2011 Jan 1 Sat:

MARY, MOTHER OF GOD S (Octave of Christmas). 

Nm 6: 22-27

Ps 67: 2-3. 5. 6. 8 (2a)

Gal 4: 4-7

Lk2:16-21 

16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Reflection:

Lord, let me start again,Pick the pieces of my brokenness,Fill the spaces in my emptiness,Let me start again.(from the song “Let me start again”)New Year…. Another 365 days ahead of me. Ahead of me is the gift of ‘Life’ and ‘Time’. Who is the person I want to be? What is the purpose of my being? Can my life this year be ‘Christ centered’? Meaningful questions lead to meaningful Living.Allow Mary to guide you in the year ahead of you. With her, you can always be a Winner…a Meaningful Winner

2011 Jan 2 SUN:

EPIPHANY OF THE LORD (S)  Is 60: 1-6

Ps 72: 1-2. 7-8. 10-11. 12-13

Eph 3: 2-3a. 5-6

Mt 2: 1-12 

2In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,   are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a ruler   who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’

7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ 9When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Reflection:

Christ has come for all. He is the light of the nations. He reveals Himself to me through the daily experiences of my life- my friends, my parents, my studies, my hobbies etc.Do I really seek Jesus with all my heart? Am I ready to be led by the Star? Will my encounter with Jesus today find me empty handed? What gifts am I ready to give to the Lord today? 

2011 Jan 3 Mon:

Christmas Weekday/ Holy Name of Jesus 

1 Jn 3: 22 – 4: 6

Ps 2: 7bc-8. 10-12a

Mt 4: 12-17. 23-25 

12 Now when Jesus* heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the lake, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15‘Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.’ 17From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’  23 Jesus* went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news* of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

Reflection:We are surrounded by all kinds of good and evil.  We need to discern the difference between the two. When I pick up a stick at one end, the other end will follow it too. One end is the ‘choice’ I make; the other is the ‘consequence’ that follows. What are the choices I need to make today? Do I have the courage to choose differently…. to move out of my habitual choices? Dare to be different today. Let the Gospel of Jesus direct me today.

2011 Jan 4 Tue:

Elizabeth Ann Seton, r M 

1 Jn 4: 7-10

Ps 72: 1-2. 3-4. 7-8

Mk 6: 34-44 

34As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 35When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; 36send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.’ 37But he answered them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said to him, ‘Are we to go and buy two 

hundred denarii   worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?’ 38And he said to them, ‘How many loaves have you? Go and see.’ When they had found out, they said, ‘Five, and two fish.’ 39Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. 41Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. 42And all ate and were filled; 43and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.

Reflection:Jesus had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.  God reveals his love for us by sending Jesus who feeds us.On the journey of life where am I? Lost? Hungry? Shepherdless? Surrounded by a hungry crowd?Even in a crowd Jesus the Good shepherd will single me out. I do not have to be afraid or be hungry again. Can I make an effort today to receive Jesus in the Sacrament of the Eucharist? Jesus is more than ‘fast food’…. He is the Bread of Life. With Him I can be truly nourished to face life today...

2011 Jan 5 Wed:

John Neumann, bp M 1 Jn 4: 11-18

Ps 72: 1-2. 10. 12-13

Mk 6:45-52

 45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.

47 When evening came, the boat was out on the lake, and he was alone on the land. 48When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the lake. He intended to pass them by. 49But when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; 50for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ 51Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Reflection:

When in times of distress and trouble, when everything seems lost, Jesus speaks to us “Courage ! It is I! Do not be afraid!”

What are my fears in Life? The fear of Loneliness? Death? Failure? Financial Instability? Poor Health? Am I even afraid to face my true self? My shadows and my Light? God’s love overcomes all fear.Can I stretch out my hand and hold on to Jesus even when everything else seems to fall apart?Jesus saves and this I do firmly believe. Hold on to him and never let go. 2011 Jan 6 Thu:

Christmas Weekday/ André Bessette, r 1 Jn 4: 19 – 5: 4

Ps 72: 1-2. 14 and 15bc. 17

Lk 4: 14-22

 14 Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ 20And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ 22All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’

Reflection:

Jesus’ mission is very clear - to reveal God’s love through compassion and service. He had no other secret agenda and no ‘plan B’. The will of his father was his will too. A perfect alignment of vision with mission. What is my vision and mission in life? Am I going through life fragmented and disillusioned? If I want to pick myself up in life, I first have to pick someone else. Life without service or guided without compassion is only a selfish and lonely journey.

2011 Jan 7 Fri:

Christmas Weekday/ Raymond of Peñafort, p 1 Jn 5: 5-13

Ps 147: 12-13. 14-15. 19-20

Lk 5: 12-16 

12 Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy.* When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.’ 13Then Jesus  stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, ‘I do choose. Be made clean.’ Immediately the leprosy  left him. 14And he ordered him to tell no one. ‘Go’, he said, ‘and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them.’ 15But now more than ever the word about Jesus  spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. 16But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.

Reflection: He who has God has life. He who does not have God has no life! Life is more than just the clothes I wear, the food I eat, the bikes I drive….the money I earnLife is a web of relationships and at the heart of it there must be God. He holds everything together in being. Love of God is manifested in love of neighbour and self. Today I need to re-orientate my life…Can I put Jesus at the center of my life?

2011 Jan 8 Sat:

Christmas Weekday 1 Jn 5: 14-21

Ps 149: 1-2. 3-4. 5 and 6a and 9b

Jn 3: 22-30 

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time

there with them and baptized. 23John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized— 24John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison.

25 Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew. 26They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.’ 27John answered, ‘No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. 28You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, “I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.” 29He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease.’

Reflection:

Prayers…I have said thousands of them. Mere words or perhaps too much for God to answer. Where is God? Why is he so silent? Does he not care? I have done it all…been good, lit the novena candle, said my morning and evening prayer, hung his picture on my wall. And yet, why does He not answer my prayer? Prayer ought to be more Listening to God than listing my requests. God answers my prayers if it is according to His will. My Lord in your will is my peace, help me surrender my life to you today.

2011 Jan 9 SUN:

BAPTISM OF THE LORD (F)Is 42: 1-4. 6-7

Ps 29: 1-2. 3-4. 3. 9-10 (11b)

Acts 10: 34-38

Mt 3: 13-17 

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ 15But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented. 16And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’Reflection:God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power. At baptism, God the Father reveals Jesus to all - Jesus who is the one promised to save us.

Baptism… my first sacrament….my first encounter with God. Perhaps I was an infant then!!! Others stood proxy for my faith. My god-parents pledged commitment to nurture me in my faith.As I look back my years as a Baptized Christian, have I grown in my ‘personal faith’ or do I still stand on ‘borrowed faith’?

2011 Jan 10 Mon:

Ordinary Weekday Heb 1: 1-6

Ps 97: 1 and 2b. 6 and 7c.

Mk1:14-20 

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’

16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for  they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ 18And immediately they left  their nets and followed him. 19As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Reflection:

Invitations are thrown open to us every day. We accept a few and ignore the others. Most of these invitations are either for a party, a game, a movie, a holiday…. No one invites us to ‘follow them’. Perhaps simply because they are poor leaders or they have nothing substantial to offer.Only Jesus had the power, the authority and the charisma to invite people to ‘follow him’.Jesus calls us to follow Him everyday…Am I ready to leave behind my pride, ego, selfishness, lust and material possessions? Am I ready to follow Jesus with no strings attached?Lord, help me to follow your path.

2011 Jan 11 Tue:

Ordinary Weekday Heb 2: 5-12

Ps 8: 2ab and 5. 6-7. 8-9

Mk 1: 21-28 21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24and he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ 25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ 26And the unclean spirit, throwing him into convulsions and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He* commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ 28At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Reflection:To be taught one has to be ready to learn, to unlearn and to relearn. The illiterate one today is the one who is not ready to relearn. The scribes and Pharisees were labeled as the ‘intellectuals’ of their time… but one thing stopped them from gaining wisdom. They were not ready to ‘relearn’.Jesus the master teacher came with a new teaching. Only the ones with open minds saw the difference. Jesus’ teaching made a great impression on them because He, unlike others, taught them with authority.Lord, I surrender to you my authority and my failure to relearn. Teach me, O Lord !!! 

2011 Jan 12 Wed:

Ordinary Weekday Heb 2: 14-18

Ps 105: 1-2. 3-4. 6-7. 8-9

Mk 1: 29-39 

29 As soon as they* left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

32 That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ 38He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ 39And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Reflection:

The human body is weakened by even the tiniest virus, the mind by the smallest of negative thought, the heart by the slightest inability to forgive and the Spirit by the presence of evil.Jesus heals body, mind, heart and spirit! He destroys fear and evil and makes us strong…He overcomes evil with goodAm I ready to be bathed in the healing presence of Jesus today? His touch brings wholeness, his ‘word’ brings comfort, his presence brings peace and life in all its abundance.

2011 Jan 13 Thu:

Ordinary Weekday/ Hilary, bp, dr Heb 3: 7-14

Ps 95: 6-7c. 8-9. 10-11

Mk 1: 40-45 

40 A leper* came to him begging him, and kneeling* he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ 41Moved with pity,* Jesus* stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ 42Immediately the leprosy* left him, and he was made clean. 43After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, 44saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ 45But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter. Reflection:Sick? Wounded? In pain? Broken? No one wants to embrace them.We seek instant remedies for all of them... We insulate our sickness and pain with health insurances, medical claims and instant pain killers. Christ wants to heal us, body and soul…But I need to stretch out to him and surrender. When Jesus heals wholeness follows immediately.

 

2011 Jan 14 Fri:

Ordinary Weekday Heb 4: 1-5. 11

Ps 78: 3 and 4bc. 6c-7. 8

Mk 2: 1-12 

1When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.  2So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. 3Then some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them.  4And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay.  5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’  6Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7‘Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’  8At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and take your mat and walk”? 10But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the paralytic— 11‘I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’ 12And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’Reflection:

Miracles don’t just happen. To ‘expect’ great things from God, one has to ‘attempt’ great things for Him. It takes great faith to ‘expect’ and ‘attempt’ great things for God, for others, the world and oneself.The disciples had such strong faith that they found a novel way of reaching Jesus, inspite of the huge crowd…Today the ‘crowds’ still stand in my way of reaching Jesus. The roadblocks to faith are everywhere; peer pressure, religious fanaticism, materialism, spiritual dryness…Lord, Increase my faith… that I may step closer to you today in every way.

2011 Jan 15 Sat:

Ordinary Weekday/ BVM Heb 4: 12-16

Ps 19: 8. 9. 10. 15

Mk 2: 13-17 

13 Jesus went out again beside the lake; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. 14As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.

15 And as he sat at dinner in Levi’s house, many tax-collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. 16When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax-collectors, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ 17When Jesus heard this, he said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’

Reflection:

Levi the tax collector by profession is also labeled as a ‘sinner’ by default. And yet, the surprising fact is that he was ready to follow Jesus even if it meant giving up his profession. His sacrifice in following the Lord was total. He knew there would be no going back. His journey to conversion began the moment he was ready to throw his past at the feet of Jesus.When we go against God’s love we can always still trust in his love and mercy…The important thing is to turn to Him and change our lives!Am I ready today to make a decision for change? Am I ready to choose Jesus? I know that I am not spiritually healthy… can I make an appointment today with Jesus my doctor ?

2011 Jan 16 SUN:

SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

 Is 49: 3. 5-6

Ps 40: 2. 4. 7-8. 8-9. 10 (8a. 9a)

1 Cor 1: 1-3

Jn 1: 29-34 

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” 31I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, 

that he might be revealed to Israel.’ 32And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.  33I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” 34And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’

Reflection:Isaiah, Paul, and Jesus were called by God to be witnesses to the truth…To witness to the truth today is not easy. It costs!!! Today truth is relative. It is so easily manipulated by the media, by politicians, by society. We have become a ‘generation of the Lie’. We cheat ourselves and believe in that which is untrue. “The truth will set you free”, said Jesus. Truth liberates. What binds me from choosing freedom. What is my calling in life? Lord , here I am , send me. I am ready to witness to the truth!

2011 Jan 17 Mon:

Anthony, ab M Heb 5: 1-10

Ps 110: 1. 2. 3. 4

Mk 2: 18-22 

18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, ‘Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?’ 19Jesus said to them, ‘The wedding-guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.

21 ‘No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.’

Reflection:

We celebrate newness. We march forward away from the old. To cling to the old is to risk new avenues. Old mindsets stifle us. We become dwarfs if we are not ready to accept change along the way. Our body changes, our mind keeps changing, our goals in life alter. Jesus warns, “New wine, fresh skins!”

In Christ I am a ‘new creation’ the old has passed away! To follow Jesus I must be ready to let go of my old ‘skin’ and put on the new person.

2011 Jan 18 Tue:

Ordinary Weekday Heb 6: 10-20

Ps 111: 1-2. 4-5. 9 and 10c

Mk 2: 23-28 

23 One sabbath he was going through the cornfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain.  24The Pharisees said to him, ‘Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?’  25And he said to them, ‘Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? 26He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.’ 27Then he said to them, ‘The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; 28so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.’

Reflection:Rules, obligations, commandments are helps to growth and personal discipline. When these become the ‘end’ in itself rather than a ‘means’ then we run the danger of being slaves to these laws. We begin to live by the rule of fear. Jesus gave us a new law of love. A love that overcomes all fears. Do the commandments of God and Church enable me to be freer in living my Christian faith? Do I feel stifled or chocked up? Christianity is a religion of Love, not fear!!! Lord, help me go beyond the law to the spirit of the law!

2011 Jan 19 Wed:

Ordinary Weekday Heb 7: 1-3. 15-17

Ps 110: 1. 2. 3. 4

Mk 3: 1-6 

1Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was a man who had a withered hand. 2They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3And he said to the man who had the withered hand, ‘Come forward.’ 4Then he said to them, ‘Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?’ But they were silent. 5He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Reflection:

Every morning I have a choice to do good or evil, to save life or to kill. My choice for good must be a result of my conviction. To please the ‘eye of another’ must never be the reason for my choice. To do good, to be kind, to be just is often never rewarded. But I must do it anyway.Jesus wasn’t afraid to do good. I am called today to be like Jesus… to reach out in love.In my own brokenness, Jesus commands me to ‘stand out in the middle’. He is waiting to stretch out and touch me…Let me allow Him to do so.

2011 Jan 20 Thu:

Ordinary Weekday/ Fabian, pp, mt/ Sebastian, mt Heb 7: 25 – 8: 6

Ps 40: 7-8a. 8b-9. 10. 17

Mk 3: 7-12 

7 Jesus departed with his disciples to the lake, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; 8hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. 9He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him; 10for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. 11Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, ‘You are the Son of God!’ 12But he sternly ordered them not to make him known.

Reflection:

Jesus was a crowd puller. He had a reason too…. His was a magnetic personality. He had much to offer. He cared for everyone… in a crowd his eyes picked out the ‘lost one’, his ears caught the ‘cry for help’, his hand stretched out to lift up the ‘discouraged soul’, his word brought a reassurance of faith to the hopeless.. With Jesus there was never a dull moment in the life of a true disciple.Evil will always surrender to the Good. Can I recognize Jesus when my life is crowded with despair, pain and fear?Am I ready to fall at his feet and worship him as my Lord and Master?

2011 Jan 21 Fri:

Agnes, v, mt M 

Heb 8: 6-13

Ps 85: 8 and 10. 11-12. 13-14

Mk 3: 13-19 

13 He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. 14And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, 15and to have authority to cast out demons. 16So he appointed the twelve:  Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);  17James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); 18and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and  Thomas,   and   James  son  of  Alphaeus,   and  Thaddaeus,   and  Simon   the  Cananaean,  19and   Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Then he went home.

Reflection:Jesus called the twelve apostles to be with him…He then sends them out to be his witnesses…If Jesus were to walk today and invite people to be in his inner circle, would my name feature? Surely it would, I believe. Jesus finds in each of us enough potential to be his disciples and future apostles.I need to surrender to his call… to follow him, I will need to ‘leave behind’ my boat, my net, my family, my career, my future. With Jesus, he gives me a new future, a new Mission…Am I ready to respond to his loving invitation?

2011 Jan 22 Sat:

Ordinary Weekday/ BVM/ Vincent of Saragossa, d, mt Heb 9: 2-3. 11-14

Ps 47: 2-3. 6-7. 8-9

Mk 3: 20-21 

20And the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. 21When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, ‘He has gone out of his mind.’Reflection:

Very often those who do good for society are considered to be insane!!!Think of Jesus, Paul, Don Bosco, Gandhi, Mother Theresa etc.!  When people are passionate about their ‘purpose in life’ they are ready to go the extra mile even at the cost of personal sacrifice. There is no stopping them till it is accomplished. Am I passionate about being a follower of Jesus? To put on the mind of Christ.Let me not be afraid to become a ‘fool’ for Christ!!!

2011 Jan 23 SUN:

THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Is 8: 23 – 9: 3

Ps 27: 1. 4. 13-14 (1a)

1 Cor 1: 10-13. 17

Mt 4: 12-23 12in order that“they may indeed look, but not perceive,   and may indeed listen, but not understand;so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.” ’

13 And he said to them, ‘Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? 14The sower sows the word. 15These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. 17But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or

persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, 19but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. 20And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’

21 He said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? 22For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. 23Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’

Reflection:

The mission of Jesus is very clear… He came to usher in the Kingdom of God. To welcome this Kingdom of God, humanity would have to close the door to the Evil One.The ‘call to repentance’ was an invitation to begin afresh. The ‘bad news’ would have to be eliminated by opening up to the ‘Good News’ of Jesus.To be a prince or princess in Jesus’ kingdom I will have to let go of my past and allow God’s grace to work in me…to be open to allow Jesus to call me anew, to proclaim Good News, to bring his healing touch to those around me.Am I ready to leave and follow him?

2011 Jan 24 Mon:

Francis de Sales, bp, rf, dr M Heb 9: 15. 24-28

Ps 98: 1. 2-3ab. 3cd-4. 5-6

Mk 3: 22-30 

22And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.’ 23And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. 27But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.

28 ‘Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin’— 30for they had said, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’

Reflection:

Infighting does no good to anyone. It weakens any family, institution, society. History has proved to us that kingdoms that entertained infighting perished sooner than later.To be with Jesus I need to gather with him. His values must become my values. Apart from him I will do little or nothing. With Jesus I am stronger… there is nothing to fear.Only good can overcome evil.  Evil cannot be overcome by evil…Turn away from evil and do good!

2011 Jan 25 Tue:

Conversion of Paul, ap F Acts 22: 3-16 or Acts 9: 1-22

Ps 117: 1bc. 2

Mk 16: 15-18 

15And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. 16The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes in their hands,* and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.’Reflection:

Conversion is everyone’s birthright. Born with original sin we are invited to return back to our original innocence. God allows ‘U-turns’… no matter how far we have turned away from him he is ready to accept our repentance. Every step we take towards him, he will take two. He celebrates our return.Saul, the persecutor of Christ and the Christians, becomes Paul the great apostle and missionary!  Conversion of heart is the essence of ChristianityWhat do I need to do today to start a ‘U-turn’? To leave my sinful path and walk once again on the path that leads to life…

2011 Jan 26 Wed:

Timothy and Titus, bps M 2 Tm 1: 1-8 or Ti 1: 1-5

Ps 96: 1-2a. 2b-3. 7-8a. 10

Mk 4: 1-20 

1Again he began to teach beside the lake. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the lake on the land. 2He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. 6And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. 7Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’ 9And he said, ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’

10 When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11And he said to them, ‘To you has been given the secret* of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; 12in order that“they may indeed look, but not perceive,   and may indeed listen, but not understand;so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.” ’

13 And he said to them, ‘Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? 14The sower sows the word.15These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. 17But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.  18And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, 19but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. 20And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’

Reflection:

To be a witness to the Good News of Jesus all of us are invited to be Missionaries. To love the Good News and not spread it with joy is to be no witness at all. Republic Day reminds us of our allegiance to our country ---IndiaIndia today needs more missionaries of the Good News.

The harvest is rich; the laborers are few. The Church in India needs my voice, my hands and life to witness to the love of Jesus. I need to be ‘missionary’ to my family, friends and neighbours.Why delay…? Start off now!!! Lord help me to be a good Christian and an honest citizen

2011 Jan 27 Thu:

Ordinary Weekday/ Angela Merici, v, rf Heb 10: 19-25

Ps 24: 1-2. 3-4ab. 5-6

Mk 4: 21-25 

21 He said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? 22For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. 23Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’ 24And he said to them, ‘Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. 25For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.’Reflection:

Light is high energy. Darkness is low energy. Darkness always gives way to Light. But it is possible to prevent light from overcoming the darkness. To hide the light is to foster darkness.Jesus invites us to be light bearers. To shy away from this responsibility is to promote the darkness. Let your light shine!! You will be known by your good deeds and my Father in heaven will reward you.Can I first bring light to my own darkened world?

2011 Jan 28 Fri:

Thomas Aquinas, p, r, dr M Heb 10: 32-39

Ps 37: 3-4. 5-6. 23-24. 39-40

Mk 4: 26-34 

26 He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 27and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’

30 He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’

33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

Reflection:

Our life is determined by the small mustard-seed-experiences of faith, hope and love.Nothing small is insignificant. Every small deed, every small thought, every small experience will grow bigger and bigger. Our personality is formed by the everyday small choices I make. My habits form me. Mustard seed–experiences must be nurtured with care. They can be life- enhancing and life full-filling. Greatness does not always consist in doing great works…Sanctity consists in doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way (Don Bosco)Can I care for the ‘little things’ in life? They will either make me or break me! 

2011 Jan 29 Sat:

Ordinary Weekday/ BVM Heb 11: 1-2. 8-19

Lk 1: 69-70. 71-72. 73-75

Mk 4: 35-41 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ 36And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ 39He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40He said to them, ‘Why are you 

afraid? Have you still no faith?’ 41And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’

Reflection:

Stillness and Storm are both very much a part of life. They often follow one another. To give up in the storm is to give up too easily. In exasperation we shout out, “Lord, do you not care?” Storms always calm down. I need the patience and the perseverance to believe that I can make it. The reason: Jesus cares for me. Jesus not only takes us to the storm, he also takes us through it. In the storms of life, Jesus asks me to have faith.  It is He who strengthens me and gives me peace. The problem is very often I am not ready to give Jesus a place in my boat. I think I can do it all alone…. Remember: Storms never subside without Jesus on my boat-side.

2011 Jan 30 SUN:

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Zep 2: 3; 3: 12-13

Ps 146: 6-7. 8-9. 9-10

1 Cor 1: 26-31

Mt 5: 1-12a 

1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 

3 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

4 ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 

5 ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 

6 ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 

7 ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 

8 ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 

9 ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 

10 ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

11 ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely  on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Reflection:

No other teaching in the history of the world was as challenging as the ‘Beatitudes’ of Jesus. They continue to inspire and lead humanity to discover that life is above all forms of materialism. It is possible to live by a higher code. Blessings await those who live by it. The program of true Christian life is spelled out in the Beatitudes. The Sermon on the Mount must become my program of life too. Happiness for me must be gauged by the teachings of Jesus.Do I seek happiness elsewhere? For real happiness… I need to return to the Beatitudes today.

2011 Jan 31 Mon:

John Bosco, p, rf M Heb 11: 32-40

Ps 31: 20. 21. 22. 23. 24

Mk 5: 1-20 

1Jesus came to the other side of the lake, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. 3He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him anymore, even with a chain; 4for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. 6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; 7and he shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.’ 8For he had said to him, ‘Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!’ 9Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ He replied, ‘My name is Legion; for we are many.’ 10He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; 12and the unclean spirit begged him, ‘Send us into the swine; let us enter them.’ 13So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and were drowned in the lake.

14 The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. 15They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. 16Those who had seen what had 

happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. 17Then they began to beg Jesus  to leave their neighbourhood. 18As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. 19But Jesus  refused, and said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.’ 20And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.

Reflection:

Thank God we have at least a saint who loved the young. His greatness as a saint is simply this: He made cheerfulness as an easy path for holiness. He cared for the young … he loved them… he transformed them. His secret: He made what was important to the young, important to him and they loved him in return. “Run, Jump, shout but do not sin”, he insisted with them.God has power and authority over the evil one. No demon can stand before HimDon Bosco spent his life helping youngsters to turn away from evil and become saints. The same invitation is given to me today. Am I ready to become a saint? To be cheerful always?