Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 01-23-15, OM, St. Vincent, Deacon/Martyr, St. Marianne Cope, V

Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 3
13.	And going up into a mountain, he called unto him whom he would himself: and they came to him.	Et ascendens in montem vocavit ad se quos voluit ipse : et venerunt ad eum.	και αναβαινει εις το ορος και προσκαλειται ους ηθελεν αυτος και απηλθον προς αυτον
14.	And he made that twelve should be with him, and that he might send them to preach.	Et fecit ut essent duodecim cum illo : et ut mitteret eos prædicare.	και εποιησεν δωδεκα ινα ωσιν μετ αυτου και ινα αποστελλη αυτους κηρυσσειν
15.	And he gave them power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.	Et dedit illis potestatem curandi infirmitates et ejiciendi dæmonia.	και εχειν εξουσιαν θεραπευειν τας νοσους και εκβαλλειν τα δαιμονια
16.	And to Simon he gave the name Peter:	Et imposuit Simoni nomen Petrus :	και επεθηκεν τω σιμωνι ονομα πετρον
17.	And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he named them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:	et Jacobum Zebedæi, et Joannem fratrem Jacobi, et imposuit eis nomina Boanerges, quod est, Filii tonitrui :	και ιακωβον τον του ζεβεδαιου και ιωαννην τον αδελφον του ιακωβου και επεθηκεν αυτοις ονοματα βοανεργες ο εστιν υιοι βροντης
18.	And Andrew and Philip, and Bartholomew and Matthew, and Thomas and James of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Cananean:	et Andræam, et Philippum, et Bartholomæum, et Matthæum, et Thomam, et Jacobum Alphæi, et Thaddæum, et Simonem Cananæum,	και ανδρεαν και φιλιππον και βαρθολομαιον και ματθαιον και θωμαν και ιακωβον τον του αλφαιου και θαδδαιον και σιμωνα τον κανανιτην
19.	And Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.	et Judas Iscariotem, qui et tradidit illum.	και ιουδαν ισκαριωτην ος και παρεδωκεν αυτον και ερχονται εις οικον

13. And he goes up into a mountain, and calls to him whom he would: and they came to him.
14. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
15. And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
16. And Simon he surnamed Peter;
17. And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
18. And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
19. And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him.

BEDE; After having forbidden the evil Spirits to preach Him, The chose holy men, to cast out the unclean spirits, and to preach the Gospel; wherefore it is said, And he went up in to a mountain, &c.

THEOPHYL. Luke, however, says that He went up to pray, for after the showing forth of miracles He prays, teaching us that we should give thanks, when we obtain anything good, and refer it to divine grace.

PSEUD-CHRYS. The also instructs the Prelates of the Church to pass the night in prayer before they ordain, that their office be not impeded. When therefore, according to Luke, it was day, He called whom He would; for there were many who followed Him.

BEDE; For it was not a matter of their choice and zeal, but of Divine condescension and grace, that they should be called to the Apostleship. The amount also in which the Lord chose His Apostles, shows the lofty righteousness in which they were to be instructed, and which they were about to preach to men.

PSEUDO-JEROME; Or spiritually, Christ is the mount, from which living waters flow, and milk is procured for the health of infants; whence the spiritual feast of fat things is made known, and whatever is believed to be most highly good is established by time grace of that Mountain. Those therefore who are highly exalted in merits and in words are called up into a mountain, that the place may correspond to the loftiness of their merits. It goes on: And they came to him, &c. For the Lord loved the beauty of Jacob, that they might sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, who also is bands of threes and fours watch around the tabernacle of the Lord, and carry the holy words of the Lord, bearing them forward on their actions, as men do burdens on their shoulders.

BEDE; For as a sacrament of this the children of Israel once used to encamp about time Tabernacle, so that on each of the four sides of the square three tribes were stationed. Now three times four are twelve, and in three bands of four the Apostles were sent to preach, that through the four quarters of time whole world they might baptize the nations in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

It goes on: And he gave them power, &c. That is, in order that time greatness of their deeds might bear witness to the greatness of their heavenly promises, and that they, who preached unheard-of things, might do unheard-of actions.

THEOPHYL. Further, He gives the names of the Apostles, that the true Apostles might be known, so that men might avoid the false. And therefore it continues: And Simon he surnamed Cephas.

AUG. But let no one suppose that Simon now received his name and was called Peter, for thus he would make Mark contrary to John, who relates that it had been long before said to him, You shall be called Cephas. But Mark gives this account by way of recapitulation; for as he wished to give the names of the twelve Apostles, and was obliged to call him Peter, his object was to intimate briefly, that he was not called this originally, but that the Lord gave him that name.

BEDE; And the reason that the Lord willed that he fled should at first he called otherwise, was that from the change in itself of the name, a mystery might be conveyed to us. Peter then in Latin or in Greek means the same thing as Cephas in Hebrew, and in each language the name is drawn from a stone. Nor can it be doubted that is the rock of which Paul spoke, And this rock was Christ. For as Christ was the true light, and allowed also that the Apostles should be called the light of the world, so also to Simon, who believed on the rock Christ, He gave the name of Rock.

PSEUDO-JEROME; Thus from obedience, which Simon signifies, the ascent is made to knowledge, which is meant by Peter. It goes on: And James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother.

BEDE; We must connect this with what went before, He goes up into a mountain, and calls.

PSEUDO-JEROME; Namely, James who has supplanted all the desires of the flesh, and John, who received by grace what others held by labor. There follows: And he surnamed them, Boanerges.

PSEUD-CHRYS. The calls the sons of Zebedee by this name, because they were to spread over the world the mighty and illustrious decrees of the Godhead.

PSEUDO-JEROME; Or by this the lofty merit of the three mentioned above is shown, who merited to hear in the mountain the thunders of the Father, when he proclaimed in thunder through a cloud concerning the Son, This is my beloved Son; that they also through the cloud of the flesh and the fire of the word, might as it were scatter the thunderbolts in rain on the earth, since the Lord turned the thunderbolts into rain, so that mercy extinguishes what judgment sets on fire.

It goes on: And Andrew, who manfully does violence to perdition, so that he had ever ready within him his own death, to give as an answer, and his soul was ever in his hands.

BEDE; For Andrew is a Greek name, which means 'manly', from that is, man, for he manfully adhered to the Lord. There follows, And Philip.

PSEUDO-JEROME; Or, 'the mouth of a lamp,' that is, one who can throw light by his mouth upon what he has conceived in his heart, to whom the Lord gave the opening of a mouth, which diffused light. We know that this mode of speaking belongs to holy Scripture; for Hebrew names are put down in order to intimate a mystery. There follows: And Bartholomew, which means, the son of him who suspends the waters; of him, that is, who said, I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. But the name of son of God is obtained by peace and loving one's enemy; for, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they are the sons of God. And, Love your enemies, that you may be the sons of God. There follows: And Matthew, that is, 'given,' to whom it is given by the Lord, not only to obtain remission of sins, but to be enrolled in the number of the Apostles. And Thomas, which means, 'abyss;' for men who have knowledge by the power of God, put forward many deep things. It goes on: And James the son of Alphaeus, that is, of 'the learned' or 'the thousandth,' beside whom a thousand will fall. This other James is he, whose wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness. There follows, And Thaddeus, that is, 'corculum,' which means 'he who guards the heart,' one who keeps his heart in all watchfulness.

BEDE; But Thaddeus is the same person, as Luke calls in the Gospel and in the Acts, Jude of James, for he was the brother of James, the brother of the Lord, as he himself has written in his Epistle.

There follows, And Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. He has added this by way of distinction from Simon Peter, and Jude the brother of James. Simon is called the Canaanite from Cana, a village in Galilee, and Judas, Scariotes, from the village from which he had his origin, or he is so called from the tribe of Issachar.

THEOPHYL. Whom he reckons amongst the Apostles, that we may learn that God does not repel any man for wickedness, which is future, but counts him worthy on account of his present virtue.

PSEUDO-JEROME; But Simon is interpreted, 'laying aside sorrow;' for blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. And he is called Canaanite, that is, Zealot, because the zeal of the Lord ate him up. But Judas Iscariot is one who does not do away his sins by repentance. For Judas means 'boaster,' or vain-glorious. And Iscariot, 'the memory of death.' But many are the proud and vain-glorious confessors in the Church, as Simon Magus, and Arius, and other heretics, whose deathlike memory is celebrated in the Church, that it may be avoided.

Catena Aurea Mark 3

Saint Vincent, Deacon and Martyr

Saint Vincent, Deacon & Martyr
Optional Memorial
January 23rd
[In the Dioceses of the United States]

Saint Vincent (+304) was born in Huesca, Spain. He was deacon of the Church of Saragossa and suffered martyrdom in Valencia in the persecution under Diocletian.

Collect:
Almighty ever-living God,
mercifully pour out your Spirit upon us,
so that our hearts may possess that strong love
by which the Martyr Saint Vincent
triumphed over all bodily torments.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:17-22
Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for My sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

Saint Marianne Cope

Saint Marianne Cope

January 23rd
Optional Memorial

Collect

O God, who called us to serve your Son
in the least of our brothers and sisters,
grant, we pray, that by the example and intercession
of the Virgin Saint Marianne Cope,
we may burn with love for you and for those who suffer.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

+Amen

for more information on the Optional Memorial go to the USCCB website - http://www.usccb.org/about/divine-worship/liturgical-calendar/saint-marianne-cope.cfm

***

The Story of Marianne Cope: A Saint for Central New York

Mother Marianne, formerly Barbara Koob (1838-1918), was born in Germany and grew up in Utica. Her family was a member of St. Joseph’s Parish where she went to school and was confirmed. Even at a young age, she wrote about a religious calling.

She joined the Sisters of Saint Francis in Syracuse in 1862 and was invested at the Church of the Assumption where she was given the name Sister Marianne.

Mother Marianne became a founding leader of sisters and St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse in 1869. She discovered her greatest calling by helping people with leprosy, now called Hansen's disease. She took a week long train ride from Syracuse to San Francisco and a seasick ridden week long ship ride on the Pacific Ocean to reach the Hawaiian Islands. She never returned to Central New York, but discovered a new home on Molokai in a place called Kalaupapa.

Mother Marianne witnessed the worst of humanity upon her arrival at the Oahu Branch Hospital for people with leprosy. The 19th century Hawaiian government sent men, women and children to the fenced in compound at the first sign of a lesion hinting at the epidemic illness. The people were scarred by open sores and disfigurement and the corrupt administration of the compound left few resources to properly care for the sick.

Mother Marianne and five other Franciscan sisters did not flinch. They went to work cleaning the filthy compound and combating sexual abuse. They offered dignity and began to serve.

Nearly a century after her passing, Mother Marianne Cope is about to canonized by Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican in the greatest of tributes offered by the Roman Catholic Church.

It took the miraculous cure of two women through the prayerful intercession of Mother Marianne for the church to elevate her from Venerable to Blessed to Sainthood. The miracles were authenticated in 2004 and 2011.

Pope Benedict XVI will canonize Mother Marianne at the Vatican on October 21.

(Central New York News - http://www.cnycentral.com/entertainment/content.aspx?id=802219#.UGWvx1HAFW8

Intractive Saints for Kids

St. John the Almsgiver

Feast Day: January 23
Born:(around)550 :: Died:619

St. John was born at Arnathus, in Cyprus, Greece and came from a rich family. He married and had a child. John was a good Christian who used his wealth and position to help poor people. When John's wife and child died of a disease, John became a priest and then a bishop.

In 608, he was given a very important position and made the patriarch of Alexandria, Egypt. St. John went to his new ministry determined to heal the divisions among his people. He made himself a promise that he would practice "charity without limits."

As he had come to serve, the first thing he did was ask for a complete list of his "masters" - the poor. When they were counted, the poor of Alexandria numbered 7,500. St. John promised to be their personal protector.

As patriarch, St. John made many changes to the way things were done and set new rules. He was respectful and kind, but firm. He set aside two days each week, Wednesday and Friday, and made himself available for anyone who wanted to see him.

People lined up in queues and waited patiently for their turn. Some were rich. Some were homeless and penniless. St. John treaded them all with the same respect and attention. When he found out that the church funds had eighty thousand pieces of gold, he divided it all among the hospitals and monasteries.

He set up a system so that poor people received enough money to support themselves. Refugees from neighboring areas were welcomed warmly. When the Persians attacked and robbed the people of Jerusalem of their wealth, St. John sent money and supplies to the suffering people. He even sent Egyptian workmen to help them rebuild their churches.

When people asked how St. John could be so charitable and unselfish, he had an amazing answer. Once when he was very young he had a dream or vision. He saw a beautiful girl and she represented "charity." She told him: "I am the oldest daughter of the King. If you are devoted to me, I will lead you to Jesus. No one is as powerful with him as I am. Remember, it was for me that he became a baby to redeem humankind."

St. John never grew tired of telling about that vision. He gently led the rich to be generous. He helped the poor trust that God would always be there for them. Because of his great charity, he is called "the almsgiver."

St. John died peacefully on November 11, 619.

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for:January 23, 2015
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: Almighty ever-living God, mercifully pour out your Spirit upon us, so that our hearts may possess the strong love by which the Martyr Saint Vincent triumphed over all bodily torments. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

RECIPES

o Soft Molasses Cookies

ACTIVITIES

o Practical Suggestions for Christian Living (Anointing of the Sick)

PRAYERS

o Novena for Church Unity

o Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity

· Ordinary Time: January 23rd

· Optional Memorial of St. Vincent of Saragossa, deacon & martyr

Old Calendar: St. Raymund of Penafort, confessor; St. Emerentiana, virgin and martyr

St. Vincent of Saragossa, one of the greatest deacons of the Church, suffered martyrdom in Valencia in the persecution under Diocletian. He was born in Huesca, Spain.

According to the 1962 Missal of St. John XXIII today is the feast of St. Raymond of Penafort which is now celebrated on January 7 on the General Roman Calendar. It is also the commemoration of St. Emerentiana whose veneration is connected with that of St. Agnes. She was venerated at Rome not far from the basilica of St. Agnes-Outside-the-Walls on the via Nomentana. The acts of St. Agnes make Emerentiana her foster sister; according to this source, while still a catechumen she was stoned at the tomb of the youthful martyr where she had gone to pray.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

St. Vincent of Saragossa
Vincent of Saragossa was one of the Church's three most illustrious deacons, the other two being Stephen and Lawrence. He is also Spain's most renowned martyr. Ordained deacon by Bishop Valerius of Saragossa, he was taken in chains to Valencia during the Diocletian persecution and put to death. From legend we have the following details of his martyrdom. After brutal scourging in the presence of many witnesses, he was stretched on the rack; but neither torture nor blandishments nor threats could undermine the strength and courage of his faith. Next, he was cast on a heated grating, lacerated with iron hooks, and seared with hot metal plates. Then he was returned to prison, where the floor was heavily strewn with pieces of broken glass. A heavenly brightness flooded the entire dungeon, filling all who saw it with greatest awe.

After this he was placed on a soft bed in the hope that lenient treatment would induce apostasy, since torture had proven ineffective. But strengthened by faith in Christ Jesus and the hope of everlasting life, Vincent maintained an invincible spirit and overcame all efforts, whether by fire, sword, rack, or torture to induce defection. He persevered to the end and gained the heavenly crown of martyrdom. —The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patron: Portugal; vine dressers; vinegar makers; vintners; wine growers; wine makers.

Symbols: Deacon holding a ewer; deacon holding several ewers and a book; deacon with a raven; deceased deacon whose body is being defended by ravens; deacon being torn by hooks; deacon holding a millstone.

Things to Do:

Read this account of St. Vincent's martyrdom.
Pray to St. Vincent for those ordained deacons in the Church, especially those in your own parish.
Read Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7 to discover the role of deacons in the early Church.
Cook a Spanish dish in honor of St. Vincent.

St. Emerentiana
St. Emerentiana was a Roman virgin, the foster sister of St. Agnes who died at Rome in the third century. Already as a catechumen she was conspicuous for her faith and love of Christ. One day she boldly upbraided the idolaters for their violent attacks on the Christians. The enraged mob retaliated by pelting her with stones. She died in the Lord praying at the tomb of St. Agnes, baptized in her own blood.

A church was built over her grave which, according to the Itineraries, was near the church erected over the place of burial of St. Agnes, and somewhat farther from the city wall. In reality Emerentiana was interred in the coemeterium majus located in this vicinity not far from the coemeterium Agnetis.

Patron: Those who suffer from digestive disorders.

Symbols: Young girl with stones in her lap, usually holding a palm or lily.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Day Six: Jesus said: "The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14)

Triune God, following the example of Jesus, make us witnesses to your love. Grant us to become instruments of justice, peace and solidarity. May your Spirit move us towards concrete actions that lead to unity. May walls be transformed into bridges. This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Vatican Resources

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Mark 3:13-19

Saint Vincent, Deacon and Martyr

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted, and they came to him. (Mark 3:13)

“Who? Me? I can’t do that!” How many times have you heard comments like this, or even made them yourself when you were called upon to take up an important but daunting task? Don’t you think that the twelve men Jesus called to be his apostles had some of those same feelings? It was still early in his ministry, and they knew he was special. But they still had no idea just how important he was.

This Gospel reading tells us about three important things that happened. First, Jesus decided who he wanted for his ministry. He had many followers, some of whom were probably more qualified than these twelve. But he chose these men anyway. Next, Jesus summoned them. They didn’t volunteer; they didn’t run for election or ask for special positions. Jesus chose them. And lastly, they responded. They must have felt honored being selected, but at the same time must have wondered, “What am I getting myself into?” They had seen Jesus heal the sick and cast out demons, but none of them had done these things themselves. And still, this is what Jesus called them to do. He knew that, left to themselves, they were incapable of fulfilling this call, so he gave them his authority.

We can be encouraged by the legacy of these apostles—and all those who came after them. Like them, many of us wonder why God calls us to serve him in a particular way. And like them, we should all remember that we are a “chosen race … a people of his own” (1 Peter 2:9). He has summoned us to the mountain. Now it is up to us to respond.

Believe that God has planted seeds of greatness in you. He has summoned you. Now it’s up to you to respond. Know that he will equip you with everything you need. Step out in faith as the Twelve did. You are capable of serving Jesus in ways that you have not imagined because he will empower you. Remember, the Lord doesn’t call those who are equipped. He equips those who are called.

“Lord, give me the courage to say yes when you call and to believe that you will provide the wisdom, strength and ability to do your will.”

Hebrews 8:6-13
Psalm 85:8, 10-14

Regnum Christi

Christ Chooses Me

U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

January 23, 2015. Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Mark 3:13-19

He went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: (he appointed the Twelve:) Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe that through baptism you have invited me to share in your friendship. I trust in your Church, Lord. You have given us this institution as the guide to help us in our salvation. I love you, Lord, because you have loved me first. I love you, Lord, for calling me to be your friend and apostle. I may be a mere sinner, but with you, Lord, I believe that I can do great things.

Petition: Lord, help me to collaborate in your work of salvation.

1. Christ Summoned Those Whom He Wanted: Christ has chosen to need our assistance. He wants our help with the great work of the New Evangelization. As great and powerful as Christ is, he has willed that man collaborate with him in his plan of salvation. He wants to involve others in helping people to come to know, love and serve him. He makes use of man’s free and responsible collaboration in order to carry out his plans. Therefore, even though man is a creature of very limited possibilities, he can achieve truly unimaginable things when he lives and works for God.

2. He Calls Me by Name: Christ does not haphazardly choose me to collaborate with him in the New Evangelization. He knows me. He knows me better than I know myself, and out of love he invites me to be with him. When he calls me by name, he reaches into the depths of my heart and soul. He delves into the depths of who I am, and he identifies with me. When he calls me by name, he calls me out of love; “he calls me to share in his own divine life” (Lumen Gentium, 2). He calls me by name because he knows how great the gift is that he wishes to share with me.

3. He Gives Me a Mission: “He sent them to preach and to drive out demons” (Mark 3:14-15). Christ doesn’t call me just to enjoy the present life. He has created me for a purpose. He has given me a specific vocation that only I can fulfill. I am irreplaceable; there will never be another me. The opportunity that I have to share in this friendship with Our Lord is an invitation to do something with him and for him. Christ’s love for me invites and beckons me to collaborate with him. Who can resist an invitation to collaborate with someone so great, and with an offer so challenging and yet so fulfilling?

Conversation with Christ: Lord, you have wished for me to enter your friendship. You have called me by name to be your friend. You have invited me to help you in the New Evangelization. I want to help you and do my part. Give me the strength to be close to you and to collaborate with you in this great undertaking.

Resolution: I will bring up the faith in a conversation with someone.

By Father Robert DeCesare, LC

Homily of the Day

January 23, 2015

The purpose of calling disciples was to send them to preach the Good News. What is the Good News? That there is a way out of death. There is the possibility to have a joy that comes from above. There is this possibility to remove darkness from our lives.

Christ allows us to overcome and expose the devil’s lies and deceits. The demons have only one purpose: to discourage us, to instill in us doubt of God’s love for us.

For the real tragedy is the absence of this love. This is what makes man suffer, that we experience an ontological death, the death of being, because we have cut ourselves off from the tree of life, which is the love of God. In all situations of suffering, when we fail to see the love of God in these events, we are destroyed. We are forced to cling to the idols of the world to seek happiness. The slavery that the demons force upon us are the true causes of suffering and sadness.

The only joy that lasts is in knowing that we are really children of God, created in his image. That is why the Good News comes to free us from the lies of the demons. And Christ specifically has given the disciples the authority to drive out the demons in men’s lives. Every sacrament has the grace to bring in the Holy Spirit to enter into us, so that this dwelling may be protected and kept safe from evil. Let us not doubt the strength and power of God over all the demons! Christ is victorious, Lord and Kyrios over all!

One Bread, One Body

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Hebrews 8:6-13
View Readings

Psalm 85:8, 10-14

Mark 3:13-19
Similar Reflections

THE COST OF DISUNITY

"They were likewise to have authority to expel demons." —Mark 3:15

Jesus created His Church and gave it the power to expel demons (Mk 3:15). Yesterday was the forty-second anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision to legalize abortion. We are authorized to be the Church Militant and drive out the demons of abortion. From the present state of affairs, however, the demons of abortion seem to have driven us out of power. Planned Parenthood and others who promote the abortion agenda must snicker at the seeming weakness of the Body of Christ. It's a poor witness to the world that the Body of Christ on earth, authorized by Jesus to be so mighty, seemingly exercises so little power over evil.

Ironically, the anniversary of legalized abortion is observed during this week of prayer for Christian unity. The teaching of the Catholic Church is united in truth on abortion; however, the Church's members are not united, much less all the members of Christian denominations. We have a civil war going on in our heart (Jas 4:1; Jer 17:9). If the New Covenant were truly written on our hearts (Heb 8:10), we wouldn't be so splintered and divided. If we followed God's New Covenant and lived as His royal people (Heb 8:10), we wouldn't so readily allow millions of pre-born babies to be murdered.

"Today, if you should hear His voice, harden not your hearts" (Heb 3:7-8; Ps 95:7-8). Repent! "Open wide your hearts" (2 Cor 6:13). Let the Holy Spirit work on your heart as He wishes (see Rm 5:5).

Prayer: "My heart is ready, God, my heart is ready" (Ps 57:7, JB).

Promise: "I will forgive their evildoing, and their sins I will remember no more." —Heb 8:12

Praise: After nursing a grudge and judging his in-laws for seventeen years, John repented and forgave them.

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Collect

Meditation: Mark 3:13-19

Marriage=One Man and One Woman 'Til Death Do Us Part

One Bread, One Body

THE COST OF DISUNITY