Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
(Memorial of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr)
Lectionary: 328
Reading 1
1 Kings 3:4-13
Solomon went to Gibeon to sacrifice there,
because that was the most renowned high place.
Upon its altar Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings.
In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.
God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”
Solomon answered:
“You have shown great favor to your servant, my father David,
because he behaved faithfully toward you,
with justice and an upright heart;
and you have continued this great favor toward him, even today,
seating a son of his on his throne.
O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant,
king to succeed my father David;
but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.
I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen,
a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.
Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart
to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.
For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?”
The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request.
So God said to him: “Because you have asked for this–
not for a long life for yourself,
nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies,
but for understanding so that you may know what is right–
I do as you requested.
I give you a heart so wise and understanding
that there has never been anyone like you up to now,
and after you there will come no one to equal you.
In addition, I give you what you have not asked for,
such riches and glory that among kings there is not your like.”
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 119:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
R. (12b) Lord, teach me your statutes.
How shall a young man be faultless in his way?
By keeping to your words.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
With all my heart I seek you;
let me not stray from your commands.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Within my heart I treasure your promise,
that I may not sin against you.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
With my lips I declare
all the ordinances of your mouth.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
In the way of your decrees I rejoice,
as much as in all riches.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
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 6:30-34
The Apostles gathered together with Jesus
and reported all they had done and taught.
He said to them,
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”
People were coming and going in great numbers,
and they had no opportunity even to eat.
So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.
People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.
They hastened there on foot from all the towns
and arrived at the place before them.
When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.
Reflection 1
Catholic Daily Reflections
Unexpected Ministry
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” Mark 6:34
The Twelve had just returned from going about the countryside preaching the Gospel. They were tired. Jesus, in His compassion, invites them to come away with Him to rest for a while. So they get in a boat to cross over to a deserted place. But when the people hear about this, they hurry on foot to the place that their boat was heading. So, when the boat arrives, there is a crowd awaiting them.
Of course, Jesus does not get upset. He does not get discouraged by the burning desire of the people to be with Him and the Twelve. Instead, the Gospel relates that when Jesus saw them, “his heart was moved with pity,” and He began to teach them many things.
In our own lives, after serving others well, it’s understandable to desire rest. Even Jesus desired this for Himself and His Apostles. But the one thing that Jesus permitted to “interrupt” His rest was the clear desire of the people to be with Him and to be fed by His preaching. There is much to learn from this example of our Lord.
For example, there are many times when a parent may only want to be alone for a while, and yet family concerns arise that need their attention. Priests and religious may also have unexpected duties that arise from their ministry that can, at first, appear to interrupt their plans. The same can be said for any vocation or situation in life. We may think we need one thing, but then duty calls and we find we are needed in a different way.
One key to sharing in the apostolic mission of Christ, be it to our families, Church, communities or friends, is to be ready and willing to be generous with our time and energy. It’s true that prudence will dictate the need for rest at times, but at other times the call to charity will supersede what we perceive as a legitimate need for our own rest and relaxation. And when true charity is demanded of us, we will always find that our Lord gives us the needed grace to be generous with our time. It is often in those moments when our Lord chooses to use us in ways that are truly transforming for others.
Reflect, today, upon the true needs of those around you. Are there people who would greatly benefit from your time and attention today? Are there needs that others have that will require you to change your plans and to give of yourself in a way that is difficult? Do not hesitate to give generously of yourself to others. In fact, this form of charity is not only transforming for those whom we serve, it is often one of the most restful and rejuvenating activities we can also do for ourselves.
Reflection 2
One Bread, One Body
THE LIGHT OF SACRIFICE
“Upon its altar Solomon offered a thousand holocausts. In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.” —1 Kings 3:4-5
After Solomon sacrificed a thousand holocausts, the Lord appeared to him. The Lord wants to reveal Himself to us, but we have built walls of selfishness separating us from Him. If we accept His grace to change from selfishness to self-sacrifice, we will be receptive to the Lord’s revelation. Sacrifice is the prerequisite for receiving many of the Lord’s revelations.
Noah and Abraham offered sacrifices to the Lord before He revealed His covenant to them (Gn 8:20ff; 15:9ff). After offering many sacrifices during the ark’s procession into Jerusalem (2 Sm 6:13ff), David received the astounding revelation that his kingdom would endure forever (2 Sm 7:16). The ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the Son of God, on the altar of the cross was the prerequisite for God’s ultimate revelation of the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit, and the Church.
The purpose of One Bread, One Body is to encourage you to go to Mass daily or as often as possible. We want to prepare you through God’s Word to enter into the continuing presence of Jesus’ once and for all sacrifice on Calvary (see Heb 10:10, 12). Then, as you live the sacrifice of the Mass (which is the memorial of the sacrifice on Calvary), you will receive God’s revelation. You will know God, His plan, and His love. See the light through sacrifice.
Prayer: Father, I will carry my crosses and walk in the light.
Promise: “He pitied them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them at great length.” —Mk 6:34
Praise: St. Ansgar made great personal sacrifices to evangelize the Danish and Swedish peoples. We praise You, Father, for the saints who have gone before us with light for our path.
Reflection 3
Shared from God's Word
Christian discipleship is a 24x7 mission. We cannot take a break from being good and doing good. All the same, we need a time out to recuperate and to rejuvenate ourselves so that we can continue the good work. Jesus knew his disciples who had returned from their mission trip needed rest and so invited them to avail of it. However, their rest seemed to have been interrupted by the crowd that was eager to hear them! Jesus breaks the schedule and “sets out to teach them at some length.” His reaction to the people who disrupted his well-earned break was to feel sorry for them and to help them. How willing am I to break my schedules for the sake of the mission to those who are less privileged than I ? Lord, help me to be always available for the service of the people.
Prayers
My generous Lord, You gave of Yourself without reserve. People came to You in their need, and You did not hesitate to serve them out of love. Give me a heart that imitates Your generosity and help me to always say “Yes” to the charitable work to which I am called. May I learn to find great joy in serving others, especially in those unplanned and unexpected circumstances of life. Jesus, I trust in You.
Lord Jesus, you guard and protect us from all evil. Help me to stand firm in your word and to trust in your help in all circumstances. May I always find rest and refuge in the shelter of your presence.
Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy
Reflection 34: Satisfaction Only in God
So often in life we can fall into the trap of believing that we are satisfied by worldly and passing things. We can even be fooled into thinking that our sins satisfy us. And, in a strange way, they do offer a temporary satisfaction of sorts. But this “satisfaction” is shallow and deceptive. When we come to the profound realization that nothing but God satisfies our souls, we will be blessed and we will be disposed to seek true satisfaction only in Him. This comes about only through a deep recognition of His Mercy (See Diary #42).
Do you long to be satisfied by the Mercy of God? Do you seek out His Mercy every day? Reflect upon the desires within your heart. What do you long for? Let God’s grace free you from unhealthy and foolish attachments and desires this day so that your desire can be set on God and God alone.
Come to me, Lord, in Your abundant Mercy and free me from the desires of this passing world. Help me to desire You above all things and, in that desire, to be overwhelmed by Your divine love. Jesus, I trust in You.
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