January 14, 2017

Jan. 14

January 14, 2017:  Saturday, 1st week, Ordinary Time

  • 'Sword' pin:  God's word is sharper than swords... (1st reading)
  • 'Heart' pin:  ... and can discern thoughts of the heart (1st reading); the Lord's precepts rejoice the heart,... (psalm)
  • 'Owl' pin:  ...give wisdom to the simple,...  (psalm)
  • 'Eyeball' pin:  ...and enlighten the eye (psalm)
  • Crucifix:  Our high priest has been tested in every way (1st reading)
  • 'Rock' pin:  Lord, my rock (psalm)
  • 'Silverware' tie bar:  Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners (gospel)
  • 'Phone' tie bar:  I came to 'call' sinners (gospel)
  • 'Precious feet' pin, OneLife LA button:  all human life is precious
  • Blue and green in shirt:  Sea (gospel), Ordinary Time season
Listen

Pope Francis to young people
You'll be the center of attention at next year's Synod of Bishops on “Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment.”  God told Abraham, “Go... to the land I will show you.”  The Father invites you too to go, set out towards a fulfilling future, accompanied by God.  Hear his voice in your heart through the Spirit.  God didn't want Abram to distance himself from family or withdraw from the world; he was challenged to leave everything and go to a new land.  Today's “new land” is a more just and friendly society that you desire and want to build.  But today "go" can also mean abuse of power, injustice, and war.  Violence threatens many and forces them to flee; they cry like the oppressed Israelites.
Remember Jesus invited his disciples, “Come and see.”  Jesus invites you to go with him.  Have you heard his voice, felt the urge to go?  Undertake a journey to discern God's plan in your life.  Even when you fall, God will pick you up.  I asked you in Krakow, “Can we change things?”  And you shouted, “yes!”  We don't tolerate injustice, today's “throw-away culture,” or globalized indifference.  Listen to the cry arising from within you!  If you feel inexperienced like Jeremiah, God encourages you to go where he sends you.
Your efforts, desire to change, and generosity can help build a better world.  Listen to the Spirit who proposes bold choices; take risks when your conscience asks you to to follow the Master.  The Church wants to listen to you, even your doubts and criticism.  Make your voice heard.  “The Lord often reveals to the younger what is best” (Benedict).  My brother bishops and I want to “work with you for your joy.”  I entrust you to Mary, a young person God beheld lovingly, so she might guide you to the joy of fully responding to God’s call.
Read
    'SWord cloud'
    (Animate)
  • Heb 4:12-16  God's word is living, effective, sharp, penetrating, all-seeing, and it knows the heart.  Jesus our high priest has been tested and knows our weakness; hold fast, and approach the throne of grace for mercy and help.
  • Ps 19:8-10, 15  "Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life."  The law of the Lord is perfect, trustworthy, right, clear, enlightening, pure, enduring, true, and just.  Let my words and thoughts find favor before you, Lord.
  • Mk 2:13-17  Jesus taught the crowd.  He invited Levi to follow him, and he got up and followed.  Scribes saw Jesus eating with sinners and tax collectors and asked his disciples, “Why?” Jesus:  “The healthy don't need a doctor; sick people do.  I didn't come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Reflect
      Feast in the House of Levi/ Veronese
    • Creighton:  We try so hard to mask our weaknesses and conceal our sinfulness, to appear strong and tough, but we know God sees through it all.  Jesus penetrated the exteriors of Levi, tax collectors, and other sinners when he dined with them; he did so to bring them to God's love and grace.  May I realize more deeply that Jesus came for sinners, then work less at maintaining my façade.
    • One Bread, One Body:  "The red cross":  Jesus came for sinners, that all might have the opportunity to repent, believe, be saved, and live to the full, now and forever.  Pope Francis says the Eucharist is medicine for sinners, not a prize for the perfect.  Jesus revealed God desires mercy rather than sacrifice.  God gave us his word.  We can keep it in our heart to keep us from sinning.  God gave us the Church, a hospital for sinners, with the sacrament of reconciliation to forgive and heal us and give us grace to avoid sin.  Jesus promises he forgives our sins and doesn't remember them.  What a gift!
    • Passionist:  Each of us needs God's mercy, grace, and healing in some areas; we may need to step out of the crowd and look to Jesus to see where.  When we do, can we drop everything including the world's judgment, our limited self-perception, sinful ways...  to respond now and going forward?
      Meal with sinners/ Köder
    • DailyScripture.net:  "Many sinners were sitting with Jesus":  Many were drawn to Jesus, including the unwanted, unlovable, sick, homeless, public sinners, and despised men like Matthew/Levi.  Jesus shocked the Orthodox Jews, who divided people into those who rigidly kept the Law, and everyone else, whom they avoided, didn't do business with, didn't marry, and didn't eat with. When the Pharisees challenged him, he said doctors are for the sick,  Jesus, the divine physician, sought out those in need to restore them to wholeness, while orthodox Jews were so preoccupied with their religious practice that they neglected the needy.  Ironically the orthodox were as needy as those they despised.  The Lord, who fills us with grace and mercy, wants us to seek others' good, showing them the kindness and mercy we've received.
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