6 Sunday B: Healing of the Leper

Gospel reading: Mark 1:40-45

3 Sundays - 3 healings: One at the Synagogue, second at the home and the third at the market place (outside). These are the locations of our ministries. These are places we do our healings/ministries.

At the synagogue the man with the unclean spirit shouts at Jesus as the "Holy one of God" (first recognition of Jesus in Mark). Peter's mother-in-law makes no declaration but gets up and serves him whereas the leper goes around proclaiming him. He announces abroad. Visible missionary zeal. Again three attitudes of response to healing: out of fear, out of love and out of faith.

Notice again, our ministry is three-fold: Spiritual (at the Church), at the family and at the society.

4th Week, Thursday, Feb 4

 4th Week, Thursday, Feb 4

Hebrews 12:18-19, 21-24 / Mark 6:7-13

The new covenant;  the blood of Jesus changed our lives.

 

Bishop Sheen used to compare the Old Testament to radio and the New Testament to television. The Old Testament lets you hear God’s word. But the New Testament not only lets you hear God’s word but also lets you see the God who utters it.

Feb 2: Presentation of our Lord - Liturgy

 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.

5th Sunday B: Mission as Action and Contemplation

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.”

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.

Intelligence of Birds and Animals

4th Sunday B: Authority and Mission

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.”