another, He will often do so in a way that requires great trust on our part. He will send us forth “empty-handed,” so to speak, so that we will learn to rely upon His gentle guidance. Sharing the Gospel with another is an incredible privilege, and we must realize that we will be successful only if we rely wholeheartedly upon the providence of God.

Reflect, today, upon those to whom you sense God wants you to reach out to with the Gospel. How do you do this? The answer is quite simple. You do so only by relying upon the providence of God. Step out in faith, listen to His guiding voice every step of the way, and know that His providence is the only way that the Gospel message will be effectively shared.

Reflection 2

One Bread, One Body

THE LAST WORD

“I am going the way of all mankind.” —1 Kings 2:2

David had an eventful life. He was very handsome. With his own hands, he killed both a lion and a bear (1 Sm 17:36). He beheaded the giant Goliath and won victory for the Israelite nation. David was the anointed King of Israel for forty years (1 Kgs 2:11). He escaped several attempts on his life. He was the most successful general in Israelite history. He won many wars and killed thousands of people. His kingdom survived a civil war. He had several wives and dozens of children. One of his children died shortly after birth. David saw 70,000 people die in three days because of his sin (2 Sm 24:15). He wrote many of the psalms. He was a gifted musician. He was a top-notch businessman and the standard by which all kings would be measured in Israelite history. To put it mildly, David had an eventful life.

When David lay on his deathbed, he looked back at his life of pleasure, power, violence, intrigue, sex, money, sin, blessing, worship, success, prosperity, etc. Then David looked at his son Solomon and all he had to say to him was: “Keep the mandate of the Lord, your God, following His ways and observing His statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees” (1 Kgs 2:3).

In the end, after all is said and done, the meaning of life is: “Obey God.” What we have done in obedience to Him lasts forever; everything else passes away. Obey God. It is our duty and privilege to obey Him.

Prayer:  Father, give me daily the grace to desire to obey You. Pour out Your Spirit on me so that I may always do Your will.

Promise:  “They went off, preaching the need of repentance. They expelled many demons, anointed the sick with oil, and worked many cures.” —Mk 6:12-13

Praise:  Jesus healed Sarah’s deteriorating eyesight. She can now see well enough to drive again.

Reflection 3

Shared from God's Word

The words of David to his son Solomon in 1 Kings 2:4, speak of true dependence and obedience to God which promises blessings for us and for the generations that follow. The words of Jesus in John 6:38 reflect the nature of this total dependence. The disciples were chosen because of their willing obedience to God. They willingly responded by going out in pairs, proclaiming repentance and bringing deliverance and healing to the sick. Scripture exhorts us to be solely accountable to God and be models of true dependence on him. The fruits and results of our mission work are left to God! Lord Jesus, help me to be faithful in the small and the big things in my life.

Prayers

My trustworthy Lord, I accept Your call to go forth and to share Your love and mercy with others. Help me to always rely upon You and Your providence for my mission in life. Use me as You will and help me to trust in Your guiding hand for the upbuilding of Your glorious Kingdom on earth. Jesus, I trust in You.

Lord Jesus, make me a channel of your healing power and merciful love that others may find abundant life and freedom in you. Free me from all other attachments that I may joyfully pursue the treasure of your heavenly kingdom. May I witness the joy of the Gospel both in word and deed.

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

Reflection 32: The Mercy of Forgiveness

Throughout life you will be hurt by the sins of others.  This is inevitable.  The real question to ponder is what you do with this hurt.  Will you hold onto it and brew over it?  Or will you forgive?  But forgiveness is not enough.  You must let the Divine Mercy so enter your soul that you not only forgive, but also allow this Mercy to fill your heart with compassion.  You must let God’s Mercy inspire you to love deeply.  You must come to pray for those who have hurt you and, in doing so, dispense the grace of God to them.  You are a dispenser of God’s Mercy when you allow forgiveness to flow from your heart to the hearts of those who have hurt you (See Diary #31).

Humbly ponder your calling to be a dispenser of the compassion of the Heart of Jesus to those who have sinned against you.  This is a high calling and requires deep surrender and love.  But it is the only way to freedom and is the only way God’s Mercy will fill your own soul.

Lord, I choose, this day, to forgive all who have wronged me.  Help that act of Mercy to flood my mind, heart, passions, feelings and every part of my soul.  May I be a dispenser of Your perfect and unlimited love for all.  Jesus, I trust in You.

31-JAN-'24, Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest

Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest

Lectionary: 325

Reading 1

2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17

King David said to Joab and the leaders of the army who were with him,

"Tour all the tribes in Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba

and register the people, that I may know their number."

Joab then reported to the king the number of people registered:

in Israel, eight hundred thousand men fit for military service;

in Judah, five hundred thousand.

Afterward, however, David regretted having numbered the people,

and said to the LORD:

"I have sinned grievously in what I have done.

But now, LORD, forgive the guilt of your servant,

for I have been very foolish."

When David rose in the morning,

the LORD had spoken to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying:

"Go and say to David, 'This is what the LORD says:

I offer you three alternatives;

choose one of them, and I will inflict it on you.'"

Gad then went to David to inform him.

He asked: "Do you want a three years' famine to come upon your land,

or to flee from your enemy three months while he pursues you,

or to have a three days' pestilence in your land?

Now consider and decide what I must reply to him who sent me."

David answered Gad: "I am in very serious difficulty.

Let us fall by the hand of God, for he is most merciful;

but let me not fall by the hand of man."

Thus David chose the pestilence.

Now it was the time of the wheat harvest

when the plague broke out among the people.

The LORD then sent a pestilence over Israel

from morning until the time appointed,

and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beer-sheba died.

But when the angel stretched forth his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it,

the LORD regretted the calamity

and said to the angel causing the destruction among the people,

"Enough now! Stay your hand."

The angel of the LORD was then standing

at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

When David saw the angel who was striking the people,

he said to the LORD: "It is I who have sinned;

it is I, the shepherd, who have done wrong.

But these are sheep; what have they done?

Punish me and my kindred."

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7

R. (see 5c) Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.

Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,

whose sin is covered.

Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,

in whose spirit there is no guile.

R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you,

my guilt I covered not.

I said, "I confess my faults to the LORD,"

and you took away the guilt of my sin.

R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.

For this shall every faithful man pray to you

in time of stress.

Though deep waters overflow,

they shall not reach him.

R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.

You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me;

with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round.

R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.

Alleluia

John 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;

I know them, and they follow me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mark 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place,

accompanied by his disciples.

When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,

and many who heard him were astonished.

They said, “Where did this man get all this?

What kind of wisdom has been given him?

What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!

Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,

and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon?

And are not his sisters here with us?”

And they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them,

“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place

and among his own kin and in his own house.”

So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,

apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.

He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Reflection 1

Catholic Daily Reflections

Christ All Around Us

“Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Mark 6:3

After traveling throughout the countryside performing miracles, teaching the crowds and gaining many followers, Jesus returned to Nazareth where He grew up. Perhaps His disciples were excited to return with Jesus to His native place, thinking that His own townspeople would be overjoyed to see Jesus again because of the many stories of His miracles and authoritative teaching. But the disciples were soon to have quite a surprise.

After arriving in Nazareth, Jesus entered the Synagogue to teach, and He taught with an authority and wisdom that confounded the locals. They said among themselves, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him?” They were confused because they knew Jesus. He was the local carpenter who worked for years with His father who was a carpenter. He was Mary’s son, and they knew His other relatives by name.

The primary difficulty Jesus’ townspeople had was their familiarity with Jesus. They knew Him. They knew where He lived. They knew Him as He grew up. They knew His family. They knew all about Him. Therefore, they wondered how Jesus could be anything special. How could He now teach with authority? How could He now do miracles? Thus, the townspeople were astonished, and they allowed that astonishment to turn into doubt, judgment and criticism.

The same temptation is something we all deal with more than we may realize. It is often easier to admire a stranger from afar than one whom we know well. When we hear of someone for the first time who is doing something admirable, it’s easy to join in that admiration. But when we hear good news about someone we know well, we can easily be tempted to jealousy or envy and to be skeptical and even critical. But the truth is that every saint has a family. And every family potentially has brothers and sisters, cousins and other relatives through whom God will do great things. This should not surprise us—it should inspire us! And we should rejoice when those close to us and with whom we are familiar are used powerfully by our good God.

Reflect, today, upon those whom you are familiar with in life, especially your own family. Examine whether or not you struggle with an ability to see beyond the surface and accept that God dwells within everyone. We must constantly seek to discover the presence of God all around us, especially in the lives of those whom we know very well.

Reflection 2

One Bread, One Body

THE DEBT OF SIN

“Afterward, however, David regretted having numbered the people, and said to the Lord: ‘I have sinned grievously in what I have done.’ “ —2 Samuel 24:10

David sinned by taking a census against God’s will. This sin caused the deaths of 70,000 people in three days by pestilence (2 Sm 24:15). The wages of sin is death, in fact, thousands of deaths (Rm 6:23). Moreover, this was probably not David’s worst sin. 

This shows us the devastating effect of one sin, and why one sin is a tragedy much greater than the worst natural disasters. In this passage, we see the measurable results of one sin. This gives us some idea of the astronomical debt of sin amassed by the accumulated sins of all times.

 

This helps us understand how heavy was the cross Jesus carried. “He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon Him was the chastisement that makes us whole” (Is 53:5). “The Lord was pleased to crush Him in infirmity” (Is 53:10). The word “crushed” is a great understatement, but it’s the best the English language can do.

We can see why Jesus screamed on Calvary: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mk 15:34) No one has ever suffered to a degree that was even remotely comparable to Jesus’ suffering. Jesus says: “Come, all you who pass by the way, look and see whether there is any suffering like My suffering” (Lam 1:12).

Prayer:  Jesus, I love You. Give me the grace to avoid sin and to lead others to become Your disciples.

Promise:  Jesus “made the rounds of the neighboring villages instead, and spent His time teaching.” —Mk 6:6

Praise:   St. John Bosco used whatever means he could to reach young people with the gospel. Many of the young boys to whom John Bosco ministered went on to become priests. One, Dominic Savio, even became a canonized saint.

Reflection 3

The Servants of the Word

Jesus Marveled because of Their Unbelief

Are you critical towards others, especially those who may be close to you? The most severe critics are often people very familiar to us, a member of our family, a relative, or neighbor or co-worker we rub shoulders with on a regular basis. Jesus faced a severe testing when he returned to his home town, not simply as the carpenter's son, but now as a rabbi with disciples. It would have been customary for Jesus to go to the synagogue each week during the Sabbath, and when his turn came, to read from the scriptures during the Sabbath service. His hometown folks listened with rapt attention on this occasion because they had heard about the miracles he had performed in other towns. What sign would he do in his hometown?

Look upon your neighbor with the eyes of Christ who comes to heal and restore us

Jesus startled his familiar audience with a seeming rebuke that no prophet or servant of God can receive honor among his own people. The people of Nazareth took offense at Jesus and refused to listen to what he had to say. They despised his preaching because he was a mere workman, a carpenter, and a layman who had no formal training by a scholar or teacher. They also despised him because of his undistinguished family background. How familiarity can breed contempt. Jesus could do no mighty works in their midst because they were closed-minded and unbelieving towards him. If people have come together to hate and to refuse to understand, then they will see no other point of view than their own and they will refuse to love and accept others. How do you treat those who seem disagreeable to you?

The word "gospel" literally means "good news". Isaiah had prophesied that the Messiah would come in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring freedom to the afflicted who suffered from physical, mental, or spiritual oppression (see Isaiah 61:1-2). Jesus came to set people free - not only from their physical, mental, and spiritual infirmities - but also from the worst affliction of all - the tyranny of slavery to sin, Satan, and the fear of losing one's life. God's power alone can save us from hopelessness, dejection, and emptiness of life. The Gospel of salvation is "good news" for everyone who will receive it. Do you know the joy and freedom of the Gospel?

Prayers

My ever-present Lord, thank You for the countless ways in which You are present in the lives of those all around me. Give me the grace to see You and to love You in the lives of those closest to me. As I discover Your glorious presence in their lives, fill me with deep gratitude and help me to acknowledge Your love that comes forth from their lives. Jesus, I trust in You.

Lord Jesus, you are the fulfillment of all our hopes and desires. Your Spirit brings grace, truth, freedom, and abundant life. Set my heart on fire with your love and truth.

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

Reflection 31: The Unfathomable Nature of God

We cannot come to know God in His essence.  He is beyond us and is unfathomable.  But we can get to know God by seeing His actions in our lives and in the world.  Look at His attributes.  Look at His works.  Look at what He has done in your life and in the lives of others.  He is Omnipotent, All-Knowing, All-Loving and bestows all that is good in superabundance (See Diary #30).

Reflect, today, upon the unfathomable nature and essence of God.  Knowing that we can never fully comprehend the perfection of God is the first step in coming to know Him more intimately.  Humble yourself, this day, before the great mystery of our God and let His untouchable nature touch you in your heart.

Lord, You and Your ways are beyond me.  Yet in the mystery of Your divine presence I come to know You.  Help me Lord, as I ponder Your divine essence, to be drawn into a deeper love of You.  Jesus, I trust in You.