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God's Wonderful Love
Monday January 21, 2008
Memorial of Saint Agnes, virgin and martyr
And the disiples of John and the Pharisees used to fast; and they come and say to him: Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast; but thy disciples do not fast? And Jesus saith to them: Can the children of the marriage fast, as long as the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them; and then they shall fast in those days. No man seweth a piece of raw cloth to an old garment: otherwise the new piecing taketh away from the old, and there is made a greater rent. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: otherwise the wine will burst the bottles, and both the wine will be spilled, and the bottles will be lost. But new wine must be put into new bottles.
Mark 2:18-22 (Douay-Rheims Bible)
Prayer Reflection
Dear Father we fast from our sorrow and mourn the loss of your grace, but Jesus is the bridegroom and there is no need for sorrow or mourning. The apostles and disciples were joyous because he was with them. Are we not this way too when we are filled with your Sons presence in our lives. We are joyous. And the time when we are bereft of his presence we mourn for we have caused the tear in our resplendent garment. We often let sin enter and spoil the new garment we had put on. Oh how wretched we are to mar the beauty of our new skins. By your grace and mercy we find joy through repentance and restore the luster of our garments. Washed clean by your Son. | | | |
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Thursday January 17, 2008
Memorial of Saint Anthony, abbot
And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down said to him: If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus having compassion on him, stretched forth his hand; and touching him, saith to him: I will. Be thou made clean. And when he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean. And he strictly charged him, and forthwith sent him away. And he saith to him: See thou tell no one; but go, shew thyself to the high priest, and offer for thy cleansing the things that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them. But he being gone out, began to publish and to blaze abroad the word: so that he could not openly go into the city, but was without in desert places: and they flocked to him from all sides.
Mark 1:40-45 (Douay-Rheims Bible)
Prayer Reflection
Dear Father news of your Son spread by quite fast after he healed a man of his leprosy. It made it difficult for him to go into the cities. We experience this too but in a different way, how difficult it is to get into a city when there is much traffic going to a function. Unfortunately those functions don't have your Son as the main star. Jesus touches us in many and different ways, yet we don't show up to worship Him. Our places of worship have dwindled and the main focus of it patiently waits often in a deserted building or a barren heart for us to come to him. Do we wonder how many he has touched and kept quiet. But did they go show themselves to their Priest as this gospel mentions. Maybe not. Jesus in his beautiful way didn't want too much focus on himself too soon, because he knew more than we did how we often react. Maybe we can be more open of Jesus love for us and witness the healing he does in our lives so others may know that He saves and heals but most of all loves us.
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Wednesday January 16, 2008
And immediately going out of the synagogue they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. And Simon's wife's mother lay in a fit of a fever: and forthwith they tell him of her. And coming to her, he lifted her up, taking her by the hand; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. And when it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all that were ill and that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were troubled with divers diseases; and he cast out many devils, and he suffered them not to speak, because they knew him. And rising very early, going out, he went into a desert place: and there he prayed. And Simon, and they that were with him, followed after him. And when they had found him, they said to him: All seek for thee. And he saith to them: Let us go into the neighbouring towns and cities, that I may preach there also; for to this purpose am I come. And he was preaching in their synagogues, and in all Galilee, and casting out devils.
Mark 1:29-39 (Douay-Rheims Bible)
Prayer Reflection
Dear Father it seems more than anything that demons had a way with the people even back then. You gave us your Son to deliver us from them and free us from the bonds that keep us from you. Today we have so many things that mask the pain in our lives that we forget Jesus heals us too. Many a time we go to work not knowing what demon is possessing our neighbor, not necessarily the demon of spirits, but that of drugs, alcohol or some other vice. Those fevers that invade them and take control of their lives and we have the greatest cure of them all, Jesus. Those of faith believe this, but many do not and continue to be held bound. Jesus went around preaching so he could bring them hope and give his undying love. Dearest Father I pray that many will find freedom this day and every day from now on from the bonds that the demons have held them. May they find out that Jesus is the source of life and love. Amen
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Tuesday January 15, 2008
And they entered into Capharnaum, and forthwith upon the sabbath days going into the synagogue, he taught them. And they were astonished at his doctrine. For he was teaching them as one having power, and not as the scribes. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying: What have we to do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus threatened him, saying: Speak no more, and go out of the man. And the unclean spirit tearing him, and crying out with a loud voice, went out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying: What thing is this? what is this new doctrine? for with power he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him. And the fame of him was spread forthwith into all the country of Galilee.
Mark 1:21-28 (Douay-Rheims Bible)
Prayer Reflection
Dear Father there is greatness in the teaching your Son gave. His healing grace and His power over evil. Through the knowledge that he had the power to conquer evil and know doctrine so very well, all by your loving hand. They were amazed and so would I be would I have witnessed this act of authority over unclean spirits. Yet your Son Jesus was meek and humble of heart. His love for people spoke loudly in how he wanted to clean and heal them of disease, illness and most especially from evil. And we read of the accounts of the evil spirits knowing Jesus for who He is, the Son of God. The God of Love and Mercy.
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And after that John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying: The time is accomplished, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel. And passing by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother, casting nets into the sea (for they were fishermen). And Jesus said to them: Come after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And immediately leaving their nets, they followed him. And going on from thence a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were mending their nets in the ship: And forthwith he called them. And leaving their father Zebedee in the ship with his hired men, they followed him.
Mark 1:14-20 (Douay-Rheims Bible)
Prayer Reflection
Dear Father Jesus tells us to repent, and believe the gospel. Repent of the sins we cause to our own heart by not believing in you and what you do for us. We get so comfortable in our lives and often do many things that draw us away from you. Yet Jesus came after a few and made them fishers of men. Does he come to us in this way, for us to believe in the gospel so we too can be part of the picture and be fishers of men, to draw them closer to you. When we believe in the gospel we draw more to us because we live our faith and we draw them closer to you and bring the kingdom of God closer to us. When we believe we will see the gospel at work in our lives. Dearest Father your kingdom is present in my life from my belief in you, may others come to see the gospel message in their lives just as well. Amen | | | |
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