January 13, 2020

Jan. 13

January 13, 2020:  Monday, 1st week, Ordinary Time

Find a dozen connections with today?
Legend below
  • 1 Sm 1:1-8  Elkanah had two wives, Peninnah who had children and Hannah who was barren.  Elkanah offered double sacrifice for Hannah, but Peninnah tormented her, and she wept.  He said, “Why do you weep and grieve?  Am I not more to you than ten sons?”
  • Ps 116:12-19  "To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise."  Lord, you have loosed my bonds.  I'll take up the cup of salvation, call on you, and keep my vows.  Precious in your eyes is the death of his faithful ones.
  • Mk 1:14-20  Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of God:  “The Kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent and believe.”  As Simon and Andrew were casting their nets, he called, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men,” and they followed him.  He called James and John while they were mending their nets, and they left everyone and followed him.
Reflect
  • Creighton:  Elkanah of the 1st reading was a polygamist with wives Penninah and Hannah.  Penninah, who had children, tormented childless Hannah, who was depressed though Elkanah loved her as she was, perhaps because she felt unworthy.  We too can feel depressed if we believe God loves us though we're unworthy.  What more do we need than God's love?
In the gospel, Jesus encountered two pairs of brothers, James and John, and Simon and Andrew, whose lives would change when he invited them to follow him.  They left their families and set out with him.  If we feel God's call, how will we respond?
  • One Bread, One Body:  Our goal is to displace the culture of death with a civilization of love and life.  The Lord typically chooses to change the world through teens like Mary, carpenters like Joseph, toddlers like Samuel, weeping women like Hannah, loving husbands like Elkanah, and manual laborers like the early apostles. "God chose those the world considers absurd to shame the wise; he singled out the weak to shame the strong.  He chose the lowborn and despised, who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who were something."
    God's way is the "little way" of St. Therese, the "Little Flower," and other saints.  Little things are important in God's plan.  Because wer'e God's adopted children, the love and faith we show in life's details will turn the world right-side up.  Because we've been baptized into Christ, everything we do has universal significance.  Rejoice in your dignity and responsibility, and live a simple, earth-shaking, world-changing, love-charged life.
      Elkanah and his two wives returning to Ramah
      (Meester van de Vederwolken)       
    • Passionist:  In miraculous pregnancies like Hannah and Elizabeth's, a divine plan is usually afoot. / Simon, Andrew, James, and John were doing their work; then Jesus came and changed their lives; they left everything.  Their encounter with him and the miracles they observed nourished them, despite their concern when he spoke of his future.  Change came when they least expected it.  We too are trying to understand God's plan for us.  The disciples discovered Jesus' call brought them into darkness before the light reappeared.  On Good Friday did they think it was all over?  We follow a call and are filled with hope and purpose, life takes on a familiar pattern, then after an unexpected turn (illness, end of relationship, accident, betrayal?) we feel lost.  We say it's not how life should be.  Have we failed?  May we look at these transitions as gifts for growth, times new life emerges, rebirths.  We're all called to drop everything and follow Jesus, not to but through the cross, finding hope in darkness and trusting there will be light and resurrection....
    • DailyScripture.net:  "God's kingdom is at hand":  God sent his prophets to announce the coming of his anointed King and Messiah. After Jesus was baptized and anointed by the Spirit, he began his ministry of preaching the good news that God's kingdom was at hand.  'Kingdom' means more than a territory; literally, it's 'sovereignty' or 'reign,' and the power to 'rule' and exercise authority.  The prophets announced God would establish a kingdom for the whole world.  God's throne is in heaven and his rule is over all.  His universal, everlasting kingdom is beyond anything we can imagine.  God sent his Son to bring us into his heavenly kingdom of truth, justice, peace, and holiness.  God's kingdom is core of Jesus' mission.  Jesus, taking up John the Baptist's message, calls disciples to repent, and believe the good news of peace, hope, truth, promise, immortality, and salvation.  When we submit to Christ's rule in our lives and believe the gospel message, the Lord gives us the grace and power to renounce sin and live as citizens of his kingdom.  Like fishermen, we're called to gather in people for the kingdom.   Jesus called smelly fishermen to catch people for the kingdom; he wanted ordinary people who could do an assignment well.  The Lord takes what we can offer and uses it for greatness in his kingdom.  May I allow Christ to shine through me....
    Dress legend
    • '10' pin:  I'm more to you than ten sons (1st reading) 
    • 'Phone' tie bar:  I'll 'call' on the Lord's name (psalm); Jesus 'calls' the fishermen... (gospel) 
    • 'Eyeball' tie pin:  "Precious in the eyes of the Lord..." (psalm) 
    • 'Cups' tie':  The 'cup' of salvation I'll take up (psalm) 
    • 'Fishing pole' tie bar:  Simon and Andrew cast their nets into the sea (gospel) 
    • 'Boat' tie bar:  They were in a boat mending their nets (gospel)
    • 'Fish' pin (gospel) 
    • 'Hand' tie pin:  God's Kingdom is at 'hand' (gospel) 
    • 'Clocks' suspenders:  Beginning of new season 
    • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time begins (season) 
    • "One Life LA" button:  One Life LA is this Saturday!
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