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Monday, February 12, 2018
Follow Jesus from Gethsemane to Golgotha
Sunday, February 11, 2018
Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B - February 11, 2018
FIRST READING
Leviticus 13:1-2,44-46
The Law regarding leprosy is given to Moses and Aaron.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 32:1-2,5,11
A prayer of contrition and confession for sin.
SECOND READING1 Corinthians 10:31--11:1Paul urges the Corinthians to imitate him as he imitates Christ.
Jesus cures a person with leprosy, who reports his cure to everyone.
GOSPEL MK 1:40-45
A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
"If you wish, you can make me clean."
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched him, and said to him,
"I do will it. Be made clean."
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.
He said to him, "See that you tell no one anything,
but go, show yourself to the priest
and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them."
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
He remained outside in deserted places,
and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
BACKGROUND ON THE GOSPEL READING
In today's Gospel, we continue to hear Mark report the miraculous
healings that Jesus performed in Galilee. The Gospel begins with Jesus
healing a man with leprosy. Leprosy is a disfiguring, infectious skin
disease that has been surrounded by many social and religious taboos
throughout history. In 1873, the cause of leprosy, also known as
Hansen's disease, was identified. We now know that leprosy is caused by
a bacterial infection. Although it is infectious, modern medical studies
have shown that transmission is more difficult than previously thought.
Since the 1940s, medical treatments have been available, and the patient
no longer needs to be isolated once long-term treatment has begun.
In Jesus' time, however, religious and social taboos dictated the
behavior of those with leprosy and other skin diseases. The Law of Moses
provided for the examination of skin diseases by the priests, and if
leprosy was identified, the person was declared unclean. People with
leprosy lived in isolation from the community. They were instructed to
rip their clothes and to announce their presence with loud cries when
moving in the community. If the sores of leprosy healed, the Law of
Moses provided a purification rite that permitted the person to return
to the community.
In today's Gospel, the man with leprosy took the initiative, approaching
Jesus and asking for healing. In doing so, the leper violated the
religious customs of the day by approaching a person who was clean. His
request to Jesus can be interpreted as a courageous and daring act. The
confidence of the leper in Jesus' ability to heal him is evident in the
words of his request. But his words can also be read as a challenge to
Jesus, asking just how far Jesus was willing to extend himself in order
to heal someone. While healing the man, Jesus touched him, which also
violated established social norms. This is an important sign of the
depth of Jesus' compassion for the man and an important statement about
Jesus' interpretation of the Law of Moses.
Although Jesus touched the leper, he did not break completely with the
Law of Moses. He instructed the man not to tell anyone about the cure
and told him to present himself to the priests as prescribed by the Law
of Moses. The first instruction sounds nearly impossible to honor.
Certainly, the man would want to share the good news of his healing, and
his quick improvement would require an explanation. The second
instruction honors the Law of Moses.
Mark's Gospel tells us that after this healing, it became difficult for
Jesus to travel freely. There are several possible explanations for
this. There might have been concern about the repercussions of Jesus'
breach of social and religious norms. In touching the man with leprosy,
Jesus made himself unclean. Mark's narrative, however, leads to the
conclusion that Jesus' movement was hampered by his popularity. Despite
his instructions, the cured man spread the word about Jesus' healing
power. Even when Jesus was in deserted places, people sought him out in
search of his healing.
FAMILY CONNECTION
Today's Gospel invites us to think about the choices we make as
individuals and as a family. Jesus was faced with a choice in today's
Gospel. By choosing to heal the man with leprosy, Jesus showed God's
compassion for the sick and the outcast. The man knew that Jesus had a
choice and that Jesus could reject his request. He may have expected
that Jesus would not help him. The social taboos regarding leprosy
certainly gave him little on which to base his hope. In the person of
the man with leprosy, we see an image of all those in need. The sick and
the outcast of our world are watching us, to see if we as Christians
will choose to extend ourselves to others in need of healing and
compassion.
Gather with your family and talk about some of the choices you have made
as a family. (where to go on vacation, what activities to do together,
how to spend our evenings, and so on) How does your family go about
making these decisions? What do your choices communicate to others about
your family's values? In today's Gospel, Jesus was faced with a choice.
Read today's Gospel, Mark 1:40-45. In choosing to heal the man with
leprosy, Jesus chose to show God's compassion and mercy. All our choices
reflect our faith, and others are watching. Conclude in prayer together,
asking God to help your family show compassion to others in your family
decisions. Pray together today's Psalm, Psalm 32, or pray the Prayer for
Vocations.
Sources: Loyola Press; Sunday Readings
Friday, February 9, 2018
The Last Hours of Jesus
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Wednesday, February 7, 2018
IDENTITY
Knowing your IDENTITY is knowing who you truly are; not because of all your accomplishments but because of who God Says you are….
God says to name a few….
I am Child of God.
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12
I am a new creation in Christ.
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a New person. The old life is gone; a New life has begun! 2 Cor. 5:17
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a New person. The old life is gone; a New life has begun! 2 Cor. 5:17
I have been set free in Christ.
For freedom did Christ set us Free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1
For freedom did Christ set us Free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1
I am Forgiven.
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and Forgave our sins. Ephesians 1:7
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and Forgave our sins. Ephesians 1:7
There are so many other verses that speak to who we really are because of the sacrifice He made for us on the cross.
When you really begin to understand the truth about what God says about you in your heart it is life changing!
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14
Remember when you are putting yourself down, Read what God says about your IDENTITY, that should build you back up on a stronger foundation.
BT Benskin · Top Commenter · Certified Life, Personal and Grief Coach at Hope Focused Coaching
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B - February 4, 2018
First Reading
Job 7:1-4,6-7
Job laments his sufferings and his life.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 147:1-6
A song of praise for the Lord's goodness to the lowly.
Second Reading
1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-23
Paul explains the conditions under which he preaches the gospel and the
reasons why he will not accept financial help from the Corinthians.
GOSPEL READING
Jesus cures Simon's mother-in-law and many others as well.
GOSPEL MK 1:29-39
On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
Rising very early before dawn, he left
and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you."
He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come."
So he went into their synagogues,
preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.
Background on the Gospel Reading
Today we continue to read from Mark's Gospel, learning more about the
ministry of Jesus. Jesus cured Simon's mother-in-law, and she
immediately began to serve Jesus and his disciples. Jesus also cured
many others who were brought to him, healing their illnesses and driving
out demons. As we will see throughout Mark's Gospel, Jesus did not
permit the demons to speak because they knew his identity and would have
revealed it to those who were present.
On the morning after this busy day, Jesus retreated in prayer, but was
pursued by Simon and others who brought news that many people were
looking for him. At this point in Mark's Gospel, we begin to see a
distinct role for the inner circle of Jesus' disciples--they act as
intermediaries between Jesus and the people. Jesus reports to his
disciples that they need to leave Capernaum to preach in other places.
Today's Gospel completes a picture of Jesus' ministry: preaching, curing
the sick, driving out demons, and then moving on to continue this work
in another place. Mark's Gospel tells us that Jesus did this throughout
Galilee.
Jesus' compassion and healing of the sick is a sign of the Kingdom of
God. The Church continues to extend Christ's healing presence to others
in its ministry to the sick. In the Sacrament of the Anointing of the
Sick, the Church prays for spiritual and physical healing, forgiveness
of sins, and comfort for those who are suffering from illness.
In today's Gospel we also notice the importance of prayer in Jesus'
daily life. Jesus rose early in the morning, removed himself from the
crowds, and went to a deserted place to pray. When the disciples found
him, he told them that it was time to move on. We believe that in his
prayers Jesus found guidance and direction from God. We also bring our
decision-making to God in prayer, asking for his guidance and direction
in our lives.
Family Connection
We know from last week's Gospel that Jesus gathered and prayed with the
community in the synagogue. Today we learn that Jesus also took the time
to pray alone. Following the example of Jesus, we also pray together
with our community, and we take the time to pray alone. Our children
observe our prayer with others. We might want to take the opportunity to
talk with them about our private prayer, however, so that through our
example, they may learn to make private prayer an important part of
their daily lives.
Gather as a family and talk about the ways in which your family prays
together (at Mass, grace before meals, bedtime prayers). Invite each
member of the family to talk about his or her private prayer: When do
you pray? Where do you pray? How do you pray? What do you pray for?
Jesus modeled for us a life of prayer. Read together today's Gospel,
Mark 1:29-39. Talk about this Gospel with your family. Ask questions
such as the following: What do you think Jesus was praying about in
today's Gospel? What guidance have you received from God in prayer?
Conclude by asking God to bless our times of prayer so that we can know
and follow God's ways. Pray together the Lord's Prayer.
Sources: Loyola Press;Sunday Readings
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