Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress": John Bosco

January 31, 2018: St. John Bosco, Priest

See 14 connections with today?
Legend below

Listen

For the gospel

O Christ, the Master Carpenter/ Bell: buy

You call us out/ Briggs: about

O Master Workman of the race/ Stocking; link includes tune and lyrics

For Psalm 32

Psalm 32: Lord, forgive the wrong I have done/ Celoni: sheet music demo, and variant setting

Psalm 32/ Silver

I turn to you, Lord/ Colsons: sheet music, publisher page

I love the Lord; he heard my cry, from The Preacher's Wife/ Smallwood

Psalm 32: I turn to you/ Cooney

Blue moon/ Rodgers, Hart (today is a blue moon)

Pope Francis

General Audience: At Mass put yourself in silent openness to God’s saving message, fundamental to God’s dialogue with us. God speaks to us in the Liturgy of the Word, and the Spirit who inspired Scripture opens our minds and hearts to that living word. That’s why personal choices regarding the readings are unacceptable. The Lord speaking to us. If you chat during Mass, you miss God’s Word. Once you receive his message, put it into practice.

Since we don't live by bread alone but by every word that comes from God, we need to be open to, and challenged by, that word, in our lives as individuals and as a Church. This is why we talk about the Liturgy of the Word as "the table of God’s Word" that the Lord sets to nourish our spiritual life as we listen to Scripture proclaim the mystery of Christ and call for our response.

The Responsorial Psalm favors God’s dialogue with us as it sets the mood for the next reading. Participate in it; it expresses and favors ecclesial communion and accompanies us in our faith journey. We need good readers and psalmists, who practice; they favor an atmosphere of receptive silence. The Lord’s Word lights our path and helps us avoid getting lost. How could we undertake our earthly pilgrimage without being nourished and enlightened by God’s Word that resounds in the Liturgy? Listen not only with your ears but with an open heart so the Word can enter you and make itself evident in your hands as you do good works. Official summary

Read

2 Sm 24:2, 9-17 King David asked Joab for a census of Israel but then regretted it: “Lord, forgive me.” Lord to David via Gad: “I offer you 3 years’ famine, 3 months' pursuit, or 3 days’ pestilence.” David chose pestilence. 70,000 died before God stopped the angel. David: “Punish me and my kin, not them.”

Ps 32:1-2, 5-7 "Lord, forgive the wrong I have done." Blessed is he whose fault is taken away; blessed the one in whose spirit there is no guile. I acknowledged my sin, and you took away the guilt. You will preserve and free me.

Mk 6:1-6 When Jesus taught, hearers took offense: “Where did he get this wisdom? What mighty deeds! But isn't he the carpenter...? Jesus: “A prophet has no honor in his native place.” Amazed at their lack of faith, he could only cure a few there.

Reflect

Creighton: Why should we be surprised Jesus had to get out of town to fulfill his mission? God selects unlikely messengers from unpromising places for important tasks. God often entrusts great deeds to people from obscure origins; he sends humble prophets and saints to communities everywhere. Today’s gospel teaches us to respond to saints and prophets in our midst rather than reject them because they’re like us. If God can recognize them, so can we....

One Bread, One Body: "Down for the count": David committed serious sin, including adultery and arranging for murder. He counted the men fit for military duty, resulting in the deaths of 70,000 innocent people. Counting can be a sin: counting the times we've been offended can be a sin against love. Counting money can be greed. Counting people in your ministry can be pride. Counting someone out may be unforgiveness or arrogance. Counting our blessings can be a way of comparing ourselves to others. May we count responsibly....

Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth/ Olsen

Passionist: Jesus is in his home town to heal and share his message, but they were too closed and angry to accept him. The reading foreshadows the end of his life: praised and loved, then pushed away. Yet God still pursued us, sending his son to call us home. What love to care and forgive those who would kill you. How has God pursued you, how have you turned your back, what led you to take his hand, and how have you been his hands, reaching out to others?

DailyScripture.net: "Jesus marveled because of their unbelief": People familiar to us can be our worst critics: family, neighbors, co-workers.... Jesus was severely tested when he returned home as a rabbi with disciples. He startled his audience with a seeming rebuke that no prophet can receive honor among his own. The locals took offense at him and didn't listen; he was a mere workman, a carpenter, a layman with neither formal training nor distinguished family background. Familiarity can breed contempt. If people come together to hate and don't understand, all they'll see is their own point of view, and they won't love and accept others. How do I treat those disagreeable to me?"