Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?

January 31, 2015 7:13 am

“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 great calm. Then he asked them, ‘Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?’ “ (Mk 4: 37-40)

Our Lord always cares. He came to announce the powerful love of God and how much He cares about us. “Violent squall” or dangerous waves, difficult days with your spouse or feeling totally lonely and rejected or in danger because of our pride–we always can count on God’s help. Sometimes He needs to be asked, seriously asked.

“God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.” (Gospel Acclamation)

To do the will of God

January 30, 2015 2:02 pm

“You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised.” (Heb 10: 36)

Between “what He has promised” and “the will of God” is our “to do.” He promised to love us unconditionally forever and to be our Father forever, and His will for us is to love one another. As a spouse or friend, my “to do” is very simple: to be gentle, respectful, and creative as a giver, protecting time for us (daily…), open to sharing with my spouse or friend my dreams… Even if we simply need endurance, we should start every day again. And again. And again. 🙂

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.” (Gospel Acclamation)

To rouse one another

January 29, 2015 10:37 am

“We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.” (Heb 10: 24)

We can motivate or demotivate one another; we can “consider how to rouse one another” or discourage one another. We can do both, but God remind us: “we MUST consider how to rouse” because of the goal—“to love and good works.” Every day God’s word does the same for us: inspires us to love and good works. We can do it for our brothers and sisters—“to rouse one another.”

“A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Hear the word and accept it and bear fruit

January 28, 2015 9:19 am

“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.” (Mk 4: 20)

It could be our action plan: “hear the word and accept it and bear fruit.” Not only “hear the word” but also “accept it” and when accepted “bear fruit.” Our planet was created by God who “said” “and it was so.” So, it is natural for God’s word to bear fruit. But when we are between word and fruits, we need to hear the word and accept it.

“The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live for ever.” (Gospel Acclamation)

The will of God

January 27, 2015 9:30 am

“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.’” (Mk 3: 34-35)

The first act of our adoption by God. The next one would be on the cross: “this is your mother, this is your son,” when we were adopted into Our Lord’s family by His Mother. But the first one was done here, when He mentioned all the people: “whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” The will of God is very simple: to love one another.

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.” (Gospel Acclamation)

A spirit of power and love and self-control

January 26, 2015 11:50 am

“I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.” (2 Tm 1: 6-8)

Our Lord asks us “to bear our share of hardship for the Gospel” and not to “be ashamed of our testimony to Him,” but, at the same moment, He knows that we need help; we need “the strength that comes from God.” He is always ahead of us: He is always pouring out His grace upon us, and we can trust His grace and His presence with us more than our abilities. He is with us always, especially when we serve Him in our brothers and sisters, with “a spirit of power and love and self-control.”

“Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Eutheos – immediately

January 25, 2015 11:11 am

“As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, ‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.” (Mk 1: 16-18)

Meeting with Jesus could change our lives dramatically. Simon and his brother Andrew, fishermen invited by Jesus to “come after Him,” became “fishers of men.” Sometimes our jobs or professions involve more than just what we know and what we do. This text is missing one word from the original text: eutheos — “they abandoned their nets immediately.” When we are called, we have to answer at once because “This is the time of fulfilment. The kingdom of God is at hand.”

“The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Jesus at home

January 24, 2015 6:00 am

“Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat.” (Mk 3: 20)

We can invite Him into our houses. And He will come, because He knows perfectly how important the home and family life are. He spent thirty years with His Family. He also knows our hunger for love, our hunger for a kind word and our hunger to be important to someone. He knows, and when He is invited, He will come.

“Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Written upon our hearts

January 23, 2015 8:44 am

“But this is the covenant I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds and I will write them upon their hearts. I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Heb 8: 10)

Our hearts can be written on–they can hold a message. Sometimes people try to write upon our hearts different messages, but Our Lord’s covenant, written upon our hearts, is the strongest and the most reliable message about His love—and it remains forever. He IS our God and we ARE His people. We should remember this always, especially when we are tempted to read other messages.

“God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” (Gospel Acclamation)

To touch Him

January 22, 2015 7:13 am

“He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him.” (Mk 3: 10)

We can see ourselves among “those who had diseases pressing upon him to touch him.” But we can’t touch Him–at least not in person. He has been coming to us everyday in the Liturgy, in daily readings and in our brothers and sisters. And we can give others the healing touch that we have received from Him to “cure many.”

“Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” (Gospel Acclamation)