Gospel of the Day (Luke 2:22-40)

When Jesus had crossed again (in the boat) to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.

One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, "My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live."

He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.

She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.

She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak.

She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured."

Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my clothes?"

But his disciples said to him, "You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, 'Who touched me?'"

And he looked around to see who had done it.

The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.

He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."

While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official's house arrived and said, "Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?"

Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid; just have faith."

He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.

So he went in and said to them, "Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep."

And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child's father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was.

He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!"

The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. (At that) they were utterly astounded.

He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

***

Reflections:

"Why this weeping? The child is asleep"

«When Jesus arrived at the official's house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said: 'Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.' And they ridiculed him.» Jesus teaches us in this way not to fear death since death is death no more: from now on it is only a sleep. And he prepares his disciples, by raising others, to put their trust in him and not be alarmed by his death as he himself was about to die. For ever since Christ's coming, death is no more than a sleep.

However, they ridiculed him. But he was not indignant at this refusal of trust in the miracle he was about to carry out; he did not condemn their smiles, so that the smiles themselves, along with the flutes and other preparations, should confirm the little girl's death. Seeing the musicians and the crowd, then, Jesus sent them all out. He accomplished this miracle in the presence of her parents... as though awakening her from sleep...

It is clear that death is now no more than a sleep. Today it is a truth that shines more brightly than the sun. «But,» you say, «Christ did not raise my child!» Yes, but he will raise him up and with even greater glory. Because this little girl whose life he restored died again, whereas your child, when he has raised him up again, will abide forever. So let no one weep any more, let no one groan, no one criticize Christ's work. For he has conquered death. Why are you weeping useless tears? Death has become a sleep: why do you moan and weep?

Gospel of the Day (Luke 2:22-40)

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him 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.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him.

It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord.

He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel."

The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.

And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

***

Reflections:

«My eyes have seen your salvation»

Come then, my brethren, give an eye to that candle burning in Simeon's hands. Light your candles too by borrowing from that Light; for these candles I speak of are the lamps which the Lord orders us to have in our hands (Mt 25,1; Lk 12,35). Come to him and be enlightened (Ps 34[33], 6), so as to be not merely carrying lamps but to be very lamps yourselves, shining inside and out, for yourselves and for your neighbors.

Be a lamp then in heart, in hand, in lips. The lamp in your heart will shine for you; the lamp in your hand or on your lips will shine out for your neighbors. The lamp in the heart is loving faith; the lamp in the hand is the example of good works; the lamp on the lips is edifying speech. But not just before men must we shine by works and word, but before angels too by prayer, and before God himself by pure intention. Our lamp before the angels is the purity of our devotion when in the sight of angels we chant the psalms with care or pray with burning ardor; our lamp before God is the honesty of our intention to please him only whose approval we have won...

There are so many lamps then, my brethren, to lighten your way, if only you will come to the source of all light and be enlightened. Come, I say, to Jesus who shines out to us from Simeon's arms. He will give light to your faith, luster to your works, meaning to your words for men, ardor to your prayer, purity to your intentions... And when this life's lamp is extinguished there will arise a life's light which can never be extinguished, a shimmering noonday light, arising as it were at the evening of your life.

Gospel of the Day (Mark 4:21-25)

He said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?

For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light.

Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear."

He also told them, "Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you.

To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."

***

Reflections:

"Nothing is secret except to come to light"

Do your best to meet more often to give thanks and glory to God. When you meet frequently, the powers of Satan are confounded, and in the face of your corporate faith his maleficence crumbles. Nothing can better a state of peaceful accord, from which every trace of spiritual or earthly hostility has been banished.

Given a thorough-going faith and love for Jesus Christ, there is nothing in all this that will not be obvious to you; for life begins and ends with those two qualities. Faith is the beginning, and love is the end; and the union of the two together is God. All that makes for a soul's perfection follows in their train, for nobody who professes faith will commit sin, and nobody who possesses love can feel hatred. As «the tree is known by its fruits» (Mt 12,33), so they who claim to belong to Christ are known by their actions; for this work of ours does not consist in just making professions, but in a faith that is both practical and lasting.

Indeed, it is better to keep quiet and be, than to make fluent professions and not be. No doubt it is a fine thing to instruct others, but only if the speaker practises what he preaches. We have only one teacher (Mt 23,8): He who «spoke the word, and it was done» (Ps 33[32],9); and what He achieved even by His silences was well worthy of the Father. A man who has truly mastered the utterances of Jesus will also be able to apprehend His silence, and thus reach full spiritual maturity, so that his own words have the force of actions and his silences the significance of speech. Nothing is hidden from the Lord; even our most secret thoughts are ever present to Him. Whatever we do, then, let it be done as though He Himself were dwelling within us, we being as it were His temples and He within us as their God. For in fact that is literally the case; and in proportion as we rightly love Him, so it will become clear to our eyes.

Gospel of the Day (Mark 4:1-20)

On another occasion he began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land.

And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them, Hear this! A sower went out to sow.

And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.

And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.

Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain.

And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."

He added, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear."

And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables.

He answered them, "The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that 'they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.'"

Jesus said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?

The sower sows the word.

These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them.

And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.

But they have no root; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit.

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."

***

Reflections:

"Those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit"

Truly it is «a trustworthy word and deserving of every welcome» (1Thes 1,15), your almighty Word, Lord, which in such deep silence made its way down from the Father's royal throne (Wis 18,14f.) into the mangers of animals and meanwhile speaks to us better by its silence. «Let him who has ears to hear, hear» what this loving and mysterious silence of the eternal Word speaks to us...

For what recommends the discipline of silence with such weight and such authority, what checks the evil of restless tongues and the storms of words, as the Word of God silent in the midst of men. «There is no word on my tongue» (Ps 139[138],4), the almighty Word seems to confess while he is subject to his mother. What madness then will prompt us to say: "With our tongues we can do great things; our lips are good friends to us; we own no master" (Ps 11,5). If I were allowed I would gladly be dumb and be brought low, and be silent even from good things,21 that I might be able the more attentively and diligently to apply my ear to the secret utterances and sacred meaning of this divine silence, learning in silence in the school of the Word if only for as long as the Word himself was silent under the instruction of his mother...

«The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us» (Jn 1,14). With complete devotion, then, let us think of Christ in the swaddling clothes with which his mother wrapped him, so that with eternal happiness we may see the glory and beauty with which his Father has clothed him.

Gospel of the Day (Luke 10:1-9)

After this the Lord appointed seventy (-two) others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.

He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.

Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.

Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way.

Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.'

If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.

Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another.

Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'

***

Reflections:

Saints Timothy and Titus, successors of the apostles

The community, born from the proclamation of the Gospel, recognizes that it was called by the words of those who were the first to experience the Lord and were sent out by him.
It knows that it can count on the guidance of the Twelve, as well as that of those who were gradually associated with them as their successors in the ministry of the Word and in the service of communion. Consequently, the community feels committed to transmit to others the "Good News" of the actual presence of the Lord and of his Paschal Mystery, brought about in the Spirit.

This is clearly highlighted and visible in certain passages of the Pauline Letters: "I delivered to you... what I also received" (I Cor 15: 3). And this is important. St Paul, it is well-known, originally called by Christ with a personal vocation, was a real Apostle, yet for him too, fidelity to what he received was fundamentally important. He did not want "to invent" a new, so-to-speak, "Pauline" Christianity. Therefore, he insisted, "I have passed on to you what I too received". He passed on the initial gift that comes from the Lord and the truth that saves. Then, towards the end of his life, he wrote to Timothy: "Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us (II Tm 1: 14).

It is also effectively demonstrated by this ancient testimony of the Christian faith written by Tertullian in about the year 200: "(The Apostles) after first bearing witness to the faith in Jesus Christ throughout Judea and founding Churches (there), they next went forth into the world and preached the same doctrine of the same faith to the nations. They then in like manner founded Churches in every city, from which all the other Churches, one after another, derived the tradition of the faith and the seeds of doctrine, and are every day deriving them, that they may become Churches. Indeed, it is on this account only that they will be able to deem themselves apostolic, as being the offspring of apostolic Churches" .

Gospel of the Day (Mark 3:13-19)

He went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him.

He appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: (he appointed the twelve:) Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

***

Reflections:

"He summoned those whom he wanted "

This Sacred Council, following closely in the footsteps of the First Vatican Council, with that Council teaches and declares that Jesus Christ, the eternal Shepherd, established His holy Church, having sent forth the apostles as He Himself had been sent by the Father; and He willed that their successors, namely the bishops, should be shepherds in His Church even to the consummation of the world. And in order that the episcopate itself might be one and undivided, He placed Blessed Peter over the other apostles, and instituted in him a permanent and visible source and foundation of unity of faith and communion...

The Lord Jesus, after praying to the Father, calling to Himself those whom He desired, appointed twelve to be with Him, and whom He would send to preach the Kingdom of God; and these apostles He formed after the manner of a college or a stable group, over which He placed Peter chosen from among them. He sent them first to the children of Israel and then to all nations, so that as sharers in His power they might make all peoples His disciples, and sanctify and govern them, and thus spread His Church, and by ministering to it under the guidance of the Lord, direct it all days even to the consummation of the world. And in this mission they were fully confirmed on the day of Pentecost in accordance with the Lord's promise: "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria, and even to the very ends of the earth".

And the apostles, by preaching the Gospel everywhere, and it being accepted by their hearers under the influence of the Holy Spirit, gather together the universal Church, which the Lord established on the apostles and built upon blessed Peter, their chief, Christ Jesus Himself being the supreme cornerstone. That divine mission, entrusted by Christ to the apostles, will last until the end of the world, since the Gospel they are to teach is for all time the source of all life for the Church.

Gospel of the Day (Mark 3:7-12)

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people (followed) from Galilee and from Judea.

Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.

He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him.

He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him.

And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, "You are the Son of God."

He warned them sternly not to make him known.

***

Reflections:

Life was manifested in the flesh

«What was from the beginning, what we have heard, and what we have seen with our eyes, and what our hands have touched of the Word of life» (1Jn,1). Who touches the Word with his hands apart from the fact that «the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us» (1Jn 1:14)? But this Word which was made flesh, so that it might be touched by our hands, began to be flesh from the Virgin Mary, yet it didn't begin to be the Word then, because [John] said, «What was from the beginning...

Perhaps someone will understand this about «the Word of life» as though it were a way of speaking about Christ, not as though it was the very body of Christ that was touched by our hands. See what follows: «And life itself was manifested» (1Jn 1:2). Christ, then, is the Word of life. And how was life manifested (for it was from the beginning)? Yet it wasn't manifested to human beings, but it was manifested to angels, who saw it and who fed on it as their bread. But what does scripture say? «Man has eaten the bread of angels» (Ps 78[77]:25).

Life itself was manifested in flesh so that, by being manifested, the thing which can be seen by the heart alone may also be seen by the eyes, so that it may heal hearts. For the Word is seen by the heart alone, but flesh is also seen by bodily eyes. We were able to see flesh, but we were unable to see the Word. The Word was made flesh, which we would be able to see, so that what was in us whereby we might see the Word would be healed.

Gospel of the Day (Mark 3:1-6)

Again he entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand.

They watched him closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him.

He said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up here before us."

Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" But they remained silent.

Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was restored.

The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

***

Reflections:

"Grieved at their hardness of heart"

He is the lamb that was dumb; he is the lamb that was sacrificed; he who was born of Mary, the gentle young ewe. He it was who was taken out of the flock and led to death, slaughtered at evening, buried at night..., to rise from the dead and restore life to man from the depths of the tomb.

He was put to death, then. And put to death where? At the heart of Jerusalem. Why? Because he healed their lame, cleansed their lepers, restored their blind to the light and raised their dead (Lk 7,22). That is why he suffered. It is written in the Law and the prophets: «They repay me evil for good; my soul is forlorn. They have plotted evil against me, saying: 'Let us bind up the just man since he is hateful to us'» (cf. Ps 38[37],21; Jer 11,19).

Why have you committed this nameless crime? You have dishonoured him who honoured you; you have humiliated him who exalted you; you have denied him who acknowledged you; you have rejected him who called you, killed him who gave you life... It was necessary that he should suffer, but not at your hands. It was necessary that he be humiliated, but not by you. It was necessary that he be judged, but not by you. It was necessary that he be crucified, but not at your hands. Here are the words you should have cried out to God: «O Master, if it is necessary that your Son should suffer, if that is indeed your will, then let him suffer – yet not through me.»

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.” The apostle Paul wrote these words about 2,000 years ago. When he wrote these words, he was in prison for telling others about Jesus.

How could someone say to rejoice — to be happy — even when in prison? He could say that because his joy, his happiness, came from Jesus Christ. When you have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, here are just some of the things you can rejoice about. You are a child of God You will spend eternity in heaven with Jesus Christ when you die Your sins are forgiven God loves you and wants the very best for you God will hear and answer your prayers The God of the entire universe is good, and loving, and kind God has given you the gift of the Holy Spirit to live in your life The fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life is love, and joy, and peace, and so much more

That is why Paul said rejoice in the Lord — because the source of our joy is God. The source of our joy is not our circumstances. And because of that, we can rejoice always — not just some of the time or when our circumstances are good.

So this week, let us rejoice. And let us pray

• God will bring joy through the Holy Spirit into your life

• God will help us bring millions to Jesus and they will experience God’s love, joy, and forgiveness this year

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. We are reaching many with the gospel, and some day in heaven we will meet and we can say THANK YOU in person for how much your prayers have contributed spiritual power to make this happen.

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

Gospel of the Day ( Mark 2:23-28 )

As he was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain.

At this the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?"

He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry?

How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?"

Then he said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.

That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath."

***

Reflections:

"The sabbath was made for man"

When a man goes in, as it were, to the secret place of his soul, turning his back on all the noise and worry and vanity of the outside world, he shuts the door and looks around, and what does he find? Here all is at peace, all is in order. There is nothing to cause remorse. Everything gives him joy and conduces to calm. Like a well-ordered family, all his thoughts, words and deeds are gathered about him, and he can smile on them benevolently like a father in a disciplined household. And this gives rise in his heart to a wonderful sense of security, and his security gives him such a joy and happiness that he cannot but thank and praise God the more fervently for his blessings.

This is the seventh day of rest that is only made possible by six days of labor, for we must expend our energy in good works before we can take our rest with a peaceful conscience. A clear conscience is born of zealous works, and we cannot love ourselves unless we have a good conscience enabling us to love our neighbour as ourselves (Mt 22,39).

Gospel of the Day (Mark 2:18-22)

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast. People came to him and objected, "Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"

Jesus answered them, "Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.

But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.

No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse.

Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins."

***

Reflections:

"The bridegroom is with them"

«I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul» (Is 61,10)... The coming, the presence of the Lord, spoken of by the prophet in this verse, is the kiss desired by the bride in the Song of Songs when she says: «Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth» (Sg 1,1). And that faithful bride is the Church: born in the patriarchs, she was betrothed in Moses and the prophets; from the ardent desire of her heart she sighed for the coming of the Beloved... Now, full of joy at having received this kiss, she cries out in happiness: «I rejoice heartily in the Lord!»

Sharing in this joy, John the Baptist, the renowned «friend of the Bridegroom», the confidant of the secrets of the Bridegroom and the bride, witness to their love for each other, declares: «The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete» (Jn 3,29). Without a doubt he who was the Bridegroom's precursor in his birth, the precursor, too, of his Passion when he descended to hell, announced the Good News to the Church that was waiting expectantly there...

So this verse is extremely apposite to the rejoicing Church when, in the resting place of the dead, she hastens even then to meet the Bridegroom: «I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul. What, then, is the reason for my joy? What is the cause of my exultation? It is that he has «clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of joy» (cf. v.10). In Adam I was stripped naked; I had to gather fig leaves to conceal my nakedness; wretchedly clad in garments of skin, I was expelled from Paradise (Gn 3,7.21). But today my Lord and my God has replaced those leaves with the robe of salvation. Through his Passion in our flesh he has clothed me in a new robe, that of baptism and the remission of sins; and in place of the leather tunic of mortality he has wrapped a second robe around me, that of the resurrection and immortality.»

Gospel of the Day (Mark 2:1-12)

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home.

Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them.

They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.

Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven."

Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?

Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'?

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"-- he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home."

He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

***

Reflections:

"Child, your sins are forgiven."

«I believe in the forgiveness of sins» : the Apostle's Creed associates faith in the forgiveness of sins not only with faith in the Holy Spirit, but also with faith in the Church and in the communion of saints. It was when he gave the Holy Spirit to his apostles that the risen Christ conferred on them his own divine power to forgive sins: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained» (Jn 20,22-23).

«One baptism for the remission of sins» : our Lord tied the forgiveness of sins to faith and Baptism: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mk 16,15-16). Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ, who «died for our sins and rose for our justification», so that "we too might walk in newness of life» (Rom 4,25; 6,4). When we made our first profession of faith while receiving the holy Baptism that cleansed us, the forgiveness we received then was so full and complete that there remained in us absolutely nothing left to efface, neither original sin nor offenses committed by our own will, nor was there left any penalty to suffer in order to expiate them.... Yet the grace of Baptism delivers no one from all the weakness of nature. On the contrary, we must still combat the movements of concupiscence that never cease leading us into evil.

In this battle against our inclination towards evil, who could be brave and watchful enough to escape every wound of sin?... The Church must be able to forgive all penitents their offenses, even if they should sin until the last moment of their lives. It is through the sacrament of Penance that the baptized can be reconciled with God and with the Church...

There is no offense, however serious, that the Church cannot forgive. "There is no one, however wicked and guilty, who may not confidently hope for forgiveness, provided his repentance is honest.» Christ who died for all men desires that in his Church the gates of forgiveness should always be open to anyone who turns away from sin.

Gospel of the Day (Mark 1:40-45)

A leper came to him (and kneeling down) begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean."

Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean."

The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.

Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.

Then he said to him, "See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them."

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

***

Reflections:

How Saint Francis was cured of his fear by a leper

One day, when [the young] Francis was mounting his horse near Assisi, a leper came towards him. He usually had a great repugnance for lepers and so, forcing himself, he dismounted from his horse and gave the man a coin, kissing his hand. When he had received the kiss of peace from the leper he remounted and went his way. From that time on he began to rise above himself more and more until he attained complete mastery over himself by the grace of God.

Some days later, being equipped with a great deal of money, he made his way towards the leper hospital and, when he had called them all together, he gave alms to each one, kissing their hands. On his return, it is correct to say that what had formerly seemed distasteful to him – namely, to see or touch a leper – was transformed into sweetness. To see a leper, as he happened to say, was hard for him to such an extent that not only did he refuse to see them but even to go near their dwelling. If he sometimes happened to see them or to pass by their leprosarium..., he turned his head away and blocked his nose. But God's grace made him friendly with the lepers to such an extent that, as he attests in his Testament, he used to stay with them and serve them humbly. Visiting the lepers transformed him.

Gospel of the Day (Mark 1:29-39)

On leaving the synagogue he entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.

Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her.

He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.

The whole town was gathered at the door.

He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.

Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you."

He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come."

So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

***

Reflections:

"Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place"

Nothing renders the soul so pure and joyful, nor illumines and distances it from evil thoughts, so much as keeping vigil. For this reason our fathers all persevered in this work of keeping vigil and adopted the rule of remaining awake through the night throughout the course of their life of asceticism. In particular, they did this because they had heard our Savior call us to it urgently in various places through his living Word: «Be vigilant at all times and pray» (Lk 21,36); «Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test» (Mt 26,41); and again, «Pray without ceasing» (1Thes 5,17).

Nor was he satisfied with having warned us by his words. He also set us an example in his own person by favoring the practice of prayer above everything else. That is why he frequently went off alone to pray, and not arbitrarily but choosing night as his time and the desert as his place that we too, avoiding the crowds and the bustle, might become able to pray in solitude.

That is why our fathers received this high teaching concerning prayer as though it came from Christ himself. And they chose to watch in prayer following the command of the apostle Paul so that, above all, they might be able to remain close to God without interruption through continual prayer... Nothing external touches them nor moves the purity of their mind, which would trouble those vigils that fill them with joy and are the light of their souls.

“Be strong in the Lord.” Where does our strength come from?

We may think we are strong because of our money, or our health, or our good looks, or our position. But all these things can fade. Money can go away; our health may fail; we all get older; and we may lose our position.

But God will never fail us. When we ask Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Savior, He comes into our lives by the power of His Holy Spirit. Jesus now lives in your life and in your heart — and He is stronger than anything in this universe. So you do not need to be discouraged, or downcast, no matter what happens. God is your strength — a very present help in times of trouble.

How do you access God’s strength? Through having faith in God’s Word by the power of the Holy Spirit. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him; and He will direct your path.

So this week, let us pray

• God will give you strength to “stand strong in the Lord” no matter what the circumstance
• God will help us present the gospel to millions more this year — and help people grow in Christ

As we begin this new year, THANK YOU so much for your prayers. They are a tremendous source of the spiritual strength that we need as we seek to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the whole world.

“It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” 1 Peter 3:17

Gospel of the Day ( Mark 1:21-28 )

Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.

The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.

In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"

Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!"

The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.

All were amazed and asked one another, "What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him."

His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

***

Reflections:

"Quiet! Come out of him!"

«Jesus rebuked the demon and said: 'Quiet! Come out of this man.» The Truth has no need of the Liar's testimony... «I do not need to be recognized by the one I have determined to cast out. Quiet! May my glory burst forth from your silence. I don't want it to be your voice that offers me praise but your torment, for your expulsion is my triumph... Quiet, and come out of this man!» It is as though he were saying: «Come out of my house; what do you think you are doing under my roof? I am wanting to enter so, quiet!, and come out of this man – of man, that being endowed with reason. Leave this dwelling made ready for my benefit. The Lord wants his house; come out of this man»...

See how precious man's soul is. This runs counter to those who think that we humans and the animals are endowed with exactly the same soul and are moved by the same spirit. On another occasion the demon was cast out of a single man and was sent into two thousand pigs (Mt 8,32); the spirit that is precious is opposed to the spirit that is base; one is saved, the other lost. «Come out of this man, get into those pigs; go where you will, go to hell. Get out of man, namely what belongs to me; I won't let you possess man since it would injure me if you were to settle in him in my stead. I assumed a human body, I dwell in man: that flesh you possess forms part of my flesh. Come out of man.»

Gospel of the Day (Mark 1:14-20)

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen.

Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.

He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets.

Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

***

Reflections:

"This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand"

Modern man is on the road to a more thorough development of his own personality, and to a growing discovery and vindication of his own rights. Since it has been entrusted to the Church to reveal the mystery of God, Who is the ultimate goal of man, she opens up to man at the same time the meaning of his own existence, that is, the innermost truth about himself.
The Church truly knows that only God, Whom she serves, meets the deepest longings of the human heart, which is never fully satisfied by what this world has to offer. She also knows that man is constantly worked upon by God's spirit, and hence can never be altogether indifferent to the problems of religion. The experience of past ages proves this, as do numerous indications in our own times.

For man will always yearn to know, at least in an obscure way, what is the meaning of his life, of his activity, of his death. The very presence of the Church recalls these problems to his mind. But only God, Who created man to His own image and ransomed him from sin, provides the most adequate answer to the questions, and this Ho does through what He has revealed in Christ His Son, Who became man. Whoever follows after Christ, the perfect man, becomes himself more of a man...

For God's Word, by whom all things were made, was Himself made flesh so that as perfect man He might save all men and sum up all things in Himself. The Lord is the goal of human history, the focal point of the longings of history and of civilization, the center of the human race, the joy of every heart and the answer to all its yearnings.

Gospel of the Day (Matthew 11:16-19)

Now there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where he was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, "Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean."

Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do will it. Be made clean." And the leprosy left him immediately.

Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but "Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them."

The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

***

Reflections:

"Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, 'I do will it. Be made clean'"

Oh! How I marvel at that hand! That «hand of my Beloved, of gold adorned with chrysolites» (Sg 5,14). That hand whose touch loosened the tongue of the dumb man, raised the daughter of Jairus (Mk 7,33; 5,41) and cleansed lepers. That hand of which the prophet Isaiah said: «My hand made all these things!» (Is 66,2).

To stretch out one's hand is to present a gift. O Lord, stretch out your hand – that hand which the executioner stretched out on the cross. Touch the leprous and grant him your favor. Everything your hand touches will be cleansed and healed. «He touched Malchus' ear» Saint Luke says, «and healed him» (22,51). He stretched out his hand to grant the gift of healing to the leper. He said: «I do will it. Be made clean» and the leprosy left him immediately. «Whatever he wills, he does» (Ps 115[113B),3). In him nothing divides the will from the deed.

Now, God works this kind of instantaneous healing daily in the sinner's soul through the ministry of the priest. Priests have a threefold office: to extend the hand, that is to say to pray for the sinner and have mercy on him; to touch him, comfort him, assure him of forgiveness; to will this forgiveness and grant it by absolution. This was the threefold pastoral ministry the Lord entrusted to Peter when he said to him three times: «Feed my lambs» (Jn 21,15f.).

Gospel of the Day (Matthew 11:16-19)

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region.

He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord."

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.

He said to them, "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, "Isn't this the son of Joseph?"

***

Reflections:

"The eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him"

When you read that Jesus «taught in their synagogues and was praised by all» take care not to hold as happy those who heard Christ at that time and to think of yourself as being deprived of instruction. For, if Scripture is true, our Lord did not speak only in former times in the congregations of the Jews but in our own congregation today, too, and not just here and now but in all the congregations the whole world through... Jesus is «praised by all» even more today than when he was known only within a small area...

«He has sent me,» he says, «to bring glad tidings to the poor». The poor stand for the pagans; these were indeed the poor ones who had nothing: neither God, nor Law, nor prophets, nor righteousness, nor any kind of assurance. Why did God send him as a messenger to the poor? To «proclaim liberty to captives» – 'captives' is what we were: prisoners in chains for so long, subjected to Satan's power. And to «proclaim recovery of sight to the blind» since his word restored sight to the blind...

«Rolling up the scroll, Jesus handed it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synaogue looked intently at him». Even now, if you want to, here in our own congregation, you can look intently at the Savior. When you turn your heart's most profound gaze towards the contemplation of Wisdom and Truth, the only Son of God, then your eyes are looking intently at Jesus. How blessed was that congregation of which Scripture says that «the eyes of all looked intently at him»! How I would wish that our own assembly might merit the same testimony and that the eyes of all, catechumens and faithful, women, men and children, might see Jesus with the eyes of their soul! For after contemplating him your face and your countenance will be alight with his light and you will be able to say: «The light of your countenance has set its seal on us, Lord» (Ps 4,7 LXX).