Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

The Month of January Dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Saints: Pope Saint Fabian, Martyr (-250); Saint Sebastian, Early Christian Martyr, Patron Saint of Athletes; Blessed Cyprian Michael Tansi (1903-1964); Blessed Angelo Paoli (1642-1720)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 4:44-62 The Tools for Good Works

Mass: Heb 8:6-13; Resp Ps 85; Mk 3:13-19  

Truth shall spring out of the earth.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF APOSTLES,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, MASTER OF THE APOSTLES,

PRAY FOR US.

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom He wanted and they came to Him.

(Mk 3:13)

Jesus summons you and me too. United in faith and prayer, we go to Him and do what is needed to build the kingdom of heaven here on earth. Please help us Simon Peter, James and John "sons of thunder", Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, dear Judas. We may not be driving out demons, but we do our part wherever we find ourselves and implement a tool for good works (see Rule of Saint Benedict, Ch 4) of our choice, like guarding our lips from harmful or deceptive speech (RB,4:51). May we continue to respond to the universal call to holiness and be holy so that we can truly be called holy (RB 4:62).

This year I posted a friendly reminder for myself to include the following poem by Jeremy Driscoll, from his little book Some other Morning (Story Line Press, 1992).

JANUARY THE TWENTIETH

In the icy blue light

of the January afternoon

smoke

rises

straight up

from the cabin in the 

distant hills,

a strip of prayers

in the blue distance.

Nothing moves except

the silent sun, taking

its early winter dive

and

with this poem, I 

dive with the sun

and rise with the smoke

and crush this cold

stillness into a prayer

for whoever is there

in the hills making smoke

and say

Go, prayer, into the sky,

go slowly up with

the smoke

and bring back the sun

from its early dive

for the warmer and longer days,

the buzzing busy

time of the spring.

POPE SAINT FABIAN,

SAINT SEBASTIAN,

BLESSED CYPRIAN MICHAEL TANSI,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: I ran back for the camera when I saw this on my way to the library yesterday afternoon. Salvation, along the way of His steps.

© Gertrude Feick 2023