The Holy One of God

January 31, 2021, Sunday 

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)

PRO-LIFE SUNDAY

CYCLE B - YEAR I

RDGS: DT 18:15-20/ PS 95:1-2. 6-7. 7-9/ 1 COR 7:32-35

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.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

In driving out devils Jesus shows that in the reign of God there is no room for oppressive evil forces which weigh down on God’s children. No one should have to live in hell. Jesus is in agony until the end of the world, standing with us against all forms of addiction, exploitation, violence and abuse.

Jesus, from the start of your ministry you reveal how the gift of power is to be expressed: not in dominance but in healing service. In what way do I exercise my power and authority?

PRAYER:

Lord, I am faced with a world filled with violence, greed, hunger and evil. I struggle to believe that you have overcome evil. Help me to see that you are at work in the small signs of love, justice and truth around me.

Jesus Calms The Storm

January 30, 2021, Saturday

Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (Green)

CYCLE B - YEAR I

RDGS: HEB 11:1-2. 8-19/ LK 1:69-70. 71-72. 73-75

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 a 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?”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Today’s Gospel story highlights the stormy journey our faith has to make today. How easily our sense of Jesus’ love and presence is drowned out by a multiplicity of voices. As a result, this lessening or loss of faith gives way to fear. At such times he may be asleep in the boat but his love never leaves us.

For your prayer talk to Jesus about how he may appear to be asleep but is awake and active in the way you accept, appreciate, and care for those who people your day.

PRAYER:

Lord, there are times when I need to hear your voice ordering: ‘Peace! Be still!’ There is no basis for my fear. You are with me and I trust you. I need to turn away from the howling of the wind and disturbing noises and wait for your comforting presence.

Parable of the Growing Seed

 

January 29, 2021, Friday
Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
RDGS: HEB 10:32-39/PS 37:3-4. 5-6. 23-24. 39-40
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.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Much of life's biggest lessons and learnings come with patience. Faith, too, grows in the ebbs and flows of the lives of each of us. God is not impatient with our growth. God is the one who creates us from nothing and creates us each day of our lives. God grows a love in us so that adult love can shelter and comfort many others.

PRAYER:

Lord, your images of the kingdom are alive and organic. It has its own pattern of growth, a tiny plant that grows into a massive tree with room for every creature. Let me never imagine that I am the architect or builder of your kingdom. Enough for me to be patient, a seed growing slowly, animated by your spirit.

Parable of the Lamp

January 28, 2021, Thursday
Feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest & Doctor of the Church (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
RDGS: HEB 10:19-25/ PS 24:1-2. 3-4. 5-6
GOSPEL: MK 4:21-25

Jesus said to his disciples,

“Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket

or under a bed,

and not to be placed on a lampstand?

For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;

nothing is secret except to come to light.

Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”

He also told them, “Take care what you hear.

The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you,

and still, more will be given to you.

To the one who has, more will be given;

from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

The lamp to be placed on the lampstand is Jesus. He is the new revelation of God, replacing the lampstands of traditional religion. The prophet is a lamp to the people. In our words and actions, the lamp of Jesus is still alight.

Do I allow the light of Christ to shine out before others?

PRAYER: 

We offer to God in prayer the light of our minds and the love of our hearts. We acknowledge all the complexities that go with being human - the light and the dark.

Parable of the Sower

January 27, 2021, Wednesday

Wednesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (Green)

Saint Angela Merici, Virgin - Opt. Mem. (White)

CYCLE B - YEAR I

RDGS: HEB 10:11-18/ PS 110:1. 2. 3. 4

GOSPEL: MK 4:1-20

On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea.

A very large crowd gathered around him 

so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down.

And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land.

And he taught them at length in parables, 

and in the course of his instruction he said to them, 

"Hear this!  A sower went out to sow.

And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, 

and the birds came and ate it up.

Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil.

It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.

And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.  

Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it 

and it produced no grain.

And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit.

It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."

He added, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear."

And when he was alone, 

those present along with the Twelve 

questioned him about the parables.

He answered them, 

"The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you.

But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that

they may look and see but not perceive,

and hear and listen but not understand,

in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven."

Jesus said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?

Then how will you understand any of the parables?

The sower sows the word.

These are the ones on the path where the word is sown.

As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once 

and takes away the word sown in them.

And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, 

when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.

But they have no roots; they last only for a time.

Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, 

they quickly fall away.

Those sown among thorns are another sort.

They are the people who hear the word, 

but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, 

and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, 

and it bears no fruit.

But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it

and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold."

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

The human heart is like a field that can, at different times, be open or closed. The word of God comes to us as we are, with our faults and failings, our gifts and talents. We bear fruit each in our own way at our own time. 

Sometimes the fruit is big - a hundredfold, other times less so. In prayer we offer our hearts to God and, with God's help, bear whatever fruit we can just at the moment. It is God's word that is sown in us and, even in strange ways, it is God who gives the increase.

PRAYER:

If your word is like a seed, Lord, then it is an organism, with a life of its own. My part is to receive it, give it roots and depth so that it survives hardships; and protect it from the thorns of multiple cares and desires. If I allow your word some space in my life, there is no limit to the fruit it may bear.

Jesus And His Family

January 26, 2021, Tuesday

Memorial of Saints Timothy & Titus, Bishops (White)

CYCLE B - YEAR I

RDGS: 2 TM 1:1-8 or TI 1:1-5/ PS 96:1-2. 2-3. 7-8. 10

GOSPEL: MK 3:31-35

The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house.

Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him. 

A crowd seated around him told him,

"Your mother and your brothers and your sisters

are outside asking for you."

But he said to them in reply,

"Who are my mother and my brothers?"

And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,

"Here are my mother and my brothers.

For whoever does the will of God

is my brother and sister and mother."

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Is Jesus rejecting his own mother and family? Not at all, but he is reminding his disciples that there is a kinship that takes priority over blood relations. It is centered on a radical call to be like him. A relationship with Him brings intimacy, like that of a mother, brother, or sister.

The essence of being a Christian is to widen our relationships – of trust, affection, commitment, loyalty, faithfulness, kindness, thoughtfulness, compassion, mercy, helpfulness, encouragement, support, strength, protection – all the qualities that bind people together in mutual love and unity.

Jesus invites me to call God my father and he recognizes me as one of his family. What more assurance do I need that Jesus walks with me?

PRAYER:

Loving God, thank you for the gift of my parents and their unsparing, self-giving love. Thank you for the holy mother of Jesus, who is my mother too. The old Irish saying is always fresh in my heart: ‘We are related to God on his mother’s side’.

Proclaim the Gospel to All Creatures

January 25, 2021, Monday

FEAST OF THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL, APOSTLE (White)

CYCLE B - YEAR I

RDGS: ACTS 22:3-16 or ACTS 9:1-22/ PS 117:1. 2

GOSPEL: MK 16:15-18

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:

"Go into the whole world

and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;

whoever does not believe will be condemned.

These signs will accompany those who believe:

in my name they will drive out demons,

they will speak new languages.

They will pick up serpents with their hands,

and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.

They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Today we celebrate the conversion of Saint Paul. On the road to Damascus, Saul is encountered by the Lord and undergoes a radical conversion. Saul, the former instrument of fear, terror and persecution, becomes Paul, the chosen instrument of God. His life task now is to bring the good news of God’s reconciling love to those who know nothing about it.

PRAYER:

Lord, I too am chosen by you as your ambassador. This brings me closer to you. You trust me to be the Good News in the present tense. Let me spot the signs of your presence as I try to do this.