Jan 13: Monday (St. Hilary, Bp, Dr)
Mk 1: 14-20: 14 Now after John was arrested,
Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time
is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the
gospel.” 16 And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew
the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And
Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18
And immediately they left their nets and followed him.19 And going on a little
farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in
their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them; and they left
their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
USCCB video reflections:
The context: Today’s Gospel describes the
beginning of Jesus’ preaching and healing ministry and the call of his Apostles
who were to continue that ministry. Jesus started his public ministry
immediately after John the Baptist was arrested. Following John’s pattern,
Jesus, too, invited his hearers to repent as a preparation for believing in the
Gospel, or the Good News, of the Kingdom of God. Repentance means
an about-face turn to God resulting in a change of mind, heart, behavior and
life. It also means sorrow for having refused God’s love and a resolution to
make amends. Believing in the Gospel demands from
the hearers a resolution to take Jesus’ words seriously, to translate them into
action and to put trust in Jesus’ authority. Jesus preached the Gospel, or
Good News, that God is a loving, forgiving, caring and merciful Father Who
wants to liberate us and save us from our sins through His son Jesus. According
to Mark, Jesus selected four fishermen, Andrew and his brother Simon (later
named Peter by Jesus), with James and his brother John, right from their
fishing boats. Jesus wanted these ordinary, hard-working people as assistants
for his ministry because they would be very responsive instruments in the hands
of God.
Life messages: 1) We need to be effective instruments
in the hands of God: In order to be effective instruments in the hands of God
and to continue Jesus’ preaching, healing and saving ministry, we, too, need to
repent of our sins on a daily basis and to renew our lives by cooperating with
God’s grace and relying on the power of God. Our renewed lives will be
our best way to preach the Good News, because we will be radiating
God’s love, mercy and forgiveness to everyone around us. Fr. Kadavil (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
Jan 14 Tuesday: Mk 1:21-28: Then they came to
Capernaum, and on the Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22. The
people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having
authority and not as the scribes. 23.In their synagogue was a man with an
unclean spirit; 24. 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!” 25. Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” 26. The unclean
spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. 27. 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.” 28. His fame spread
everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee. USCCB video
reflections: https://youtu.be/B1meTc9MCOQ?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAFrAB3rgpm4xC_YNYqc0xt
The context: Jesus made the city of Capernaum on the
shore of the Sea of Galilee, the center of the fishing business, his
headquarters. There he started his preaching, teaching and healing ministry.
The people were impressed by the authority of his teaching. The Old Testament
prophets had taught using God’s delegated authority, and the scribes and
Pharisees taught quoting Moses, the prophets and the great rabbis. But Jesus
taught using his own authority and knowledge as God. Perfect knowledge of God,
perfect accomplishment of God’s will, and absolute confidence in God were the
sources of Jesus’ authority.
The second part of today’s Gospel describes a healing by
exorcism which Jesus performed in the synagogue. We are told how Jesus, using
his authority as God, cast out the devil by just one command: “Be silent,
and come out of him!” In first-century Palestine, most sicknesses,
especially mental illness, were considered to be the result of demonic
possession, and both Jewish and pagan exorcists used lengthy procedures and
physical force in their exorcisms. When Jesus commanded the Evil One to depart,
he did so at once, and in its rush to depart, the evil spirit convulsed the
man. Thus, Jesus demonstrated that he is the Messiah, the Savior, more powerful
than the demon.
Life messages: 1) Our Faith is based on the
Divinity of Christ, which is proved by his miracles; these, in turn, give
authority and validity to his teaching and promises. Hence, let us accept
Jesus’ teachings even if some of them are mysteries beyond our reach. Let us
read the authoritative word of God every day and assimilate it into our lives.
2) In our illnesses, let us confidently approach Jesus, the healer, with
trusting Faith and then go to the doctors who serve as the current instruments
of Jesus’ healing ministry in our midst Fr. Kadavil (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
Jan 15 Wednesday: Mk 1:29-39: 29 And
immediately he left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew,
with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and
immediately they told him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and
lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them. 32 That evening, at
sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And
the whole city was gathered together about the door. 34 And he healed many who
were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not
permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35 And in the morning, a
great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he
prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him pursued him, 37 and they found
him and said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” 38 And he said to them,
“Let us go on to the next towns that I may preach there also; for that is why I
came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues
and casting out demons. USCCB video reflections: https://youtu.be/Vja5beACaq8?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAFrAB3rgpm4xC_YNYqc0xt
The context: Today’s Gospel tells us that
preaching the Good News of God’s love, mercy and salvation and healing the sick
were the means Jesus used to enable his listeners to do the will of God and
thus to build up the Kingdom of God. We are also told that Jesus recharged his
spiritual batteries by talking with and listening to his Heavenly Father.
Healing mission: Jesus was never tired of healing the sick,
thus demonstrating the mercy and compassion of his Heavenly Father to every
sick person who approached him with trusting Faith. As soon as he had finished
the day’s preaching in the synagogue on one Sabbath, Jesus went to Simon’s home
and healed Simon’s mother-in-law of a fever. In the evening when the Sabbath
rest was over, people brought all their sick dear ones to Jesus for healing and
exorcism and he healed them all. Jesus began the next day very early, spending
time in prayer in a lonely place.
Life messages: 1) We are called to continue
Jesus’ preaching mission primarily by bearing witness to Christ through our day-to-day
lives, as we radiate Christ’s mercy, love, forgiveness, and spirit of humble
service to all around us. 2) We can participate in Jesus’ healing mission by
praying for the sick, by visiting them, and by helping and encouraging the sick
and shut-ins. 3) But in order to continue Jesus’ preaching and healing mission,
we too, need to have our spiritual batteries recharged every day by prayer as
Jesus did. Fr. Kadavil (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
Jan 16 Thursday: Mk 1:40-45: 40 And a leper
came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can
make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him,
and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him,
and he was made clean. 43 And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at
once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show
yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for
a proof to the people.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it,
and to spread USCCB video reflections: https://youtu.be/V0mISJ1BJE8?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAFrAB3rgpm4xC_YNYqc0xt
The context: Today’s Gospel describes Jesus
touching a man sick with a severe case of leprosy and healing him instantly. In
this miracle we have all the essentials for any miracle, says, Rev. Dr. L.
Parker. We have a) a leper; b) a disease, leprosy; c) recognition of the
disease by the man who has it; d) the presence of Jesus; e) Faith; f) trust,
and g) humility enough to ask for help from Jesus. Biblical “leprosy”
rarely indicated Hansen’s disease (leprosy proper), and mostly the term
referred to skin diseases like ringworm, psoriasis, leukoderma,
and vitiligo. The suffering of lepers in Biblical
times was chiefly due to the way they were treated by the religious
society of the day (Interpreter’s Bible). They were
deemed unclean, unfit to be counted among a people who considered themselves “a
kingdom of priests, a holy nation” (Ex 19:6). In addition, lepers
were treated as sinners who were being punished by God with this contagious
disease. The leprosy given by God as punishment to Miriam, the complaining
sister of Moses, to Gehazi, the greedy servant of the prophet Elijah, and to
the proud king Uzziah, supported the Jewish belief that leprosy was God’s
punishment for sins. Finally, “leprosy” was considered a contagious disease,
and, hence, its victims were separated from their families and society. The
Mosaic Law, as given in Leviticus, demanded that the priest declare the
leper unclean and that the leper a) keep his garments rent and his head
bare, b) muffle his beard, c) cry out, “Unclean, unclean,” and d) dwell apart,
making his abode outside the camp. As a general rule, when a Jewish leper
was healed, he had to go to the local priest for confirmation that he was now
clean and was permitted to mix with the general public.
Life Messages: 1) The strong Faith of the sick
man prompted him to violate the Mosaic Law prohibiting him from joining a crowd
and approaching Jesus. The sympathy and mercy of Jesus prompted Jesus to
violate the Mosaic Law which forbade anyone to touch an untouchable leper. Thus,
Jesus teaches the lesson that the essence of Christianity is to touch the
untouchable, to love the unlovable, and to forgive the unforgivable.
2) We need to be healed of the spiritual leprosy of sin by
being reconciled with God every night, by asking His pardon and forgiveness for
our sins of the day and by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation when we
are in serious sin. Fr. Kadavil (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
Jan 17 Friday (St. Anthony, Abbot)
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-anthony-of-egypt/:
Mk 2:1-12: 1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it
was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that
there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was
preaching the word to them. 3 …..12 USCCB video reflections: https://youtu.be/5E4FWJL8WI8?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAFrAB3rgpm4xC_YNYqc0xt
The context: Today’s Gospel presents the last in
a series of five healing stories. This one demonstrates the power of
Faith, and in this particular case we learn what others can do for us if they
are persons of Faith. As soon as Jesus got back to Capernaum after a preaching
tour of Galilee, the crowds gathered in and around the house where he was
staying, so that there was no room to get in or out. Four men, carrying
their paralyzed friend, tried in vain to get to the house through the
crowd. Here is the wonderful picture of a man who was saved by the Faith
of his friends. His friends were men who had trusting Faith in the
healing power of Jesus, and they were men with initiative, tenacity and
creativity. So they carried their friend to the roof of the house,
made a hole in the roof, and lowered the man on his mat, placing him right
in front of Jesus. Luke tells us that there were in the crowd Pharisees
and Doctors of the Law from Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem sent to check out
Jesus, the new preacher, and to report back to the Sanhedrin.
The sick man’s paralysis was seen by the people around
as a punishment for some serious sin in his own life or that of his
parents. It was a common belief that no major sickness could be
cured until sin was forgiven. For that reason, Jesus began the young
man’s healing by audibly forgiving his sins, so that he might feel no longer
estranged from God. Then the young man was able to receive the physical healing
he and his friends desired for him. But the Pharisees thought that, in
forgiving sin, Jesus had insulted God by blasphemy, because forgiving sin is
the exclusive prerogative of God. Jesus insisted that if he healed
the man, then his enemies must recognize his authority to forgive sin, and
consequently his Divinity. He then healed the young man with a single command,
but we do not know whether any of the objectors believed in Jesus.
Life message: We are called to intercede for others
and to bring them to Christ. 1) In the Old Testament, it is Moses who
constantly begs God’s mercy and forgiveness for the Israelites’ sins. Later, we
find the prophets interceding for the unfaithful Israelites. 2) In the New
Testament, the dramatic role played by the friends of the paralyzed man in the
healing story reminds us of the continuing need for, and power of, intercession
for/by others. The text gives us encouragement to intercede for those who are
ill or in special need. When we pray and invite God into the situation,
healing takes place. Fr. Kadavil (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
Jan 18 Saturday: Mk 2:13-17: 13 He went out
again beside the sea; and all the crowd gathered about him, and he taught them.
14 And as he passed on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax
office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 15 And
as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting
with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. 16 And the
scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax
collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and
sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have
no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the
righteous, but sinners.” USCCB video reflections: https://youtu.be/nh1fVjCkLvw?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAFrAB3rgpm4xC_YNYqc0xt
The context: Today’s Gospel episode, telling of
Matthew’s call as Jesus’ Apostle, reminds us of God’s love and mercy for
sinners and challenges us to practice this same love and mercy in our relations
with others.
The call and the response: Jesus went to the tax collector’s
station to invite Matthew to become his disciple. Since tax collectors worked
for a foreign power and extorted more tax money from the people than the area
owed, they were hated and despised as traitors by the Jewish people and
considered public sinners by the Pharisees. Jesus could see in Matthew a
person who needed Divine love and grace. While everyone hated Matthew, Jesus
was ready to offer him undeserved love, mercy and forgiveness. Hence, Matthew
abandoned his lucrative job because, for him, Christ’s call to follow Him was a
promise of salvation, fellowship, guidance and protection.
Scandalous partying with sinners. It was altogether natural
for Matthew to celebrate his new calling by holding a feast for his friends.
Jesus’ dining with outcasts in the house of a traitor scandalized the Pharisees
for whom ritual purity and table fellowship were important religious practices.
Hence, they asked the disciples, “Why does your master eat with tax
collectors and sinners?” In answer to their question, Jesus stressed
his ministry as healer: “Those who are well do not need a physician;
the sick do.” Then, in Matthew’s own account of his conversion, Jesus
challenged the Pharisees quoting Hosea, “Go and learn the meaning of the
words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ (Hosea 6:6).” Finally, Jesus
clarified his position, “I did not come to call the righteous, but
sinners.”
Life messages: 1) Jesus calls you and me for a
purpose: Jesus has called us through our Baptism, forgiven our sins, and
welcomed us as members of the Kingdom. In fact, He calls us daily through the
Word and through His Church, to be His disciples, and to turn away from all the
things that distract us and draw us away from God. Just as Jesus did for us and
for Matthew, we are to reach out to the unwanted and the marginalized in
society with God’s own love, mercy and compassion. Fr. Kadavil (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20