RULES ARE THERE TO GUIDE US

1^st READING - 1 Samuel 16:1-13

P S A L M - Psalm 89:20, 21-22, 27-28

R: I have found David, my servant.

GOSPEL 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call.

 

Mark 2:23-28

SABBATH

Rules are there to guide us in our choices. There can be times that they need to be “put aside” for a particular reason or in a certain  situation as there are other aspects of the choice that demand this. It is not that the rule is wrong but that it was not made to address the particular situation in question. We have an example of this in today’s Gospel where Jesus reminds the people of what David once did in eating the bread reserved for the priests. Here we are faced with a choice between legalism, following the law to the letter, and allowing the troops to go hungry and, as such, maybe not acquit themselves properly in war. Is the law reserving the bread to the priests absolute and morally binding in this case? Of course not! David’s chosen course of action is the obvious way to respond to his dilemma. To force the troops to go hungry when there is food available and lose the war as a result of weak troops is clearly wrong. This does not mean that we should look for ways to avoid the rules that generally apply across our lives and that guide our moral choices. Situations like the one of David are not all that common, and so we should not expect to find an excuse for avoiding a rule the next time it impinges upon our choices. Many of our moral laws are meant to be applied without exception, and we have no justification to ignore or neglect them. One example of this is the call to love our neighbors – there is never going to be a situation where this law and command is negated. One of the key traits of a holy person is his willingness to submit to the moral law of the Church even though he may not fully understand it. This act of religious and faithful submission recognizes that we, as individuals, do not have the necessary authority to create laws. We are called to recognize and obey them and, in this way, act in accordance with the nature God has given us.Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL   REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What is your attitude to the law? Do you think you are above it and see yourself as having a role in creating moral right and wrong?   Jesus, help me to realize that the Church’s moral law reflects my true nature as You have given it to me. Help me to understand it and live it to the full.

Today's Gosperl - January 15, 2012 with Reflection

Feast of the Santo Niño

1^st READING - Isaiah 9:1-6

P S A L M - Psalm 98:1,2-3,3-4,5-6

R: All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

2^ND READING - Ephesians 1:3-6,15-18

GOSPEL

  

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

 

Mark 10:13-16

13 At that time people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.14 When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” 16 Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

SABBATH

A CHILD BORN TO US   On my arrival in the Philippines, one of the first celebrations I was introduced to was the Santo Niño. Sorry for my ignorance, but I had to ask someone what the Santo Niño was. I thought it had something to do with climate change issues surrounding the world these days — oh, that’s El Niño! I soon discovered that Santo Niño is a rich and beautiful devotion to the Infant Jesus. It is the culmination of the Christmas season in Filipino faith. The feast of the Santo Niño has its origins in the discovery of the Philippines by the Spanish explorer, Magellan. After baptizing and converting the native Queen Juana to the faith, Magellan gifted her with the image of the Infant Jesus. Many years passed after Magellan’s death but the image was found unspoiled. Devotion spread far and wide and many miracles were attributed to the image, affectionately called Santo Niño. Many centuries before the birth of Christ, Isaiah conveyed a beautiful prophecy. A child was to be born for us. Isaiah prophesies that this Child will be holy, eternal, mighty, wonderful and prince of peace. This of course was fulfilled in Jesus, the Son of God given to us, born of Mary. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us to be like little children. In contrast, power and strength is found in the weakness and littleness of a child. There is strength in weakness, power in vulnerability, and greatness in littleness. Today’s feast celebrates a child who is unlimited in power and grace to save — the Infant born in a stable at Bethlehem. Let today be a day of rejoicing as we remember the children mentioned in the Gospel approaching Jesus. While the disciples were eager to dissuade the children (Jewish culture saw children as insignificant and of little worth), we invite children into our lives as a blessing and gift from God. Let the image of the Santo Niño stir our faith in childlike confidence and simplicity. The Santo Niño reminds us that we are all children of the Heavenly Father. We devote our families and children to the intercession of the Child Jesus today, manifested beautifully in the image of the Santo Niño.Fr. Brian Steele, MGL   REFLECTION QUESTION: Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your power at work in our lives. Help us to remember that we are children of the Father. Amen.   Father, we offer a prayer for all children of the world, especially those exploited in evil pursuits. Save and protect Your little ones, Lord!

FOLLOW ME

1^ST READING - 1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1

P S A L M - Psalm 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R: Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.

 Mark 2:13-17

SABBATH

Levi, the son of Alpheus, was a tax collector. He was renamed Matthew, which is Greek for “Gift of God.” What a gift of God Levi came to be! He answered the call of Jesus to follow Him in a radical way, leaving everything behind. I remember serving in a parish under the patronage of St. Matthew. At the front of the church is a life-size statue of St. Matthew. The tax collector is holding the Bible in his arms. What is moving about the image are the coins being trampled underfoot by the saintly Matthew. It reveals a man captured by the love of Jesus, willing to give all to follow Him. His feast day is September 21. Mark tells us that at the call of Jesus, Levi got up and followed Him. Where did he go? What did he do? Why did he get up and follow Jesus? Sitting at the customs house was a good position. Levi could see everyone coming into town. He was quick to grab their money on their entrance, a necessity for those under Roman rule. The Romans needed something to keep their meals on the table. The taxes were just one of many forms of corruption held by the government of the day. Levi was despised because of his occupation which lent itself to fraud and selfish gain. Levi probably had seen Jesus and His disciples passing through many times. Something captured and fulfilled the heart of Levi that day. Perhaps sitting at the customs post gave him much time to ponder his future. He was not happy being an outcast, but this was his lot. However, at the call of Jesus, his life would never be the same again. To follow was to imitate, and Matthew did that. Tradition tells us that Matthew died a martyr. We are called to follow and imitate Jesus. Let us be eager to follow Him, not looking back at what we have given up but what we could gain. Pope Benedict says that in giving Jesus everything, He gives everything to us. And in the words of the late Pope John Paul II, let us “open wide the doors to Christ.” Fr. Brian Steele, MGL   REFLECTION QUESTION: What is the “customs house” you must leave behind in order to follow Jesus? Have courage to stand up and follow Jesus.   Lord, I rejoice that You call me to follow You. Give me grace to let go of everything in order to follow You, my strength and my joy. Amen.

The Intimidating Saint

How do you know St. Thérèse?   For many it is through plastic statues and well-meaning but sugary devotions that veer dangerously close to superstition: the Little Flower as a spiritual rabbit's foot. "Not for me," you say. Another common encounter with Thérèse yields the same off-putting feelings. You know the facts about her short life. You've read her autobiography, Story of a Soul. You've seen the pictures.   And yet ... you struggle to identify with the young girl from Lisieux, with her superhuman zeal, her willingness to suffer, with her total surrender to Christ at an age when most of us were just giving up playing with toys and turning our attention to the opposite sex.          Either type of encounter with Thérèse makes her unapproachable and intimidating. But both are inaccurate. What then are we supposed to do with Louis and Zelie Martin's little Thérèse?         Does her life really provide instruction for the rest of us or are we to just stare from a distance? In 1933 French playwright, novelist, and critic, Henri Gheon was asking the same questions about Thérèse. Gheon spent much of his youth away from the Church immersed instead in nature, literature, music, and art.   After a powerful conversion back to the faith, his writing became uniquely informed and penetrating, brimming with candor, sensitivity, and insight. It was his appreciation for life's subtleties which transform his treatment of St. Thérèse into a book unlike any other written.    The Truth about Thérèse recovers the humanity of the saint. The platitudes fade away. Left is the joy in finding the real Thérèse. Gheon shows what lay behind the smile; an intense soul living a life of heroic grandeur amidst dull and worldly associates. A soul driven by a burning love for God, even as she wrestled with great physical and emotional pain.   In The Truth about Thérèse you will discover the secrets of the Little Flower and understand why she is indeed the saint most fitted to be our model at this moment.  Read an excerpt from The Truth about Thérèse.     When you order The Truth about Thérèse you will also receive a beautiful Italian-made St. Thérèse relic prayer card FREE (while supplies last). And remember to take advantage of our store-wide 25% discount good through the end of January: at check out enter discount code newsite25.   The Truth about Therese by Henri Gheon 168 pgs ppbk $18.95 _____________ At checkout enter code: newsite25 Sale ends 1/31/2012. Cannot be combined with other discounts.  Shipping not discounted. _____________   Fine Catholic Books  from SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS    1-800-888-9344 We always welcome contributions to our non-profit apostolate. If you would prefer not to use the PayPal button below, you can add a contribution directly to your shopping cart at our on-line store.    Sophia Institute Press is the publishing division of

Today's Gospel - January 11, 2012 with Reflection

1^st READING - 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20

P S A L M - Psalm 40:2, 5, 7-8, 8-9, 10

R: Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.

 

Mark 1:29-39

29 On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. 31 He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. 32 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. 33 The whole town was gathered at the door. 34 He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. 35 Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. 36Simon and those who were with him pursued him 37 and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.”39 So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

SABBATH

GOD SPEAKS TO YOU   The First Reading today gives us a delightful story of God calling out to Samuel, the son of Hannah. We read that Samuel had not yet understood the ways of the Lord. He was assisting the old priest, Eli, in the Temple when he heard a voice calling out his name. Three times he went to Eli in response to the voice. Eli then began to realize the voice was that of Yahweh who was seeking to catch the attention of young Samuel. We must rejoice in the Elis of our life who have helped us discern the voice of God. The author of the Book of Samuel tells us that it was rare in those days for God to speak. But we know that God desires to speak to us. He speaks to us in various ways: daily events, experiences, nature, the sacraments, Scripture, wise people, and so on. We just need to open our ears and hearts and be ready to respond to Him. “Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening.” We should follow the advice of the great old priest Eli. The Lord speaks to us “loud and clear” in the “whisper of silence.” In our prayer time, we seek the voice of the Lord. He quietly woos us in love, corrects our faults, or speaks words of comfort and mercy. God speaks to you now, even as you read and reflect on this message. Let us pray for the gift of prophecy. This is a Charismatic gift that God wishes to give His people. It is through this gift that God uses us as His spokesperson to others. Sometimes the Lord may reveal an image, word or experience either for you or another person. This is a supernatural way in which God communicates to His people. We pray for the gift of prophetic utterance to know the mind of the Lord and to build up the Body of Christ. The Scripture is a good way to grow in knowledge of what the Lord says to us. In the Bible, God always speaks to us since it is the revealed will of God. The Scriptures are Spirit-inspired, God-breathed, and life for our souls. Learn the Scriptures, study and pray them, for the Lord wants to speak to you. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL   REFLECTION QUESTION: What do you think the Lord is telling you now?   Lord, give me the grace to hear You speak to my heart. Let me understand the message You wish to give me today.

HE TEACHES WITH AUTHORITY

1^st READING - 1 Samuel 1:9-20

P S A L M  - 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8

GOSPEL - Mark 1:21-28

SABBATH

As Jesus begins His public ministry, the people are impressed with His teaching. He teaches with authority. This can be difficult for some to digest as they realize He is just a son of the carpenter. Where could He have acquired His intellect and wisdom? The scholars of the day, the rabbis, were the great intellects. They would quote from one source or another and their disciples would marvel at their wisdom. However, Jesus teaches with authority, not quoting from any source, except by the Spirit of God. The Father had given Him words of wisdom, from whom comes His authority. Jesus is the Holy One of God and so He teaches with the power of the Spirit. The teaching that Jesus conveys is freedom from evil and sin. It makes an impact upon His listeners and people marvel at His words. Jesus’ reputation spreads. We, too, have been given authority. By virtue of our baptism, we are Christians empowered with the Spirit, cleansed in the Blood of Jesus, and strengthened in His grace. We can call upon the authority of the Lord to free us from sin, to help us witness to the truth, and serve each other. In being saved from sin, we are to move and act under the authority of His name. Let us call on the promise of the Spirit who enlightens us and empowers us. We need not fear as God is on our side. And His authority is an act of love, not domination, selfishness or greed. We need to consider how we exercise our authority. Do we do it with love or do we dominate? Oftentimes, authority is abused. Authority figures may have wounded us and stopped us from growing in the Lord. Let us bring these hurts to the Lord for healing and forgiveness. If we serve one another in love, walking under the mighty hand of God, we will see the authority and power of Jesus in our lives. Jesus teaches with authority and He desires us to also act in the authority given us — out of love, not domination. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL   REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How can you put the authority of Jesus in your life? Where can you use His authority to overcome sin, to help a friend in need, and witness to faith and conviction?   Lord, I rejoice in Your saving help. I claim Your authority over my life. Govern me and empower me with the grace of Your Holy Spirit. I believe that You are the Holy One of God. Amen.

Today's Gospel - January 9, 2012 with reflection

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

1^st READING - Isaiah 55:1-11

P S A L M - Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6

2^ND READING - 1 John 5:1-9

GOSPEL

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John saw Jesus approaching him, and said: Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Mark 1:7-11

7 This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 9 It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10 On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. 11 And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

SABBATH

YOU ARE MY BELOVED The liturgy of our Lord’s baptism sets the scene for Ordinary Time, that season of the Church where we reflect on the events of Jesus’ life until His passion. This year, we read from the Gospel according to Mark, the simplest and perhaps most revealing of the humanity of Jesus. Jesus, the Son of man, baptized in the River Jordan, prepares to undertake His public ministry. Luke tells us that Jesus is 30 years of age when He begins His public ministry. Whenever I read the account of the baptism of Jesus, I am always struck by the words from the Father: “You are my beloved Son. On you my favour rests.” I am certain that these words rang in Jesus’ ears and mind throughout His life, especially at the most trying and difficult times. Yes, it is true, Jesus is the beloved Son of the Father, the One sent by the Father, willing to give His life for the glory of the Kingdom. These words are addressed to us at baptism, too, when we begin our life in the Church. At baptism, thanks to Jesus, we are made children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus. God doesn’t have grandchildren. All of us are children of God. St. John reminds us in his letter: “Think of the love the Father has lavished upon us by letting us be called God’s children” (1 John 3:1). The words the Father spoke to Jesus are worthy of our meditation today. They can serve as our prayer mantra: “I am the Beloved child of God.” You are God’s son or daughter! Wow! How awesome is that — the child of the Creator, Almighty, Powerful and Ever Living God whom Jesus teaches us to call “Abba,” “Daddy”? I used to think it corny when people would tell me that God loves me. But it is an amazing fact that can change our life’s course if we let it sink into the depths of our being. Take some time today to bathe in the Father’s love for you. He loves you. You are His child. And God the Father delights in you. St. Paul reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus. We owe a lot to Jesus for what He has made possible through His life, death and resurrection. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL REFLECTION QUESTION: Pray the words of the Father in your prayer and reflection time. Then take it through the day, especially when hard times come your way. Thank You, Father, that I am Your beloved child. Amen.