“Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God, that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble, through which many may become defiled.” (Heb 12: 14-15)
“Bitter root” can “spring up and cause trouble, through which many may become defiled.” It sounds like we are responsible for “bitter root.” We should check everyday our “planet,” like the famous Little Prince, and look for any trace of bitterness in our lives because bitterness can cause trouble not only in our lives but also in the lives of our loved ones. “Strive for peace with everyone” looks like a good solution and a good strategy against bitterness. If we add a pinch of humor, this also helps.
“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Brothers and sisters: Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.” (Heb 12: 1-2)
We are invited to “keep our eyes fixed on Jesus” because He is “the leader and perfecter of faith” and knows our destination. We have a race to run. In every run (like a marathon, for example), especially a long one (like life), we need to know where our destination is and how difficult the race could be, and we need perseverance. During a race (like a marathon), we can receive a lot of different kinds of help: nutrition, sponges with water to refresh us and probably the most important thing—pacemakers, runners who know the race and will bring us to the end at the right time. It is similar in our life: we have sacraments (i.e. the Eucharist), sponges (like confession) and the most important thing, the presence of Our Lord, “the Leader and Perfecter of faith”.
“Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, 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)
The Holy Family has been respecting the law, and “according to the law of Moses,” when “the days were completed for their purification,” “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.’” Thanks to this, Our Lord was recognized by Simeon and the prophetess Anna, and His appearance brought consolation to them. Our Lord was not only recognized but also proclaimed as the Messiah of the Lord, and the Holy Family was blessed by Simeon. So many benefits from … respecting the law.
“A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided.” (1 Cor 7: 32-34)
This is about the unmarried man but also about the unmarried woman: he or she is divided. Or rather we should say that with Our Lord’s help, they could be undivided, not divided. There is a solution: the sacrament of matrimony helps the unmarried to be united not divided. United when they pray together, when they receive the mutual gift of self, “which is specific and exclusive to them alone, [when they] develop that union of two persons in which they perfect one another, cooperating with God in the generation and rearing of new lives” (HV 8). He comes to every married couple with His grace because “it is in reality the wise and provident institution of God the Creator, whose purpose was to effect in man His loving design.” Divided or united depends on us—how close we will come to His grace.
‘The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light; on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“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)
“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)
“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)
“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)
“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)
“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)
