Catholic Calendar for Monday, February 7, 2005
Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from Today's Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 1:1-19
Psalm 104:1-2,5-6,10,12,24,35
Mark 6:53-56

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today's Gospel selection is very short and reiterates for us the reaction that people had to Jesus. It seems that word of His healing power proceeded Him and everywhere He went people brought their sick in hope that they would be healed. Again we hear that people thought that if they even just touched the tassel on His garments they would be healed.

It is a scene that we, many centuries later, find difficult to imagine even though we have heard the stories over and over. Perhaps, that is our problem; we've become desensitized to the Good News, take it for granted and have diminished its power for us.

Let us then, even if just for the briefest moments the next time we are blessed to receive Holy Communion, remember what's happening. We are touching more than just the garment of Jesus, we are taking Him to and into us so that in this mysterious way we assimilate Him. More than just being touched by or enfolded in His garment, Jesus allows us to possess Him, have Him, consume Him. More than a casual touch we have an opportunity for an encounter with the healing loving presence of God. What shall we make of this? How shall we approach Him? How shall we praise Him?

- Donna Raye Nelson, OCDS
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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posted by joachim at 5:17 AM