“He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice.” (MK 7: 24)

Even Our Lord “entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice” because He dedicated all His life to serve. He knew how to go alone to pray and be with His father, but He 
also knew when He was needed and when it was time not to hide. We can always call on him; He always answers.

“Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (MK 7: 18-19)

This is like our example of coca-cola and water used in Program 1. The difference between them is that when coca-cola is shaken it will explode, but water will be still. Everything comes from us and our emotions—“everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart.” We need to take care of our hearts and protect them because this is the only way we can protect our relationships. 

“Your word, O Lord, is truth: consecrate us in the truth.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“Can it indeed be that God dwells on earth? If the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain you, how much less this temple which I have built! Look kindly on the prayer and petition of your servant, O LORD, my God, and listen to the cry of supplication which I, your servant, utter before you this day. May your eyes watch night and day over this temple, the place where you have decreed you shall be honored; may you heed the prayer which I, your servant, offer in this place.” (1 KGS 8: 27-29) 

“God dwells on earth”; He dwells not only in one place, a very special temple, but also in every church and every chapel all over the world. Our Lord really wanted to be with us and listen to us. His “eyes watch night and day over” every place where we come with our prayers to meet Him. God really “dwells on earth.”  

“Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees; and favor me with your law.” (Gospel Acclamation)  

“They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.” (MK 6: 55)

Fortunately, we know where Our Lord is. He is always with us in His Church, in the Sacraments and exposed in our Tabernacles. Whenever we, our families or dear friends are in need, we can always take them (sometimes only in our hearts) before Him. He came to be with us in all our needs. 

“Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“Brothers and sisters: If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it!” (1 COR 9: 16)

Preaching the Gospel is an amazing honor, but also a duty and huge responsibility–to preach about Our Lord only, to show Him only, to direct everybody to Him only, and to forget about ourselves and focus on Him only. Our Lord is the only One Who loves us in an amazing way and Who “took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.” When we preach Him, we help our brothers and sister to follow Him and enjoy His presence.

“Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“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.” (MK 6: 30-31)

This time, when I am back at my House and my Community, I will start with a day of reflection–our day to “come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” We need to rest with Him, in His presence, just “hear his voice” and do nothing else. When we serve, when we help people, and when “people are coming and going in great numbers,” we need to protect our relationship with God and “come away.” We can’t serve when we do not have time to stop, to reflect, and to enjoy our relationships.

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,’ and to offer the sacrifice of ‘a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,’ in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.” (LK 2: 22-24)

In today’s feast we celebrate not only the presentation of the Lord, but also His first meeting with us—all the human beings. Jesus is always between us and His Father in Heaven, fulfilling God’s will and presenting us to Him. He is a light for us and a sacrifice t0 God. He united us with the Father and invited us again to follow Him. 

“A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” (Gospel Acclamation) 



“I am going the way of all flesh. Take courage and be a man. Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his ways and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses…” (1 KGS 2: 2-3)

Being a man means “keep[ing] the mandate of the Lord, your God, following his ways…” When man respects God’s law and follows His ways, he has great  authority because God is his Lord. 

“The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.”