Tuesday, January 16, 2024

17-JAN-'24, Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot


Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot

Lectionary: 313


Reading 1

1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51

David spoke to Saul:

"Let your majesty not lose courage.

I am at your service to go and fight this Philistine."

But Saul answered David,

"You cannot go up against this Philistine and fight with him,

for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth."


David continued:

"The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear,

will also keep me safe from the clutches of this Philistine."

Saul answered David, "Go! the LORD will be with you."


Then, staff in hand, David selected five smooth stones from the wadi

and put them in the pocket of his shepherd's bag.

With his sling also ready to hand, he approached the Philistine.


With his shield bearer marching before him,

the Philistine also advanced closer and closer to David.

When he had sized David up,

and seen that he was youthful, and ruddy, and handsome in appearance,

the Philistine held David in contempt.

The Philistine said to David,

"Am I a dog that you come against me with a staff?"

Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods

and said to him, "Come here to me,

and I will leave your flesh for the birds of the air

and the beasts of the field."

David answered him:

"You come against me with sword and spear and scimitar,

but I come against you in the name of the LORD of hosts,

the God of the armies of Israel that you have insulted.

Today the LORD shall deliver you into my hand;

I will strike you down and cut off your head.

This very day I will leave your corpse

and the corpses of the Philistine army for the birds of the air

and the beasts of the field;

thus the whole land shall learn that Israel has a God.

All this multitude, too,

shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves.

For the battle is the LORD's and he shall deliver you into our hands."


The Philistine then moved to meet David at close quarters,

while David ran quickly toward the battle line

in the direction of the Philistine.

David put his hand into the bag and took out a stone,

hurled it with the sling,

and struck the Philistine on the forehead.

The stone embedded itself in his brow,

and he fell prostrate on the ground.

Thus David overcame the Philistine with sling and stone;

he struck the Philistine mortally, and did it without a sword.

Then David ran and stood over him;

with the Philistine's own sword which he drew from its sheath

he dispatched him and cut off his head.


Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 144:1b, 2, 9-10

R. (1) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!


Blessed be the LORD, my rock,

who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.

R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!


My refuge and my fortress,

my stronghold, my deliverer,

My shield, in whom I trust,

who subdues my people under me.

R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!


O God, I will sing a new song to you;

with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise,

You who give victory to kings,

and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.

R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!


Alleluia

See Matthew 4:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom

and cured every disease among the people.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel

Mark 3:1-6

Jesus entered the synagogue.

There was a man there who had a withered hand.

They watched Jesus closely

to see if he would cure him on the sabbath

so that they might accuse him.

He said to the man with the withered hand,

"Come up here before us."

Then he said to the Pharisees,

"Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil,

to save life rather than to destroy it?"

But they remained silent.

Looking around at them with anger

and grieved at their hardness of heart,

Jesus said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."

He stretched it out and his hand was restored.

The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel

with the Herodians against him to put him to death.


Reflection 1

Catholic Daily Reflections


Grieved at the Hardness of Heart


Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. Mark 3:4–5


Sin damages our relationship with God. But hardness of heart is even more damaging because it perpetuates the damage done by sin. And the harder one’s heart, the more permanent the damage.


In the passage above, Jesus was angry with the Pharisees. Oftentimes the passion of anger is sinful, resulting from impatience and a lack of charity. But at other times, the passion of anger can be good when it is motivated by love of others and hatred for their sin. In this case, Jesus was grieved by the hardness of heart of the Pharisees, and that grief motivated His holy anger. His “holy” anger did not cause irrational criticism; rather, it drove Jesus to cure this man in the presence of the Pharisees so that they would soften their hearts and believe in Jesus. Sadly, it didn’t work. The very next line of the Gospel says, “The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death” (Mark 3:6).


Hardness of heart should be greatly avoided. The problem is that those who are hard of heart are usually not open to the fact that they are hard of heart. They are obstinate and stubborn, and oftentimes self-righteous. Therefore, when people suffer from this spiritual ailment, it is difficult for them to change, especially when confronted.


This Gospel passage offers you an important opportunity to look into your own heart with honesty. Only you and God need to be part of that interior introspection and conversation. Begin by reflecting upon the Pharisees and the poor example they set. From there, try to look at yourself with great honesty. Are you obstinate? Are you hardened in your convictions to the point that you are unwilling to even consider that you may be wrong at times? Are there people in your life with whom you have entered into a conflict that still remains? If any of this rings true, then you may indeed suffer from the spiritual ill of a hardened heart.


Reflect, today, upon your own soul and your relationships with others with as much honesty as possible. Do not hesitate to let your guard down and be open to what God may want to say to you. And if you detect even the slightest tendency toward a hardened and stubborn heart, beg our Lord to enter in to soften it. Change like this is difficult, but the rewards of such a change are incalculable. Do not hesitate and do not wait. Change is worth it in the end.


Reflection 2

One Bread, One Body


THIS MEANS WAR


“Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, Who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.” —Psalm 144:1


The Catholic Church upholds the right to life, from conception until natural death. We are the Church Militant, and God has given each of us an important role to play on the battlefield. Governments, courts, industries, and lobbyists are plotting death (see Mk 3:6); we who defend life are plotting the victory of the armies of the Lord.


The abortion industry is like Goliath; we who defend life are like David. To the abortion industry and its many supporters, we must seem to have withered hands (Mk 3:1). Surely those who oppose life regard us as Goliath did David, holding us “in contempt” (1 Sm 17:42).


God is working to train our withered hands for battle, our shriveled fingers for war (Ps 144:1). Many faithful hands and fingers will ply the Rosary beads today, wielding the weapons of prayer and fasting which will bring down Goliath. With David, say to Goliath: “You come against me with massive funding, governmental authorization, the support of the secular media, and legal backing. But I come against you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies that you have insulted” (see 1 Sm 17:45). Stretch out your withered hands to Jesus; He will strengthen them for this war (Ps 144:1).


Prayer:  “Arise, O Lord, that Your enemies may be scattered, and those who hate You may flee before You” (Nm 10:35).


Promise:  “The battle is the Lord’s, and He shall deliver you into our hands.” —1 Sm 17:47


Praise:  St. Anthony gave those who came to him in the desert the benefit of his hard-won lessons in spiritual warfare.


Reflection 3

Shared from God's Word


Jesus picks up another controversy at Capernaum by healing a man with a withered hand on a Sabbath. Jesus performs a miracle as well as he gives a new teaching. Jesus transcends the parameters of Rabbinical debates and understanding of Sabbath laws and reaches out in love to the person in need. Jesus holds on to the principles of love and goodness. As a result, the Pharisees plot against Jesus to destroy him. Faith requires our response to God’s invitation. The man stretched out his hands at the command of Jesus in order to be healed. Like David, filled with the Spirit and trust in God, was able to defeat Goliath, we shall approach Jesus for healing of our withered hearts. 


Prayers


My loving Lord, this day I open myself to an examination of my own heart and pray that You will help me to always be open to change when necessary. Help me, especially, to see any hardness I may have within my heart. Help me to overcome any obstinacy, stubbornness and self-righteousness. Give me the gift of humility, dear Lord, so that my heart can become more like Yours. Jesus, I trust in You.


Lord Jesus, in your victory over sin and death on the cross and in your resurrection you give us the assurance of sharing in the eternal rest of heaven. Transform my heart with your love that I may freely serve my neighbor for his good and find joy and refreshment in the celebration of Sunday as the Lord's Day.


Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy


Reflection 17: Turn to Our Blessed Mother in Prayer 

Turn to our Blessed Mother in confident prayer.  She holds you close to her Immaculate Heart and will direct you to her Son, Jesus.  She is the perfect Mother, the Mother of All Grace.  Trust in Her maternal care and intercession.  She knows how to unlock the graces of the Mercy of her Son. And she longs to do so for you, her precious child (See Diary #11).


Sincerely reflect, today, upon your relationship with Mother Mary, the Mother of Mercy.  Do you trust in her maternal care and intercession?  If you are not wholeheartedly in love with our Blessed Mother and if you do not completely trust in her motherly care, spend time today opening your heart more fully to all that God wants to bless you with through her care.  Don’t be afraid to turn to her.  She will point you to her Son.


Dearest Mother, my Queen.  The Lord has entrusted to you the storehouse of His Mercy.  The King of Kings has set you on a throne and given you charge of His Mercy.  May I come to you, this day and always, seeking that which you wish to bestow upon me.  Thank you for bringing me the Divine Mercy of your Son. Dearest Mother, pray for me.  Jesus, I trust in You.

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