February 6, 2017

Paul Miki et soc.

February 6, 2017:  St. Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs

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Listen


Pope Francis homily
Today's psalm praises God's wonders.  The Father works to make the wonder of creation and with his Son to accomplish the wonder of re-creation.  God created the world to share his fullness, to have someone to give to and share with.  In the re-creation, God sent his Son to set things right.
When Jesus said, "The Father is always at work; I, too, am always at work," the teachers of the law were scandalized, because they couldn't receive the things of God as a gift.  Instead of opening their heart to the gift, they hid, seeking refuge in the rigidity of the Commandments, which they'd multiplied.  You can only receive the gift with freedom, but they were afraid of the freedom God gives us, afraid of love.
They wanted to kill Jesus because he said the Father made this wonder as a gift.  We love and praise the Father for the gifts of creation and salvation.  The prayer of praise gives us the joy of the Christian life, not the closed, sad prayer of those who can't receive a gift because they're afraid of freedom that carries a gift.  They only know how to do duty, closed duty.  Slaves of duty, not love:  when you become a slave of love, you're free!  It is a beautiful bondage, but they did not understand that.
The Lord's two wonders are creation and redemption, the re-creation.  How do I receive the gift of creation?  And if I receive it, do I love creation, do I care for it?  How do I receive the gift of redemption, God's forgiveness, his making me one of his children?  Lovingly, tenderly, with freedom?  Or do I hide in the rigidity of the closed Commandments, that are “safe” but don't give joy, because they don't make you free.  How am I experiencing these two wonders?  May we understand his love for us and say, "Lord, you are great!  Thank you!"
Read
Wordle: Readings 2-9-15
  • Gn 1:1-19  When earth was a dark wasteland, a wind swept over the waters.  God:  “Let there be light,” and there was.  God separated light from the darkness:  day 1.  “Let a dome separate bodies of water.”  God made it, separating land and sky:  day 2.  “Let dry land appear.”  Water was gathered, and dry land appeared:  'earth' and 'sea.'  “Let vegetation come forth.”  Earth brought forth plants and fruits:  day 3.  “Let lights separate day from night, mark days and years, and shed light on earth.”  God made sun, moon, and stars.  God saw how good it all was:  day 4.
  • Ps 104:1-2a, 5-6, 10, 12, 24, 35c  "May the Lord be glad in his works."  Bless the Lord!  You're great, clothed with glory.  You fixed the earth and covered it with waters.  How manifold your works; in wisdom you wrought them all.
  • Mk 6:53-56  Jesus and his disciples came to land.  As they left the boat, people immediately recognized him.  They brought in the sick and begged him that they might touch his cloak; those who touched it were healed.
Reflect
    Day One/ Leavitt
  • Creighton:  Today's 1st reading begins a story of the “how” of creation.  Order and disorder are the main theme, and God is the main character.  At the end of the reading, everything is set, everything is in order.  In early Jewish tradition, God is the orderliness of the planets, not the disorderliness of the earth. The story will continue with God trying to bring order.  Today’s Gospel continues the story.  Jesus is the incarnation and intensification of God’s creation.  Jesus steps on the dirt, and there are signs of disorder everywhere.  Sickness and disability were seen as indications of sin. Villagers brought people to the Reorderer, Healer, Continuer of God’s creation story.  After the earth was formed, God is meant to be seen by the creation of Light, through which all things are to be seen and the Creator is revealed.  Jesus continues that Light where there's darkness. The Savior is the light, the Word, the Collector, and the Voice announcing all is good.  Everything and everyone bears the fingerprints of the creative, saving God.  Jesus still steps ashore as Finder and Healer....
    Day 2/ Legarde
  • One Bread, One Body:  "On any given day...":  As he did when he created the world, God does new and amazing things each day.  When we come to know God as Creator, this leads us to new hope. God's nature is to create.  Each day God can make a new creation out of nothing and create good from bad, making each day a new creation.  If we've had bad days, it doesn't mean tomorrow will be bad.  God's love and mercy come anew every morning.  This is why Jesus teaches us to pray for today's needs, not to worry about tomorrow, and to deal with each day as it comes.  God can create a future full of hope for you any day. "This is the day the Lord has made; be glad and rejoice in it."
    Day Three/ Leavitt
  • Passionist:  In the beginning, God created life from the formless wasteland and gave everything order and potential. Parts became whole and full of the breath of God.  God saw it was good.  People rushed to meet Jesus, knowing he had healing power; they brought the sick to touch his cloak.  God's creative Spirit worked through Jesus to bring order to the chaos of their broken lives.  Jesus knew it was good.  Each of us has been called to continue the creative life-giving process of God; in our families, workplaces, ministries, interactions with others, we can help bring love, acceptance, and joy.  God knows this will be very good.
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Many were made well":  When Jesus disembarked, people immediately recognized him.  Surely they recognized his healing power.  Jesus is ready to heal us too....
  • Universalis:  St. Paul Miki, Jesuit priest, missionary to Japan, with 25 companions, martyrs, with 6 Franciscan missionaries including Peter Baptista and catechist and trader Gonsalo Garcia, 3 more Jesuits including Philip of Jesus, and 17 laymen including 3 boys.
Dress legend
    Day 4/ Legarde
  • 'Earth and sky' tie:  God created earth and sky (1st reading, psalm)
  • 'Plant' pin:  God created plants... (1st reading)
  • 'Fruit' and 'tree' pins:  ...and fruit trees (1st reading)
  • 'Star' tie pin:  God made the stars (1st reading)
  • 'Clock' pin:  Let the lights mark fixed times, days, and years (1st reading)
  • 'Owl' tie pin:  In wisdom you wrought your works (psalm)
  • 'Street lamp' tie bar:  "Let there be light(s)" (1st reading); You are robed in light (psalm)
    St. Paul Miki and companions
  • 'Alps' tie pin:  Above the mountains the waters stood (psalm)
  • 'Boat' tie bar:  As they left the boat, people recognized Jesus (gospel)
  • Blue in tie:  God created the sea (1st reading, psalm)
  • Green in tie:  Ordinary Time season
  • Red shirt:  Martyrdom of St. Paul Miki +25
  • 'Camera' tie pin:  remembering Tom O'Neill's 1977 Christmas ornament of St. Paul Miki wearing a made-in-Japan camera
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