Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: "Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit."

Year of Saint Joseph

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 5:1-13 Obedience

Mass: Heb 8:6-13; Resp Ps 85; Mk 3:13-1

With you, O Lord, is the fountain of life, and in your light, we see light.

JESUS, AUTHOR OF LIFE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Today Jesus goes up the mountain and summons those whom He wanted and they came to Him (Mk 3:13-19). Jesus summons each and every one of us too. Our Lord wants us. May we go to Jesus then, with the first step of humility, that is, unhesitating obedience (RB 5:1). After all, it comes naturally to those who cherish Christ above all (RB 5:2). Your will, O Lord, not mine, be done. 

God our Creator,

we give thanks to you,

who alone have the power to impart the breath of life

as you form each of us in our mother's womb;

grant, we pray,

that we, whom you have made stewards of creation,

may remain faithful to this sacred trust

and constant in safeguarding the dignity

of every human life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity

of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

(Collect, Mass)

JOSEPH, PILLAR OF FAMILIES,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: A look at the Brisbane River, on the Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane, Australia. It was sent to me yesterday. I include it today as a reminder that our prayers for one another reach far and wide.

 

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: "Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit."

Other saints: Saint Agnes, Virgin, Martyr (-304); Saint Meinrad, Martyr (861)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 4:63-78

Mass: Heb 7:25-8:6; Resp Ps 49; Mk 3:7-12

Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

JESUS IS ALWAYS ABLE TO SAVE THOSE WHO APPROACH GOD THROUGH HIM,

SINCE HE LIVES FOREVER TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM.

(Heb 7:25)

Since we have been busy putting into practice Saint Benedict's tools for good works the past few days, here are few more to help us to love the Lord God with our whole heart, our whole soul and all our strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves (RB 4:1-2). And we do everything through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

• Live by God's commandments every day.
• Treasure chastity.
• Harbor neither hatred nor jealousy of anyone.
• Do nothing out of envy.
• Respect the elders.
• Love the young.
• Pray for your enemies out of love for Christ.
• If you have a dispute with someone, make peace with him before the sun goes down.
• Never lose hope in God's mercy.

SAINT AGNES,

SAINT MEINRAD,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US

Today's photo: For a change of pace, meet Theo in Park City, UT. He belongs to a friend since nursery school! Yes, nursery school! Thank you KGJ.

© Gertrtude Feick 2021

Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

Other saints: Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi, Cistercian monk (1903-1964); Pope Saint Fabian (-250); Saint Sebastian, early Christian martyr (c. 300)

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: "Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit."

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 4:44-62

Mass: Heb 7:1-3, 15-17; Resp Ps 110; Mk 3:1-6

Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor.

I AM THE TRUE VINE AND YOU ARE THE BRANCHES, SAYS THE LOD.

WHOEVER REMAINS IN ME, AND I IN HIM, BEARS FRUIT IN PLENTY.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

During this week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and in today's Wednesday General Audience catechesis, the Holy Father urged the faithful to sow unity in our homes and workplaces with the tools God has given us, namely, "prayer and love". Some practical tools of prayer and love are listed in Saint Benedict's tool for good works. In fact, many are. You read some yesterday, here are some for today:

• Listen readily to holy reading.
• Devote yourself often to prayer.
• Guard your lips from harmful or deceptive speech.
• Prefer moderation in speech.
• Speak no foolish chatter, nothing just to provoke laughter.
• Do not love immoderate or boisterous laughter.
• Do not aspire to be called holy before you really are, but first be holy that you may more truly be called so.

BLESSED CYPRIAN MICHAEL IWENE TANSI,

POPE SAINT FABIAN,

SAINT SEBASTIAN,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

NB. There is an interesting entry in Butler's Lives of the Saints for one of our saints for today, Cistercian Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi. Michael was Nigerian by birth and his parents, "who practiced the traditional religion of the Ibo people, named him Iwene, short for Iwegbuna, meaning 'Sorrow will not kill you.'"  Iwena was baptized in 1912 and given the name Michael. Ordained in 1937, Michael "was one of the first ten Nigerians to be ordained priests" (January, p. 143). Father Michael was a teacher and one of his students is now Cardinal Francis Arinze.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: "Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit."

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 4:22-43

Mass: Heb 6:10-20; Resp Ps 111; Mk 2:23-28

Great are the works of the Lord, exquisite in all their delights.

MAY THE FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ENLIGHTEN THE EYES OF OUR HEARTS, THAT WE MAY KNOW WHAT IS THE HOPE THAT BELONGS TO OUR CALL.

(Gospel versicle, Mass)

Saint Benedict gives us several tools for good works in today's passage from the Holy Rule. Take your pick on which one you would like to use for today's good works.

• You are not to act in anger.
• Or nurse a grudge.
• Rid your heart of all deceit.
• Never give a hollow greeting of peace.
• Never turn away when someone needs your love.
• Bind yourself to no oath lest it prove false.
• Speak the truth with heart and tongue.
• Do not repay one bad turn for another.
• Do not injure anyone.
• Bear injuries patiently.
• Love your enemies.
• If people curse you, do not curse them back. Bless them instead.
• Endure persecution for the sake of justice.
• Do not be proud.
• Nor given to too much wine.
• Refrain from too much eating.
• Or sleeping.
• And from laziness.
• Do not grumble.
• Or speak ill of others.
• Place your hope in God alone. 
• If you notice something good in yourself, give credit to God, not to yourself.
• But be certain that the evil you commit is always your own and yours to acknowledge. 

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: "Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit"

Other saints: Saint Margaret of Hungary OP (1242-1270)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 4:1-21 The Tools for Good Works

Mass: Heb 5:1-10; Resp Ps 110; Mk 2:18-22

Before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.

SON THOUGH HE WAS, HE LEARNED OBEDIENCE FROM WHAT HE SUFFERED.

(Heb 5:8)

Monday musings are brief. First, this from a letter to the Ephesians by Saint Ignatius of Antioch: "It is better to remain silent and be than to talk and not be" (Office of Readings, Monday, Second Week in Ordinary Time). May we then join Christ and learn obedience through what we suffer. Quietly.

When Jesus was accused by the chief priests and elders, He made no answer ... Jesus did not answer Pilate one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed. 

(Mt 27:12,14)

In a flood of words you will not avoid sinning ... a talkative man goes about aimlessly on earth.

(Rule of Saint Benedict 7:57-58)

SAINT  MARGARET OF HUNGARY,

PRAY FOR US.

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Thanks EJF for another look at Boise. A fitting one for today's thoughts.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: "Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit."

Year of Saint Joseph

In other years: Saint Anthony, Abbot (251-356)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 3:7-13

Mass: 1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19; Resp Ps 40; 1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20; Jn 1:35-42

I have waited, waited for the Lord, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.

I like the postures of the people in today's Gospel. First, there is John the Baptist "standing", firmly grounded in belief in the One who came after him. Grounded in faith, John watches Jesus walk by. "Behold," says John, "the Lamb of God." John's two disciples who were with John hear him and follow Jesus. Jesus turns and sees. The Lord questions the disciples. The Lord questions each one of us: What are you looking for? So, what is it you are looking for? If you aren't sure, listen to the voice of the Lord: Come, and you will see. 

It is fitting too that we remember Saint Anthony, "the celebrated Father of Monks". Anthony heard the voice of the Lord: If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor-you will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me. And Anthony did just that. 

What, dear brothers and sisters, is more delightful than this voice of the Lord calling to us? See how the Lord in His love shows us the way of life. Clothed then with faith and the performance of good works, let us set out on this way, with the Gospel for our guide, that we may deserve to see him who has called us to His kingdom.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, Prologue 19-21)

May the Virgin Mary help us make our lives a hymn of praise to God in response to His call  and in the humble and joyful fulfillment of His will.

(Pope Francis, Angelus Address, January 17, 2021)

Today's photo: Thanks to dear TAF, a 7am look at Lake Tippecanoe, Leesburg, IN, January 13, 2021. Crosley Jayne, pray for us.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 3:1-6 Summoning the Brothers for Counsel

Mass: Got 4:12-16; Resp Ps 19; Mk 2:13-17

Your words, Lord, are spirit and life. 

HAIL, HOLY MOTHER, WHO GAVE BIRTH TO THE KING WHO RULES HEAVEN AND EARTH FOR EVER.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

There are some things I am thankful for now that we are back in Ordinary Time. One is Saturdays dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Another is the Collect used for today's Mass, a fitting one for a day dedicated to Mary, and when Jesus says: Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners (Mk 2:17).

Grant, Lord God, that we, your servants, 

may rejoice in unfailing health of mind and body, 

and, through the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever-Virgin,

may we be set free from present sorrow

and come to enjoy eternal happiness.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity

of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

(Collect, Mass)

MARY, HEALTH OF THE SICK,

PRAY FOR US.

JOSEPH, HOPE OF THE SICK,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Yesterday at dusk.

2021 © Gertrude Feick