Greetings (See Second Reading)
Jesus shared the same flesh and blood than we So that he
could become completely Like his brothers and sisters And, compassionate and
trustworthy, Atone for our human sins.
May this Lord Jesus be always with you.
Feb 2: Presentation of our Lord - Liturgy
4th Week, Wednesday, Feb 3
4th Week, Wednesday, Feb 3
Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15 / Mark 6:1-6
A new clergyman gave a great first sermon to his new congregation. The following Sunday, his new congregation returned with great anticipation and high expectation. To their surprise, the pastor repeated the same sermon. He did the same thing the next two Sundays.
4th Week: Feb 1-6 - Reflections
Feb 1 Monday: Mk 5: 1-20: 1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of Gerasenes. 2 And when he had come out of the boat, there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 who lived among the tombs; and no one could bind him anymore, even with a chain; 4 for he had often been bound with fetters and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the fetters he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out, and bruising himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped him; 7 and crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”
4th Week, Monday, Feb 1
Hebrews 11:32-40 / Mark 5:1-20
These heroes suffered much; A
dream born of faith sustained them.
Concert musician Itzhak Perlman says that before he was four years old two things happened to shape his future in an irreversible way: he was stricken with polio, and he heard a recording of violinist Jascha Heifetz. The polio took away his legs, but Heifetz’s music gave him wings. It gave him a dream that set him on the road to musical greatness. Perlman is a faint, modern reflection of the great, great heroes of the old Testament. They also suffered much, but they also had a dream that set them on the road to spiritual greatness.
Presentation of the Lord - Feb 2
John Littleton
Journeying through the year of Matthew
Journeying through the year of Matthew
Reflection
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, which occurs forty days after our celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas. The feast is also known as Candlemas Day because the blessing and procession of candles is included in the Mass. Jesus Christ is the light of the nations, ‘the light to enlighten the pagans’ (Lk 2:32). That is why we have the blessing and procession of candles on this day.
The Presentation of the Lord brings to an end the celebration of the Nativity — although Christmas officially ends with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. In obedience to the Law, as was customary with first-born male children, Jesus was presented in the Temple in Jerusalem by his mother, Mary, and his foster father, Joseph.
4 Sunday B: Liturgical Prayers
Greeting
Jesus spoke to people
the Good News of healing and life.
He speaks this same Good News to us
here in this assembly.
May his words stir our hearts
and bring us healing and life.
May the Lord Jesus be always with you.
R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
5 Sunday B: Action and Contemplation
Jesus' mission is Church's mission: Preaching, teaching and healing. That's why we have churches, schools and hospitals. These ministries seem to be our primary mission. This might get us busy, tired, stressed and can get us out of our wits. That's when we need that space to recharge our spirits and bodies. That's what the Lord did. However, he doesn't seem to complain when "they" came to "disturb" him out of his "space". For Jesus the "action-contemplation" space was seamlessly woven into his mission-presence space. -Tony Kayala, c.s.c.
3rd Week, Saturday, Jan 30
3rd Week, Saturday, Jan 30
Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 / Mark 4:35-41
Imitate
your forefathers; Be strong in faith!
Sandra Hook is a Vancouver schoolteacher. She spent the summer of 1984 working among the dying in Calcutta, India, as one of Mother Teresa’s volunteers. She tells how one day she shuddered at the thought of bathing a very sick woman.
3rd Week, Friday, Jan 29
3rd Week, Friday, Jan 29
Hebrews 10:32-39 / Mark 4:26-34
Don’t
give up; Be patient!
Joel Weldon, an expert on human potential, says that it takes five years for the sprout of a bamboo tree to emerge after the bamboo seed is planted. Once the sprout does emerge, it soars to a height of 90 feet in six weeks. Impossible? “Not at all,” says Weldon.
3rd Week, Thursday, Jan 28
3rd Week, Thursday, Jan 28
Hebrews 10:19-25 / Mark 4:21-25
Jesus’
death changed our situation; We should rouse each other to good works.
Ted Kennedy, Jr., lost his leg to cancer at the age of 12. In his 20’s he spent a lot of time giving inspirational talks to the handicapped in the United States and Europe.
3rd Week, Wednesday, Jan 27
Hebrews 10:11-18 / Mark 4:1-20
The Lord speaks; “Their sins I will remember no more.”
Years ago, This Week magazine carried a moving story about a 17-year-old Dutch boy. He was a prisoner who was sentenced to death for trying to escape from a Nazi concentration camp. Before his execution he wrote to his father: “Read this letter alone, and then tell mother carefully....In a little while at five o’clock it is going to happen I feel so strongly my nearness to God. I am fully prepared to die....I have confessed all my sins ... and have become very quiet.”
4 Sunday B: Zeal and Authority for the Mission
Tony Kayala, c.s.c.:
Zeal: The components for right motivation, they say, are
a) Passion (zeal, intensity, enthusiasm),
b) Direction (remember even the terrorists and ISIS have passion, but not the right direction. St. Paul had a great passion as a persecutor until the Damascus experience)
c) Perseverance (persistence, never give up. Abraham Lincoln faced every sort of setback, adversity and failure from 1832 to 1856 but was elected President in 1860)
3rd Week, Jan 25-30 - Reflections
Jan 25-30: Jan 25 Monday: (Conversion of the Apostle Paul): Mk 16:15-20: (The feast of the conversion St. Paul) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/conversion-of-saint-paul/ Paul, the “Apostle to the Gentiles” and the greatest missionary of the Apostolic age, was a Roman citizen by his birth in Tarsus (in Cilicia), and a Jew born to the tribe of Benjamin. His Hebrew name was Saul. Since he was a Pharisee, Saul was sent to Jerusalem by his parents to study the Mosaic Law under the great rabbi Gamaliel. As a student, he also learned the trade of tent-making.
Saints Timothy and Titus, Tuesday, Jan 26
2 Tim 1:1-8 or Titus 1:1-5 / Luke 10:1-9
Introduction
Today, we celebrate two close associates of the apostle Paul. Paul put them in charge of Christian communities and wrote letters to them to tell them what is expected of leaders of Christian communities, especially how they should be servants and models of the people entrusted to them.
Jan 26th: Republic Day Celebration
REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATION
(You may want to add hymns, reflections, prayer for the nation and the leaders and martyred soldiers in between)
Hymn:
Leader: Today on 26th January (2021), India celebrates her 71st Republic Day. In capital Delhi, the main attraction of the Republic Day festival is the military and cultural parade to celebrate the implementation of the Indian Constitution in 1950. Prior to the celebration, Prime Minister lays a floral wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti – India gate, in memory of the sacrifice of the martyrs who died for the country in the defence of its sovereignty. The National Flag is hoisted followed by a grand parade of armed forces in full battle regalia from the Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's Palace), past India Gate ending at Red Fort.
3 Sunday B - Liturgical Prayers
Greeting (see the gospel)
Our Lord is here in our midst and tells us:
“The time has come,
and the kingdom of God is close at hand.
Repent and believe the Good News.”
May you heed his words
and may the Lord be always with you. R/ And also with you.
Jan 25: Conversion of St. Paul: Reflection & Liturgy
Conversion of St. Paul: Reflection & Liturgy
Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22 / Mark 16:15-18
Jesus instructs his disciples; “Proclaim the good news.”
The Irish Express for Friday, October 3,1986, carried a front-page story describing how manager David Hay of the Glasgow Celtics forbade his soccer players to bless themselves on the playing field. Hay said it might be an acceptable practice in other nations, but not in Scotland, where it tends to be inflammatory.
2nd Week, Saturday, Jan 23
Hebrews 9:2-3, 11-14 / Mark 3:20-21
Jesus is our new high priest; By
his blood we have been cleansed.
Years ago, divers located the wreckage of a 400-year-old Spanish ship buried off the coast of Northern Ireland. Among the treasures found in the wreckage was a man’s gold wedding ring.
2nd Week, Friday, Jan 22
Hebrews 8:6-13 / Mark 3:13-19
We are under the new covenant; God forgives our past.
A Dutch soldier, stationed in Indonesia, bought a small monkey as a pet. After a few days he noticed the tiny animal was sensitive around its waist. Closer inspection showed that someone had put a wire around it when the monkey was a baby.
2nd Week, Thursday, Jan 21
Hebrews 7:25 - 8:6 / Mark 3:7-12
Jesus reigns in
heaven;
He intercedes for us before God.
At one point during World War II, the city of London was bombed almost nightly by German planes. People lost their homes and their businesses at the drop of a bomb. People also suffered all kinds of injuries, many of which doctors were too busy to treat.
2nd Week, Wednesday, Jan 20
Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17 / Mark 3:1-6
Abraham meets Melchizedek; Abraham gave him a tenth of
his booty.
Most people over 40 remember the comedian Jack Benny. A recurring Jack Benny theme was his violin playing. Another was his stinginess. In one of his radio shows a thief put a gun to Benny’s head and said, “Your life or your money?” Benny didn’t answer.
2nd Week, Jan 18-23
Jan 18 Monday: Mk 2:18-22: 18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; if he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but new wine is for fresh skins.” USCCB reflections: https://youtu.be/pUaqaUN24Uo https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/
2nd Week, Tuesday, Jan 19
Hebrews 6:10-20 / Mark 2:23-28
Take heart; God will not forget your work and love.
A hospital doctor used to prescribe “memory breaks” for his patients. Before leaving a room, he’d say, “I’ve one more important prescription for you. I want you to take a ‘memory break’: one at ten o’clock and another at four o’clock. “Close your eyes. Relax your body.
2nd Week, Monday, Jan 18
Hebrews 5:1-10 / Mark 2:18-22
A priest was invited to a school for the deaf to give a talk to its students. An interpreter translated everything he said into sign language. During his talk the priest noticed the interpreter frequently pointing gracefully to the palms of her hands. He learned later that pointing to the palms of the hand is the sign for Jesus Christ. How fitting a sign for Jesus, he thought.
2 Sunday B: Liturgical Prayers
Greeting (See Second Reading)
Your bodies are members making up the body of Christ.
Anyone who is joined to the Lord
is one spirit with him.
Use your body for the glory of God.
May the Lord Jesus be always with you. R/ And also with you.
Your bodies are members making up the body of Christ.
Anyone who is joined to the Lord
is one spirit with him.
Use your body for the glory of God.
May the Lord Jesus be always with you. R/ And also with you.
1st Week, Saturday, Jan 16
Hebrews 4:12-16 / Mark 2:13-17
We have a great high priest; He was tempted but did not sin.
In 1982 Archbishop Jozef Glemp of Warsaw wrote a letter urging Polish young people not to become discouraged or frustrated in their quest for change.
1st Week, Friday, Jan 15
Hebrews 4:1-5, 11 / Mark 2:1-12
Be on guard; Strive to enter God's rest: heaven.
An exasperated mother asked her little boy, "How do you ever expect to get into heaven?" Johnny thought a minute and said, "Well, I'll just run in and out, and in and out, and keep slamming the door. Finally, someone will say, 'For pity's sake, either come in or stay out!'
1st Week, Thursday, Jan 14
Hebrews 3:7-14 / Mark 1:40-45
Remain faithful to God; Encourage one another.
In the late 1800s a boy was working in a London store. He rose at five o'clock each morning and then worked 14 hours. He lived this routine for two years and then told his mother that if he had to continue like this, he would kill himself.
1st Week, Wednesday, Jan 13
Hebrews 2:14-18 / Mark 1:29-39
Jesus shares our lot; He was tempted as we are.
Frederic Remington was an American sculptor who worked in the early 1900s. His works sell for as high as $100,000 apiece. One of his most striking pieces is called The Rattlesnake. It depicts in vivid detail the classic moment when horse and rider encounter a snake on the path they are traveling.
Jan 11-16: 1st Week of Ordinary Time
Jan 11-16: Jan 11 Monday: 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: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/index.cfm ; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/
1st Week, Tuesday, Jan 12
Hebrews 2:5-12 / Mark 1:21-28
God exalts humankind; "What is man that you are mindful of him?"
1st Week, Monday, Jan 11
Hebrews 1:1-6 / Mark 1:14-20
God
speaks to us through Jesus; Jesus is the imprint of God's being.
St. Ambrose was a fourth-century bishop in Milan. His eloquent preaching played a major role in St. Augustine's conversion to Christianity. In one of his famous homilies, Ambrose used this example to show how closely Jesus mirrors God the Father: "As the print of the seal on the wax is the express image of the seal itself, so Christ is the express image— the perfect representation of God." It is this same image that the author of the Letter to the Hebrews places before us in today's reading. In the love of Jesus, we glimpse God's love. In the mercy of Jesus, we glimpse God's mercy.
2nd Sunday B: Come and See - Discipleship
Gospel reading: John 1:35-42
Tony Kayala, c.s.c.
As much as Jesus had to leave Nazareth (home and comfort, familiarity and family) to come to the Jordan (last Sunday) to be baptized, the disciples too have got to "leave" in order to "come" (No arrival without a departure). We are used to checking out a product before buying or a person before hiring or we "see" and choose (come). We check it out before stepping out. Abraham and other prophets have to leave for an uncertain task and territory; Abraham must first accept to sacrifice his only son, then he will see God's plan. He didn't doubt in God's promise of progenies like the sands and the stars even though the only son was going to be sacrificed! Joseph had to first accept Mary pregnant as she was and then he will see God's plan. Come so that you may see. Step in, walk in, follow me, leave behind ....so that you may see plans, actions, results for you. "Come" is an invitation and "see" is the promise. You can trust the Lord for his promises.
Then the uncertain, doubtful, denying Simons will have to become Cephases and solid rocks on which the Lord can build his Church.
Saturday after Epiphany, Jan 9
Saturday after Epiphany, Jan 9
1 John
5:14-21 / John 3:22-30
A minister was once extremely popular. His church was always full. As the years passed and he grew older, his vitality decreased—and so did his flock.
Friday after Epiphany, Jan 8
1 John 5: 5-13; Luke 5: 12-16
Jesus went to deserted places; There he prayed.
Among his many scientific achievements, George Washington Carver produced useful products from the lowly peanut. Among these were shampoo and printer's ink. Author James Childers once asked Carver how he found time to do so much research.
Thursday after Epiphany, Jan 7
1 John 4:19 - 5:4 / Luke 4:14-22
Jesus
worships with the community; He went to the synagogue, as usual.
Wednesday after Epiphany, Jan 6
1 John 4:11-18 / Mark 6:45-52
Jesus walks
on the water; The disciples were utterly confused.
Mark, Matthew, and John describe Jesus' walking on water right after the miracle of the loaves and fishes. These two back-to-back events leave the disciples totally confused, They are amazed by both events, but they aren't absolutely sure what they means. This much is certain. After these two events, things were never the same for Jesus' disciples. Something beyond their wildest dreams was happening. Only time would tell what it was and how they fitted into it all. For the present, all they could do was to be patient.
Tuesday after Epiphany, Jan 5
1 John
4:7-10 / Mark 6:34-44
Jesus feeds the crowd: Twelve
baskets of leftovers remained.
There's only one miracle of Jesus that is reported by all four evangelists. It is the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Mark's description of the miracle is especially vivid. He describes the hungry people sitting "on the green grass in groups or parties" and "neatly arranged like flower beds." (NAB. 1970)
Jan 4-9, Week After Epiphany
Jan 4-9: Jan 4 Monday (St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious (U. S. A.) (https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-elizabeth-ann-seton) : 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:
Monday after Epiphany, Jan 4
1 John 3:33 - 4:6 / Matthew 4: 12-17, 23-25
Jesus begins to preach; "Reform your lives. "
One Sunday night a young man knelt down alone at his bedside. It was not a sudden impulse on his part but the result of some serious soul-searching. He decided that the time had finally come for him to open himself totally to Jesus Christ. There in the darkness of his room, the young man examined his conscience and thanked Jesus for making it possible to have his sins forgiven.
Baptism of the Lord - 2021
Thomas O’Loughlin
Introduction to the Celebration
Today marks the beginning of the public life and ministry of Jesus Christ as he set out to do the Father’s will and announce the arrival of the kingdom of God. And the moment of the beginning of the messianic work of Jesus is marked by the moment of his baptism in the Jordan. He is acclaimed on earth by the prophet John and links himself to John by being baptised by him. He is acclaimed from heaven by the voice of the Father and the presence of the Spirit. As the people who have heard his preaching and accepted his call, who have confessed him as the Christ, and set out to follow his way, let us pause and consider the words addressed to Jesus: ‘Thou art my beloved Son, with thee I am well pleased.’
2nd January, Christmas Season
1 John 2:22-28 / John 1:19-28
Some priests question John: “Are you the Messiah, Elijah, or
a prophet?”
Jewish priesthood was hereditary. John's father was a priest, so John was one too. This explains why priests w-ere the first to ask John who he was. For example, was he the expected Messiah? Or was he Elijah, who many Jews thought would return before the coming of the Messiah?
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