Prayer and Healing

 Mark 1: 29-39

Jesus Heals Many

²⁹ As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰ Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. ³¹ So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

³² That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. ³³ The whole town gathered at the door, ³⁴ and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place

³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ³⁶ Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷ and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

³⁸ Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” ³⁹ So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

We read this Gospel last week but we have to remember that most Catholics attend Mass on Sundays, not during the week,  hence they are not aware of its being repeated. For those of us partaking of these daily slices of bread, there is always a new insight or angle that pops up. Notice that this rash of healings  takes place after Jesus had been to the synagogue  and after his early morning prayer.  We might easily suppose that this was the pattern Jesus followed daily:  communion with his Father in quiet prayer followed by the "work" of preaching and healing. For him (and for us) the two go hand in hand. How can we deal with the demands made on us daily or the lack of appreciation for our efforts to be of service?  Unless we have the attitude of Christ, which comes from communion with him, we might want to give up with the opposite attitude of "what's the use?" forgetting that Jesus gave without limit and never asked for a thank you, though he appreciated it when it came. He was not centered on himself, but on the others he came to serve.  Can we do the same?

Bro Rene

No Rest Working With Jesus

Mark 6: 30-34

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

³⁰ The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. ³¹ Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

³² So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. ³³ But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. ³⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Let us put ourselves into this scene.  How often do we find ourselves weary but constantly besieged by others or our own TO DO List, leaving no time to recoup our energy?  So too Jesus and the apostles, even with no time to eat. When they found a "safe haven", the crowd found them,  and Jesus began to teach them.  So went the intended rest.  The word COMPASSION leaps out at us...Jesus with the most compassionate heart ever to beat in human flesh put rest aside and continued his "work".  No doubt the apostles too were involved and gave up their needed rest.  As important as rest is, it takes second place to compassionate care of others.  When absolutely needed, rest will come, but following in the footsteps of the compassionate Jesus should come first. Let us ask for the grace to give of ourselves as much as we can while at the same time acknowledging our limitations and need for compassionate care of ourselves (including food and rest), so that we might be able to continue our ministry to others.

Bro. Rene

 

Backed Into A Corner

 Mark 6: 14-29

John the Baptist Beheaded

¹⁴ King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

¹⁵ Others said, “He is Elijah.”

And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”

¹⁶ But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”

¹⁷ For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. ¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, ²⁰ because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.

²¹ Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. ²² When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” ²³ And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

²⁴ She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

²⁵ At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

²⁶ The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. ²⁷ So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, ²⁸ and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. ²⁹ On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

We might take a lesson from King Herod's rash promise to Salome:  Don't make statements, promises  or pronouncements you can't back up. In this case a prophet lost his life. The need to impress others exists in all of us to some degree, but it can be a dangerous tool causing harm to others and to ourselves. We might take some time to listen to ourselves, or review ways in which we interact with others and see if there's a bit of King Herod lurking there, and if so, give him the boot!

Bro. Rene

In The Footsteps of Jesus

 Mark 6: 7-13

The Call of the Twelve

⁷ He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. ⁸ He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; ⁹ but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. ¹⁰ He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. ¹¹ If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” ¹² So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. ¹³ They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

After preaching and working miracles in the sight of the Apostles, Jesus then sent them out to do the same.  He made sure that they remained totally free of worry and concerns about food, lodging, or clothing, but commanded them to rely totally  on him  What an exciting ideal!  The Apostles carried it out with huge success and set the bar high for us, their followers.  Over the centuries the bar was lowered, and abuses crept in, but periodically there were reforms, such as the one inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, and the Church picked up its mission in pristine fashion again. The many ups and downs in the Church's history fill volumes, but again the call goes out to us to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.  

We celebrate Catholic Schools week to honor these institutions which attempt to instill the ideals of Jesus and his first disciples into the hearts and lives of our students. We present Jesus as the model teacher and encourage our students and teachers to embrace his mission, his values, his way of loving and inviting others into communion with him.  In this currently upside down world, may we renew our energy and commitment to spreading the Good News by our words, but more so, by our actions.

Bro. Rene

Amazing Lack Of Faith

Mark 6: 1-6

A Prophet Without Honor

6 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. ² When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? ³ Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,^[ Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

⁴ Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” ⁵ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. ⁶ He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Despite his amazing preaching and miraculous cures, Jesus was still regarded as the "local boy", the carpenter's son. Why should he be treated differently from anyone else?  In turn, he was amazed at the lack of faith among the people of his own town, which hindered his ministry there. 

What would have been my reaction if I were one of those Nazarenes?  What is my reaction NOW as each day I see "minor miracles" (or even big ones) occur through my prayers or those of others? Faith is a gift, but it still needs work to expand it and apply it to my everyday circumstances.  Lord, I do believe, help my unbelief!

Bro. Rene

 

Candlemass Day

Luke 2: 22-40

Jesus Is Presented In The Temple

²² When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³ (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord” ), ²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. ²⁷ Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, ²⁸ Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

²⁹ “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss  your servant in peace.
³⁰ For my eyes have seen your salvation,
³¹     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”

³³ The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, ³⁵ so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

³⁶ There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷ and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.  She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. ³⁸ Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

³⁹ When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰ And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

February 2nd, The Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemass Day signaled the end of the Christmas Season in the old liturgical calendar and in some ways puts the final period on our Advent/Christmas cycle by highlighting the theme of LIGHT.  Jesus is the "light for revelation" as the old Simeon proclaims. In his public life, Jesus also asserts that he is the Light of the World.  Appropriately, then the candles for the new liturgical year are blessed today.  May they serve as reminders that we too are the light of the World, and our call is to let our light shine in the darkness.

Bro. Rene

The Need For Healing

Note: As you can see, I'm still facing some technological difficulties... Please bear with me until this is rectified, I hope, by tomorrow. Thank you. Mark 5:1-20 Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.[a] 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. 14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis[b] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. Seems like a demon is in possession of this computer.... What is it like to lose control of one's being, never mind one's computer? Mark's description of this "wild man" is as vivid as one would want to get the frightening picture of this man possessed by "Legion". Jesus sets him free but the swineherd loses his pigs in the process. Possession is costly! We are not so dramatically possessed,but do face "demons" within and without,demons only Jesus can control. Let us not hesitate to ask him for release, healing, restoration, whatever it may be. If he could confront and disptach "Legion", he can chase the mean and tempting spirits that besiege us daily. Bro. Rene