First Reading
James 1:12-18
Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation,
for when he has been proven he will receive the crown of life
that he promised to those who love him.
No one experiencing temptation should say,
“I am being tempted by God”;
for God is not subject to temptation to evil,
and he himself tempts no one.
Rather, each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire.
Then desire conceives and brings forth sin,
and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters:
all good giving and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.
He willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 94:12-13a, 14-15, 18-19
R. (12a) Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
Blessed the man whom you instruct, O LORD,
whom by your law you teach,
Giving him rest from evil days.
R. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
For the LORD will not cast off his people,
nor abandon his inheritance;
But judgment shall again be with justice,
and all the upright of heart shall follow it.
R. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
When I say, “My foot is slipping,”
your mercy, O LORD, sustains me;
When cares abound within me,
your comfort gladdens my soul.
R. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
Gospel
Mark 8:14-21
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread,
and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.
Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out,
guard against the leaven of the Pharisees
and the leaven of Herod.”
They concluded among themselves that
it was because they had no bread.
When he became aware of this he said to them,
“Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread?
Do you not yet understand or comprehend?
Are your hearts hardened?
Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?
And do you not remember,
when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand,
how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?”
They answered him, “Twelve.”
“When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand,
how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?”
They answered him, “Seven.”
He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
TITLE: CARE-FREE IN JESUS' COMFORT
"When cares abound within me, Your comfort gladdens my soul." –Psalm 94:19
Jesus taught that one of the problems preventing people from understanding the Word of God is the cares and anxieties of this world. These many cares invade our mind and choke the Word in us, which then bears no fruit (Mk 4:19). Many of us are like Martha. We work hard and take responsibility for our actions. However, we "are anxious and upset about many things" (Lk 10:41). The cares of this world do not stop; they bombard us relentlessly.
Today's psalm response is great advice for living amidst a myriad of cares. "When cares abound within" us, we are to focus on God and the comfort that He offers (Ps 94:19; see also Is 40:1). God's comfort gladdens our soul, particularly when cares pile up. His Word commands us: "Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you" (1 Pt 5:7). However, we must turn to God, not to the cares.
You can't hold onto both your cares and His comfort. Cast your cares at the feet of Jesus, and do not reel them back in. Your cares won't make you glad, but His comfort definitely will.
PRAYER: Father, I know that my fears about my problems and cares are useless (Mk 5:36). "Help my lack of trust" (Mk 9:24) so that I may embrace Your comfort and never let it go.
PROMISE: "Every worthwhile gift, every genuine benefit comes from above, descending from the Father." –Jas 1:17
PRAISE: Fr. Bernard is blind. However, Jesus opens his eyes daily just before he celebrates the Mass. After Mass, he is once again unable to see.
...the word of the Lord...
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