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?"

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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).

Gospel of the Day (Mark 6:45-52)

Then he made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray.

When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore.

Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them.

But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out.

They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, "Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!"

He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were (completely) astounded.
They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

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Reflections:

"Take courage, it is I!"

All ships have a compass which, when touched by the magnet, always turns towards the polar star. And even when the boat is making its way in a southward direction yet the compass does not cease turning towards its north at all times.

In the same way, let the fine point of your spirit always turn towards God, its north... You are about to take to the high seas of the world; don't on this account alter dial or mast, sail or anchor or wind. Keep Jesus Christ as your dial at all times, his cross for mast on which to hoist your resolutions as a sail. Let your anchor be profound trust in him and set out early. May the propitious wind of heavenly inspirations ever fill the sails of your vessel more and more and cause you to speed forward to the harbor of a holy eternity...

Should everything turn upside down, I don't say around us but within us, that is to say, should our soul be sad, happy, in sweetness, in bitterness, peaceful, troubled, in light, in darkness, in temptation, in rest, in enjoyment, in disgust, in dryness, in gentleness, should the sun burn it or the dew refresh it, ah!, this point of our heart, our spirit, our higher will, which is our compass, should nevertheless always and at all times turn unceasingly, tend perpetually towards the love of God.