“The Lord took away his sins, making his strength ever greater; he gave him a royal covenant, and a glorious throne in Israel.” (Sirach 47:11).

He gave thanks: “In all his activities he gave thanks to the Holy One Most High in words of glory; he put all his heart into his songs out of love for his Creator” (Sir 47:8).

We have spent some time listening to the story of David in the recent Bible readings. The good and bad episodes. “The Lord took away his sins” because “in all his activities he gave thanks” and “put all his heart… out of love for his Creator”.

A man of full passion. Always hot. Never lukewarm.

“Gave thanks” expresses full respect to the Holy One. And the proper answer for us, His creatures. I like to start a new day just with a simple “gave thanks”. It is like going back to the recent events, and looking at them in a different way – through God’s presence. When He is present, everything changes. He is the Holy One Most High.

“Clothe us, Lord God, with the virtues of the Heart of your Son and set us aflame with his love, that, conformed to his image, we may merit a share in eternal redemption”. (Collect).

“So they set off to proclaim repentance…” (Mk 6:12)

Set off.

We are back to the same situation as the Twelve.

For so many years we had crowds in our churches. Now less are coming. What to do?

Set off. He instructed them to “take nothing for your trip except a walking stick — no bread, no pack, no money in your belt.” (Mk 6:8). They were to wear sandals, but he added, “Don’t take a spare tunic’.” (Mk 6:9). It looks that important part of the message were a stick, sandals and a tunic (cassock?). No instruction how to speak, how to start, where to go, no know-how tips… Only what to take. Free to go and deliver a freedom. He “began to send them out in pairs, giving them authority over unclean spirits” (Mk 6:7). “…And they cast out many devils, and anointed many sick people with oil and cured them” (Mk 6:13).

The evangelization could be done just by simple signs.  And it starts at home, in its primary enviroment: “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place” (Mk 6:10). Success is not based on our activity but on the fact that He has sent us.

“The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel” (Alleluia versus)

“Let us fall by the hand of God, for he is most merciful; but let me not fall by the hand of man.” (2 Sam 24:14) 

I can still remember the advice received more than 26 years ago – if you encounter something difficult for you, somebody’s bad behavior, a hostile or rude reply, etc. – take it from the hand of God. Because “He is most merciful” and He knows better why you should experience that situation. It will be more difficult to accept this “by the hand of man”. We will be, probably, provoked to respond in the same way.

I discover the same with my weakness – when I offered it in “the hand of God” I met mercy, when I showed this in front of man – judgment. 

“Then I acknowledge my sin to you, my guilt I covered not. I said, ‘I confess my faults to the LORD’, and you took away the guilt of my sin.” (PS 32:5).

“She should be given something to eat.” (Mk 5:43)

Two miracles. One – for a woman suffering for 12 years, and the second – for a little, 12-year-old girl. The same number of years. A different perspective. He came in the present time and changed the past: she wasn’t ill any more, and the future: “she may get well and live” (Mk 5:23). For Him, changing the past and the future is equally possible. Time belongs to Him and through time He shows His divine power. When I live in the presence of Him, I can put my past and my future into His hands. And He will take care of them. “Do not be afraid, just have faith” (Mk 5:36).

Will God, who asked for food for a little child, forget about spiritual gifts?

“Nourished by these redeeming gifts, we pray, o Lord, that trough this help to eternal salvation true faith may ever increase.” (Prayer after Communion)

“Go home to your people and tell them all that the Lord in His mercy has done for you”. (Mk 5:19)

The beauty of sharing “all that the Lord in His mercy has done for you” with others. In our “Love and Life” Programs this is an important part of the retreat.

We share to praise God’s work. He is with me every day and takes care of me. It is good to be conscious of that and sensitive to recognize His presence in our life.

We share to get to know ourselves. Our thoughts without words are like planning a busy day without a “to-do” list.

We share to support and strengthen the others. Especially other marriages. Our Lord said: go home. Home is the natural environment for sharing.

“O chosen people, proclaim the mighty works of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (Entrance antiphon).

“…a sign that is opposed…” (Lk 2:34)

Good News. The most expected message: “a light of revelation for the gentiles and glory for your people Israel” (Lk 2:32). Good News has also a wonderful content: “the blind see again, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” (Mk 11:5).

And yet, He is opposed. Even more – rejected and killed. Good News IS the Good News not because we deserve it, but because we need it. It is an initiative of God, not ours.

Rejected Jesus Christ loves us. And He has given His life for our life.

“Your merciful love, O God, we have received in the midst of your temple. Your praise, O God, like your name, reaches the end of the earth, your right hand is filled with saving justice”. (Cf. Ps 48 (47):10-11).

“But He was in the stern, His head on the cushion, asleep.

They woke him and said to him, ‘Master, do you not care? We are lost!’ And He woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Quiet now! Be calm!’ And the wind dropped, and there followed a great calm.” (Mk 4:38-39)

Lord asleep.

Meeting people, preaching, sharing with others your time and dedication, proclaiming the Good News, healing and casting out demons, and praying – are those kinds of activity which could make you sleep even when “began to blow a great gale and the waves were breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped” (Mk 4:37). This is one perspective.

Taking care of Our Lord, listening to Him, protecting Him, defending Him against crowd, worrying about food, moving from place to place, sometimes in danger could make you angry: “Master, do you not care?”.

Maybe “Quiet now! Be calm” is not only to the wind and to the sea. Maybe it is also for me. Change the perspective. Broaden your thinking. Your husband is not tired because of you, he is tired because of such a stressful work, and he needs time to rest. NOT from you. Even if happens in front of you. Your wife is secure enough in your house or apartment, with enough money to live, needs to feel secure because of you, not because of the objects or bank statement.

He needs rest, she needs to feel she’s loved, they were afraid because the “boat was almost swamped;” I need this, you need that – and all of us need to listen: “Quiet now! Be calm”. He is always with us, even asleep.

“Then he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened? Have you still no faith?’ ” (Mk 4:40)

“It is like a mustard seed which, at the time of its sowing, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth.Yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.” (Mk 4:31-32)

Beginning and end. Between them – God. His eye always sees the edges. He is the Alfa and the Omega. When He looks at us and our even smallest efforts, He can see the beautiful end. For us it was the smallest minute spend on prayer, for Him it is the eternity of us united with Him in Heaven.

Perspective. We are born to perform great actions, take up fantastic challenges, heroic deeds. But this is so often the end of a fulfilled life, the effect of my fidelity for many years. Begninning is small, ordinary, not attractive, needs time.

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

“Anyone who has ears for listening should listen!” (Mk 4:23)

Ears for listening!

Generally ears ARE for listening. The problem with ears is – to whom to listen. My internal dialog or to what the others are saying in the real, external world. Do I listen to MY interpretation or do I listen in order to understand another person. Those who have taken part in Program 1 remember the mistaken patterns of interpretation in the internal dialogue. And we remember that ears are for listening to get to know to know each other in depth.

My daily meditation is about the same. To listen in order to get to know each other in depth. To know Him better, but also in the same moment to know myself. My reaction to the message is also a part of getting to know myself. The most exciting moment in the morning is opening His Word – like opening a letter or e-mail, knowing that your beloved one is away and promised to send you a message. Like my Mom asking for sending a text when I arrive at my travel’s destination in the middle of the night.

“The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you…” (Mk 4:24)

“…hear the word” (Mk 4:20)

Daily word. Daily food. A daily love-letter from Him. A manual, an instruction, orientation, word-of-support or just a sign from Him – I love You, I am close to You, I am Your Protector, Savior, Redeemer… If You look at the litanies, you will be amazed how many names He has to express His love to us.

“Hear the word”. One word daily. One minute from your busy schedule to listen to Him, to His word.

When I started to listen to Him as the first thing in my day, I found how it changed my world. You listen differently to the news, to your family, friends and co-workers. You listen to the message, not to the words. You hear the word.

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