Jan 6 Monday: Mt 4: 12-17, 23-25: 12 Now when
he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving
Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulon
and Naphtali, 14 that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “The land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the
Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles — 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a
great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The context: Today’s Gospel describes the
beginning of Jesus’ mission of preaching and healing in Galilee. He chose that
area as the ideal spot because it was the most fertile land in Palestine. In
addition, it was the most populated area, with 204 villages around the Sea of
Galilee housing Jews and Gentiles. The Jews there largely belonged to the
tribes of Asher, Naphtali and Zebulon. The people were open to new ideas
because they had been exposed to various religious beliefs and the culture of
traders from all over the known world.
Preaching the Good News: Jesus started preaching
the Good News about God the Father and about God’s Kingdom. Since it was God
the King’s message, it carried God’s authority and certainty. It was “Good
News” because Jesus introduced to his hearers God his Father as a loving,
merciful, providing and forgiving Father Who wanted to save everyone from the
bondage of sin. It was also “Good News” of hope and peace. As a continuation of
John’s message, Jesus, too, invited his hearers to repentance and the renewal
of their lives. Matthew identified Jesus’ preaching and healing ministry in
Galilee as the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah.
Life message: 1) As Christians we have been
given Jesus’ mission to continue. Hence, our exemplary, transparent lives must
be our message radiating Christ’s love, mercy, forgiveness and spirit of humble
and committed service. Fr. Kadavil (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
Jan 7 Tuesday (St. Raymond of Penyafort)
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-raymond-of-pe-afort/ Mk
6: 34-44: 34 As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had
compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he
began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came
to him and said, “This is a lonely place, and the hour is now late; 36 send
them away, to go into the country and villages round about and buy themselves
something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.”
And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread,
and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves have you?
Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39
Then he commanded them all to sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40 So
they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five
loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the
loaves, and gave them to the disciples to set before the people; and he divided
the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And
they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those
who ate the loaves were five thousand men. USCCB video: https://youtu.be/PKA5MfriYoo?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAFrAB3rgpm4xC_YNYqc0xt
The context: Today’s Gospel describes Jesus’
miraculous feeding of a great multitude. The story is told in all four Gospels
and serves as Jesus’ way of introducing to his hearers a merciful and providing
God. Through God’s power, Elijah gave the widow each day just enough to meet
her needs (1 Kgs 17:13-16). Jesus, on the other hand, gives generously and
abundantly. This miraculous feeding was meant to remind people of God’s
provision of manna in the wilderness and to prefigure the true Heavenly Bread,
which Jesus would offer His followers because Jesus performed this miracle just
before promising the Sacrament of the Eucharist for our spiritual feeding.
Jesus took pity on the growing physical hunger of his
listeners as he preached, and he challenged his Apostles to feed them. But they
had with them only five loaves of bread and two dried fish. Jesus took these,
said a prayer of blessing broke them and asked the Apostles to distribute them
till the hungry people were fully satisfied. Since it was mid-April, springtime
in Israel, the people could sit comfortably on green grass in their groups of
hundreds and fifties as Jesus instructed. After serving a generous meal which
satisfied all, the Apostles collected twelve wicker baskets of leftover bread
and fish pieces, a vivid proof and reminder of God’s generosity in giving and
as a warning not to waste God’s blessings.
Life messages: 1) We may not be able to feed the
hungry millions in the world. But today’s Gospel challenges us to do our humble
share in alleviating hunger and poverty in our neighborhood. God will amplify
our little contributions and reward our good will and generosity. 2) We must be
thankful to God for miraculously giving us our daily spiritual bread in the
Holy Eucharist Fr. Kadavil (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
Jan 8 Wednesday (St. Adrian of Canterbury)
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-adrian-of-canterbury/ : Mk
6: 45-52: 45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat
and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the
crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to
pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone
on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the
wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them,
walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking
on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw him,
and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it
is I; have no fear.” 51 And he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased.
And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the
loaves, but their hearts were hardened. USCCB video: https://youtu.be/CkPmWGj_9Jk?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAFrAB3rgpm4xC_YNYqc0xt
The context: The event presented by today’s
Gospel is the scene immediately following Jesus’ miraculous feeding of the five
thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish. Sensing the danger of being
seized by the people and “made King” as the leader of a revolt, Jesus promptly
instructed his Apostles to leave the place by boat. He dismissed the crowd and
went to the mountain to pray in solitude.
A double miracle in the sea: When the Apostles in the boat
were several furlongs away from the shore, they faced an unexpected storm on
the sea caused by the rush of hot wind from the desert blowing through the gaps
of the Golan Heights onto the Sea of Galilee. Recognizing His Apostles’ danger,
Jesus went toward their boat, walking on the stormy sea. Jesus calmed the
frightened disciples as he approached the boat. As soon as Jesus got into the
boat, the storm ceased miraculously, to the great astonishment of the Apostles.
Life messages: 1) Let us approach Jesus with strong
Faith in His ability and availability to calm the storms in our lives and in
the life of the Church. Church history shows us how Jesus saved his Church from
the storms of persecution in the first three centuries, from the storms of
heresies in the fifth and sixth centuries, from the storms of moral degradation
and the Protestant reformation movement in the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries, and from the storms of clergy sex-abuse scandals in the twentieth
and twenty-first centuries.
2) Let us ask Jesus to protect us when we face storms of
strong temptations, storms of doubts about our religious beliefs, and storms of
fear, anxiety and worries in our personal lives. Experiencing Jesus’ presence
in our lives, let us confess our Faith in him and call out for his help and
protection Fr. Kadavil (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
Jan 9 Thursday: Lk 4: 14-22: Jesus in the
synagogue at Nazareth 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into
Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country.
15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 And he came to
Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his
custom was, on the Sabbath day. And he stood up to read; 17 and there was
given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the
place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he
has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to
proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set
at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the acceptable year of the
Lord.” 20 And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat
down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began
to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22
And all spoke well of him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded
out of his mouth; and they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” USCCB video: https://youtu.be/ffCriLgl71Y?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAFrAB3rgpm4xC_YNYqc0xt
Scripture explained: Today’s Gospel describes
how Jesus participated in the Sabbath prayer of the synagogue in his native
place with a band of his disciples. The prayer began with “Shema’’ prayer
followed by the recital of the “Eighteen Blessings,” praising and thanking God.
Then four passages from the “Torah” the book of Law were read and
explained by a priest, followed by a selection from the Prophets, which
was read and interpreted by an invited scholar or guest or
volunteer. Finally, the prayer was concluded with a priest or the
synagogue president blessing the assembly, using the blessing from the Book of
Numbers (6: 22 ff). Since Jesus had become popular as a miracle working
preacher in Capernaum, he was given the chance to read from the Book of the
Prophets and to interpret the Scripture. Jesus opened the Scroll of the prophet
Isaiah and read his prophecy on the mission of the expected Messiah.
Surprising everyone, Jesus claimed that he was the One sent “to bring glad
tidings to the poor, liberation to captives, recovery of sight to the blind and
freedom for the oppressed”—language that reflects the Biblical year of Jubilee.
To the great amazement and disbelief of his own townsmen, Jesus declared that Isaiah’s
prophecy was being fulfilled at that very moment “in their hearing,” because
the prophet was foretelling and describing Jesus’ mission and
ministry. Jesus’ mission would be to give liberation to everyone who
would listen to his “Good News,” accept it and put it into practice. Luke
reports that the initial reaction of the people was surprise at the power and
eloquence of this son of their soil.
Life messages: 1) We need to receive Christ’s
freedom, live it and pass it on to others: As members of Christ’s Mystical
Body, we share in the freeing, saving mission of Jesus. But we
are captives of sin. We need Christ to set us free. We are often blinded
by our evil habits, addictions and need for financial security. Once we receive
true liberation from Christ, we have to share it with those we encounter in our
daily lives, families, neighborhoods, parishes and workplaces. 2) We need
to let the power of the Holy Spirit fill us, and to be ready to have
miracles done through us. Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus performed miracles
because he was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us be ready
to become Spirit-filled instruments of Christ’s saving freedom. Fr.
Kadavil (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
Jan 10 Friday (St. Gregory of Nyssa)
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-gregory-of-nyssa/ : Lk
5: 12-16: 12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man
full of leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and besought him,
“Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 13 And he stretched out his hand,
and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left
him. 14 And he charged him to tell no one; but “go and show yourself to the
priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a
proof to the people.” 15 But so much the more the report went abroad concerning
him; and great multitudes gathered to hear and to be healed of their infirmities.
16 But he withdrew to the wilderness and prayed. USCCB video: https://youtu.be/Irz9y6SMJBE?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAFrAB3rgpm4xC_YNYqc0xt
The context: Today’s Gospel shows us Jesus
touching a man sick with a severe case of leprosy and healing him instantly.
Biblical “leprosy” rarely indicated Hansen’s disease (leprosy proper); mostly,
the term referred to skin diseases like ringworm, psoriasis, leukoderma, vitiligo and
some types of skin cancer. 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). In addition, lepers were
treated as sinners deserving no mercy, because they were seen as being punished
by God with their contagious disease. The leprosy given by God as a punishment
to Miriam, the complaining sister of Moses, to Gehazi, the greedy servant of
the prophet Elijah, and to the proud the King Uzziah, supported the Jewish
belief that leprosy was God’s punishment for sins. Lepers, like sinners, were
deemed unclean, unfit to be counted among a people who considered themselves “a
kingdom of priests, a holy nation” (Ex 19:6). “Leprosy” was also a terrible
disease because its victims were separated from their families and society.
Mosaic restrictions on lepers: The Mosaic Law, as given in
Leviticus, demanded that, first, the priest declare the leper unclean, and then
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) By sending the cured man to the priests to get their
certification of his freedom from disease, Jesus teaches us that we should pray
for healing and, at the same time, go to the doctors who share God’s wisdom in
healing. Healing normally happens when man’s skill combines with God’s grace. Fr.
Kadavil (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
Jan 11 Saturday: Jn 3: 22-30: 22 After this
Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there he remained with
them and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because
there was much water there; and people came and were baptized. 24 For John had
not yet been put in prison. 25 Now a discussion arose between John’s disciples
and a Jew over purifying. 26 And they came to John, and said to him, “Rabbi, he
who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, here he is,
baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “No one can receive
anything except what is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me
witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. 29
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom, who
stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice; therefore,
this joy of mine is now full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” USCCB
video: https://youtu.be/n1ylrJRqIDA?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAFrAB3rgpm4xC_YNYqc0xt
The context: Today’s Gospel passage shows the
loveliness of John the Baptist’s humility. John was responding to his disciples
who complained that many among them were deserting John to join the new
preacher, Jesus, whom John had baptized.
John’s explanation: John told them plainly who he
really was and what his mission was. He told them that he was only a forerunner
of the Messiah and that his mission was to prepare a people for the Messiah by
preaching repentance. He was challenging his hearers to receive the baptism of
repentance as their first step in renewing their lives, so they could welcome
Jesus the Messiah into their lives. John explained further that his role was to
be the “friend of the bridegroom” (shoshben); the bridegroom was Jesus.
As the shoshben arranges the meeting of the bride and groom,
arranges the details of the wedding, presides over the wedding, guards the
bridal chamber and leaves happily, John prepared the bride, namely, the Jewish
nation for receiving her bridegroom, Jesus the Messiah, by baptizing the people
who were willing to repent and then baptizing Jesus and introducing him to the
people as the “Lamb of God.”
Life messages: 1) Our mission, as St. Francis de
Sales puts it, is to “bloom where we are planted.” God has given a unique
mission to each one of us, and we are expected to accomplish that unique
mission by receiving God’s strength through the various means Jesus has
instituted in his Church. “No one can receive anything except what has
been given from Heaven.” 2) True humility and trusting
faith in God are necessary for us to accomplish our life’s mission by using
God’s freely given gifts. Fr. Kadavil
(http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
