January 15, 2016

Jan. 15

January 15, 2016:  Friday, 1st week, Ordinary Time



  • 'Doctor's office' tie:  Healing of the paralytic (gospel)
  • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season
  • 'Crown' tie bar:  "Appoint a king over us" (1st reading)
  • 'Chariot' and 'horse' tie pins:  "A king will assign your children to his chariots and horses" (1st reading)
  • 'Wheat' pin:  "He'll use your daughters as cooks and bakers" (1st reading)
  • 'Shield' tie pin:  To the Lord belongs our shield (psalm)
  • 'Girl with heart' pin:  "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?" (gospel)
  • 'Walker' tie pin:  What's easier to say:  "Your sins are forgiven," or "Rise and walk" (gospel)
Listen

  • Psalm 89/ Restoration Project
  • Forever I will sing/ Haugen (psalm)
    • Pope Francis homily
    The people of Capernaum were ready to do anything to get closer to Jesus, not heeding the risks.  They had to open the roof to get the paralytic to Jesus.  They had faith, the same faith as the lady who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, when going to Jairus' house.  It was the same faith as the centurion, who wanted the healing of his servant.  Strong faith, courageous, forward-looking.
    Jesus went further, not only healing the sick but forgiving their sins.  Some had their hearts closed, but accepted, to a point, that Jesus was a healer, but forgiving sins is over the top!  He has no right to say this, because only God can forgive sins. He said, "Why are you thinking these things?  Because you know the Son of Man has the power–this is what makes him special to forgive sins– ‘Arise and be healed."  He begins to speak the language that will discourage people....  When Jesus showed up with power to forgive, to give life, to recreate humanity, even his disciples doubted, and some went away.

    How is my faith in Jesus Christ?  Do I believe he's God, the Son of God?  Has this faith been life-changing?  Does it make this year of grace, of pardon, of growing close to the Lord, begin in my heart?  Faith is a gift.  No one ‘deserves’ faith or can buy it.  Does my faith bring me to humiliation, repentance, and prayer asking, "Forgive me, Lord.  You are God.”  May the Lord make us grow in faith....
    Read
    • 1 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22a  Elders to Samuel:  “Appoint a king over us.”  Samuel, displeased, prayed  and heard:  “Grant their request; they're rejecting me as their king.”  Samuel told them, “The king will take your children, fields, crops, flocks, and servants and make you slaves.”  They said, “No!  We must have a king over us.”  Samuel told the Lord, who replied, “Grant their request; appoint them a king.”
    • Ps 89:16-19  "For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord."  You're our strength; our King belongs to you.
    • Mk 2:1-12  Four men brought Jesus a paralytic.  Jesus told him, “Your sins are forgiven.”  Scribes:  “Why does he blaspheme?  Only God can forgive.”  Jesus:  “Why are you thinking such things?  Which is easier, to say ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Rise and walk’?  But so you'll know the Son of Man has authority to forgive,” he told the paralytic, “Pick up your mat, and go.”  He rose and went, and all were astounded.
    Reflect
      • Creighton:  Simple "ordinary" acts are truly extraordinary.  “The world is charged with the grandeur of God” (Hopkins).  Samuel served when his people were moving from tribes into nationhood.  He was Judge and Prophet, but the people lost faith and asked him to anoint a king.  Samuel point out the downside, but they insisted, so he prayed, and after listening to God, anointed Saul king.  By insisting on a king the Israelites were expressing lack of faith that God would guide and protect them.  But the paralytic had great faith and acted on it.  May we not place too much trust in our human strength.  We should do what we can and rely on human wisdom but not forget God, the source of all good. 
        Christ healing the paralytic.../ Murillo
      • One Bread, One Body:  "Sin-cere?"  Jesus healed the paralytic to show He has authority to forgive sins.  The essence of Jesus' mission is to forgive our sins.  We can deny our sins are serious, that we're guilty, or even that there's any such thing as sin, but that denies our need for Jesus.  Only sinners need a Savior.  May we admit, not deny, our sin, and be grateful to Jesus, Savior, who frees us.
      • Passionist:  The Hebrew people occupied the Promised Land, united in language and experience of God, but living in separate clans.  For 200 years they maintained their freedom, uniting under a “judge,” a tribal chief who could lead in war.  But men came to Samuel to ask for a king.  The question of leadership is on our minds this election year.  May we choose well....
      • DailyScripture.net:  "We never saw anything like this!"  Jesus' treatment of sinners upset the religious teachers.  He claimed an authority only God could claim, and he showed the power of God's redeeming love by healing the cripple.  The Lord is ready to heal our body, mind, and spirit.  What cripples me now?  "The Lord, wanting to save sinners, shows himself as God by his knowledge of secrets and by the wonder of his actions....  In this passage he shows the likeness of the resurrection.  Alongside of healing wounds of body and mind, he also forgives sins of the spirit, removes the weakness of the flesh, and so heals the whole person.  Who can forgive sins but God?  God also forgives through those to whom he has given the power of forgiveness.  It's far more divine to give resurrection to bodies, since the Lord is the resurrection"  (Ambrose, Exposition of the Gospel of Luke 5.12–13.5).
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