January 30, 2016

Jan. 30

January 30, 2016:  Saturday, 3rd week, Ordinary Time

  • 'Ewe lamb' tie bar:  poor man's ewe; "that man is 'you'" (1st reading, 2 Sm 12:7)
  • 'Sword' tie pin:  (See here, the day it fell off during the OneLife LA march)  "The sword shall never depart from your house" (1st reading)
  • 'Girl with heart' pin:  "Create a clean heart in me" (psalm)
  • 'Blood drop' pin:  Free me from blood guilt... (psalm)
  • 'Musical note' tie pin:  "Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise." (psalm)
  • 'Boats' tie:  Disciples took Jesus in the boat, and other boats were with him (gospel)
  • Green in shirt:  Ordinary Time season
Listen

Pope Francis Jubilee audience
As Christians, we're called to be missionaries of the Gospel.  Just as we naturally share with others the beautiful moments of our lives, we're called also and especially to share the joy of encountering Christ.  To encounter Jesus is to experience his love, that transforms us and compels us to share it.
Every Christian is a bearer of Christ.  The Father gives us mercy not solely for our benefit, but for the good of all, by transforming us into instruments, missionaries of mercy.  The mercy we receive from the Father is a private consolation, but it also makes us tools so others may receive the same gift.  Never tire of feeling the need of his forgiveness, because when we're weak, his proximity makes us strong and enables us to live our faith with greater joy.
 Read
    Ewe lambs
  • 2 Sm 12:1-7a, 10-17  Nathan / David:  “A rich man took a poor man's ewe to cook for his guest.” / “He deserves to die.” / “You are the man!  God says the sword shall never depart from you because you took Uriah's wife.” / “I have sinned.” / “The Lord has forgiven you, but the child must die.”  The child became desperately ill, and David begged God for him.
  • Ps 51:12-17  "Create a clean heart in me, O God."  Give me back the joy of your salvation.  Open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
  • Mk 4:35-41  A squall filled a boat with water while Jesus was asleep.  The disciples woke him, he rebuked the wind, calm ensued, and he asked, “Why are you terrified?  Where's your faith?”  They wondered, “Who is he whom even wind and sea obey?”
Named after 1st reading
Reflect
  • Creighton:  God’s mercy is available for everyone who truly wants it.  King David was a great sinner:  bloodthirsty, a violent, short-tempered, adulterous, murderer.  He knew his wrongs and that he deserved death for them.  But he confessed his sin to the Lord, and God forgave him.  If I think some are beyond God’s mercy or wish they were, I don't understand God's mercy...,
    Christ in the storm on the Lake of Galilee
    (Rembrandt    )
  • One Bread, One Body:  "Only convicts are free":  David committed adultery, lied, and had people killed, but he didn't feel very guilty because sin can blind and numb.  But once Nathan convicted David of his sins, David repented.  We too need to be convicted of our sins; the Holy Spirit convicts us "about sin, justice, and condemnation" and convinces us there's hope for us because of our Father's mercy and the cleansing power of Jesus' blood....
  • Passionist:  In today’s gospel, Jesus' disciples didn't yet trust him enough.  The Church has endured turbulence and storms but stays afloat, and the ministry of fishing, of saving, goes on.  The Church has been “afflicted but not crushed: perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down by not destroyed.”  When you encounter storms, remember our Father is at the helm and won't let you be crushed, forsaken, or destroyed.
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Why are you afraid?"  Jesus' sleeping presence on the storm-tossed sea reveals his disciples' sleeping faith.  The Lord, ever present to us, asks us, "Why are you afraid?  Have you no faith?"  Faith is a gift from God; the Spirit moves and opens us to understand and accept God's truth and to relate to God rightly and confidently by believing and adhering to his word.  Fear need not cripple or rob us. Courage and faith enable us to embrace God's truth and love with confidence and act on it with hope.  God's love strengthens us in faith and enables us to act justly towards our neighbor.  May I let his love rule my heart, mind, and will....
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