Friday, January 31 2014 Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest

First Reading
2 Samuel 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17

At the turn of the year, when kings go out on campaign,
David sent out Joab along with his officers
and the army of Israel, 
and they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah.
David, however, remained in Jerusalem.
One evening David rose from his siesta 
and strolled about on the roof of the palace.
From the roof he saw a woman bathing, who was very beautiful.
David had inquiries made about the woman and was told, 
“She is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, 
and wife of Joab’s armor bearer Uriah the Hittite.”
Then David sent messengers and took her.
When she came to him, he had relations with her.
She then returned to her house.
But the woman had conceived, 
and sent the information to David, “I am with child.”

David therefore sent a message to Joab,
“Send me Uriah the Hittite.”
So Joab sent Uriah to David.
When he came, David questioned him about Joab, the soldiers, 
and how the war was going, and Uriah answered that all was well.
David then said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and bathe your feet.” 
Uriah left the palace, 
and a portion was sent out after him from the king’s table.
But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace 
with the other officers of his lord, and did not go down 
to his own house.
David was told that Uriah had not gone home.
On the day following, David summoned him, 
and he ate and drank with David, who made him drunk.
But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his bed 
among his lord’s servants, and did not go down to his home.
The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab
which he sent by Uriah.
In it he directed:
“Place Uriah up front, where the fighting is fierce.
Then pull back and leave him to be struck down dead.”
So while Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah
to a place where he knew the defenders were strong.
When the men of the city made a sortie against Joab, 
some officers of David’s army fell,
and among them Uriah the Hittite died.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6a, 6bcd-7, 10-11

R. (see 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

I have done such evil in your sight
that you are just in your sentence,
blameless when you condemn.
True, I was born guilty,
a sinner, even as my mother conceived me.

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness;
the bones you have crushed shall rejoice.
Turn away your face from my sins,
and blot out all my guilt.

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Gospel
Mark 4:26-34

Jesus said to the crowds:
“This is how it is with the Kingdom of God;
it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land
and would sleep and rise night and day
and the seed would sprout and grow,
he knows not how.
Of its own accord the land yields fruit,
first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once,
for the harvest has come.”

He said,
“To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God,
or what parable can we use for it?
It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,
is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants
and puts forth large branches,
so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”
With many such parables
he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.
Without parables he did not speak to them,
but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

REFLECTION

Source: One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 31, 2014

Title: MID-LIFE CRISIS

"At the turn of the year, when kings go out on campaign, David sent out Joab along with his officers and the army of Israel...David, however, remained in Jerusalem." –2 Samuel 11:1

For many years, David had been a strong, successful warrior. He fought many battles, even after becoming king. Eventually, the powerful David reached middle-age. The time came for kings to fight (2 Sm 11:1), but now David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

It's possible the manly warrior David might have been wondering if he had "lost it." Perhaps David felt a need to prove his manliness and usefulness. David suddenly had lots of free time on his hands during the fighting season. Instead of using his "free" time to pray for his army, help his subjects, grow in spiritual strength, or worship God, David let his idle mind and eyes wander. The weakened warrior was also too spiritually weak to fight off the sexual temptation of seeing the beautiful Bathsheba. This resulted in the grave sins of adultery and murder (2 Sm 11:4, 17).

David's fears came true. He was losing strength, but not because of his middle-age. He lost strength to fight spiritual battles because he wanted to be something other than what he was. Thus, he was unable to die to himself, pick up his cross (Lk 9:23), and let God's power be made perfect in his weakness (2 Cor 12:9).

Are you growing in maturity as you grow in age? (see 1 Cor 3:1ff) Do you place your hope in advertisements and products which promise a return to the vigor of youth? God alone restores your youth (Ps 103:5; Is 40:29-31). "Be on guard" (Lk 21:34), trust in God alone (Ps 62:9), and pray for final perseverance.

PRAYER: Jesus, I lose myself in You. Make me a new creation.

PROMISE: "He kept explaining things privately to His disciples." –Mk 4:34

PRAISE: St. John Bosco trusted that, with God's help, he could reach even the most seemingly hopeless. Many of the poor boys whom John reached became priests.

Thursday, January 30 2014 Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading
2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29

After Nathan had spoken to King David, 
the king went in and sat before the LORD and said, 
“Who am I, Lord GOD, and who are the members of my house, 
that you have brought me to this point?
Yet even this you see as too little, Lord GOD; 
you have also spoken of the house of your servant 
for a long time to come: 
this too you have shown to man, Lord GOD!

“You have established for yourself your people Israel as yours forever, 
and you, LORD, have become their God.
And now, LORD God, confirm for all time the prophecy you have made 
concerning your servant and his house, 
and do as you have promised.
Your name will be forever great, when men say, 
‘The LORD of hosts is God of Israel,’
and the house of your servant David stands firm before you.
It is you, LORD of hosts, God of Israel, 
who said in a revelation to your servant, 
‘I will build a house for you.’
Therefore your servant now finds the courage to make this prayer to you.
And now, Lord GOD, you are God and your words are truth; 
you have made this generous promise to your servant.
Do, then, bless the house of your servant 
that it may be before you forever; 
for you, Lord GOD, have promised, 
and by your blessing the house of your servant 
shall be blessed forever.”

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 132:1-2, 3-5, 11, 12, 13-14

R. (Lk 1:32b) The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

LORD, remember David
and all his anxious care;
How he swore an oath to the LORD,
vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob.

R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

“I will not enter the house where I live,
nor lie on the couch where I sleep;
I will give my eyes no sleep,
my eyelids no rest,
Till I find a home for the LORD,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

The LORD swore an oath to David
a firm promise from which he will not withdraw:
“Your own offspring 
I will set upon your throne.”

R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

“If your sons keep my covenant,
and the decrees which I shall teach them,
Their sons, too, forever
shall sit upon your throne.”

R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

For the LORD has chosen Zion,
he prefers her for his dwelling:
“Zion is my resting place forever;
in her I will dwell, for I prefer her.”

R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

Gospel
Mark 4:21-25

Jesus said to his disciples,
“Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed,
and not to be placed on a lampstand?
For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; 
nothing is secret except to come to light.
Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”
He also told them, “Take care what you hear.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, 
and still more will be given to you.
To the one who has, more will be given; 
from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

REFLECTION

Source: One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 30, 2014

Title: "NO GREATER LOVE" (Jn 15:13)

"Who am I, Lord God, and who are the members of my house, that You have brought me to this point?" –2 Samuel 7:18

David was awed by the graces the Lord had given to him and his family. Yet, "the least born into the kingdom of God is greater" than David (Mt 11:11). David was a king, but he was not an adopted child of God, as is each Christian. It was prophesied that the Messiah would come from David's line. However, David could not even dream that the Messiah would be God, Who would live among us, change our human nature by dying on the cross, rise from the dead, and live within us.

The Lord promised that David's house would last forever (see 2 Sm 7:16, 29), but David had no idea that God would raise from the dead those who believe in Jesus, the son of David (see Jn 11:25-26). Of course, David never had any opportunity to receive the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus, God Himself. It would have been impossible for David even to conceive of such a thing.

David was blessed, but we as Christians are much more than blessed (Mt 13:16-17). No one has ever been loved more than we are (see Jn 15:13). Thank, live, and love accordingly.

PRAYER: Father, I will live in Love and live in You (1 Jn 4:16).

PROMISE: "Listen carefully to what you hear. In the measure you give you shall receive." –Mk 4:24

PRAISE: Ralph awoke with a terrible headache and couldn't see out of one eye. After attending Sunday Mass, his wife urged him to approach his priest for prayer. His priest prayed for him right on the street outside the church. A moment later, Jesus restored his sight and the headache vanished.

Wednesday, January 29 2014 Wednesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading
2 Samuel 7:4-17

That night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
“Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD:
Should you build me a house to dwell in?
I have not dwelt in a house 
from the day on which I led the children of Israel 
out of Egypt to the present, 
but I have been going about in a tent under cloth.
In all my wanderings everywhere among the children of Israel, 
did I ever utter a word to any one of the judges 
whom I charged to tend my people Israel, to ask: 
Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’

“Now then, speak thus to my servant David, 
‘The LORD of hosts has this to say: 
It was I who took you from the pasture
and from the care of the flock
to be commander of my people Israel.
I have been with you wherever you went, 
and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.
And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
I will fix a place for my people Israel; 
I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place
without further disturbance.
Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, 
since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.
I will give you rest from all your enemies.
The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you.
And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, 
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, 
and I will make his Kingdom firm.
It is he who shall build a house for my name.
And I will make his royal throne firm forever.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
And if he does wrong, 
I will correct him with the rod of men
and with human chastisements; 
but I will not withdraw my favor from him 
as I withdrew it from your predecessor Saul, 
whom I removed from my presence.
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; 
your throne shall stand firm forever.’”

Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 89:4-5, 27-28, 29-30

R. (29a) For ever I will maintain my love for my servant.

“I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have sworn to David my servant:
I will make your dynasty stand forever
and establish your throne through all ages.”

R. For ever I will maintain my love for my servant. 

“He shall cry to me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock that brings me victory!’
I myself make him firstborn,
Most High over the kings of the earth.”

R. For ever I will maintain my love for my servant.

“Forever I will maintain my love for him;
my covenant with him stands firm.
I will establish his dynasty forever,
his throne as the days of the heavens.”

R. For ever I will maintain my love for my servant. 

Gospel
Mark 4:1-20

On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea.
A very large crowd gathered around him 
so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down.
And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land.
And he taught them at length in parables, 
and in the course of his instruction he said to them, 
“Hear this! A sower went out to sow.
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, 
and the birds came and ate it up.
Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil.
It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.
And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots. 
Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it 
and it produced no grain.
And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit.
It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”
He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

And when he was alone, 
those present along with the Twelve 
questioned him about the parables.
He answered them, 
“The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you.
But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that
they may look and see but not perceive,
and hear and listen but not understand,
in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.”

Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable?
Then how will you understand any of the parables?
The sower sows the word.
These are the ones on the path where the word is sown.
As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once 
and takes away the word sown in them.
And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, 
when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.
But they have no roots; they last only for a time.
Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, 
they quickly fall away.
Those sown among thorns are another sort.
They are the people who hear the word, 
but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, 
and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, 
and it bears no fruit.
But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it
and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”

REFLECTION
Source: One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 29, 2014

Title: ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SELFISHNESS

"Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David." –2 Samuel 7:17

David, like all of us, was very selfish. We're that way from the moment of conception. We are naturally selfish. One day, a great miracle occurred in David's life: he had an unselfish thought. He thought of building a house for the Lord (2 Sm 7:2). Although David was not chosen by the Lord to do this, the Lord took this unusual moment of unselfishness to reveal to David an astounding prophecy. Through the prophet Nathan, the Lord told David that his house, kingdom, and throne would stand firm forever (2 Sm 7:16).

Sometimes, by the grace of God and in our new life through Baptism, we too have unselfish thoughts. Like David, we will also receive amazing revelations from God when we cross over to the other side of selfishness. In that land of unselfishness – so strange to us – we are no longer under the thick cloud of selfishness (see Is 60:2). On the other side of selfishness, the Lord shines and over us appears His glory (Is 60:2).

Come to Jesus; repent; deny yourself; cross over to the other side.

PRAYER: Father, the life I live now is not my own. It is a life of faith in Jesus (Gal 2:20).

PROMISE: "Those sown on good soil are the ones who listen to the word, take it to heart, and yield at thirty- and sixty- and a hundredfold." –Mk 4:20

PRAISE: Rico gave his life to Jesus and quit smoking after ten failed attempts.

Tuesday, January 28 2014 Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church

First Reading
2 Samuel 6:12b-15, 17-19

David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom 
into the City of David amid festivities.
As soon as the bearers of the ark of the LORD had advanced six steps, 
he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.
Then David, girt with a linen apron, 
came dancing before the LORD with abandon, 
as he and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD
with shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn.
The ark of the LORD was brought in and set in its place 
within the tent David had pitched for it.
Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
When he finished making these offerings, 
he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
He then distributed among all the people, 
to each man and each woman in the entire multitude of Israel, 
a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat, and a raisin cake.
With this, all the people left for their homes.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10

R. (8) Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!

R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

Who is this king of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.

R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!

R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

Who is this king of glory?
The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory.

R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

Gospel
Mark 3:31-35

The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house.
Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him.
A crowd seated around him told him,
“Your mother and your brothers and your sisters
are outside asking for you.”
But he said to them in reply,
“Who are my mother and my brothers?”
And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,
“Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother.”

REFLECTION

Source: One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 28, 2014

Title: DANCING IN THE AISLES

"He sacrificed an ox and a fatling. Then David, girt with a linen apron, came dancing before the Lord with abandon." –2 Samuel 6:13-14

Most of us don't dance that much, especially at church. If we did dance at church, we probably wouldn't do it at the time for the collection. However, David danced after sacrificing an ox and a fatling every six steps of the ark's progress into Jerusalem (2 Sm 6:13). The total of this offering could add up to hundreds of oxen and fatlings, which could cost very many thousands of dollars in today's economy. After David danced, he "offered holocausts and peace offerings" (2 Sm 6:17). "He then distributed among all the people, to each man and each woman in the entire multitude of Israel, a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat, and a raisin cake" (2 Sm 6:19). David's further offerings and his generous provision of supper for a multitude cost him at least several thousand more dollars.

Few of us have David's monetary resources. We can't give the Lord thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, we can give with David's attitude. We can dance as we empty our pockets, close our savings accounts, sell what we have (Mk 10:21), and give sacrificially to the Church. We must give "not sadly, not grudgingly, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor 9:7).

Give and dance; dance and give. Rejoice that God has given you something to give, and that He will mercifully accept your gift.

PRAYER: Father, send the Spirit to give me dancing lessons. May I dance as David danced.

PROMISE: "Whoever does the will of God is brother and sister and mother to Me." –Mk 3:35

PRAISE: St. Thomas' family opposed his vocation and held him captive for two years. Thomas used this time to memorize much of the Bible.

Monday, January 27 2014 Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading
2 Samuel 5:1-7, 10

All the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said:
“Here we are, your bone and your flesh.
In days past, when Saul was our king, 
it was you who led the children of Israel out and brought them back.
And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall shepherd my people Israel
and shall be commander of Israel.’”
When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron, 
King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD, 
and they anointed him king of Israel.
David was thirty years old when he became king, 
and he reigned for forty years: 
seven years and six months in Hebron over Judah, 
and thirty-three years in Jerusalem
over all Israel and Judah.

Then the king and his men set out for Jerusalem 
against the Jebusites who inhabited the region.
David was told, “You cannot enter here: 
the blind and the lame will drive you away!” 
which was their way of saying, “David cannot enter here.”
But David did take the stronghold of Zion, which is the City of David. 

David grew steadily more powerful,
for the LORD of hosts was with him.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 89:20, 21-22, 25-26

R. (25a) My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him.

Once you spoke in a vision,
and to your faithful ones you said:
“On a champion I have placed a crown;
over the people I have set a youth.”

R. My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him.

“I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong.”

R. My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him.

“My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,
and through my name shall his horn be exalted.
I will set his hand upon the sea,
his right hand upon the rivers.”

R. My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him.

Gospel
Mark 3:22-30

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus, 
“He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and
“By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, 
“How can Satan drive out Satan?
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a house is divided against itself, 
that house will not be able to stand.
And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, 
he cannot stand; 
that is the end of him.
But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property 
unless he first ties up the strong man.
Then he can plunder his house. 
Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies 
that people utter will be forgiven them.
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit 
will never have forgiveness, 
but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”
For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

REFLECTION
by
One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 27, 2014

TITLE: INTIMACY OR BLASPHEMY?

"I give you My word, every sin will be forgiven mankind and all the blasphemies men utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven." –Mark 3:28-29

The Holy Spirit is pictured as a dove, a symbol of Israel (see Ps 74:19), re-creation (see Gn 8:11ff), love (e.g. Sg 5:2), and peace. The Holy Spirit knows the depths of God (1 Cor 2:11) and the depths of our hearts, from which He cries out "Abba" ("Father") (Gal 4:6). The Spirit dwells within our bodies as His temple (1 Cor 6:19) and is the Spirit of truth (e.g. Jn 14:17), that is, of true, faithful love. We can have a true, deep, tender, intimate relationship with the indwelling Holy Spirit.

On the other hand, we can refuse intimacy with the Spirit and abuse Him by blaspheming (Mk 3:29), grieving (Eph 4:30; Is 63:10), quenching (1 Thes 5:19), insulting (Heb 10:29), and "always opposing" Him (Acts 7:51). We can lie to the Spirit (Acts 5:3) and even evict Him from the temple of our bodies by "trashing" His temple through committing mortal sin.

In our relationship with the Holy Spirit, we tend to go to extremes – a docile tenderness and intimacy or a brutal, violent, blasphemous rejection. Let us stop our abuse of the Holy Spirit. Let us love the Spirit, Who is Love (see 1 Jn 4:16).

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, You are all the Love I will ever need. Teach me to love You.

PROMISE: "David grew steadily more powerful, for the Lord of hosts was with him." –2 Sm 5:10

PRAISE: St. Angela's parents and older sister all died when she was a young teenager. Angela then dedicated her life to discipling and caring for troubled girls.

Sunday, January 26 2014 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading
Isaiah 8:23-9:3

First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun
and the land of Naphtali;
but in the end he has glorified the seaward road,
the land west of the Jordan,
the District of the Gentiles.

Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness:
for there is no gloom where but now there was distress.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom 
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14

R/ (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?

R/ The Lord is my light and my salvation.

One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.

R/ The Lord is my light and my salvation.

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD. 

R/ The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Second Reading
1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17

I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree in what you say,
and that there be no divisions among you,
but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters,
by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you.
I mean that each of you is saying,
“I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” 
or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”
Is Christ divided?
Was Paul crucified for you?
Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel,
and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,
so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.

Gospel
Matthew 4:12-23

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death 
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.
He went around all of Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness among the people.

or Matthew 4:12-17

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death 
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

REFLECTION
by
One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 26, 2014

TITLE: "THE LORD IS MY LIGHT" (Ps 27:1)

"A people living in darkness has seen a great light." –Matthew 4:16

Jesus, in His merciful love, can't bear the thought of a world in darkness. He declares: "I have come to the world as its Light, to keep anyone who believes in Me from remaining in the dark" (Jn 12:46). Yet some prefer the darkness and hate the light (Jn 3:19-21). There is no bushel basket (Mt 5:15) or wall thick enough to block out the Light of the World. So the people who hated the Light tried to extinguish the Light. For three days, they were successful, and the Light was buried in a tomb. However, Jesus is risen from the dead! "The light shines on in darkness, a darkness that did not overcome it" (Jn 1:5). Now Jesus the Light shines through us, His disciples (see Mt 5:14).

The people in darkness have seen a great light (Mt 4:16; Is 9:1). Many are attracted to the light, and stream toward it (see Is 2:2). Others prefer the deeds and lifestyle of darkness and will continue to attempt to extinguish the light, as if that were possible. Since we are now Jesus' lamps in the world, we must expect that His opponents will attempt to extinguish us in their futile attempts to darken the world. Eventually the only option for those who love darkness is to flee the light and find a place of permanent darkness. Some will detest the light so much they will beg the mountains and hills to cover them (see Hos 10:8; Lk 23:30; Rv 6:16). Repent of the futility of preferring darkness and opposing the light. Come to the Light, and join the victorious side (Jn 1:5).

PRAYER: Father, I repent of anything that I am hiding from You. Shine Your light on any darkness in my life.

PROMISE: "Come after Me and I will make you fishers of men." –Mt 4:19

PRAISE: Praise Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life! (Jn 11:25) "He is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords Who alone has immortality" (1 Tm 6:15-16).

Saturday, January 25 2014 Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle

First Reading
Acts 22:3-16

Paul addressed the people in these words:
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia,
but brought up in this city.
At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law
and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today.
I persecuted this Way to death,
binding both men and women and delivering them to prison.
Even the high priest and the whole council of elders
can testify on my behalf.
For from them I even received letters to the brothers
and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem
in chains for punishment those there as well.

“On that journey as I drew near to Damascus,
about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me.
I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,
‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’
And he said to me,
‘I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.’
My companions saw the light
but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me.
I asked, ‘What shall I do, sir?’
The Lord answered me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus,
and there you will be told about everything
appointed for you to do.’ 
Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light,
I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus.

“A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law,
and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,
came to me and stood there and said,
‘Saul, my brother, regain your sight.’
And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him.
Then he said,
‘The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will,
to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice;
for you will be his witness before all
to what you have seen and heard.
Now, why delay?
Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away,
calling upon his name.’”

Or Acts 9:1-22

Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,
went to the high priest and asked him
for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that,
if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,
he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains.
On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus,
a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,
“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
He said, “Who are you, sir?”
The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” 
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,
for they heard the voice but could see no one.
Saul got up from the ground,
but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;
so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.
For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias,
and the Lord said to him in a vision, AAnanias.”
He answered, “Here I am, Lord.”
The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight
and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. 
He is there praying,
and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias
come in and lay his hands on him,
that he may regain his sight.”
But Ananias replied,
“Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man,
what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.
And here he has authority from the chief priests
to imprison all who call upon your name.”
But the Lord said to him,
“Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine
to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel,
and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.”
So Ananias went and entered the house;
laying his hands on him, he said,
“Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me,
Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came,
that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes
and he regained his sight.
He got up and was baptized,
and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.

He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus,
and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues,
that he is the Son of God.
All who heard him were astounded and said, 
“Is not this the man who in Jerusalem
ravaged those who call upon this name,
and came here expressly to take them back in chains
to the chief priests?”
But Saul grew all the stronger
and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus,
proving that this is the Christ.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 117:1bc, 2

R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!

R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.

R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mark 16:15-18

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:
“Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

REFLECTION
by
One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 25, 2014

TITLE: MAKE MY DAY

"Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation. The man who believes in it and accepts baptism will be saved; the man who refuses to believe it will be condemned." –Mark 16:15-16

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the conversion of St. Paul. Are you thrilled or at least happy to celebrate Paul's conversion or anyone's conversion? How much do you want all "to be saved and come to know the truth"? (1 Tm 2:4) Are you willing to become "the slave of all so as to win over as many as possible"? (1 Cor 9:19) Will you make yourself "all things to all men in order to save at least some of them"? (1 Cor 9:22)

Most people are more interested in who wins the Super Bowl than in who is converting to Christ. Most people desire to watch the news on TV more than hear the good news of the Bible. How many Catholics prefer to eat breakfast rather than to receive Holy Communion?

If you suffer tragedy after tragedy like Job did, do you still consider the sufferings of the present as nothing (see Rm 8:18) compared to the joy of seeing one sinner repent? (see Lk 15:7, 10) Or does one little problem outweigh in importance all the conversions in the world, even your own conversion? Paul's conversion, or anyone's conversion, is so important that we should rejoice in it forever – even in the midst of all kinds of sufferings.

What makes your day? Is it conversion or perversion?

PRAYER: Father, convert me. Use me to convert many others.

PROMISE: "Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized." –Acts 9:18

PRAISE: St. Paul sent many Christians to prison and death (Acts 26:10). Jesus changed him from persecutor to evangelist. Praise You, Jesus! "He who was formerly persecuting us is now preaching the faith he tried to destroy" (Gal 1:23).

Friday, January 24 2014 Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

First Reading
1 Samuel 24:3-21

Saul took three thousand picked men from all Israel 
and went in search of David and his men 
in the direction of the wild goat crags.
When he came to the sheepfolds along the way, he found a cave, 
which he entered to relieve himself.
David and his men were occupying the inmost recesses of the cave.

David’s servants said to him, 
“This is the day of which the LORD said to you, 
‘I will deliver your enemy into your grasp; 
do with him as you see fit.’”
So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul’s mantle.
Afterward, however, David regretted that he had cut off 
an end of Saul’s mantle.
He said to his men,
“The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, 
the LORD’s anointed, as to lay a hand on him, 
for he is the LORD’s anointed.”
With these words David restrained his men 
and would not permit them to attack Saul.
Saul then left the cave and went on his way.
David also stepped out of the cave, calling to Saul, 
“My lord the king!”
When Saul looked back, David bowed to the ground in homage and asked Saul:
“Why do you listen to those who say, 
‘David is trying to harm you’?
You see for yourself today that the LORD just now delivered you 
into my grasp in the cave.
I had some thought of killing you, but I took pity on you instead.
I decided, ‘I will not raise a hand against my lord, 
for he is the LORD’s anointed and a father to me.’
Look here at this end of your mantle which I hold.
Since I cut off an end of your mantle and did not kill you, 
see and be convinced that I plan no harm and no rebellion.
I have done you no wrong, 
though you are hunting me down to take my life.
The LORD will judge between me and you, 
and the LORD will exact justice from you in my case.
I shall not touch you.
The old proverb says, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness.’
So I will take no action against you.
Against whom are you on campaign, O king of Israel?
Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, or a single flea!
The LORD will be the judge; he will decide between me and you.
May he see this, and take my part,
and grant me justice beyond your reach!”
When David finished saying these things to Saul, Saul answered, 
“Is that your voice, my son David?”
And Saul wept aloud.
Saul then said to David: “You are in the right rather than I; 
you have treated me generously, while I have done you harm.
Great is the generosity you showed me today, 
when the LORD delivered me into your grasp
and you did not kill me.
For if a man meets his enemy, does he send him away unharmed?
May the LORD reward you generously for what you have done this day.
And now, I know that you shall surely be king 
and that sovereignty over Israel shall come into your possession.”

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 57:2, 3-4, 6 and 11

R. (2a) Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge,
till harm pass by.

R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

I call to God the Most High,
to God, my benefactor.
May he send from heaven and save me;
may he make those a reproach who trample upon me;
may God send his mercy and his faithfulness.

R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
above all the earth be your glory!
For your mercy towers to the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the skies.

R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

Gospel
Mark 3:13-19

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted 
and they came to him.
He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,
that they might be with him
and he might send them forth to preach 
and to have authority to drive out demons:
He appointed the Twelve:
Simon, whom he named Peter; 
James, son of Zebedee, 
and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, 
that is, sons of thunder;
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; 
Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,
and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

REFLECTIONS
by
One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 24, 2014

WE ARE "ANOINTIANS"

"The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord's anointed." –1 Samuel 24:7

The murderous David did not kill his arch-enemy, Saul, because he recognized Saul as the Lord's anointed (1 Sm 24:7, 11). David appreciated being anointed, for he also had been anointed as king by Samuel (1 Sm 16:13; Ps 89:21). Being the Lord's anointed held extreme significance (see Ps 133:2).

The Messiah is called in Greek "Christos," which means "the Anointed One." Jesus began His public ministry by quoting Isaiah 61:1: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me; therefore He has anointed Me" (Lk 4:18). Peter began to describe Jesus' ministry with these words: "God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and power" (Acts 10:38). Jesus' title was "Christ," that is, "the Anointed One." Jesus' followers are called "Christians," that is, "the anointed ones."

We Christians have been anointed in Baptism and Confirmation. These anointings are even more important than the anointings given to Saul and David. We have been anointed as priests, prophets, and kings. Like Jesus, we have been anointed "with the Holy Spirit and power" (Acts 10:38). In Jesus, we can do even greater works than He did (Jn 14:12). Christians, "remain in Him as that anointing taught you" (1 Jn 2:27).

PRAYER: Father, make me so like Christ and so deep in His Word that I can rightly be called "Christian" (Acts 11:26).

PROMISE: "They were likewise to have authority to expel demons." –Mk 3:15

PRAISE: St. Francis wrote apologetic books to defend against heresies and spiritual books to raise the faith of lay people. God so anointed his writing that he has been honored as the patron saint of journalists.

Thursday, January 23 2014 Thursday of the Second week in Ordinary Time

First Reading 1
1 Samuel 18:6-9;19:1-7

When David and Saul approached
(on David’s return after slaying the Philistine), 
women came out from each of the cities of Israel to meet King Saul,
singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and sistrums.
The women played and sang:

“Saul has slain his thousands, 
and David his ten thousands.”

Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought:
“They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me.
All that remains for him is the kingship.”
And from that day on, Saul was jealous of David.

Saul discussed his intention of killing David 
with his son Jonathan and with all his servants.
But Saul’s son Jonathan, who was very fond of David, told him:
“My father Saul is trying to kill you.
Therefore, please be on your guard tomorrow morning; 
get out of sight and remain in hiding.
I, however, will go out and stand beside my father 
in the countryside where you are, and will speak to him about you.
If I learn anything, I will let you know.”

Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him:
“Let not your majesty sin against his servant David, 
for he has committed no offense against you, 
but has helped you very much by his deeds.
When he took his life in his hands and slew the Philistine, 
and the LORD brought about a great victory
for all Israel through him, 
you were glad to see it.
Why, then, should you become guilty of shedding innocent blood 
by killing David without cause?”
Saul heeded Jonathan’s plea and swore, 
“As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed.”
So Jonathan summoned David and repeated the whole conversation to him.
Jonathan then brought David to Saul, and David served him as before.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13

R. (5b) In God I trust; I shall not fear.

Have mercy on me, O God, for men trample upon me;
all the day they press their attack against me.
My adversaries trample upon me all the day;
yes, many fight against me.

R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.

My wanderings you have counted;
my tears are stored in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?
Then do my enemies turn back,
when I call upon you.

R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.

Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?

R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.

I am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.

Gospel
Mark 3:7-12

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples.
A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.
Hearing what he was doing, 
a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, 
from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, 
and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.
He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, 
so that they would not crush him.
He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases
were pressing upon him to touch him.
And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him 
and shout, “You are the Son of God.”
He warned them sternly not to make him known.

REFLECTION
by
One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 23, 2014

JEALOUSY AND GOD

"Saul was jealous of David." –1 Samuel 18:9

Saul was jealous of David and tried to kill him on several occasions. The brothers of Joseph sold him into slavery because they were jealous of him (Acts 7:9, RNAB). The Jewish leaders in Pisidian Antioch "became very jealous" of St. Paul's powerful preaching and persecuted him (Acts 13:45). The Pharisees handed Jesus over out of jealousy to be crucified (Mt 27:18). The high priests and Sadducees arrested and punished the apostles, for they were "filled with jealousy" (Acts 5:17).

Jealousy in support of a religious leader or ministry is not of God. When some of Moses' loyal followers got upset that others were prophesying in addition to Moses, Moses corrected them, saying, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets!" (Nm 11:29) Are you attracted to certain religious leaders or ministries? Beware of any tendency toward jealousy. Pray that your love for that leader or that ministry be full of true charity, for "charity is not jealous" (Catechism, 1825; see 1 Cor 13:4).

Christians who exhibit any jealousy are infants, according to Scripture (1 Cor 3:1-3). Jealousy proceeds from the desires of the flesh (Gal 5:20) and is not compatible with Christian living. Jealousy is a symptom of something very wrong within us. "Where there [is] jealousy...there is also inconstancy and all kinds of vile behavior" (Jas 3:16). "Jealousy rots the bones" (Prv 14:30).

PRAYER: Father, pour out your love in my heart (Rm 5:5). "May charity be the root and foundation of" my life (Eph 3:17).

PROMISE: "My wanderings You have counted; my tears are stored in Your flask; are they not recorded in Your book?" –Ps 56:9

PRAISE: Each year thousands of teenagers give up their time and energy to walk in the March for Life.

Wednesday, January 22 2014 Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

First Reading
1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51

David spoke to Saul:
“Let your majesty not lose courage.
I am at your service to go and fight this Philistine.”
But Saul answered David,
“You cannot go up against this Philistine and fight with him,
for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth.”

David continued:
“The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear,
will also keep me safe from the clutches of this Philistine.”
Saul answered David, “Go! the LORD will be with you.”

Then, staff in hand, David selected five smooth stones from the wadi
and put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s bag.
With his sling also ready to hand, he approached the Philistine.

With his shield bearer marching before him,
the Philistine also advanced closer and closer to David.
When he had sized David up,
and seen that he was youthful, and ruddy, and handsome in appearance,
the Philistine held David in contempt.
The Philistine said to David,
“Am I a dog that you come against me with a staff?”
Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods
and said to him, “Come here to me,
and I will leave your flesh for the birds of the air
and the beasts of the field.”
David answered him:
“You come against me with sword and spear and scimitar,
but I come against you in the name of the LORD of hosts,
the God of the armies of Israel that you have insulted.
Today the LORD shall deliver you into my hand;
I will strike you down and cut off your head.
This very day I will leave your corpse
and the corpses of the Philistine army for the birds of the air
and the beasts of the field;
thus the whole land shall learn that Israel has a God.
All this multitude, too,
shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves.
For the battle is the LORD’s and he shall deliver you into our hands.”

The Philistine then moved to meet David at close quarters,
while David ran quickly toward the battle line
in the direction of the Philistine.
David put his hand into the bag and took out a stone,
hurled it with the sling,
and struck the Philistine on the forehead.
The stone embedded itself in his brow,
and he fell prostrate on the ground.
Thus David overcame the Philistine with sling and stone;
he struck the Philistine mortally, and did it without a sword.
Then David ran and stood over him;
with the Philistine’s own sword which he drew from its sheath
he dispatched him and cut off his head.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 144:1b, 2, 9-10

R. (1) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.

R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

My refuge and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust,
who subdues my people under me.

R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

O God, I will sing a new song to you;
with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise,
You who give victory to kings,
and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.

R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

Gospel
Mark 3:1-6

Jesus entered the synagogue.
There was a man there who had a withered hand.
They watched Jesus closely
to see if he would cure him on the sabbath
so that they might accuse him.
He said to the man with the withered hand,
“Come up here before us.”
Then he said to the Pharisees,
“Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?”
But they remained silent.
Looking around at them with anger
and grieved at their hardness of heart,
Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”
He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel
with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

REFLECTION
by
One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 22, 2014

THIS MEANS WAR

"Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, Who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war." –Psalm 144:1

Today is the forty-first anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision legalizing abortion in the Roe vs. Wade case, a day when war was declared on those who defend life. The Catholic Church upholds the right to life, from conception until natural death. We are the Church Militant, and God has given each of us an important role to play on the battlefield. Governments, courts, industries, and lobbyists are plotting death (see Mk 3:6); we who defend life are plotting the victory of the armies of the Lord.

The abortion industry is Goliath; we who defend life are David. To the abortion industry and its many supporters, we seem to have withered hands (Mk 3:1). We can't even count on fellow Catholics to carry the pro-life vote. Surely those who oppose life regard us as Goliath did David, holding us "in contempt" (1 Sm 17:42).

God is working to train our withered hands for battle, our shriveled fingers for war (Ps 144:1). Hundreds of thousands of hands today are in Washington, D.C. at the March for Life. Many of these hands and fingers will ply the Rosary beads today wielding the weapons of prayer and fasting which will bring down Goliath. With David, say to Goliath: "You come against me with massive funding, Supreme Court authorization, the support of the secular media, and legal backing. But I come against you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies that you have insulted" (see 1 Sm 17:45). Stretch out your withered hands to Jesus; He will strengthen them for this war (Ps 144:1).

PRAYER:  "Arise, O Lord, that Your enemies may be scattered, and those who hate You may flee before You" (Nm 10:35).

PROMISE:  "The battle is the Lord's, and He shall deliver you into our hands." –1 Sm 17:47

PRAISE:  St. Vincent endured the horrible tortures of his martyrdom by "praying and singing hymns to God" (Acts 16:25).

Tuesday, January 21 2014 Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr

First Reading
1 Samuel 16:1-13

The LORD said to Samuel:
“How long will you grieve for Saul,
whom I have rejected as king of Israel?
Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.
I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem,
for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”
But Samuel replied:
“How can I go?
Saul will hear of it and kill me.”
To this the LORD answered:
“Take a heifer along and say,
‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’
Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I myself will tell you what to do;
you are to anoint for me the one I point out to you.”

Samuel did as the LORD had commanded him.
When he entered Bethlehem,
the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and inquired,
“Is your visit peaceful, O seer?”
He replied:
“Yes! I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.
So cleanse yourselves and join me today for the banquet.”
He also had Jesse and his sons cleanse themselves
and invited them to the sacrifice.
As they came, he looked at Eliab and thought,
“Surely the LORD’s anointed is here before him.”
But the LORD said to Samuel:
“Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature,
because I have rejected him.
Not as man sees does God see,
because he sees the appearance
but the LORD looks into the heart.”
Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him before Samuel,
who said, “The LORD has not chosen him.”
Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said,
“The LORD has not chosen this one either.”
In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel,
but Samuel said to Jesse,
“The LORD has not chosen any one of these.”
Then Samuel asked Jesse,
“Are these all the sons you have?”
Jesse replied,
“There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said to Jesse,
“Send for him;
we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.”
Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them.
He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold
and making a splendid appearance.
The LORD said,
“There–anoint him, for this is he!”
Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand,
anointed him in the midst of his brothers;
and from that day on, the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.
When Samuel took his leave, he went to Ramah.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 89:20, 21-22, 27-28

R. (21a) I have found David, my servant.

Once you spoke in a vision,
and to your faithful ones you said:
“On a champion I have placed a crown;
over the people I have set a youth.”

R. I have found David, my servant.

“I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong.”

R. I have found David, my servant.

“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.’
And I will make him the first-born,
highest of the kings of the earth.”

R. I have found David, my servant.

Gospel
Mark 2:23-28

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath,
his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain.
At this the Pharisees said to him,
“Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”
He said to them,
“Have you never read what David did
when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry?
How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest
and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat,
and shared it with his companions?”
Then he said to them,
“The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.
That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

REFLECTION
by
One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 21, 2014

THE SPIRIT OF LEADERSHIP

"Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and from that day on, the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David." –1 Samuel 16:13

The Lord told Samuel to end his pity-party and go raise up a new leader for God's people (1 Sm 16:1). We also need to raise up new Christian leaders.

Samuel replied to the Lord: "How can I go? Saul will hear of it and kill me" (1 Sm 16:2). When we focus on the Holy Spirit and leadership, we will be a threat to the devil, and we too will be in danger.

The Lord promised Samuel: "I Myself will tell you what to do" (1 Sm 16:3). When we obey the Lord, we will quickly crush Satan under our feet (Rm 16:19-20).

The Lord told Samuel to anoint not those who appeared to be leaders but the one chosen by the Lord (1 Sm 16:7). Likewise, the Lord chooses as leaders today "the world's lowborn and despised, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who were something" (1 Cor 1:28).

Don't waste your time worrying and complaining. Spend your time praying for the Holy Spirit to be stirred into flame (2 Tm 1:6) in the lives of simple, grassroots leaders. No matter what Satan does to discourage or intimidate you, keep obeying the Lord and inviting people to receive the fullness of the Spirit in their lives. By continually praying for as many leaders as possible to receive the Spirit, you will join the Spirit in renewing the face of the earth (Ps 104:30). Come, Holy Spirit!

PRAYER:  Father, give us several new Pentecosts and new leaders in Christ.

PROMISE:  "The Son of Man is Lord even of the sabbath." –Mk 2:28

PRAISE:  St. Agnes is said to have been more joyful at her martyrdom than the most exultant brides have been at their weddings.

Monday, January 20 2014 Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading
1 Samuel 15:16-23

Samuel said to Saul:
“Stop! Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.”
Saul replied, “Speak!”
Samuel then said: “Though little in your own esteem,
are you not leader of the tribes of Israel?
The LORD anointed you king of Israel and sent you on a mission, saying,
‘Go and put the sinful Amalekites under a ban of destruction.
Fight against them until you have exterminated them.’
Why then have you disobeyed the LORD?
You have pounced on the spoil, thus displeasing the LORD.”
Saul answered Samuel: “I did indeed obey the LORD
and fulfill the mission on which the LORD sent me.
I have brought back Agag, and I have destroyed Amalek under the ban.
But from the spoil the men took sheep and oxen,
the best of what had been banned,
to sacrifice to the LORD their God in Gilgal.”
But Samuel said:
“Does the LORD so delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as in obedience to the command of the LORD?
Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission than the fat of rams.
For a sin like divination is rebellion,
and presumption is the crime of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the command of the LORD,
he, too, has rejected you as ruler.”

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23

R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold.”

R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”

R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

“When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”

R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Gospel
Mark 2:18-22

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast.
People came to Jesus and objected,
“Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them,
“Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast on that day.
No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak.
If he does, its fullness pulls away,
the new from the old, and the tear gets worse.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins,
and both the wine and the skins are ruined.
Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”

REFLECTION
by
One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 20, 2014

DOWNRIGHT UPRIGHT

"To the upright man I will show how God can save." –Psalm 50:23, JB

Various people came to Jesus with the objection that His disciples did not fast, while the Pharisees and John the Baptizer did fast (Mk 2:18). John and the Pharisees were upright men, and Jesus kept the promise of Psalm 50:23 by showing them the salvation of God. Throughout the Gospel, Jesus spends time with the upright, teaching them and showing them God's heart and way of salvation (e.g Lk 7:36ff; 11:37ff; 14:1ff).

On Calvary, Jesus especially showed God's salvation to the upright in His passion, crucifixion, suffering, death, and resurrection. Did the upright members of the Sanhedrin and the upright Pharisees accept God's salvation? Some upright people who were shown the salvation of God accepted it (Acts 26:5ff; Jn 3:1). Others were scandalized by God's offer of salvation of sinners and rejected it (see Jn 12:42).

Are you upright? Praise Jesus if you are! In an increasingly immoral culture, upright men and women are much needed. The true upright person will make an honest assessment of God's generous offer of salvation and their own weakness in comparison to the uprightness of God. The question then becomes, can a person remain upright after having been shown the salvation of God and rejecting it? "Let anyone who thinks he is standing upright watch out lest he fall!" (1 Cor 10:12) Our hope is not in our own righteousness but the righteousness and the mercy of Jesus.

PRAYER:  Father, may I never prefer the praises of people to Your glory (Jn 12:43).

PROMISE:  "Obedience is better than sacrifice." –1 Sm 15:22

PRAISE:  St. Sebastian was healed and restored from one attempted execution to confront the emperor again, giving a double witness to his faith in Jesus.

Sunday, January 19 2014 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading
Isaiah 49:3, 5-6

The LORD said to me: You are my servant,
Israel, through whom I show my glory.
Now the LORD has spoken
who formed me as his servant from the womb,
that Jacob may be brought back to him
and Israel gathered to him;
and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,
and my God is now my strength!
It is too little, the LORD says, for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10

R/ (8a and 9a) Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.

R/ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Sacrifice or offering you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.”

R/ Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
to do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!”

R/ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.

R/ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Second Reading
1 Corrintians 1:1-3

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Sosthenes our brother,
to the church of God that is in Corinth,
to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy,
with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
their Lord and ours.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel
John 1:29-34

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel.”
John testified further, saying,
“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

REFLECTION
by
One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 19, 2014

TITLE INSURANCE

"Look! There is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world." –John 1:29

The Holy Spirit inspired St. John to pack his Gospel with titles of Jesus. Praying and praising Jesus by speaking His titles and meditating upon them is insurance against taking Jesus for granted. It's a great way to deepen our relationship with Him.

Among other titles, John refers to Jesus as:

the Word of God (Jn 1:1) and Word-Made-Man (Jn 1:14),
"Lamb of God" (Jn 1:29),
God's "Chosen One" (Jn 1:34),
Rabbi, (and also Teacher) (Jn 1:38),
"the Messiah" (Jn 1:41),
Son of God and King of Israel (Jn 1:18, 49),
"the Son of Man" (Jn 1:51),
"the Bread of Life" (Jn 6:35, 48),
"Light of the World" (Jn 8:12),
"I AM" (Jn 8:28; see also Ex 3:14),
"Lord" (Jn 9:38),
"Good Shepherd" (Jn 10:11, 14),
"the Resurrection and the Life" (Jn 11:25),
"the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (Jn 14:6),
"the Vine" (Jn 15:5),
"the King of the Jews" (Jn 19:19), and
"my Lord and my God!" (Jn 20:28)
There are many other Scriptural titles of Jesus. These titles combat deception and encourage truth. Praise Jesus by His titles.

PRAYER: Jesus, Lamb of God, I worship You with my whole heart.

PROMISE: "I will make you a light to the nations, that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." –Is 49:6

PRAISE: Praise Jesus, "the First and the Last and the One Who lives" (Rv 1:17-18).

Saturday, January 18 2014 Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading
1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1

There was a stalwart man from Benjamin named Kish,
who was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror,
son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite.
He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man.
There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul;
he stood head and shoulders above the people.

Now the asses of Saul’s father, Kish, had wandered off.
Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you
and go out and hunt for the asses.”
Accordingly they went through the hill country of Ephraim,
and through the land of Shalishah.
Not finding them there,
they continued through the land of Shaalim without success.
They also went through the land of Benjamin,
but they failed to find the animals.

When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD assured him,
“This is the man of whom I told you; he is to govern my people.”

Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said,
“Please tell me where the seer lives.”
Samuel answered Saul: “I am the seer.
Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today.
In the morning, before dismissing you,
I will tell you whatever you wish.”

Then, from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head;
he also kissed him, saying:
“The LORD anoints you commander over his heritage.
You are to govern the LORD’s people Israel,
and to save them from the grasp of their enemies roundabout.

“This will be the sign for you
that the LORD has anointed you commander over his heritage.”

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (2a) Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

O LORD, in your strength the king is glad;
in your victory how greatly he rejoices!
You have granted him his heart’s desire;
you refused not the wish of his lips.

R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

For you welcomed him with goodly blessings,
you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked life of you: you gave him
length of days forever and ever.

R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

Great is his glory in your victory;
majesty and splendor you conferred upon him.
For you made him a blessing forever;
you gladdened him with the joy of your face.

R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

Gospel
Mark 2:13-17

Jesus went out along the sea.
All the crowd came to him and he taught them.
As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus,
sitting at the customs post.
Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed Jesus.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples;
for there were many who followed him.
Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners
and tax collectors and said to his disciples,
“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus heard this and said to them,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

REFLECTION
by
One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 18, 2014
YOU ARE CHOSEN FOR GREATNESS

"I have come to call sinners." –Mark 2:17

Saul was outsmarted by some lost asses (1 Sm 9:4). Nevertheless, the Lord chose him to become king and sent Samuel to anoint him (1 Sm 10:1).

Levi (Matthew) was a tax-collector, one of the most sinful occupations in his society (Mk 2:14). Nevertheless, Jesus called Matthew to follow Him (Mk 2:14).

The Lord chooses the most unlikely people to be great in His kingdom. "God chose those whom the world considers absurd to shame the wise; He singled out the weak of this world to shame the strong. He chose the world's lowborn and despised, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who were something; so that mankind can do no boasting before God" (1 Cor 1:27-29).

The Lord has chosen you to be great because He has called you to be His child. You must live not a minimalistic, superficial, mediocre life, but rather an abundant, holy, and eternal life. You are so precious that you were purchased at the price of the incarnate God's blood (1 Cor 6:20). You are so important that you can't become more important. You can only become more aware of your greatness in Him.

As unworthy as you are, you are chosen to be great. Become what the Lord has chosen you to be.

PRAYER: Father, may I aspire to greatness and serve the needs of all (Mt 20:26-27).

PROMISE: "People who are healthy do not need a doctor; sick people do." –Mk 2:17

PRAISE: Charlie went to Confession again after many years. Jesus lifted his burden of sin.

Friday, January 17 2014 Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot

First Reading
1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22a

All the elders of Israel came in a body to Samuel at Ramah
and said to him, “Now that you are old,
and your sons do not follow your example,
appoint a king over us, as other nations have, to judge us.”

Samuel was displeased when they asked for a king to judge them.
He prayed to the LORD, however, who said in answer:
“Grant the people’s every request.
It is not you they reject, they are rejecting me as their king.”

Samuel delivered the message of the LORD in full
to those who were asking him for a king.
He told them:
“The rights of the king who will rule you will be as follows:
He will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and horses,
and they will run before his chariot.
He will also appoint from among them his commanders of groups
of a thousand and of a hundred soldiers.
He will set them to do his plowing and his harvesting,
and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.
He will use your daughters as ointment makers, as cooks, and as bakers.
He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive groves,
and give them to his officials.
He will tithe your crops and your vineyards,
and give the revenue to his eunuchs and his slaves.
He will take your male and female servants,
as well as your best oxen and your asses,
and use them to do his work.
He will tithe your flocks and you yourselves will become his slaves.
When this takes place,
you will complain against the king whom you have chosen,
but on that day the LORD will not answer you.”

The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel’s warning and said,
“Not so! There must be a king over us.
We too must be like other nations,
with a king to rule us and to lead us in warfare
and fight our battles.”
When Samuel had listened to all the people had to say,
he repeated it to the LORD, who then said to him,
“Grant their request and appoint a king to rule them.”

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 89:16-17, 18-19

R. (2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.

R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

For you are the splendor of their strength,
and by your favor our horn is exalted.
For to the LORD belongs our shield,
and to the Holy One of Israel, our King.

R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Gospel
Mark 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,
it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,
not even around the door,
and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,
they opened up the roof above him.
After they had broken through,
they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him,
“Child, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
Jesus immediately knew in his mind what
they were thinking to themselves,
so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”
–he said to the paralytic,
“I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”
He rose, picked up his mat at once,
and went away in the sight of everyone.
They were all astounded
and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

REFLECTION
by
One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 17, 2014

THE TRAGEDY OF ANSWERED PRAYER

"Grant the people's every request. It is not you they reject, they are rejecting Me as their King." –1 Samuel 8:7

The Lord in His love and mercy often does not give us what we ask for in prayer, when giving us what we want would harm us. "You ask and you do not receive because you ask wrongly, with a view to squandering what you receive on your pleasures" (Jas 4:3). However, the Lord sometimes gives us what we want, even if it will be harmful for us. The Israelites wanted to have a king (1 Sm 8:5). Samuel knew how wrong this was (1 Sm 8:6); nonetheless, God told him to "grant the people's every request" (1 Sm 8:7), even if that meant the people would become enslaved and oppressed (1 Sm 8:11-19).

Are you in danger of God answering one of your prayers? Are you about to get what you want but not what you need? Are you praying yourself into a mess – like a breakdown, divorce, or a form of slavery? You'd better change your prayer now before it's too late.

However, to change your prayer, you must change your heart. To change your heart, you must change your treasures (Lk 12:34). To change your treasures, you must turn to Jesus and repent (see Phil 3:7ff). Then you'll pray for what He wants and not what you want. What Jesus wants is always the best. What we want can be terrible. Pray with Jesus: "Not my will, but Yours be done" (see Mt 26:39).

PRAYER: Father, teach me to pray (Lk 11:1) and especially to love.

PROMISE: "The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." –Mk 2:10

PRAISE: St. Anthony went out into the desert simply to hear God and draw closer to Him. So many people were attracted to his lifestyle of holiness that Anthony was eventually called "The Father of Monks."

Thursday, January 16 2014 Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading
1 Samuel 4:1-11

The Philistines gathered for an attack on Israel.
Israel went out to engage them in battle and camped at Ebenezer,
while the Philistines camped at Aphek.
The Philistines then drew up in battle formation against Israel.
After a fierce struggle Israel was defeated by the Philistines,
who slew about four thousand men on the battlefield.
When the troops retired to the camp, the elders of Israel said,
“Why has the LORD permitted us to be defeated today
by the Philistines?
Let us fetch the ark of the LORD from Shiloh
that it may go into battle among us
and save us from the grasp of our enemies.”

So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there
the ark of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned upon the cherubim.
The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were with the ark of God.
When the ark of the LORD arrived in the camp,
all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth resounded.
The Philistines, hearing the noise of shouting, asked,
“What can this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?”
On learning that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp,
the Philistines were frightened.
They said, “Gods have come to their camp.”
They said also, “Woe to us! This has never happened before. Woe to us!
Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods?
These are the gods that struck the Egyptians
with various plagues and with pestilence.
Take courage and be manly, Philistines;
otherwise you will become slaves to the Hebrews,
as they were your slaves.
So fight manfully!”
The Philistines fought and Israel was defeated;
every man fled to his own tent.
It was a disastrous defeat,
in which Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.
The ark of God was captured,
and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were among the dead.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25

R. (27b) Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy.

Yet now you have cast us off and put us in disgrace,
and you go not forth with our armies.
You have let us be driven back by our foes;
those who hated us plundered us at will.

R. Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy.

You made us the reproach of our neighbors,
the mockery and the scorn of those around us.
You made us a byword among the nations,
a laughingstock among the peoples.

R. Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy.

Why do you hide your face,
forgetting our woe and our oppression?
For our souls are bowed down to the dust,
our bodies are pressed to the earth.

R. Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy.

Gospel
Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched the leper, and said to him,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.
Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,
but go, show yourself to the priest
and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.”
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
He remained outside in deserted places,
and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

REFLECTION
by
One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 16, 2014

OBEYING PRAYING

"It was a disastrous defeat, in which Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured." –1 Samuel 4:10-11

How many people have prayed to the Lord when things went bad, and then things got worse? The Israelites suffered four thousand casualties when they were defeated by the Philistines (1 Sm 4:2). Then the Israelites brought forth the ark of the covenant and "lost thirty thousand foot soldiers"! (1 Sm 4:10) Prayer changes things – sometimes for the worse.

Sometimes things get worse after we pray because we are not obeying the Lord. "When one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination" (Prv 28:9). "Does the Lord so delight in holocausts and sacrifices as in obedience to the command of the Lord?" (1 Sm 15:22) Prayer without obedience is often an attempt to manipulate the Lord, and He will not let us use and abuse Him in this way. The writer of the book of James wrote: "You ask and you do not receive because you ask wrongly, with a view to squandering what you receive on your pleasures" (Jas 4:3). Jesus said: "None of those who cry out, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of God but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Mt 7:21).

The Lord commands us to pray always (Lk 18:1), but that will be pleasing to Him and beneficial to us only if we obey always. Obey and pray.

PRAYER: Father, I repent of disobedience. I will go to Confession as soon as possible.

PROMISE: "The leprosy left him then and there, and he was cured." –Mk 1:42

PRAISE: Julie had attempted suicide many times. Jesus delivered her and set her free as she was reading Psalm 6.