Jan. 20

January 20, 2015:  Tuesday, 2nd week, Ordinary Time

• 'Abacus' tie pin:  "I will bless you and multiply you" (1st reading)

• 'Food' tie:  He has given food to those who fear him (psalm)

• 'Wheat' pin:  Jesus was passing through a field of grain (gospel)

• Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season

Listen

For week of prayer for Christian unity (see also Friday)

• The Church's one foundation/ Stone

• Make us one/ Paris

• Psalm 111:2-10: Holy and awesome is his name/ Mui

Pope Francis briefing

I was impressed by the Filipino people's heartfelt enthusiasm.  They know how to suffer and can rise up.  Families must be open to life, but you don't need to breed like rabbits to be Catholic.  On my September US I'll stop at New York City and Washington DC and canonize Bl. Junipero Serra.



Read

• Heb 6:10-20  God won't overlook your work and love shown in your service.  Be eager for the fulfillment of hope:  don't become sluggish, but imitate those who are inheriting the promises.  God swore to Abraham, I'll bless and multiply you, and Abraham obtained the promise.  And so, after patient waiting, Abraham obtained the promise.

• Ps 111:1-2, 4-5, 9, 10c  "The Lord will remember his covenant for ever."  Thank the Lord; his works are great, and he's gracious and merciful.  He gave food to and delivered his people.

• Mk 2:23-28  Pharisees/Jesus:  “Why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”  “When David was in need and hungry, he went into the house of God and ate and shared the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat.  The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.  The Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

Reflect

Martyrdom of St. Sebastian
Sodoma

• Creighton:  C. S. Lewis: “Nothing (capital “N”) is strong enough to steal away a man’s best years in a dreary flickering of the mind....  The safest road to Hell is the gradual one:  the gentle slope, without sudden turns or signposts.”  Pope Francis cautioned us to avoid “spiritual Alzheimer's, loss of memory of encounter with the Lord, building walls and routines and becoming slaves of idols.”  Antidote:  joy and hope!   St. Thomas More:  “Grant me good digestion, a healthy body, a simple soul that treasure all that is good and that doesn’t frighten easily at evil, but rather finds the means to put things back in their place.  Give me a soul that knows not boredom, grumbling, sighs and laments, nor excess of stress, because of that obstructing thing called ‘I’.  Grant me, O Lord, a sense of good humour.  Allow me the grace to be able to take a joke and to discover in life a bit of joy, and to be able to share it with others.” ​

• One Bread One Body:  "They do run, run, run":  Christian life is like running a race; we mustn't grow lazy.  God loves us and will keep his promises.

• Passionist:  David was concerned with his hungry men.   As the Pharisees got stuck to the law, we can get so glued to our own needs that we can't see others'....

• DailyScripture.net:  The Sabbath was to remember and celebrate God and his work; it was for our benefit.  How do I honor the Lord in how I treat others and celebrate the Lord's Day?

• Today's saints, from Universalis:  
• Pope St. Fabian, martyr; see Wikipedia, Catholic Encyclopedia.
• St. Sebastian, martyr; see Catholic Encyclopedia..
• Bl. Cyprian Michael Tansi, priest, teacher, catechist, monk; see Wikipedia.

• Sacred Space

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