Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the day: RB 7:35-43

Mass: 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12; Resp. Psalm (1 Chr 29); Mark 6:7-13

From today’s readings, two texts, rich in simplicity and depth of meaning:

Be steadfast in your heart and trust in the Lord.

(RB 7:37/Ps 27:14)

Grant us, Lord our God,

that we may honor you with all our mind,

and love everyone in truth of heart.

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)

With words from Pope Francis:

A faith that does not trouble us is a troubled faith.

A faith that does not make us grow is a faith that needs to grow.

(Tweet, Feb. 1, 2018)

That those who have material, political, or

spiritual power may resist any lure of corruption.

(Prayer intention for February 2018)

Saint John Bosco (Don Bosco): 1815-1888, Founder of the Salesians, Canonized in 1934 by Pius XI

Readings of the day: RB 7:34

Mass: 2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17; Resp. Psalm 32; Mark 6:1-6

Saint John Bosco

Today I remember a former student, now friend and ordained priest, a delightful young man. His patron is John Bosco. It is said that John Bosco had ‘an extraordinary gift for handling difficult youths without punishment but with a gentle and effective firmness’. He used to do gymnastics while entertaining the young. The beauty is that my friend is also a gymnast—he can even do back flips! May St John Bosco intercede for all priests. 

I share two quotations I found this morning, not unrelated to today’s readings:

BLESSED IS THE ONE IN WHOSE SPIRIT THERE IS NO GUILE.

(Psalm 32:2)

[A saint] was once asked, while playing happily with his companions, what he would do if an angel told him that in a quarter of an hour he would die and have to appear before the judgment seat of God. The saint promptly replied that he would continue playing because I am certain these games are pleasing to God.

(St John Bosco)

AND THEY TOOK OFFENSE AT HIM.

(Mark 6:3)

Meekness was the method Jesus used with the apostles. He put up with their ignorance and roughness and even their infidelity. He treated sinners with a kindness and affection that caused some to be shocked, others to be scandalized, and still others to gain hope in God’s mercy. Thus he bade us to be gentle and humble of heart.

(St John Bosco)

LOVING GOD,

HELP US TO BE GENTLE AND HUMBLE OF HEART

WITH ALL THOSE WE ENCOUNTER TODAY.

INCREASE OUR FAITH.

Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the day: RB 7:31-33

Mass: 2 Samuel 18: 9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30-19:3; Resp. Psalm 86; Mark 5:21-43

If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.

I think about the woman who had been suffering with hemorrhages for twelve years. The NRSV paints a bleak picture: ‘She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather worse’ (Mk 5:26).  Our nameless friend, a woman spent in mind and body. What would you do if in her position? Thankfully, I’ve never been there. Would my faith be as strong. Hearing about Jesus was enough for her. She simply, albeit courageously, goes to Jesus and touches his cloak—a mere brush of the Master’s garment. Immediately, the hemorrhage stopped. She felt in her body that she was healed. 

In the body, I repeat, and through the body,

[Jesus] performed wonderful deeds with an authority that was obvious.

He proclaimed the message of salvation and endured outrage, thus clearly demonstrating that he it was whose invisible power created the world, 

whose wisdom governed it, and whose benevolence protected it.

(Bernard of Clairvaux, Song of Songs, Sermon 6, 3)

YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL.

Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the day: RB 7:24-30

Mass: 2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-15; Resp. Psalm 3; Mark 5:1-20

Happy Monday! Have the waters risen to your neck?

Lord, rise up and save me.

O Lord, how many are my adversaries!

Many rise up against me!

Many are saying of me,

“There is no salvation for him in God.’

But you, O Lord, are my shield;

my glory, you lift up my head!

When I call out to the Lord,

he answers me from his holy mountain.

When I lie down in sleep,

I wake again, for the Lord sustains me.

I fear not myriads of people

arrayed against me on every side.

(Psalm 3)

THROUGH PRAYER WE CAN ENTER INTO A STABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, THE TRUE SOURCE OF JOY.

(Pope Francis, Tweet, January 29, 2018)

CALL ON THE LORD. HE WILL ANSWER.

JESUS LOVES YOU.

KEEP GOING.

😊

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In other years: St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

Readings of the day: RB 7:19-23

Mass: Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Resp. Psalm 95; 1 Cor 7:32-35; Mark 1:21-28

 

St Thomas Aquinas

For even if it is better to enlighten than merely to shine, so

it is better to give to others the fruit of one’s contemplation than merely to contemplate.

(St Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, II-II, q. 188, art. 6)

Taking the Angelic Doctor’s words to mind and heart, how might we give to others what we contemplate this day, that is, the Lord’s Day? May the WORD enlighten you! 😊

Whoever will not listen to my words which the prophet speaks in my name,

I myself will make him answer for it.

(Dt 18:19)

If today you hear God’s voice; harden not your hearts.

(Psalm 95)

Be free of anxieties.

(1 Cor 7:32)

The people were astonished at HIS teaching.

What is this?

A new teaching with authority.

(Mark 1:22, 27)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land.

(Communion Antiphon, Mt 5:3-4)

BUONA DOMENICA!

Saint Angela Merici, Founder of the Ursulines (1470-1540)

Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings of the day: R 7:10-18

Mass: 2 Samuel 12:1-7a 10-17; Resp. Psalm 51; Mark 4:35-41

Jesus rebuked the wind, and said to the sea,

‘Quiet! Be still!’

With Jesus’ words to the raging wind and sea, the wind ceased and there was a great calm. Slowly, Jesus rises and poses two simple questions: ‘Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?’ Very good questions for the day. Saint Angela Merici, pray for us.

Let not your hearts be troubled.

You have faith in God; have faith also in me.

(John 14:1)

Feast of Saints Robert, Alberic and Stephen, Founders of Citeaux

Robert Molesme (First Abbot of Cîteaux, d. 1110), Alberic (Robert’s successor, d. 1109), and Stephen Harding (Alberic's successor, d. 1134): Cistercian Abbots of Cîteaux

Readings of the day: RB 7:5-9

Mass for celebration of the Cistercian Abbots: Sirach 44:1, 10-15; Resp. Psalm 115; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-16; Mark 10:24b-30

Mass for the Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus: 2 Timothy 1:1-8 or Titus 1:1-5; Resp. Psalm 96; Luke 10:1-9 or Mark 4:26-34 (Gospel for Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time)

Their bodies are peacefully laid away.

Their names live on and on. At gatherings their wisdom is retold,

and the assembly proclaims their praise.

(Sirach 44:14-15)

Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.

Because of it the ancients were well attested.

(Hebrews 11:1-2)

For God all things are possible with God.

(Mark 10:27)

Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name give the glory.

(Psalm 115)

Although these passages are presented to us in the order given at Mass (for those celebrating the blessed Abbots), we could sing God’s praises in this way:

We give glory to you, God, Most High, for what is impossible for us, is possible for you. Your thoughts are not ours, nor your ways. Not relying on our strength, we pray for the grace of more faith to maintain the hope you give us. Those who have gone before us, namely, Robert, Alberic, and Stephen, hoped in a renewed monastic life lived according to the Rule of St Benedict. Sustained by grace, they gave birth to the Cistercian Order at the Abbey of Cîteaux: ‘these were godly men whose virtues have not been forgotten. Their heritage remains with their descendants’ (Sirach 44:10-11).

What about those who have gone before you whom you loved and admired? What virtues did they have that inspire you to live the Gospel? What wisdom of theirs do you share with others? May God be praised!

The first Cistercians were well-known for their distinctiveness of lifestyle and the separateness involved in living far from human habitation. Beneath this surface insistence on particular external forms, however, was a hidden pursuit of radical discipleship of Christ and fidelity to the Gospel.

(M. Casey, in Exhordium Parvum)