The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, January 31, 2004
Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
St. John Bosco, priest

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Samuel 12:1-7,10-17
Psalm 51:12-17
Mark 4:35-41

A random reflection. . . .

Today's responsorial psalm is the beautiful Psalm 51. It contains the moving petition of a sinner, begging the Lord for mercy.

In return for forgiveness the soul promises the Lord that:

“I will teach transgressors Your ways
and sinners shall return to You.

...my tongue will revel in Your justice.

...and mouth shall proclaim Your praise.”

Surely we are all sinners and have experienced the saving forgiveness of the Lord. What then, have we promised and given in return?

Let our promise be like the psalm writer. By example, may we teach others the saving love of Jesus. May we rejoice that God’s ways are just and finally, may we never cease to praise Him for His loving mercy.

“Create a clean heart in me, O God”
(Psalm 51:12)


- Donna Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, January 31, 2004
Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
St. John Bosco, priest

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Samuel 12:1-7,10-17
Psalm 51:12-17
Mark 4:35-41

A random reflection. . . .

Today's responsorial psalm is the beautiful Psalm 51. It contains the moving petition of a sinner, begging the Lord for mercy.

In return for forgiveness the soul promises the Lord that:

“I will teach transgressors Your ways
and sinners shall return to You.

...my tongue will revel in Your justice.

...and mouth shall proclaim Your praise.”

Surely we are all sinners and have experienced the saving forgiveness of the Lord. What then, have we promised and given in return?

Let our promise be like the psalm writer. By example, may we teach others the saving love of Jesus. May we rejoice that God’s ways are just and finally, may we never cease to praise Him for His loving mercy.

“Create a clean heart in me, O God”
(Psalm 51:12)


- Donna Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

____________________

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©1986-2004 The Way, The Truth, The Life

The Catholic Calendar for Friday, January 30, 2004
Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Samuel 11:1-4,5-10,13-17
Psalm 51:3-7,10-11
Mark 4:26-34

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

If only the Israelites had listened to Samuel, who warned them about having a king to rule over them. Previously, God Himself was their ruler, just, merciful, and wise. Samuel warned them that a king would work hardship on the poor. In today's first reading, we have a sad example of the corruption of power, even in a great king like David. Ruthlessly, he steals Bathsheba from her husband, deliberately causing that man's death. How far David had fallen, from the man who danced in a frenzy of joy and praise before the Ark of the Covenant.

We need to meditate on our own first fervor in serving the Lord. Have we, too, let complacency with God's favors diminish our fervor? The power of our Christian faith is God's power in us, that we must always nourish and use in humility, according to God's will, for the benefit of others. In so doing, we will keep ourselves from that corruption of good people like ourselves, which, God tells us, is worse in His eyes, than the corruption of evil people.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, January 29, 2004
Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from the Liturgy of the Word:
2 Samuel 7:18-19,24-29
Psalm 132:1-2,3-5,11-14
Mark 4:21-25

A reflection on today's sacred scripture:

“Nothing is secret except to come to light.”

Jesus is talking, in part, about our call to mission. Nothing is secret except to come to light. Here in His early stages of ministry where His almost universal command to all around is to keep quiet and don't make a fuss about what's happening. He knows that in the fullness of time, this secret kernel that has started to grow will burst forth with fruit. The time was not right at that moment. But the secret would soon no longer be secret.

We are the transmitters of the Light of Christ. Christ is the light who shines through us and it is our mission to make certain that that light is not hidden. We are to raise it high, to put it on a lampstand so that it might illuminate the entire house of God, the whole world.

And Jesus tells us that in the measure that we make this known, we'll be rewarded. Not with earthly riches and renown, but with and in our relationship to Jesus Christ and to the Father.

So, we would do well to follow the advice of St. John of the Cross in this matter. If we are to be panes of glass transmitting the light of Christ, we would do well to purge ourselves of all taint of self and sin, and let the light completely fill the pane so that the two seem to be of one substance. Let the light shine through as completely as possible and your joy will truly be in the service of the Lord.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Wednesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
St. Thomas Aquinas, priest, doctor of the Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Samuel 7:4-17
Psalm 89:4-5,27-30
Mark 4:1-20

A reflection on today's Scripture. . . .

Seeds sown on good soil. . . .

The miracle of Christmas has offered us the most precious gift possible. Christ, our Messiah, came in human flesh bearing a new life to us which He revealed in His words and deeds. Just as children perpetuate our earthly bodies, we are called on to also convey to this world, our spiritual life -- the holiness originally given to us by our heavenly Father. God made us creatures that incorporate flesh and spirit; but free will, our disobedience, broke our intimate connection with God. This separation from His love and truth has resulted in our world's miseries.

Christ came to heal that relationship by first taking upon Himself the punishment of death we deserved for our sin. Second, He gave us His Holy Spirit to provide the grace we need to be made holy by living in the love and truth of God. Salvation is God's gift, but humanity must hear, accept God's Word and make it visible in its daily lives through obedience to His Spirit, our teacher, guide and strength on life's journey.

The key to holiness is receptivity, our ability to say, “yes” to the Spirit's promptings. Today's Gospel teaches that only good ground can bear much fruit to nourish the human spirit. God has given us the awesome power to bring life or death into this world.

Glorious Lord, impress upon our hearts Your call to fully participate in Your goodness and holiness, truly bringing to and sharing with the world Your precious life. Amen.

- Marie Bocko, ocds
(mlbocko at borg dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
St. Angela Merici, virgin

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word
2 Samuel 6:12b-15,17-19
Psalm 24:7,8,9,10
Mark 3:31-35

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Sometimes we humans try to make things very complicated in our lives. Jesus knew that. Today’s gospel is evidence of His attempt to help us to simplify things and get to the basics. As we struggle to grow spiritually and become more Christlike we sometimes burden ourselves with a multitude of books, tapes, pictures, pamphlets, etc. We can almost become spiritual “junkies” in the grand search for “how to become” what Christ wants us to be.

Christ is being told by His disciples that His mother and brothers are outside waiting to join Him. Christ uses the message to share with us throughout all the centuries that WE, if we do the will of the Father, are His brother and sister and mother. What more could we want...and how much more direct could Christ be?

Just how would we do that... follow the will of the Father? The first part is sometimes the hardest, getting to know what that will is. This requires quiet time with the Lord. It asks of us a sense of openness and humility. It requires that we keep our priorities fixed on God, that our minds and efforts not be consumed with worldly matters, even though yes, we must care for our families, pay our bills, do our respective jobs. Christ demonstrated how to do this for us. Many times in the gospels we hear of Christ going apart from the others spending time praying quietly. What a prayer that must have been, Christ’s prayer with His Father! We cannot even imagine! But even Christ showed that it is a struggle. In the garden before His horrendous crucifixion He struggled with what was ahead, and through bloody sweat proclaimed, “Not my will, but thine be done.”

It is not an easy struggle, looking for the will of God and following it, but what a reward. We become the brother, sister and mother of Christ!

- Joan of Jesus, ocds
(jmurphy at utica dot edu)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, January 26, 2004
Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Sts. Timothy and Titus, bishops

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Timothy 1:1-8
Psalm 96:1-3,7-8,10
Mark 3:22-30

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Don't you just love the way the Scribes try to "explain away" the great works of Christ. In today's Gospel they attribute His great works to Satan. But Our Lord has no trouble setting them straight on this issue.

I often wonder if the Scribes used similar excuses at other times that the Evangelists did not record. Sometimes I can see the Pharisees attributing His miracles to sorcery, slight of hand, trickery or any number of things. They may have accused Lazarus and his family for faking his death in order to stage a miracle. But in every instance I'm sure Jesus had no trouble setting them straight every time.

The leaders of the time even tried to explain away the most wondrous miracle of all, Our Lord's resurrection, by claiming the disciples stole the body. His reappearance proved this wrong too.

And look at the world today. Many modern-day leaders of government, science and industry are still trying to explain away the great miracles. They say that the great miracle of human life did not occur - it evolved. They say that great miracles of healing do not occur - they arise from "positive thinking." They say that abundance from the earth does not come from God - it comes from nothing but hard work and scientific advances.

But we must give glory to Jesus who still has no trouble proving them wrong, at least to those who choose to listen to Him.

- Don Claunch, sfo

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, January 25, 2004
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Nehemiah 8:2-6
Psalm 19:8-10,15
1 Corinthians 12:12-30
Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

When we look at human behavior and activity we can see that it always seems to be characterized by some kind of relentless pursuit. There appears to be a longing that drives us. Trying to get at the source of what motivates us is interesting and sometimes tells us about how we have been culturized, what kind of things have become values -- and not in the least, how God's grace has intervened.

There is one common denominator in all of this: that we were created with a natural longing for God, for the Perfect Uncreated One who is the essence of everything.

That is why, when with God's grace we find Him in Holy Scripture, we devour the words or, better expressed, they devour us and we seek to possess and become like everything they bespeak.

That is why the psalmist says with such genuine love, energy and conviction that the law of the Lord is perfect, it refreshes the soul, it is trustworthy, right, pleasing to the eye, a source of rejoicing to the heart. It is clear, enlightening, true and just.

What more is it that we really want, that we truly desire, that really isn't somehow hidden and masked in a search for the transcendent goodness, truth and beauty of God? It is something to think about - to recognize, that all our longing is for God.

"Your words, Lord, are spirit and life." (Psalm 19)

- Donna Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, January 24, 2004
Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
St. Francis de Sales, bishop, doctor of the Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Samuel 1:1-4,11-12,19,23-27
Psalm 80:2-3,5-7
Mark 3:20-21

A random reflection. . . .

Let me share with you a simple precept I've learned over the years. Repeat after me....

Drink in. Pour out. Drink in. Pour out.

A river needs two things to keep it fresh and teaming with life. It needs a source, and it needs an outlet. If there is a blockage at the source, the river runs dry. If there is an obstruction before the outlet, it forms stagnant pools which become swamps infested with swarming mosquitoes (I should know... I'm from Minnesota!)

So it is in the Spirit. We need to drink in, spending time drinking in at the source who is God. And we need to pour out through various ministry outlets. Receive from God, and give it away.

Read the Gospel of St. Luke, chapters 4-6 to see how our Lord modeled this “River of Life Cycle”, as I like to call it. He starts out with fasting and prayer, then He begins His public ministry. He departs to a lonely place, then He goes out preaching again with the crowds pressing in on Him. Etc, etc, etc.... I count four distinct "cycles" in these two chapters. Take a look.

Wondering why you're feeling dry or stagnant?

Check your plumbing!

Drink in. Pour out.

- Karl Kohlhase
(www.k4communications.com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, January 23, 2004
Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Samuel 24:3-21
Psalm 57:2-4,6,11
Mark 3:13-19

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Why did Jesus always love to pray on mountains? Maybe He felt closer to the Father there. In any case, he prayed long and often for strength, consolation, and direction. Certainly this is the only clue we have as to his choice of The Twelve. What a motley crew! But it was all in God's plan.

Why did Jesus choose us? Make no mistake, He did choose us. We are as surely in His plan as were the twelve apostles. By our baptism, we are commissioned -- we have been sent

At the beginning of this new year, let us meditate today on our dignity as apostles of God's mercy, His love, and His Word. It might be good for those who "journal” each day, to specifically focus on one subject of prayer, one caring act of ministry to some person or persons in need (spiritual, emotional, or material). We will be surprised at how the Spirit will inspire us with ideas!

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, January 22, 2004
Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
St. Vincent, deacon, martyr

Scripture from the Mass during the day:
1 Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7
Psalm 56:2-3,9-14
Mark 3:7-12

A reflection on today's sacred scripture:

“You Are the Son of God!”

It is easy enough to acknowledge that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, who has come to redeem humanity. Even the demons did that. It is a lot harder to place your trust in Him, and rely on Him for guidance, solace, provision, security, etc etc. The Psalmist, it is obvious, has experienced the Lord providing for his every need, and though he has seen hard times, he still relies on God “in whose promise I glory,” and trusts Him absolutely. David, who had trusted implicitly on the Lord in his confrontation with Goliath, also had absolute confidence in the Lord’s provision for him (which Jonathan was the instrument of, in today’s reading).

I wish I were as constant as the Psalmist, or as David. Yet there are times when I fail in trusting the Lord. Things don't happen the way I want them to, problems aren't resolved as quickly as I want them to, and so I take matters into my own hands...

Come to think of it, so did David, when he sinned. Holy Scripture tells us however that when David, repented the Lord forgave him and once again favored and worked in him. That gives us all hope, for at times we all stumble, sin and fail to put all our trust in the Lord. Let us not forget that the Lord is forgiving, but that the essential first step is repentance.

- Rose Atiyeh @>-->--

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
St. Agnes, virgin, martyr

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Samuel 17:32-33,37,40-51
Psalm 144:1-2,9-10
Mark 3:1-6

A reflection on today's Scripture. . . .

“I come against you in the name of the Lord of Hosts. . . .”

Obviously the story of David and Goliath is a story of the triumph of the little man over the great. It is the story that supports the notion that David was one of the Great Kings of Israel. But it is actually not a story about that at all. It is a story for today.

The story of David and Goliath is the story of trust in the Lord. David picked up five smooth stones from the dry stream bed. How could anyone hope to do anything with these five stones that would advance their cause? It is ludicrous to think that they could against so powerful a foe.

But David says, “For the battle is the Lord’s and He will deliver you into my hands.” This is a powerful reminder of Whom we worship. This is the God who takes the battle.

Even when it seems that we lose, we win in the Lord. Even when it seems that we have been utterly defeated, the Lord has taken victory. Because we judge by temporal standards, we cannot see it. But we have taken the crown by our trust in the Lord who loves us.

Let us then rest in the Lord, allow Him to wage the battle, and remain true to Him, and we shall see victory.

- JuandelaCruz

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
St. Fabian, pope, martyr
St. Sebastian, martyr

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm 89:20-22,28
Mark 2:23-28

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:


The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.


Many times we find a tension between following standard procedures, rules and regulations and the desires of our hearts. In their highest purpose, these procedures, rules and regulations are there to serve humanity, to aid us in the daily expression of our lives...but when these human practices become a purpose unto themselves devoid of the insight and wisdom of divine Love, then these practices become empty, become a prison of our own making....


Today, let us ask the Lord for the fire of His divine Love in our hearts, that we may convert our daily routines and work practices into God's service so that we may stay close to Him in wisdom and understanding.


We ask this through Christ our Lord


Amen



- Cliodhna Doyle
(clia at cliadoyle dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, January 19, 2004
Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Samuel 15:16-23
Psalm 50:8-9,16-17,21,23
Mark 2:18-22

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission than the fat of rams.
(1 Samuel 15:22)

In today's First Reading we hear these words spoken by Samuel to Saul, the ruler of all Israel. Saul was not much different than a lot of people, even those alive today. He thought he could pull one over on God, and then when he realized he'd been caught he tried to make it all look like he was making some great sacrifice to God. All he was trying to do was hide from God. He thought he could hide his sin both at the time he committed it and again at the time God confronted him with it through Samuel. All God wanted was obedience from Saul.

In fact, that is all God has wanted since the beginning of time. He wanted it of Adam and Eve. He wanted it of all of Israel. He wanted it of Saul and He wanted it of Job. He wanted it of the apostles and saints, and He wants it of you and me.

Sadly, through history, men and women haven't been able to figure it out. Disobedience got Adam and Eve thrown out of Eden and it cost Saul his kingship. It cost Ananias and Saphira their lives. It could cost us eternity. But we have another chance through the blood of Christ. We may have been disobedient in the past, but if we accept the forgiveness of God purchased for us by Jesus, and strive everyday to do better, we may have eternity in paradise.

- Don Claunch, sfo

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, January 18, 2004
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 96:1-3,7-10
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
John 2:1-11

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks His mother the very strange-sounding question, “How does this concern of yours involve Me? My hour has not yet come.” If we didn’t know better, we might think that her concerns didn’t matter at all, so terse-sounding was His reply. The fact that He did reply is the gospel’s message and allows us to understand something about our relationship with Jesus and just how much our concerns matter to Him.

We know that gospel stories are not meant only to demonstrate how Jesus responds and interacts with a specific individual, but how He does (and will) respond to us too. In other words, who is Mary but His devoted and faithful mother. Pure and full of grace, her only desire is to do His will. So when He says, “What matter do you make to Me?” and then goes on to anticipate His own schedule to please her, we begin to see how we too must matter to Jesus.

As with Mary, He will anticipate our needs, revise His schedule, bend down from heaven to perform for us a miracle of love. Let us never again be shocked by Jesus’ opening words in this Gospel, but remember instead what He did for Mary -- what He will do for us.

- Donna Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, January 17, 2004
Saturday, First Week in Ordinary Time
St. Anthony, abbot

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Samuel 9:1-4,17-19;10:1
Psalm 21:2-7
Mark 2:13-17

A random reflection . . .

“Come,” says my heart, “seek God’s face”;
your face, Lord, do I seek!
(Psalm 27:8)

This is where it starts.
God calls, and I respond with an act of my will.
Like our Lord’s Blessed Mother, it has to begin with my consent, my “Yes!”
I must decide to lay aside every distraction and every excuse.
I need to resolutely set my eyes on God alone.

O God, give me a heart like David’s,
a heart that responds to Your gentle invitation with such eagerness.
For I have heard Your quiet whisper, too.

- Karl Kohlhase
(www.k4communications.com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, January 9, 2004
Friday after Epiphany

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 John 5:14-21
Psalm 149:1-6,9
John 3:22-30

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In the first reading today, we're confronted with very heavy theology concerning "Spirit", "Water", and "Blood." It is very difficult for us to understand these metaphors, although we know that Jesus shed His blood on the Cross, sweated drops of blood, gave us His blood to drink, and that blood is synonymous with life itself. He was baptized in water, water poured from His side on the cross, and we are buried to sin in the waters of baptism. The Spirit links both water and blood, in the divine and the human nature of Jesus, symbolized by the pouring of a few drops of water into the wine at Mass. Jesus is unquestionably both human and divine.

In the Gospel, Jesus is so compassionate to an outcast afflicted with a skin disorder. Against the prescriptions of the Law, Jesus touches the leper as He heals him. Then, in deference to the Law, Jesus sends the man to the priest who alone could declare him clean. We must be so very careful as we perform works of charity that we first identify ourselves with them through our respect, our kindness, our patience, and our love in the very act of assisting them. We must be careful to preserve the dignity of those we serve.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, January 15, 2004
Thursday, First Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from the Mass during the day:
1 Samuel 4:1-11
Psalm 44:10-11,14-15,25-26
Mark 1:40-45

A reflection on today's sacred scripture:

“I do will it. Be made clean.”

If you will it, Lord Jesus, we can be made clean. We can be healed. We can claim glory and become truly the children of God. We hear of a physical healing, the sign of our Lord's power.

But an even greater sign of our Lord's power is the Holy Church which for 2000 years has ministered on Earth making clean all the people of God through the administration of the sacraments, most particularly that of confession.

When we turn to God and ask Him, He will make us clean. He can do anything He wishes. However, He also established normal channels on Earth for this process. Before we resort to the extraordinary, before we pray for a miracle, before we make a special request, it would be wise to avail ourselves of the great gift God has given us. Confession, “If you will it, I can be made clean.” Indeed Jesus does will it -- He has given us means good and sufficient to be made clean. So we have great cause to thank God.

- JuandelaCruz, (sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Samuel 3:1-10,19-20
Psalm 40:2,5,7-10
Mark 1:29-39

A reflection on today's Scripture. . . .

He Went Out and Preached the Good News . . . .

Most believers in God who proclaim being Christian do not realize that declaring this belief entails great responsibilities. Through the observation of world events, it appears that the majority hold their beliefs very casually. The major reason for this is that they have little understanding of their Faith and so have not accepted deeply that they are created beings literally belonging to God, not as the world believes, to themselves.

God created man to be His "earthen vessels" meant to be filled with His glorious life -- His love and truth. Having offered us His life freely, He expects us to joyfully receive it, to actually live it and share it generously with our fellow humans. Whatever our talents, jobs or status, our primary purpose is to fulfill life's tasks in a manner that makes God's goodness clearly visible to others. Doing so is the only means we have of vastly improving the quality of our lives on this earth.

Some, like Samuel, slowly recognize God's call; but once they catch fire with God's Spirit of love and truth, they are driven to prophesy, make the Lord known in word and deed. Christ took on humanity to show forth God's divinity, His infinite good can abide in this lowly flesh. We can fulfill this same call to prophesy by yielding to God's will, be freed from sin's burden and so participate in His divine attributes.

Blessed Lord,
open our eyes to see that accepting Your will
opens the door to our entering into truly blessed lives.
Amen

- Marie Bocko, ocds (mlbocko at borg dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, January 13, 2004
First Week in Ordinary Time
St. Hilary, bishop, doctor of the Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word
1 Samuel 1:9-20
1 Samuel 2:1,4-5,6-7,8abcd
Mark 1:21-28

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The readings of today focus on the recognition of good in others. In the first reading Hannah was praying for a male child and her sincere prayer and good intentions for that child were recognized. Her prayer was answered. The theme from the responsorial psalm might be the source of that event...."My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior." we have a person tightly bonded to the will of God.

In the gospel for today we see Jesus' teaching in the temple and a man with an unclean spirit cries out in recognition of the godliness of Christ. The first response of Christ is so interesting and contrary to what we see today. Christ commanded the unclean spirit to be quiet when he was calling Him the Holy One of God. Who among us is not secretly, at least, pleased when some fragment of our holiness is publicly acknowledged. We make room for Christ to enter into our lives, but then get filled up with ourselves once He is working in us. It is such a contradiction and yet a human temptation. Christ on the other hand, showed us that this was not so in Himself in that He followed up the command to be quiet by ordering the unclean spirit out of the man, a work of God.

Our gift of self to God needs to be total so that God can work through us. When we give and then take back, our spiritual progress can be very slow. It is a challenge, a life long struggle, to just give self to God and trust that He knows what is best for us. It is a gift that is really worth it!

- Joan of Jesus, ocds (jmurphy at utica dot edu)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, January 12, 2004
First Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Samuel 1:1-8
Psalm 116:12-19
Mark 1:14-20

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today's Gospel we hear the evangelist use the phrase "good news." We have often heard it, but perhaps we've never really spent the time to contemplate all the meaning it contains. Like others, I fear I have become a little too familiar with it, have said it, and have thought about it too superficially.

It seems so true that much of what God reveals is at once simple, easily understood -- at least on the surface. Because of the very simplicity of the words we almost instantly -- at least intellectually -- "get it." I suppose that is what God intended: that we would be able to comprehend Him and His goodness.

What we fail to appreciate and sometimes miss altogether is that we must go beyond knowing, to loving. We must exercise not just our intellect that resides in our mind, but also our "will" that resides in our heart. We must not only know; we must respond to what we have seen and what we have heard. We must be grateful, loving, humble, obedient.

As we enter this new liturgical season, let us pray:

Jesus meek and humble of heart,
make my heart like unto thine.


- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, January 11, 2004
The Baptism of the Lord

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7
Psalm 29:1-4,9-10
Acts 10:34-38
Luke 3:15-16,21-22

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

God Shows No Partiality

Woman or man. Jew or gentile. Black or White. Weak or strong. Rich or poor. Educated or uneducated. It doesn't matter.

We who proclaim Christ as Lord are all seen as the same in the eyes of the Almighty, together forming the body of Christ. Sure, we all have different gifts and therefore different functions within the body. But He shows no partiality. He welcomes us all and rewards us all the same.

With eternal life.

We all began in this world the same - as sinners. Through the miraculous gift of baptism we went down into the water imperfect and came up a new creation, clean of sin and equal to all the others who proudly proclaim themselves "Christian."

Today we celebrate the baptism of our Lord. Take a moment and reflect on how this simple act in water ties us all together into one body, how it cleansed us before, and how we are in constant need of renewing our own baptisms to wash away our many imperfections.

- Don Claunch, sfo

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, January 10, 2004
Saturday after Epiphany

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 John 5:14-21
Psalm 149:1-6,9
John 3:22-30

A random reflection . . .

A Cure for Depression

I don't know if I've ever experienced true clinical depression, but I've had my dark days. Here's a little exercise that's helped me pull out of the downward spiral:

I start praising God. If I can't think of anything to be thankful for because of my gloomy state, I start with something small. For instance, "Thank You, Lord, that my left big toe doesn't hurt." That usually reminds me of a multitude of blessings to be grateful for. I start giving praise for every little thing that comes to mind, and it starts to build like a snowball rolling down a hillside of fresh snow. After a while I notice my mind is lifted from these temporal troubles up to the glory of God!

Isaiah 61:3 says,

To place on those who mourn in Zion
a diadem instead of ashes,
To give them oil of gladness in place of mourning
a glorious mantle instead of a listless spirit.
They will be called oaks of justice,
planted by the Lord to show His glory.


- Karl Kohlhase
(www.k4communications.com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, January 9, 2004
Friday after Epiphany

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 John 5:14-21
Psalm 149:1-6,9
John 3:22-30

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In the first reading today, we're confronted with very heavy theology concerning "Spirit", "Water", and "Blood." It is very difficult for us to understand these metaphors, although we know that Jesus shed His blood on the Cross, sweated drops of blood, gave us His blood to drink, and that blood is synonymous with life itself. He was baptized in water, water poured from His side on the cross, and we are buried to sin in the waters of baptism. The Spirit links both water and blood, in the divine and the human nature of Jesus, symbolized by the pouring of a few drops of water into the wine at Mass. Jesus is unquestionably both human and divine.

In the Gospel, Jesus is so compassionate to an outcast afflicted with a skin disorder. Against the prescriptions of the Law, Jesus touches the leper as He heals him. Then, in deference to the Law, Jesus sends the man to the priest who alone could declare him clean. We must be so very careful as we perform works of charity that we first identify ourselves with them through our respect, our kindness, our patience, and our love in the very act of assisting them. We must be careful to preserve the dignity of those we serve.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, January 8, 2004
Thursday after Epiphany

Scripture from the Mass during the day:
1 John 4:19--5:4
Psalm 72:1-2,14-15,17
Luke 4:14-22

A reflection on today's sacred scripture:

"If anyone says 'I Love God' but hates his brother, he is a liar."

Strong language from the first letter of John today. Strong, but necessary.

People too readily give in to petty annoyances and small hatreds. We dislike somebody because of some perceived slight. We may dislike someone because they resemble someone who once did us some harm.

But our law is love. Love beyond bounds. Love beyond our zone of comfort. Unrelenting, unbounded, completely unexpecting love--love that shows itself in works. St. Therese of Lisieux taught us the corollary to James's "Faith without works is dead." So too is love.

So, if we love our brother or sister, we work to see that their needs are met. And by those needs we mean more than simply the material comforts of life--although those must be met first to sustain life. We mean also their spiritual and emotional needs. That means we make ourselves vulnerable. We open ourselves to hurt and to harm. And we do so knowing that God is with us and no real harm can come to us. God is our strength and our shield and love is the weapon we wield for the transformation of the world. We must stride boldly into the battlefield of Angels and Powers and use love to drive out the shadows. We must think beyond our petty selves and seek to immolate the entire earth in His boundless love.

- JuandelaCruz

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, January 7, 2004
Wednesday after Epiphany
St. Raymond of Penyafort, priest

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 John 4:11-18
Psalm 72:1-2,10,12-13
Mark 6:45-52

“Perfect love casts out all fear.” (1 John 4:18)

Today's scripture suggests the relationship between our faith, our love for and trust in God, that gives us the ability to overcome fear during trying times. The Gospel today follows immediately after Christ's disciples had witnessed His miracle of multiplying a few loaves and fish to feed thousands plus creating baskets of leftovers. Afterwards, when Jesus had gone to pray, His men began crossing the lake in a fierce wind. They became even more terrified at seeing Jesus walking on the water, coming to aid them. The reading ends on a note of incomprehension, the disciples' inability to see beyond Jesus' acts; their imperfect faith had rendered them unable to recognize in Him the very power and infinite love of God.

John's first letter examines another dimension of faith; its measure, its genuineness, is manifested by the scope of our love. If we have a deep knowledge of and trust in God, if He and His love truly abide within our hearts, we will not limit it to Him alone but extend it to every other human being we encounter. God's work in us on this earth amounts to His teaching us to love Him and one another perfectly. When this takes place, usually after a struggle of many years, then our every fear will vanish; for being of one heart and mind with God, we are no longer threatened by anything in our lives.

Merciful God,
help us to see that every circumstance in our lives
is permitted and willed by You,
that our love and faith may grow together,
may lead us to life eternal. Amen

- Marie Bocko, ocds (mlbocko at borg dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, January 6, 2003
Tuesday after Epiphany
Bl. Andre Bessette, religious

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word
1 John 4:7-10
Psalm 72:1-4,7-8
Mark 6:34-44

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today we hear the parable of the loaves and the fishes. Today's Gospel shows how Jesus, with the little resources available to Him, still managed to feed in excess of 5000 men.

Very often, in our own personal circumstances, we despair at the little resources we have, be it time, money, talent, or knowledge. We think that if only we had this, or we were like that etcetera, we would achieve our goals. Yet each day we're called to use what we're given -- even though it may be little -- and God will bless and multiply our efforts according to the purpose He desires.

So let us remember that in the face of daunting and mind-challenging obstacles, we must not stop and despair but we must continue to use all the resources that are available to us and just trust in the Lord that He will make up for our discrepancies and shortfalls according to His holy will.

Lord God, grant us wisdom
to make do with all the gifts You put at our disposal
trusting that we will use the little we have
to serve Your greater purpose.
Amen.

- Cliodhna Doyle
(clia at cliadoyle dot com)

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Some news of note . . . .
Overnight, I received this email of interest:

Hi Joachim,
I was wondering if you could post an announcement for me on your blog. I'm doing some publicity for a literary journal of orthodox Catholic poetry and prose that will be started up next year. We're looking for contributors and subscribers. The journal is called the St. Linus Review.
Here's the website: http://www.stlinusreview.com/.
Let me know if you need any other info.
Thanks!

Sarah DeCorla-Souza


Wait, there’s more.........!
While browsing around today, I found a worthwhile blog called Suffer the Children for those interested in youth prison ministry. Even if you can’t get out there to do something, reading this might encourage you to remember them in your prayers and good acts throughout your day. Take a look at: http://juvy.stblogs.org/

The Catholic Calendar for Monday, January 5, 2003
St. John Neumann, bishop
>>learn more: http://www.stjohnneumann.org/life.html

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 John 3:22--4:6
Psalm 2:7-8,10-12
Matthew 4:12-17,23-25

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today's holy scripture readings impart a particular sense of joy and encouragement. They remind us that "a people living in darkness has seen a great light." The people referred to, are none other then us! Remember that!
Meditate on it!

How quickly times of peace and joy seem to evaporate and be replaced with almost oppressive duties and concerns. We must not become overpowered by such feelings. We must remember the promise that was fulfilled in the Christmas Cave and with it the covenant of salvation and eternal joy.

Put your trust in the Lord. Ponder His holy Word and let the spirit of Christmas live in your heart -- always!

"For there is in you One greater than there is in the world.
We belong to God...."

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, January 4, 2004
The Epiphany of the Lord

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-2,7-8,10-13
Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

How many times have you celebrated the feast of the Epiphany -- the Feast of the Three Kings, the Magi? It's a scriptural story that conjures up all kinds of wonderful images.

Imagine three people traveling a great distance following the light of a star, motivated by an internal awareness that its luminous rising portended something astounding. It has all the components of the kind of tale that captures the imagination and at the same time strikes a chord of truth.

That is what this feast is all about - the astounding fact that the God of all creation, leapt out of heaven and came to rest as a small helpless infant in the poverty of a Bethlehem stall and that people of good will of every race and religious and ethnic background would find in Him their long-awaited salvation.

Can there be any better story with any better beginning and as we know, a better ending?

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Come, brothers and sisters.
Come, let us adore Him, the Lord!


- Donna Nelson, ocds (drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, January 3, 2004
Christmas Weekday

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 John 2:29-3:6
Psalm 98:1,3cd-4,5-6
John 1:29-34

A random reflection . . .

The Parables of Christ as Motivators.

This may not seem so profound to you, but this thought has gripped my mind for the last couple of weeks. I'm beginning to see how the parables of Christ are more than lessons to make the ignorant more informed about the Kingdom. More than simply knowledge imparted. They are motivators.

Take, for instance, the parable of the talents. Two servants invested their talents, much to the master's delight; while the other hid his and returned it (without interest) to his master when he returned, to the lord's hot displeasure.

This simple story has become a driving force in my life in the last year. It compels me. It motivates me. It moves me like a powerful engine that chugs a railway plow through great drifts of snow. When I am tempted to give up or loosen up, these words pull me through and drive me onward to invest all I can into the work of the Kingdom. It's as if this parable is becoming as strong as a drive as my natural instinct to find food when I am hungry. "Give up?", I say, "I can't give up! God is expecting a return on His investment."

What a wonderful gift our Lord has given us! That same Word of God that made the heavens and the earth, that healed the lame and raised the dead is available to us, able to reach and transform even my stubbornly stiff-necked will.


The parables as motivators. Think about it.


Lord, let Your Word have its full effect on me
and all Your people. Amen.


- Karl Kohlhase
(www.k4communications.com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, January 2, 2004
St Basil the Great, bishop, doctor of the Church
St Gregory Nazianzen, bishop, doctor of the Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 John 2:22-28
Psalm 98:1-4
John 1:19-28

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today's readings are insistent on adherence to truth. One of the struggles of any Christian on the journey to the Father, is to adhere strictly to Church teaching on Jesus. There are so many, especially young people, who learn their religion from pop culture rather than from the revealed Word of God, and the ever-growing understanding of that Word as revealed by the Spirit through the magisterium (teaching authority) of the Catholic Church. In the 4th century, in which our two saints of the day lived--St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen--there was a heresy called Gnosticism. Its chief teachers were members of the community of believers who denied Jesus' identity as Messiah. St. John, in today's Epistle, opposes them, calling them anti-christs.

John the Baptist in today's Gospel, is insistent on the role of Jesus as Messiah, and so were the two great Bishops, Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen. All three are truly heroic in their defense of truth, risking ridicule, persecution, and even death for the sake of truth. In our own day, there are multiple attacks daily on the truth of Jesus' divinity and Jesus' mission of saving the whole human race.

Even though we believe, we may not follow up on all the ramifications of belief in Jesus as the Son of God and Savior. All other lifetime goals pale in comparison to proclaiming and living the Truth of Jesus, and what living in His life entails for me.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore (smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, January 1, 2004
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
(Holyday of Obligation)

Scripture from the Mass during the day:
Numbers 6:22-27
Psalm 67:2-3,5-6,8
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:16-21

A reflection on today's sacred scripture:

And Mary Kept All These Things. . .

Mary the Mother of God, and our Mother. She who is
pleased to spend her time with her Son interceding for
us. She who is pleased to visit us and tell us about
the kingdom of heaven. She who was pleased to ponder
all that she had learned in her heart.

Mary the Mother of God and our Mother--with all the
tenderness of a mother, loves us. She cares for us as
a mother cares for us. She takes all that her son has
given and ponders it in her heart.

And at His death, He gave to her John, and in giving
John, gave all of humankind--He made this one
commitment the token of the adoption of all people.
We may now all look upon Mary as our own mother.

Thank you Jesus for such a gift as your Mother, and
thank you most Holy Virgin for being the eternal
Yes--the Amen to every prayer. Thank you for your
intercession and your presence in our lives.

Thank you most Holy Virgin, Mother of God, my mother.

Shalom,

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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