Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 01-26-05, Memorial, Sts. Timothy & Titus, bishops

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 01-26-05 | New American Bible

[Salvation]

January 26, 2005
Memorial of Saint Timothy and Saint Titus, bishops

Psalm: Wednesday 7

Reading I
2 Tm 1:1-8

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
for the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
to Timothy, my dear child:
grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am grateful to God,
whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did,
as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day.
I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears,
so that I may be filled with joy,
as I recall your sincere faith
that first lived in your grandmother Lois
and in your mother Eunice
and that I am confident lives also in you.

For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame
the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice
but rather of power and love and self-control.
So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,
nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;
but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel
with the strength that comes from God.


or

Ti 1:1-5

Paul, a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ
for the sake of the faith of God"s chosen ones
and the recognition of religious truth,
in the hope of eternal life
that God, who does not lie, promised before time began,
who indeed at the proper time revealed his word
in the proclamation with which I was entrusted
by the command of God our savior,
to Titus, my true child in our common faith:
grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior.

For this reason I left you in Crete

so that you might set right what remains to be done
and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you.


Responsorial Psalm
Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10

R (3) Proclaim God"s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R Proclaim God"s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R Proclaim God"s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R Proclaim God"s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R Proclaim God"s marvelous deeds to all the nations.


Gospel
Mk 4:1-20

On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea.
A very large crowd gathered around him
so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down.
And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land.
And he taught them at length in parables,
and in the course of his instruction he said to them,
"Hear this! A sower went out to sow.
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,
and the birds came and ate it up.
Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil.
It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.
And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.
Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it
and it produced no grain.
And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit.
It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."
He added, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear."

And when he was alone,
those present along with the Twelve
questioned him about the parables.
He answered them,
"The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you.
But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that

they may look and see but not perceive,
and hear and listen but not understand,
in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven."

Jesus said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?
Then how will you understand any of the parables?
The sower sows the word.
These are the ones on the path where the word is sown.
As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once
and takes away the word sown in them.
And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who,
when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.
But they have no roots; they last only for a time.
Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,
they quickly fall away.
Those sown among thorns are another sort.
They are the people who hear the word,
but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches,
and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word,
and it bears no fruit.
But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it
and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold."

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Saint Timothy and Saint Titus

[Salvation]

From: 2 Timothy 1:1-8

Greeting

---

[1] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the
promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, [2] To Timothy, my beloved
child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our
Lord. [3] I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience, as did my
fathers, when I remember you constantly in my prayers. [4] As I remember
your tears, I long night and day to see you, that I may be filled with
joy. [5] I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in
your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells
in you.

Response to Grace

---

[6] Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you
through the laying on of my hands; [7] God did not give us a spirit of
timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.

St Paul, Herald of the Gospel

---

[8] Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his
prisoner, but take your share of suffering for the gospel in the power of
God.

---

Commentary:

1-2. The greeting is like that of 1 Timothy, although now St Paul adds a
specific reference to the purpose of his God-given call to the
apostolate--"according to the promise of the life which is in Christ
Jesus". Christ fulfills all the promises of happiness given to Abraham
and the other Old Testament patriarchs. The purpose of the Gospel message
is to let men know that they have been called to enjoy a new life in
Christ, that is, the divine life whose germ we receive at Baptism. That
sacrament initiates the life of grace in the soul, and ultimately that
life will blossom into eternal life (cf. 1 Tim 1:16; 6:12; Tit 1:2; 3:9).

On the exact meaning of the expression "in Christ Jesus", see the note on
1 Tim 1:14.

3. "I thank God": this is not a spontaneous expression of gratitude but
rather a permanent disposition of Paul's soul.

St Paul makes the point that his attitude of service and worship is the
same as that of his ancestors, the righteous of the Old Testament, for
although the Gospel is something new it does not involve a break with the
earlier revelation; rather it brings that revelation to fulfillment. The
Apostle pays tribute to the chosen people, not hiding his satisfaction at
being a Jew himself (cf. Rom 9:3; 11:1; Gal 2:15). "The Church of Christ
acknowledges", Vatican II states, "that in God's plan of salvation the
beginning of her faith and election is to be found in the patriarchs,
Moses and the prophets [...]. The Church cannot forget that she received
the revelation of the Old Testament by way of that people with whom God
in his inexpressible mercy established the ancient covenant [...]. She is
mindful, moreover, that the Apostles, the pillars on which the Church
stands, were of Jewish descent, as were many of those early disciples who
proclaimed the Gospel of Christ to the world" ("Nostra Aetate", 4).

6. "The gift of God" is the priestly character which Timothy received on
the day of his ordination. St Paul is using very graphic and precise
language: by the sacrament of Order a divine gift is conferred on the
priest; it is like an ember which needs to be revived from time to time
in order to make it glow and give forth the warmth it contains. St Thomas
Aquinas comments that "the grace of God is like a fire. which does not
flow when it is covered by ashes; the same thing happens when grace is
covered over in a person by sluggishness or natural fear" ("Commentary on
2 Tim, ad loc.").

The gifts which God confers on the priest "are not transitory or
temporary in him, but stable and permanent, attached as they are to an
indelible character, impressed on his soul, by which he is made a priest
forever (cf. Ps 109:4), in the likeness of Him in whose priesthood he has
been made to share" (Pius XI, "Ad Catholici Sacerdotii", 17).

"The laying on of my hands": see the note on 1 Tim 4:14.

7. The gift of God, received in the sacrament of Order by the laying on
of hands, includes sanctifying grace and sacramental grace, and the
actual graces needed for performing ministerial functions in a worthy
manner. The Council of Trent uses this text (vv. 6-7) when it solemnly
defines that Priestly Order is a sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ
(cf. "De Sacram. Ordinis", chap. 3).

The minister, then, must be courageous in performing his office: he
should preach the truth unambiguously even if it clashes with the
surroundings; he should do so with love, and be open to everyone despite
their faults; with sobriety and moderation, always seeing the good of
souls, not his own advantage. Since the days of the Fathers the Church
has urged priests to develop these virtues: "Priests should be
compassionate", St Polycarp warns; "they should show mercy to all; they
should try to reclaim those who go astray, visit the sick, and care for
the poor, the orphan and the widow. They should be concerned always to do
what is honorable in the sight of God and men. They should avoid any show
of anger, any partiality or trace of greed. They should not be over-ready
to believe ill of anyone, not too severe in their censure, being well
aware that we all owe the debt of sin" ("Letter to the Philippians",
chap. 6).

---

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

[Salvation]

From: Mark 4:1-20

Parable of the Sower. The Meaning of the Parables

---

[1] Again He (Jesus) began to teach beside the sea. And a very large
crowd gathered about Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on
the sea; and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. [2] And
He taught them many things in parables, and in His teachings He said to
them: [3] "Listen! A sower went out to sow. [4] And as he sowed, some
seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. [5]
Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and
immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil; [6] and when
the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root it withered
away. [7] Other seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and
choked it, and it yielded no grain. [8] And other seeds fell into good
soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding
thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." [9] And He said, "He who
has ears to hear, let him hear."

[10] And when He was alone, those who were about Him with the Twelve
asked Him concerning the parables. [11] And He said to them, "To you
has been given the secret of the Kingdom of God, but for those outside
everything is in parables; [12] so that they may indeed see but not
perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand; lest they should turn
again, and be forgiven." [13] And He said to them, "Do you not
understand this parable? How then will you understand all the
parables? [14] The sower sows the word. [15] And these are the ones
along the path, where the word is sown; when they hear, Satan
immediately comes and takes away the word which is sown in them. [16]
And these in like manner are the ones sown upon rocky ground, who, when
they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; [17] and they have
no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation
or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall
away. [18] And others are the ones sown among thorns; they are those
who hear the word, [19] but cares of the world, and the delight in
riches, and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word,
and it proves unfruitful. [20] But those that were sown upon the good
soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit,
thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold."

---

Commentary:

1-34. Parables are a special method of preaching used by Jesus. By
means of them He gradually unfolds before His listeners the mysteries
of the Kingdom of God. Cf. note on Matthew 13:3. Chapter 4 of St.
Mark, although much shorter, is the equivalent of chapter 13 of St.
Matthew and chapter 8:4-18 of St. Luke, which is the shortest synoptic
account of the Kingdom parables.

1-9. The ordinary Christian, who seeks holiness in his ordinary work,
must be moved to find how often our Lord uses in His parables examples
taken from work situations: "In His parables on the Kingdom of God,
Jesus Christ constantly refers to human work: that of the shepherd
(e.g. John 10:1-6), the farmer (cf. Mark 12:1-12), the doctor (cf. Luke
4:32), the sower (cf. Mark 4:1-9), the householder (cf. Matthew 13:52),
the servant (cf. Matthew 24:25; Luke 12:42-48), the steward (cf. Luke
16:1-8), the fisherman (cf. Matthew 13:47-50), the merchant (cf.
Matthew 13:45-46), the laborer (cf. Matthew 20:1-16). He also speaks
of the various forms of women's work (cf. Matthew 13:33; Luke 15:8-9).
He compares the apostolate to the manual work of harvesters (cf.
Matthew 9:37; John 4:35-38) or fishermen (cf. Matthew 4:19). He refers
to the work of scholars too (cf. Matthew 13:52)" (John Paul II,
"Laborem Exercens", 26).

3-9. With the parable of the sower Jesus wants to move His listeners to
open their hearts generously to the word of God and put it into
practice (cf. Luke 11:28). God expects the same docility also from
each of us: "It is a vivid scene. The Divine Sower is also sowing His
seed today. The work of salvation is still going on, and our Lord
wants us to share that work. He wants Christians to open to His love
all the paths of the earth. He invites us to spread the Divine
message, by both teaching and example, to the farthest corners of the
earth [...]. If we look around, if we take a look at the world, which
we love because it is God's handiwork, we will find that the parable
holds true. The word of Jesus Christ is fruitful, it stirs many souls
to dedication and fidelity. The life and conduct of those who serve
God have changed history. Even many of those who do not know our Lord
are motivated, perhaps unconsciously, by ideals which derive from
Christianity."

"We can also see that some of the seed falls on barren ground or among
thorns and thistles; some hearts close themselves to the light of
faith. Ideals of peace, reconciliation and brotherhood are widely
accepted and proclaimed, but all too often the facts belie them. Some
people are futilely bent on smothering God's voice. To drown it out
they use brute force or a method which is more subtle but perhaps more
cruel because it drugs the spirit--indifference" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ
Is Passing By", 150).

The parable of the sower also shows us the wonderful economy of Divine
Providence, which distributes various graces among men but gives each
person enough to reach salvation: "There was then in the eternal
providence an incomparable privilege for the Queen of Queens, Mother of
Fair Love, and most singularly perfect. There were also for certain
others some special favors. But after this life the sovereign goodness
poured an abundance of graces and benedictions over the whole race of
mankind and upon the angels; [...] every one received his portion as of
seed which falls not only upon good ground but upon the highway,
amongst thorns, and upon rocks, that all might be inexcusable before
the Redeemer, if they enjoy not this most abundant redemption for their
salvation" (St. Francis de Sales, "Treatise on the Love of God", Book
2, Chapter 7).

11-12. The Kingdom of God is a mystery. If the Twelve know it, it is
simply because the mercy of God has revealed it to them, not because
they are better able, by themselves, to understand the meaning of the
parables.

Jesus' use of parables had many advantages: firstly, because typically
the human mind grasps concepts by first working on sense-information:
in His teaching Christ often clothes spiritual things in corporal
images. Secondly, Sacred Scripture is written for everyone, as St.
Paul says: "I am under obligation ...both to the wise and to the
foolish" (Romans 1:4): this meant it made sense for him to put forward
even the deepest truths by using comparisons--so that people could more
easily grasp what he meant (cf. St. Thomas Aquinas, "Summa Theologiae
I", q. 1, a.9).

The disciples are distinguished here from "those outside" (verse
11)--an expression which Jews applied to Gentiles, and which Jesus here
applies to those Jews who do not want to understand the signs which He
performs (cf. Luke 12:41).

Later on, our Lord does give His disciples even more exact instruction
about the content of the parables. But, since the Jews do not want to
accept the signs He performs, in them are fulfilled the words of the
prophet Isaiah (6:9-10). The parables, which were an expression of our
Lord's mercy, were the occasion for His condemning incredulous Jews,
whose sins He cannot forgive because they do not wish to see or listen
or be converted.

17. "They fall away": they are "scandalized": the word "scandal"
originally refers to a stone or obstacle which could easily cause one
to trip. Here, in the language of morality, it is used to refer to
anything which leads others to commit sin (cf. note on Matthew 18:1-7).
The word is also applied in a broader sense to anything which could be
an occasion of sin--e.g. sorrow and tribulation. In this passage,
falling away or being scandalized means being demoralized, stumbling,
giving in and falling. If a person maliciously professes to be shocked
by a good action, he is guilty of "pharisaical" scandal: that is what
St. Paul means when he says that the cross of Christ was a
stumbling-block to Jews, who refused to grasp that the saving plans of
God were to be effected through pain and sacrifice (cf. 1 Corinthians
1:23; cf. also Mark 14:27; Matthew 16:23).

---

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

[Salvation]

Jesus said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?
Then how will you understand any of the parables?
The sower sows the word.
These are the ones on the path where the word is sown.
As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once
and takes away the word sown in them.
And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who,
when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.
But they have no roots; they last only for a time.
Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,
they quickly fall away.
Those sown among thorns are another sort.
They are the people who hear the word,
but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches,
and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word,
and it bears no fruit.
But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it
and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold."

I have always loved the explanation that Jesus gives here. It always makes me ask myself whether I am the path, the rocks, the thorns or the rich soil.

[Salvation]

FEAST OF THE DAY

Saints Timothy and Titus were bishops of the first century and were
very influential in the formation of the early Church.

St. Timothy was born of a Greek father and a Jewish mother near
the middle of the first century. His mother was Jewish, but because
his father was not, Timothy was not accepted by the Jewish Faith.
During the third or fourth decade after Christ, Timothy was
introduced to Christianity by his grandmother, and began to develop
an appreciation and love for the Faith. Timothy made his final
conversion to Christianity with St. Paul in the year 47 and joined him
in his apostolic work.

Timothy accompanied Paul on his first trip to Corinth and on various
other journeys in their 15-year companionship. Timothy was with
Paul in Rome when he was arrested, and soon after was sent by
Paul to be a representative to the Church in Ephesus. After Timothy
and Paul set out on their different paths, Paul wrote him a letter,
which is included in the New Testament.


St. Titus was born a Greek and was also converted to Christianity by
the preaching of Paul. The two developed a deep friendship and
sought each other out for advice. Paul trusted Titus so much, that he
used him to deliver his letter to the Corinthians, and exhorts the
Corinthians to use Titus as a source for spiritual guidance and as an
example of holiness and zeal for the work of God. Titus served for a
time as a representative of the Church in Crete and received an
Epistle from Paul which is included in the New Testament.


QUOTE OF THE DAY

I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through
the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of
cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be
ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his
sake; but bear your share of the hardship for the gospel with the
strength that comes from God. -St. Paul in his second letter to
Timothy (2 Tim 1:6-8)


TODAY IN HISTORY

1564 Following the closing of the Council of Trent, Pius IV publishes
the bull "Benedictus Deus."
1948 Executive Order 9981, ending segregation in US Armed Forces
signed
1999 John Paul II begins a pastoral visit to St. Louis, MO


TODAY'S TIDBIT

Zeal is the expression of charity that permits one to serve God and
others fully with the objective of furthering the Mystical Body of
Christ.


INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for all who are discerning their vocation.

[Salvation]

Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops (Memorial)

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

2 Timothy 1:1-8 or Titus 1:1-5 Psalm 110:1-4 Mark 4:1-20 The field of battle between God and Satan is the human soul. It is in the soul that the battle rages every moment of life. The soul must give free access to the Lord so that it may be fortified by Him in every repect and with all kinds of weapons; that His light may enlighten it to combat the darkness of error; that it may be clothed with Jesus Christ. To be clothed with Jesus Christ it is necessary to die to oneself. That which comes from Satan begins with calmness and ends in storm, indifference, and apathy. In the spiritual life he who does not advance goes backward. It happens as with a boat which always must go ahead. If it stands still the wind blows it back. Fix the time, the length of your meditation, and do not rise from your place until you have finished even at the cost of being crucified.  -- Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

[Smartass]

Philippians 1: 1-2

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ,
to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi,
with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you, and peace,
from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.

[Ciexyz]

We will sing to the Lord a new song, one that praises his mighty works.

[Ciexyz]

Prayers offered up for those in need. The Lord knows all our prayer needs before we even ask.

[Ciexyz]

The Lord is Great, and greatly to be praised.

[Ciexyz]

ping

[Salvation]

 

 

A Voice in the Desert

 

Wednesday January 26, 2005   Third Week in Ordinary Time

Reading (Hebrews 10:11-18)   Gospel (St. Mark 4:1-20)

In the Gospel reading today, Our Lord speaks this parable about the sower and the seed, and He tells His disciples that He speaks in parables to fulfill what the prophet Isaiah had said: that they will look and see but not perceive, they will listen and hear but not understand. One wonders why it is that Our Lord would do this. Why did He not just come out plainly and state what it was that He was trying to tell them? Because they would not have listened. All we have to do is look at our own selves. How many times do we have to be told plainly exactly what the situation is and we refuse to listen because we do not want to hear it? It is a plain and simple fact. We do not want to hear it because we do not want to change. The Lord spoke in parables because if somebody really wanted to hear it they would have to ponder it, they would have to take it to prayer, they would have to work it through and be able to say, “What does this mean? How does this apply to me?” They would have to seek the answer from the Lord. And so the Lord makes very clear that they heard exactly what He said but they did not understand. They saw but they did not perceive because it was hidden, unless somebody was really looking for the truth. 

It remains that way even for us. We have the explanation right there. We have the explanation of parable after parable, and still we hear but we do not understand, we see but we do not perceive. And if we are not hearing or understanding or perceiving, then we have to look at our own selves and ask why. Why would this be the case? It is precisely because we do not want to understand. We do not want to perceive because we know what it will require on the inside. It will require change and we do not like to change. Things have not changed in two thousand years; human nature is still human nature. The people back then did not want it; the people today do not want it.  

We could say, “But we’re here at this hour of the morning, obviously we want it!” The people who gathered around Jesus were people who had faith. They were religious people and they wanted to hear what He had to say. But how many Christian people today do not want to hear the Gospel? They just want to hear pious pabulum; they want to hear niceties; they want to hear everybody say to them, “Jesus loves you; therefore, you don’t have to suffer. Jesus loves you; He wants you to be rich. Jesus loves you; you don’t have to change. Jesus loves you; you can go ahead and sin, you’re going to heaven anyway.” That is running rampant, and it has come right into the Catholic Church now. It is being preached in pulpit after pulpit, and good people who believe in the Lord are flocking to that stuff because they do not want to hear the Gospel. They want it easy.  

The Cross is not easy. It wasn’t two thousand years ago, it isn’t today, and it never will be. If we want Christ without the Cross, if we want Christianity without the suffering, if we want the Gospel with no understanding and no perception, then we need to ask ourselves, “Why do I really want to be a Catholic?” This is a very, very serious point because it happens all too often. We like to go through the motions, but we do not want to be bothered. We want to be able to convince ourselves in our own conscience that we are doing well because we did this or that or the other thing, but the reality of the situation is that we do not really want to live the Gospel because of what it is going to require. So we really need to look at it and ask ourselves, “Do I really want to understand? Do I really want to perceive? Or do I just want to keep doing what I’ve been doing?” If we want to keep doing what we are doing, we are not going to grow.  

If we want to be able to receive the Word and produce what Our Lord is asking, then we need to be willing to go deep. He made that very clear. The only ones that really grew up and produced fruit were the ones where the soil was rich and deep. We have to go deep into our hearts. We have to be willing to struggle with these things, to grapple with them and try to understand them and seek it out. It does not happen in just a couple of minutes; it sometimes takes hours, days, and weeks to be able to grasp these things. The question is how badly we really want to know. In our society, where everything is immediate gratification and everything is easy and you just push a button and get whatever you want, we fall into the same problem with prayer. “I go to prayer, I ask a question; if I don’t get an immediate answer, then I give up.” Is that what we do? Or are we willing to sit there and sit there and sit there and sit there…until finally the answer becomes clear? The Lord, in His mercy, looks at each one of us and says, “Do you really want to know? Then prove it. Prove that you really want it. Prove how much this means to you by really digging in, by really grappling with it, by going inside and trying to understand and trying to perceive.”  

It will become very clear to us that the understanding and perception is only by the grace of God. It is not something that we are suddenly going to come to intellectually, but rather it is by the grace of God, Who will give us the insight, the perception, and the understanding. If we really, really want it, we have to make the effort. We are willing to do that for other things that we want. The material things that we want, we are willing to work hard and put away the money and so on. We are willing to do without certain other things in order to obtain something that we want. We are willing to travel long distances to get what we want. How much do we want Jesus? How much do we want the Gospel? How much do we really want to perceive and understand the truth? How much do we really want to change to be like Jesus Christ? That is what it really comes down to. If we are willing, we will not only see and look, we will not only listen and hear, but in the depths of our being – through the grace of God – we will understand and we will perceive the truth.

 *  This text was transcribed from the audio recording with minimal editing.

[Salvation]

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title:	He Loved People, But He Could Walk Alone
Author:	Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Date:	Wednesday, January 26, 2005

2 Timothy 1:1-8 or Titus 1:1-5; Mark 3:31-35

Today's Gospel records one of the saddest moments in Jesus's life. His family thought He was crazy, and they were trying to get Him to forget His outlandish ideas and come home with them. What a terrible moment of isolation and utter aloneness it must have been, to be abandoned by those who had been closest to Him all His life, those He loved most dearly.

Jesus's reaction at this sad and humiliating moment is worth pondering at length. He didn't waver. He remembered Who He was and what mission the Father had given Him. And He stood firm in His commitment — firm and very alone.

There are times in every human life when the normal supports that we've come to count on simply aren't there. The temptation is to scurry to a safe place in the midst of the crowd. The temptation is to bend to the pressures and head for a place in the shadows. That's when we need to think of Jesus standing tall and alone. That's when we need to ask His help in remembering who we are and where God has called us.

That's a prayer that is always answered. And with the answer always comes the strength to stay the course. There are no exceptions, because God is faithful.

 

[Salvation]

Note to everyone -- Let me know which homily you like the best -- I'll post only one after a week's feedback. ~Salvation

[Ciexyz]

All the homilies have been a blessing to me.

[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Wednesday, January 26, 2005 Meditation Mark 4:1-20 Have you ever watched a movie with a friend then found that one of you hated it while the other was deeply moved? Although you saw the same film, your responses were worlds apart. Similarly in today’s gospel reading, Jesus tells us that the impact of God’s word varies remarkably according to the disposition of the hearer. Many of the spiritual seeds sown can’t mature because of an impenetrable or shallow heart unable to sustain growth. On the other hand, those seeds that fall on good soil—hearts that are open to receiving God’s word—grow and flourish abundantly. In today’s first reading, Paul gave a wonderful example of the power of intercessory prayer to sow seeds of faith and holiness in other people’s lives. Writing to Timothy, his young follower-turned-bishop, Paul said, “I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day” (2 Timothy 1:3). We can be sure that it was partly because of Paul’s confident intercession that Timothy became a courageous, fruitful servant of the kingdom. Through intercession, Paul also sowed spiritual seeds into the life of Titus who, like Timothy, grew so close to the Lord that Paul could entrust him to oversee the Christian community in Crete. It seems to be a spiritual principle that what is sown in faith and trust yields an abundant harvest! As baptized Christians, the gospel message has been sown into the heart of every member of the church. Yet despite such powerful grace, everyone encounters times when they need some pruning and weeding. This is why it’s so important for us to keep interceding for each other and for all our brothers and sisters in the church! Imagine what could happen if all of us reading this meditation joined together in prayer right now and asked God to rain his Spirit upon the whole church. Imagine the good soil that these prayers would find—the good soil of so many people earnestly asking for a new outpouring. Imagine the fresh springtime of grace that could take root in our lives! “Holy Spirit, we ask you to pour out your power and blessing upon the church today. Soften our hearts, that the seeds of prayer we sow and that are sown in us may bear a wealth of spiritual fruit. May there be a new springtime of growth in the church throughout the world!”

[Salvation]

American Cathlic's Saint of the Day

January 26, 2005

Sts. Timothy and Titus

Timothy (d. 97?): What we know from the New Testament of Timothy’s life makes it sound like that of a modern harried bishop. He had the honor of being a fellow apostle with Paul, both sharing the privilege of preaching the gospel and suffering for it.

Timothy had a Greek father and a Jewish mother named Eunice. Being the product of a “mixed” marriage, he was considered illegitimate by the Jews. It was his grandmother, Lois, who first became Christian. Timothy was a convert of Paul around the year 47 and later joined him in his apostolic work. He was with Paul at the founding of the Church in Corinth. During the 15 years he worked with Paul, he became one of his most faithful and trusted friends. He was sent on difficult missions by Paul—often in the face of great disturbance in local Churches which Paul had founded.

Timothy was with Paul in Rome during the latter’s house arrest. At some period Timothy himself was in prison (Hebrews 13:23). Paul installed him as his representative at the Church of Ephesus.

Timothy was comparatively young for the work he was doing. (“Let no one have contempt for your youth,” Paul writes in 1 Timothy 4:12a.) Several references seem to indicate that he was timid. And one of Paul’s most frequently quoted lines was addressed to him: “Stop drinking only water, but have a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses” (1 Timothy 5:23).

Titus (d. 94?): Titus has the distinction of being a close friend and disciple of Paul as well as a fellow missionary. He was Greek, apparently from Antioch. Even though Titus was a Gentile, Paul would not let him be forced to undergo circumcision at Jerusalem. Titus is seen as a peacemaker, administrator, great friend. Paul’s second letter to Corinth affords an insight into the depth of his friendship with Titus, and the great fellowship they had in preaching the gospel: “When I went to Troas...I had no relief in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.... For even when we came into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way—external conflicts, internal fears. But God, who encourages the downcast, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus...” (2 Corinthians 2:12a, 13; 7:5-6).

When Paul was having trouble with the community at Corinth, Titus was the bearer of Paul’s severe letter and was successful in smoothing things out. Paul writes he was strengthened not only by the arrival of Titus but also “by the encouragement with which he was encouraged in regard to you, as he told us of your yearning, your lament, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.... And his heart goes out to you all the more, as he remembers the obedience of all of you, when you received him with fear and trembling” (2 Corinthians 7:7a, 15).

The Letter to Titus addresses him as the administrator of the Christian community on the island of Crete, charged with organizing it, correcting abuses and appointing presbyter-bishops.

Comment:

In Titus we get another glimpse of life in the early Church: great zeal in the apostolate, great communion in Christ, great friendship. Yet always there is the problem of human nature and the unglamorous details of daily life: the need for charity and patience in “quarrels with others, fears within myself,” as Paul says. Through it all, the love of Christ sustained them. At the end of the Letter to Titus, Paul says that when the temporary substitute comes, “hurry to me.”

Quote:

“But when the kindness and generous love of God our Savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. This saying is trustworthy” (Titus 3:4-8).

[annalex]

Mk 4:1-20
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
1	And again he began to teach by the sea side; and a great multitude was gathered together unto him, so that he went up into a ship and sat in the sea: and all the multitude was upon the land by the sea side.	et iterum coepit docere ad mare et congregata est ad eum turba multa ita ut in navem ascendens sederet in mari et omnis turba circa mare super terram erat
2	And he taught them many things in parables, and said unto them in his doctrine:	et docebat eos in parabolis multa et dicebat illis in doctrina sua
3	Hear ye: Behold, the sower went out to sow.	audite ecce exiit seminans ad seminandum
4	And whilst he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the birds of the air came and ate it up.	et dum seminat aliud cecidit circa viam et venerunt volucres et comederunt illud
5	And other some fell upon stony ground, where it had not much earth; and it shot up immediately, because it had no depth of earth.	aliud vero cecidit super petrosa ubi non habuit terram multam et statim exortum est quoniam non habebat altitudinem terrae
6	And when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.	et quando exortus est sol exaestuavit et eo quod non haberet radicem exaruit
7	And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.	et aliud cecidit in spinas et ascenderunt spinae et offocaverunt illud et fructum non dedit
8	And some fell upon good ground; and brought forth fruit that grew up, and increased and yielded, one thirty, another sixty, and another a hundred.	et aliud cecidit in terram bonam et dabat fructum ascendentem et crescentem et adferebat unum triginta et unum sexaginta et unum centum
9	And he said: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.	et dicebat qui habet aures audiendi audiat
10	And when he was alone, the twelve that were with him asked him the parable.	et cum esset singularis interrogaverunt eum hii qui cum eo erant cum duodecim parabolas
11	And he said to them: To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but to them that are without, all things are done in parables:	et dicebat eis vobis datum est mysterium regni Dei illis autem qui foris sunt in parabolis omnia fiunt
12	That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.	ut videntes videant et non videant et audientes audiant et non intellegant nequando convertantur et dimittantur eis peccata
13	And he saith to them: Are you ignorant of this, parable? and how shall you know all parables?	et ait illis nescitis parabolam hanc et quomodo omnes parabolas cognoscetis
14	He that soweth, soweth the word.	qui seminat verbum seminat
15	And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown, and as soon as they have heard, immediately Satan cometh and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.	hii autem sunt qui circa viam ubi seminatur verbum et cum audierint confestim venit Satanas et aufert verbum quod seminatum est in corda eorum
16	And these likewise are they that are sown on the stony ground: who when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy.	et hii sunt similiter qui super petrosa seminantur qui cum audierint verbum statim cum gaudio accipiunt illud
17	And they have no root in themselves, but are only for a time: and then when tribulation and persecution ariseth for the word they are presently scandalized.	et non habent radicem in se sed temporales sunt deinde orta tribulatione et persecutione propter verbum confestim scandalizantur
18	And others there are who are sown among thorns: these are they that hear the word,	et alii sunt qui in spinis seminantur hii sunt qui verbum audiunt
19	And the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts after other things entering in choke the word, and it is made fruitless.	et aerumnae saeculi et deceptio divitiarum et circa reliqua concupiscentiae introeuntes suffocant verbum et sine fructu efficitur
20	And these are they who are sown upon the good ground, who hear the word, and receive it, and yield fruit, the one thirty, another sixty, and another a hundred.	et hii sunt qui super terram bonam seminati sunt qui audiunt verbum et suscipiunt et fructificant unum triginta et unum sexaginta et unum centum