February 19, 2012

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Is 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25

Thus says the LORD:
Remember not the events of the past,
the things of long ago consider not;
see, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
In the desert I make a way,
in the wasteland, rivers.
The people I formed for myself,
that they might announce my praise.
Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob,
for you grew weary of me, O Israel.
You burdened me with your sins,
and wearied me with your crimes.
It is I, I, who wipe out,
for my own sake, your offenses;
your sins I remember no more.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 41:2-3, 4-5, 13-14

R. (5b) Lord, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
Blessed is the one who has regard for the lowly and the poor;
in the day of misfortune the LORD will deliver him.
The LORD will keep and preserve him;
and make him blessed on earth,
and not give him over to the will of his enemies.
R. Lord, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
The LORD will help him on his sickbed,
he will take away all his ailment when he is ill.
Once I said, "O LORD, have pity on me;
heal me, though I have sinned against you."
R. Lord, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
But because of my integrity you sustain me
and let me stand before you forever.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from all eternity. Amen. Amen.
R. Lord, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.

Reading 2 2 Cor 1:18-22

Brothers and sisters:
As God is faithful,
our word to you is not "yes" and "no."
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ,
who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me,
was not "yes" and "no, " but "yes" has been in him.
For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him;
therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory.
But the one who gives us security with you in Christ
and who anointed us is God;
he has also put his seal upon us
and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.

Gospel Mk 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,
it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,
not even around the door,
and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,
they opened up the roof above him.
After they had broken through,
they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
"Child, your sins are forgiven."
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
"Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?"
Jesus immediately knew in his mind
what they were thinking to themselves,
so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk?'
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"
-he said to the paralytic,
"I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home."
He rose, picked up his mat at once,
and went away in the sight of everyone.
They were all astounded
and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

From: Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25

Announcement of a New Exodus (Continuation)

(Thus says the Lord), [18] “Remember not the former things, nor consider the
things of old. [19] Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you
not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. [21]
The people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.

[22] “Yet you did not call upon me, 0 Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O
Israel! [24b] But you have burdened me with your sins, you have wearied me with
your iniquities.

[25] “I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not
remember your sins.”

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

43:14-21. This oracle is part of the doctrinal core of the “Book of Consolation”
(40:1-48:22), where we can see the exodus from Egypt as the prototype of every
instance of liberation brought about by the Lord. Its most direct reference would
be to the return of those exiled in Babylon. The original exodus from Egypt was
quite remarkable and well worth pondering; but this exodus is truly “new”, surpa-
ssing what happened in former times (cf. vv. 18-19). This prophecy is very care-
fully constructed. It first acknowledges God by giving an impressive list of divine
titles, repeated several times: Lord, Redeemer, Holy One of Israel, Creator, King
(vv. 14-15); then comes the announcement of the new exodus based on traditions
to do with the first exodus, without mentioning it specifically (vv. 16-21); it recalls,
with sadness, yet serenity, the people’s infidelities (vv. 22-24); and it ends with
God asserting his forgiveness in the context Of a “rib”, that is, a “legal hearing”
(vv. 25-28).

The prophet’s words are designed to fill the people with hope that they will soon
be able to return home, and also with the energy to undertake the religious resto-
ration of Israel. But they are also a reminder to people at all times that God never
abandons his chosen ones, and a constant encouragement to renew their fervor.
The only proviso is that they must have recourse to the mercy of God and sin-
cerely admit their sins. Thus, we find St Gregory the Great interpreting the “suit”
in v. 26 as describing the examination of conscience that leads to the confession
of sins: “The conscience accuses, reason judges, fear binds, and suffering tor-
tures” (”Moralia in Job”, 25,7, 12-13).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22

Why He Has Not Visited Corinth (Continuation)

[18] As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. [19]
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we preached among you, Silvanus and
Timothy and I, was not Yes and No; but in him it is always: Yes. [20] For all the
promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why we utter the Amen through him,
to the glory of God. [21] But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and
has commissioned us; [22] he has put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in
our hearts as a guarantee.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

17-20. He calls on God to witness to the sincerity of his actions and to his being
a man of his word. He cannot act otherwise, he explains, because he preaches
Jesus Christ and follows him: and Christ is absolutely faithful and truthful (cf. Jn
14:6) and demanded sincerity in word and in deed (cf. Mt 5:37; Jas 5:12). The
faithfulness of Christ — in whom it is always “Yes” (vv. 19-20) — is the model for
all Christians, both those who dedicate their lives totally and exclusively to God
in celibacy and those who do so through marriage. Referring to this passage, Bl.
John Paul II teaches that “just as the Lord Jesus is ‘the faithful witness’ (Rev 3:
14), the ‘yes’ of the promises of God (cf. 2 Cor 1:20), so Christian couples are
called to participate truly in the irrevocable indissolubility that binds Christ to the
Church, his bride, loved by him to the end (cf. Jn 13:1)” (”Familiaris Consortio”,
20).

Relying on Christ’s faithfulness the faithful are able to say that “Amen” (”So be
it”), by which they adhere fully to the Apostle’s teachings. From the very begin-
ning of Christianity, the “Amen” was said at the end of the Church’s public pra-
yers (cf. 1 Cor 14:16).

Silvanus, called Silas in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 15:40), had helped St
Paul to found the Church in Corinth (cf. Acts 18:5).

18. “As surely as God is faithful’: so translated to evoke a form of words used in
taking a oath; literally, “Faithful is God.”

21-22. As in other passages of this letter (cf. 3:3; 13:13), St Paul is here referring
explicitly to the promises made of the Blessed Trinity: it is God (the Father) who
has given us our “commission” (anointed us with grace) establishing us in the
Son, through the gift of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

Using three different expressions—”commissioned” (anointed), “put his seal upon
us”, given us his Spirit “as a guarantee”—the Apostle describes the way God acts
in the soul: in Baptism the Christian is spiritually anointed with grace and incorpo-
rated into Christ; he is thereby “sealed”, for he no longer belongs to himself but
has become the property of Christ; and together with grace, he receives the Holy
Spirit as a “guarantee”, a pledge of the gifts he will receive in eternal life. All those
effects of Baptism are reinforced by the sacrament of Confirmation (St Paul may
well have had this sacrament in mind also, when writing these words).

Commenting on this passage St John Chrysostom explains that by this action
the Holy Spirit establishes the Christian as prophet, priest and king: “In olden
times these three types of people received the unction which confirmed them in
their dignity. We Christians have not one of these three dignities but all three pre-
eminently. For, are we not kings, who shall infallibly inherit a kingdom? Are we
not priests, if we offer our bodies as a sacrifice, instead of mere animal victims,
as the Apostle says: ‘I appeal to you...to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God’ (Rom 12:1)? And are we not constituted prophets if,
thanks to God, secrets have been revealed to us which eye has not seen nor ear
heard?” (”Hom. on 2 Cor.”, 3).

“He has put his seal on us”: the St Pius V Catechism uses these words to ex-
plain the “character” which the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Order
impress on the soul; Paul “not obscurely describes by the word ‘sealed’ a cha-
racter, the property of which is to impress a seal or mark. This character is, as
it were, a distinctive impression stamped on the soul which perpetually inheres
and cannot be blotted out” (II, 1, 30).

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: Mark 2:1-12

The Curing of a Paralytic

[1] And when [Jesus] returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported
that He was at home. [2] And many were gathered together, so that there was no
longer room for them, not even about the door; and He was preaching the word to
them. [3] And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic carried by four men. [4] And
when they could not get near Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof a-
bove Him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which
the paralytic lay. [5] And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic,
“My son, your sins are forgiven.”

[6] Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, [7]
“Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God
alone?” [8] And immediately Jesus, perceiving in His spirit that they thus ques-

tioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question thus in your
hearts? [9] Which is easier to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to
say, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk?’ [10] But 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, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” [12] And he rose, and im-
mediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all
amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

4. Many Jewish houses had a terraced roof accessible by steps at the back.
The same structure can be found even today.

5. Here Jesus emphasizes the connection between faith and the forgiveness of
sins. The boldness of the people who brought in the paralytic shows their faith
in Christ, and this faith moves Jesus to forgive the man’s sins. We should ques-
tion how God views our faith: the faith of these people leads to the instantaneous
physical and spiritual curing of this man. We should notice also that one per-
son’s need can be helped by the merits of another.

In this man’s physical paralysis, St. Jerome sees a type or figure of spiritual pa-
ralysis: the cripple was unable to return to God by his own efforts. Jesus, God
and man, cured him of both kinds of paralysis (cf. “Comm. in Marcum, in loc.”).
Cf. notes on Matthew 9:2-7.

Jesus’ words to the paralytic—”Your sins are forgiven”—reflect the fact that his
pardon involves a personal encounter with Christ; the same happens in the
Sacrament of Penance: “In faithfully observing the centuries-old practice of the
Sacrament of Penance—the practice of individual confession with a personal act
of sorrow and an intention to amend and make satisfaction—the Church is defen-
ding the human soul’s individual right, man’s right to a more personal encounter
with the crucified forgiving Christ, with Christ saying, through the minister of the
Sacrament of Reconciliation: ‘Your sins are forgiven’; ‘Go, and do not sin again’
(John 8:11). As is evident, this is also a right on Christ’s part with regard to eve-
ry human being in the soul’s life constituted by the moment of conversion and
forgiveness” (Bl. John Paul II, “Redemptor Hominis”, 20).

7-12. Here we find a number of indicators of Jesus’ divinity: He forgives sins, He
can read the human heart and has the power to instantly cure physical illnesses.
The scribes know that only God can forgive sins. This is why they take issue
with our Lord’s statement and call it blasphemous. They require a sign to prove
the truth of what He says. And Jesus offers them a sign. Thus just as no one
can deny that the paralytic has been cured, so no one can reasonably deny that
he has been forgiven his sins. Christ, God and man, exercised power to forgive
sins and, in His infinite mercy, He chose to extend this power to His Church. Cf.
note on Matthew 9:3-7.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Mass Readings

First reading	Isaiah 43:18-19,21-22,24-25 ©

Thus says the Lord:

No need to recall the past,

no need to think about what was done before.

See, I am doing a new deed,

even now it comes to light; can you not see it?

Yes, I am making a road in the wilderness,

paths in the wilds.

The people I have formed for myself

will sing my praises.

Jacob, you have not invoked me,

you have not troubled yourself, Israel, on my behalf.

Instead you have burdened me with your sins,

troubled me with your iniquities.

I it is, I it is, who must blot out everything

and not remember your sins.

Psalm	Psalm 40:2-5,13-14 ©

Heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.

Happy the man who considers the poor and the weak.

The Lord will save him in the day of evil,

will guard him, give him life, make him happy in the land

and will not give him up to the will of his foes.

Heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.

The Lord will help him on his bed of pain,

he will bring him back from sickness to health.

As for me, I said: ‘Lord, have mercy on me,

heal my soul for I have sinned against you.’

Heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.

If you uphold me I shall be unharmed

and set in your presence for ever more.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel

from age to age. Amen. Amen.

Heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.

Second reading	2 Corinthians 1:18-22 ©

I swear by God’s truth, there is no Yes and No about what we say to you. The Son of God, the Christ Jesus that we proclaimed among you – I mean Silvanus and Timothy and I – was never Yes and No: with him it was always Yes, and however many the promises God made, the Yes to them all is in him. That is why it is ‘through him’ that we answer Amen to the praise of God. Remember it is God himself who assures us all, and you, of our standing in Christ, and has anointed us, marking us with his seal and giving us the pledge, the Spirit, that we carry in our hearts.

Gospel Acclamation	Jn1:14,12

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Word was made flesh and lived among us:

to all who did accept him

he gave power to become children of God.

Alleluia!

Or	Lk4:18

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Lord has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,

to proclaim liberty to captives.

Alleluia!

Gospel	Mark 2:1-12 ©

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, word went round that he was back; and so many people collected that there was no room left, even in front of the door. He was preaching the word to them when some people came bringing him a paralytic carried by four men, but as the crowd made it impossible to get the man to him, they stripped the roof over the place where Jesus was; and when they had made an opening, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic lay. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some scribes were sitting there, and they thought to themselves, ‘How can this man talk like that? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but God?’ Jesus, inwardly aware that this was what they were thinking, said to them, ‘Why do you have these thoughts in your hearts? Which of these is easier: to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven” or to say, “Get up, pick up your stretcher and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he turned to the paralytic – ‘I order you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go off home.’ And the man got up, picked up his stretcher at once and walked out in front of everyone, so that they were all astounded and praised God saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this.’

Jesus, High Priest

We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.

Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.

Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.

Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.

Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.

Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.

O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.

Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests

This icon shows Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest.

The gold pelican over His heart represents self-sacrifice.

The border contains an altar and grapevines, representing the Mass, and icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.

Melchizedek: king of righteousness (left icon) was priest and king of Jerusalem. He blessed Abraham and has been considered an ideal priest-king.

St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests.

Pray a Rosary each day for our nation.

Pray the Rosary

1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

3. The Lord's Prayer: OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)

5. Glory Be: GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.

Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.

End with the Hail Holy Queen:

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Final step -- The Sign of the Cross

The Mysteries of the Rosary

By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary.
The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.

The Glorious Mysteries
(Wednesdays and Sundays)
1.The Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-18, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29) [Spiritual fruit - Faith]
2. The Ascension (Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:6-11) [Spiritual fruit - Christian Hope]
3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:1-13) [Spiritual fruit - Gifts of the Holy Spirit]
4. The Assumption [Spiritual fruit - To Jesus through Mary]
5. The Coronation [Spiritual fruit - Grace of Final Perseverance]

God Save Our Country web site (prayer warriors)
Prayer Chain Request for the United States of America
Pray for Nancy Pelosi
Prayer and fasting will help defeat health care reform (Freeper Prayer Thread)
Prayer Campaign Started to Convert Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians to Pro-Life
[Catholic Caucus] One Million Rosaries
Non-stop Rosary vigil to defeat ObamaCare

From an Obama bumper sticker on a car:

"Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8"

Psalm 109:8

"Let his days be few; and let another take his place of leadership."

PLEASE JOIN US -

Evening Prayer
Someone has said that if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless.
Did you know that during WWII there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace?

There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. If you would like to participate: Every evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central) (7:00 PM Mountain) (6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for a return to a Godly nation. If you know anyone else who would like to participate, please pass this along. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have. Please forward this to your praying friends.

February Devotion: The Holy Family

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. The month of February has been primarily asociated with the Holy Family, probably due to the feast of Our Lord's presentation at the temple, celebrated on February 2. At the very outset of Christ's work on earth, God showed the world a family in which, as Pope Leo XIII teaches, "all men might behold a perfect model of domestic life, and of all virtue and holiness." The harmony, unity, and holiness which characterized this holy Family make it the model for all Christian families.

INVOCATION
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph most kind, Bless us now and in death's agony.

FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE HOLY FAMILY
Grant unto us, Lord Jesus, ever to follow the example of Thy holy Family, that in the hour of our death Thy glorious Virgin Mother together with blessed Joseph may come to meet us and we may be worthily received by Thee into everlasting dwellings: who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
Roman Missal

CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY FAMILY
O Jesus, our most loving Redeemer, who having come to enlighten the world with Thy teaching and example, didst will to pass the greater part of Thy life in humility and subjection to Mary and Joseph in the poor home of Nazareth, thus sanctifying the Family that was to be an example for all Christian families, graciously receive our family as it dedicates and consecrates itself to Thee this day. Do Thou defend us, guard us and establish amongst us Thy holy fear, true peace, and concord in Christian love: in order that, by conforming ourselves to the divine pattern of Thy family, we may be able, all of us without exception, to attain to eternal happiness.

Mary, dear Mother of Jesus and Mother of us, by thy kindly intercession make this our humble offering acceptable in the sight of Jesus, and obtain for us His graces and blessings.

O Saint Joseph, most holy guardian of Jesus and Mary, assist us by thy prayers in all our spiritual and temporal necessities; that so we may be enabled to praise our divine Savior Jesus, together with Mary and thee, for all eternity.

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be, three times.

IN HONOR OF THE HOLY FAMILY
O God, heavenly Father, it was part of Thine eternal decree that Thine only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, should form a holy family with Mary, His blessed mother, and His foster father, Saint Joseph. In Nazareth home life was sanctified, and a perfect example was given to every Christian family. Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may fully comprehend and faithfully imitate the virtues of the Holy Family so that we may be united with them one day in their heavenly glory. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

Holy Family Chaplet

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with me in my last hour.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul
in peace with you.

Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse. Amen.

Say 3 Our Father's, 3 Hail Mary's, and 3 Glory be's.

The Holy Family Icon by Nicholas Markell

PRAYER TO
THE HOLY FAMILY
=====================================================================================

GOD our Heavenly Father, You call all peoples to be united as one family in worshipping You as the one and true God. You willed that Your Son become man, giving Him a virgin mother and a foster father to form the Holy Family of Nazareth.

WE pray: may the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, image and model of every human family unit walk in the spirit of Nazareth and grow in the understanding of its particular mission in society and the Church. May our families be living cells of love, faithfulness and unity, thus reflecting God's covenant with humanity and Christ's redeeming love for His Church.

JESUS, Mary and Joseph protect our families from all evil; keep us, who are away from home, one in love with our dear ones.

The Holy Family

"The Holy Family with the infant St. John the Baptist ( the Doni tondo )" by Michelangelo c.1506, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence Parent's Prayer

Jesus, Son of God, Son of Man, and Son of Mary, I thank you for the gift of life you have entrusted to my care. Help me be a parent both tender and wise, both loving and forgiving.

Mary, Holy Mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and our Motherly Queen of Heaven, nourish our family with your heavenly grace. Help us to remain faithful to The Most Holy Trinity, in all our sorrows and joys.

Joseph, Earthly father to our Lord God, guardian and spouse of Mary, keep our family safe from harm. Help us in all times of discouragement or anxiety.

Holy Family of Nazareth, help our family to walk in your footsteps. May we be peace-loving and peace-giving.
Amen.

On Prayer in the Life of the Holy Family
The Holy Family - held together by Love through all their problems [Ecumenical]
Feast of the Holy Family: The Christian Family is a Domestic Church
Chesterton on "The Human Family and the Holy Family"
Joseph, Mary and Jesus: A Model Family
ADVICE TO PARENTS by Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
The Holy Family
St. Joseph as Head of the Holy Family (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)

Feast of the Holy Family
Feast of the Holy Family (Dom Guéranger OSB)
The Feast of the Holy Family
The Holy Family vs. The Holy Innocents: A Christmas season reflection [Catholic Caucus]
Vatican creche to place Holy Family in Joseph's carpentry workshop
The Redemption and Protection of the Family [Feast of the Holy Family]
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Unraveling Jesus' mystery years in Egypt
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Arlington Catholic Herald

GOSPEL COMMENTARY MK: 2:1-12

Bumper sticker wisdom

By Fr. Jerry Pokorsky

Bumper stickers often are encoded with a message for purposes of advocacy, “consciousness-raising” or mere humor. The phrase, “We Vote Pro-Life” is easy to decipher. Familiarity with television commercials is necessary to crack the code of humor on a bumper sticker that reads: “Energizer Bunny Arrested; Charged With Battery.”

Breaking the code of some bumper stickers can be more difficult. For example, what was really behind the once fairly common “Visualize World Peace?” It is a fair guess that most people do not like war, so why the plea? More recently, “Visualize World Peace” has been displaced by “COEXIST,” a montage of symbols — Islamic crescent, Christian cross, 1960s peace sign and other symbols only the well-read might recognize. Again, who would object to the appeal for coexistence? Most of us, after all, are inclined to “live and let live.”

As Christians we recognize Christ as the “Prince of Peace.” But the Gospels rarely depict peaceful scenes. From the confrontation with the Pharisees to the Crucifixion itself, Christ appears to be more on the losing side than the winning side. The Gospels document very few conversions and even those appear to be short-lived. After the miraculous multiplication of the loaves the crowds press on Christ until He reveals that He is the “Bread of Life.” But they quickly abandon Him when He insists, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (Jn 6:53). The public ministry of Christ comes to an end with the crowds screaming, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Apparently not many were willing to “Give Peace a Chance.”

But if peace is defined merely as the “absence of war” or the “absence of strife,” such peace can be found without Christ. When Christ exorcised the two demoniacs in the country of the Gadarenes, the demons begged to be tossed into the swine: “And he said to them, ‘Go.’ So they came out and went into the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the waters” (Mt 8:32). The swineherds were at peace with the fact of demoniacs living among them. It was an acceptable price of their livelihood. They had made peace with the devil and were not pleased with the unsettling ministry of Christ. Hence they begged the Prince of Peace to depart from their midst (Mt 8:34).

Perhaps the problem with “Visualize World Peace” and “COEXIST” is the assumption that definitive peace is possible with radically conflicting opinions. For example, pro-life Americans and pro-abortion American might be encouraged to live without argument in the same neighborhood. This is possible and, up to a point, desirable. But in the end the neighborhood peace may be only a distraction while the violence of abortion continues to take its toll in silence and secrecy. If world peace is to be envisioned, why exclude peace in the womb?

On the other hand, perhaps the peace desired is lockstep secular uniformity according to a particular ideology. At best, this is the peace of what has become known as “political correctness” under which dissenting opinions are isolated, demonized and forbidden. At worst, it is the peace of a police state. It is likely the peace we may be visualizing might be summed in another phrase chanted by exuberant crowds: “Sieg Heil!” Fits nicely on a bumper sticker as well.

But if the quest for peace includes a desire to minimize human suffering, it is a noble pursuit. Our faith teaches us that human suffering is the outward sign of original sin and our personal sins. Hence, the drama between good and evil within individual souls is inextricably linked to human suffering. Sometimes the link is obvious (as in the consequences of uncontrolled appetites related to food, drink or sexuality). Sometimes the link is not as obvious (as in the innocent suffering of children as well as Christ on the cross).

In this week’s Gospel, because the faith of the paralytic and his companions was already strong, Christ immediately strikes at the heart of all discord: “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Child, your sins are forgiven’” (Mk 2:5). But the peace was not instantaneous. If the faithful paralytic rejoiced in the forgiveness of his sins, the same could not be said of the scribes. “He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Hence it was necessary for Christ to demonstrate His divine authority by healing the physical paralysis. The passage concludes with everyone, if only for the moment, marveling in peace.

If world peace is elusive, it is because our collective response to the grace of Christ is either absent or too fleeting or too marginalized. In truth it is very difficult — nay, impossible — to “visualize world peace” and “coexist” without reference to Christ and the forgiveness of sins. The message is simple and might even fit on a bumper: Faith in Christ is the true gateway to world peace. No Christ, no peace. More positively: Know Christ. Know peace.

Fr. Pokorsky is pastor of St. Michael Parish in Annandale.

The Work of God

Year B

- 7th Sunday in ordinary time

Get up, pick up your mat and walk

Mark 2:1-12

1 When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.
2 So 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.
3 Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.
4 And 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.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
6 Now 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?"
8 At 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?
9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and take your mat and walk'?
10 But 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."
12 And 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!" (NRSV)

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

7th Sunday in ordinary time - Get up, pick up your mat and walk

Here you have the case of a miracle made entirely due to the faith of some men who cared for a sick man.

These men went into a lot of trouble to get the paralyzed man up on the roof, then they made a hole on the roof and lowered him before me.

Their faith gave them determination to get the job done, they knew that I could heal their friend and took many risks. They knew that it was impossible to get through the crowd, so they used their imagination to accomplish their desire.

I was very pleased with that act of faith. But I did not come simply to heal physical diseases, since all men are destined to die one day. I came to heal the soul from the disease of sin that paralyzes and leads to eternal death.

Before I could heal the man physically, I had to clean his soul, therefore on account of the faith of his friends and of his suffering I said to him "Son, your sins are forgiven."

By calling him son, I am showing everyone how I feel for all my sinful children. I feel the same as a good doctor before the sick who are in desperate need of healing, I want to heal everyone, I want to forgive the sins of the whole world.

My response to the Pharisees goes also to those who do not believe in my words, because they protest against the truth. To prove to you that the Son of Man has the power to forgive sins, I said to the paralytic: ”get up, take up your mat and go home.”

I gave my Church power to forgive sins in the sacrament of reconciliation. I commissioned my apostles (John 20:21-23), their successors and those empowered by them as priests, since this is the reason why I came to the world, to forgive sins.

By my death on the cross I paid for the offenses of all humanity, my forgiveness continues when you repent of your sins.

I made my forgiveness available to everyone. Take courage, approach me and confess your sins through a priest anointed by my Church.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

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