Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 01-21-18, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 01-21-18 | Revised New American Bible

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January 21, 2018

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Jon 3:1-5, 10

The word of the LORD came to Jonah, saying:
"Set out for the great city of Nineveh,
and announce to it the message that I will tell you."
So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh,
according to the LORD'S bidding.
Now Nineveh was an enormously large city;
it took three days to go through it.
Jonah began his journey through the city,
and had gone but a single day's walk announcing,
"Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed, "
when the people of Nineveh believed God;
they proclaimed a fast
and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.

When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way,
he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them;
he did not carry it out.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (4a) Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice
and teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.

Reading 11 1 Cor 7:29-31

I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out.
From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,
those weeping as not weeping,
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning,
those using the world as not using it fully.
For the world in its present form is passing away.

Alleluia Mk 1:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 1:14-20

After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel."

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.

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For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

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KEYWORDS: catholic; mk1; ordinarytime; prayer; saints;

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From: Jonah 3:1-5, 10

Jonah Preaches Repentance in Nineveh

---

[1] Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, [2] ”Arise,
go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” [3]
So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now
Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. [4] Jonah
began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he cried, “Yet forty days,
and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

The People of Nineveh Do Penance

---

[5] And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and put on
sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

[10] When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God re-
pented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did not do it.

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Commentary:

3:1-4:11 The second part of the book has a similar structure to the first—God and
Jonah (3:1-3; cf. 1:1-3); Jonah and Gentiles (3:4-10; cf. 1:4-16); Jonah and God
(4:1-11; cf. 1:17-2:10). However, the reader is now psychologically prepared for
what will happen: Jonah’s preaching will produce the desired result and the Nine-
vites will be converted. So, the story is geared to the last chapter which poses
and solves the question that chapter 3 provokes. The episode described in this
second part is therefore a practical illustration of the scope of God’s mercy. It
was used as such in the debate with the Gnostics who argued that there was a
difference between the good God (the God revealed in the New Testament) and
the God revealed in the Old Testament: “See how the stress is laid on the grea-
test name and quality of God, his Mercy; that is, God is patient with evildoers,
and rich in mercy and compassion for those who recognize their faults and re-
pent them, as the Ninevites did. If such a Being as he is so good, you [...] have
to admit that he can do no evil for, as Marcion himself once said, a good tree
cannot bear bad fruit (Tertullian, “Adversus Marcionem”, 2, 24).

3:1-4. God renews his command to Jonah. And this time Jonah obeys. Maybe
the vows he promised to fulfill in 2:9 had to do with this—going to preach in Nine-
veh. Anyway, the success of his mission is assured, because it depends not on
Jonah but on the Lord: it would take three days to cross Nineveh (v. 3), but he
has only gone one day in his journey and the people convert (cf. 3:5).

3:5-10. The account of the conversion of the Ninevites looks like a straight copy
from other biblical passages, particularly from the prophet Jeremiah: Jeremiah is
the “prophet to the nations” (Jer 1:5), and Jonah is sent to the archetypal Gentile
city. There are many little things in this passage that are reminiscent of Jeremiah:
in the book of Jeremiah, Jerusalem is called the “great city”, which is what Nine-
veh is called here (1:2; 3:2; cf. Jer 22:8-9), and both books have similar turns of
phrase such as “let every one turn from his evil way”, “man and beast”, “from the
greatest to the least” (3:5, 8; cf. Jer 6:13; 8:10; 36:3,7), etc. This passage is par-
ticularly reminiscent of the call for a fast made by Jeremiah in the time of King
Jehoiakim; in Jeremiah 36 we are told how the prophet warned of misfortunes to
come and proclaimed a fast for conversion (Jer 36:9), but the king refused to lis-
ten. Jonah, too, announces the destruction of Nineveh, but it is the Ninevites
themselves who proclaim a general fast, as if God were speaking through them.
Their own king establishes what the fast will involve, and he issues a decree that
sounds just like something a prophet would have said (vv. 7-9; cf. Joel 2:12-14).
Furthermore, the king of the Ninevites seems to be quite familiar with biblical tea-
ching, for he is well aware (cf. Jer 36:3, 9) that displays of penance will not auto-
matically stay God’s hand; the king has a genuine change of heart and is ready
to submit to God (v. 9), and when God sees that these people are ready to mend
their ways he revokes his decision to punish them (v. 10) The episode bears out
Jeremiah’s teaching about repentance (cf. Jer 18 7-8).

The difference between the Ninevites and the Israelites can be seen in the use
that Jesus makes of this passage when he compares his Jewish contemporaries
with their ancestors: “The men of Nineveh will arise at the judgment with this ge-
neration and condemn it for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold
something greater than Jonah is here” (Mt 12:41). It is not surprising, then, that in
Christian tradition, the Ninevites are referred to as a model of repentance ‘Let us
cast our minds back over the history of men, and see how the Lord, in one gene-
ration after another, granted a time of penance to those who desired to be conver-
ted to him. Noah preached salvation, and those who listened to him were saved.
Jonah told the Ninevites that their city would be destroyed and they repented of
their sins and asked God for forgiveness and were saved by the power of their
pleading, even though they were not part of the chosen people” (St Clement of
Rome, “Ad Corinthios”, 7, 5-7).

And another text by a great Father of the Eastern Church says: “Do not dwell on
how little time you have, but on the love of the Master. The inhabitants of Nineveh
cooled God’s wrath in three days. They did not despair at how little time was left
to them; their troubled souls won over the goodness of the Master, and he brought
about their salvation” (St John Chrysostom, “De Incomprehensibile Dei Natura”,
6).

*********************************************************************************************
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.

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From: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

The Excellence of Virginity

---

[29] I mean, brethren, the appointed time has grown very short; from now on, let
those who have wives live as though they had none, [30] and those who mourn
as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were
not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, [31] and those
who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the form of
this world is passing away.

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Commentary:

29-31. In their letters, St Paul and the other Apostles frequently remind us that
life is short (cf. Rom 13:11-14; 2 Pet 3:8; 1 Jn 2:15-17), in order to encourage
us to make the very best use of our time to serve God, and others for his sake.
“When I reflect on this, how well I understand St Paul’s exclamation when he
writes to the Corinthians, “tempus breve est” (1 Cor 7:29). How short indeed is
the time of our passing through this world! For the true Christian these words
ring deep down in his heart as a reproach to his lack of generosity, and as a
constant invitation to be loyal. Brief indeed is our time for loving, for giving, for
making atonement. It would be very wrong, therefore, for us to waste it, or to
cast this treasure irresponsibly overboard. We must not squander this period
of the world’s history which God has entrusted to each one of us” (St. J. Escri-
va, “Friends of God”, 39).

A Christian, therefore, should always be detached from worldly things, and never
let himself become the slave of anything or anyone (cf. 1 Cor 7:23; “Lumen Gen-
tium”, 42) but, instead, always have his sights on eternal life. “It is a great help
towards this”, St Teresa of Avila teaches, “if we keep a very constant care of the
vanity of all things, and the rapidity with which they pass away, so that we may
withdraw our affections from everything and fix them on what will last forever. This
may seem to be a poor kind of help but it will have the effect of greatly fortifying
the soul. With regard to little things, we must be very careful, as soon as we be-
gin to be fond of them, to think no more about them and to turn our thoughts to
God. His majesty will help us to do this” (”Way of Perfection”, chap. X).

*********************************************************************************************
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.

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From: Mark 1:14-20

Jesus Begins to Preach and Calls His First Disciples

---

[14] Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel
of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; re-
pent, and believe in the Gospel.”

[16] And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the bro-
ther of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. [17] And Jesus
said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” [18] And
immediately they left their nets and followed him. [19] And going on a little farther,
he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat
mending the nets. [20] And immediately he called them; and they left their father
Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him.

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

14-15. “The gospel of God”: this expression is found in St Paul (Rom 1:1; 2 Cor
11:7; etc.) where it means the same as “the gospel of Jesus Christ” (2 Thess
1:8; etc.), thereby implying the divinity of Jesus Christ. The imminence of the
Kingdom requires a genuine conversion of man to God (Mt 4:17; Mk 6: 12; etc.).
The prophets had already spoken of the need for conversion and for Israel to aban-
don its evil ways (Jer 3:22; Is 30:15; Hos 14:2; etc.).

Both John the Baptist and Jesus and his Apostles insist on the need for conver-
sion, the need to change one’s attitude and conduct as a prerequisite for recei-
ving the Kingdom of God. Bl. John Paul II underlines the importance of conversion
for entry into the Kingdom of God: “Therefore, the Church professes and proclaims
conversion. Conversion to God always consists in discovering his mercy, that is,
in discovering that love which is patient and kind (cf. 1 Cor 13:4) as only the Crea-
tor and Father can be; the love to which the ‘God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ’ (2 Cor 1:3) is faithful to the uttermost consequences in the history of his
covenant with man: even to the Cross and to the death and resurrection of the
Son. Conversion to God is always the fruit of the ‘rediscovery’ of this Father, who
is rich in mercy.

“Authentic knowledge of the God of mercy, the God of tender love, is a constant
and inexhaustible source of conversion, not only as a momentary interior act but
also as a permanent attitude, as a state of mind. Those who come to know God
in this way, who ‘see’ him in this way, can live only in a state of being continually
converted to him. They live, therefore, “in statu conversionis” and it is this state
of conversion which marks out the most profound element of the pilgrimage of
every man and woman on earth “in statu viatoris” (Bl. John Paul II, “Dives In Mi-
sericordia”, 13).

16-20. In these verses the evangelist describes how Jesus called some of those
who would later form part of the Apostolic College (3:16ff). From the start of his
public ministry in Galilee the Messiah seeks co-workers to help him in his mis-
sion as Savior and Redeemer. He looks for them among people used to hard
work, people for whom life is a struggle and whose life-style is plain. In human
terms they are obviously at a disadvantage vis-a-vis many of those to whom they
will preach; but this in no way prevents their self-surrender from being generous
and free. The light lit in their hearts was enough to lead them to give up every-
thing. A simple invitation to follow the Master was enough for them to put them-
selves completely at his disposal.

It is Jesus who chooses them: he interfered in the lives of the Apostles just as
he interferes in ours, without seeking our permission: he is our Lord. Cf. note on
Mt 4:18-22.

*********************************************************************************************
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.

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Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible by Darton, Longman & Todd

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: Green.

---

First reading	Jonah 3:1-5,10 ©

The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.’ Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah went on into the city, making a day’s journey. He preached in these words, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.’ And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least.

  God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour. And God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.

---

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 24(25):4-6,7b-9 ©

Lord, make me know your ways.

Lord, make me know your ways.

  Lord, teach me your paths.

Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:

  for you are God my saviour.

Lord, make me know your ways.

Remember your mercy, Lord,

  and the love you have shown from of old.

In your love remember me.

  because of your goodness, O Lord.

Lord, make me know your ways.

The Lord is good and upright.

  He shows the path to those who stray,

He guides the humble in the right path,

  He teaches his way to the poor.

Lord, make me know your ways.

---

Second reading

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 ©

Brothers: our time is growing short. Those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become engrossed in it. I say this because the world as we know it is passing away.

---

Gospel Acclamation	Mk1:15

Alleluia, alleluia!

The kingdom of God is close at hand:

repent, and believe the Good News.

Alleluia!

---

Gospel	Mark 1:14-20 ©

I will make you into fishers of men

After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. ‘The time has come’ he said ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’

  As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.’ And at once they left their nets and followed him.

  Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets. He called them at once and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.

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Pray for Pope Francis.

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Prayers for The Religion Forum (Ecumenical)

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7 Powerful Ways to Pray for Christians Suffering in the Middle East

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Pray the Rosary!

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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.

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Pray a Rosary each day for our nation.

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, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there 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.

6. 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 Spirit (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]

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St. Michael the Archangel

~ PRAYER ~

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
Cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
+

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Feast of
the Holy Name of Jesus

Luke 2:21 "...Et vocatum est Nomen eius IESUS"
("And His Name was called JESUS")

Psalm 90:14 "Because he hoped in me I will deliver him:
I will protect him because he hath known My Name."

Zacharias 10:12 "I will strengthen them in the Lord,
and they shall walk in His Name, saith the Lord."

Apocalypse 3:8 "I know thy works. Behold, I have given before thee a door opened, which no man can shut: because thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied My Name."

Apocalypse 15:4 "Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and magnify Thy Name?..."

 

Blessed be the most holy Name of Jesus without end!

 

January Devotion: The Holy Name of Jesus

The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. This feast is also celebrated on January 3. Here is an explanation of the devotion.

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has associated entire months to special devotions. The devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus has been traditionally associated with the month of January, due to its celebration on January 3. The name Jesus was given to the Holy Child at God's command (Luke 1:31). The Holy Name is all-powerful because of the Person who bears it; we honor it because of the command of Christ, that we should pray in His Name and because it reminds us of all the blessings we receive through our Holy Redeemer. Hence St. Paul was able to write to the Philippians: ". . . at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth" (Phil. 2:10). By means of this devotion we also make amends for improper use of the Holy Name.

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

Prayer/Hymn in Honor of the Most Holy Name of Jesus - Iesu, Dulcis Memoria

Iesu, Dulcis Memoria is a celebrated 12th century hymn attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), Doctor Mellifluus. The entire hymn has some 42 to 53 stanzas depending upon the manuscript. Parts of this hymn were used for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, which was formerly celebrated on the Sunday between the Circumcision and Epiphany, or failing such a Sunday, on January 2. The part below was used at Vespers. In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was deleted, though a votive Mass to the Holy Name of Jesus had been retained for devotional use. With the release of the revised Roman Missal in March 2002, the feast was restored as an optional memorial on January 3.

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus' name,
The Savior of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart!
0 joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shalt be;
In Thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity. Amen.

---Roman Breviary

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

O Divine Jesus, Thou hast promised that anything we ask of the Eternal Father in Thy name shall be granted.

O Eternal Father. In the name of Jesus, for the love of Jesus, in fulfillment of this promise, and because Jesus has said it, grant us our petitions for the sake of Jesus, Thy Divine Son. 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

 

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Phil:2:10-11

 

 

 

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Holy Name of Jesus [San Bernadino of Siena] Ecumenical
The Holy Name of Jesus
Devotion to the Holy Name [of Jesus]
The Name of Jesus: Its Power in Our Lives
The Holy Name of Jesus
Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus
The Holy Name of Jesus

Philippians 2
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

[Salvation]

January, 2018

The Holy Father's Prayer Intentions

That .........., and other religious minorities in Asian countries, may be able to practice their faith in full freedom.

[Salvation]

Daily Gospel Commentary

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the day
Saint Jerome (347-420), priest, translator of the Bible, Doctor of the Church
Homilies on the Gospel of Mark

“They left and became his followers”

“Jesus said to them, ‘Come after me; I will make you fishers of men.’” Happy transformation of fishing! Simon and Andrew are what Jesus caught fishing… These men are made similar to fish, caught by Christ, before going themselves to catch other people. “They immediately abandoned their nets and became his followers.” True faith knows no delay. As soon as they heard him, they believed, they followed him, and they became fishers. “They immediately abandoned their nets.” I think that with those nets, they abandoned all the vices of the life of this world…

“Proceeding a little farther along, he caught sight of James, Zebedee’s son, and his brother John… He summoned them on the spot. They abandoned their father Zebedee, who was in the boat with the hired men, and went off in his company.” You will tell me: faith is daring. What indication did they have, what sublime characteristic had they noted that made them follow him as soon as he called them? We realize that evidently something divine came forth from Jesus’ gaze, from the expression on his face, which incited those who looked at Jesus to turn towards him… Why am I saying all this? It is to show you that the Lord’s word was active, and that through the least of his words, he was working on his task: “He commanded and they were made.” (Ps 148:5) With the same simplicity, he called and they followed…: “Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father’s house. So shall the king desire your beauty.” (Ps 45:11-12)

Listen well, brother, and follow the path of the apostles; listen to the Savior’s voice, ignore your father according to the flesh and see the true Father of your soul and your mind… The apostles left their father, left their boat, left all their riches of that time; they abandoned the world and its countless riches; they renounced all that they owned. However, God does not consider the mass of riches, but rather the soul of the person who renounces them. Those people who left only a few things would also have renounced a large fortune if the need had arisen.

[Salvation]

Zenit.org

Archbishop Follo: Conversion to Love to Serve Him in the Mission

With the invitation to convert ourselves to Christ by harboring his grace and by sharing his love with our neighbor.

January 19, 2018Francesco FolloSunday Readings

Wikimedia Commons

Roman Rite – Third Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year B – January 21, 2018

Jon 3, 1-5.10; Ps 25; 1Cor 7, 29-31; Mk 1: 14-20

 

Ambrosian Rite – Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Nm 11, 4-7. 16th. 18-20. 31-32a; Ps 105; 1Cor 10.1-11b; Mt 14: 13b-21

 

1) Conversion and good news.

Today, the liturgy of the Mass proposes a passage from the evangelist St. Mark who – with a bare and essential style – summarizes the whole message of Jesus Christ with the words “the Gospel of God”. This divine, good and happy news is proclaimed in Galilee, a region bordering the land of the pagans. In this way, it is underlined the perennially missionary dimension of the announcement. The grandiose novelty of the expression “Gospel of God” risks escaping us who are far from the experience of the first readers of Saint Mark.

The Greek word “gospel” is translated with the expression “good news”. It sounds good, but it remains far below the magnitude of the word “gospel”. This word belongs to the language of the Roman emperors who considered themselves lords of the world and its saviors and redeemers. The proclamations emanating from the emperor were called “gospels”, regardless of whether their subjects were happy news or not. What comes from the emperor – it was the underlying idea – is a salvific message, not simply news but the transformation of the world towards the good.

Writing the “Gospel of God”, St. Mark teaches that emperors are not the saviors of the world. The true savior is Jesus whose name means “God saves”. Christ is the Word of God and he is manifested as an effective word. In Him and for Him really happens what the emperors claimed without being able to realize.

Therefore, a “Gospel” is no longer the announcement of the victory of a powerful one over his enemies. The “Gospel of God” is not the proclamation of the victory of a strong man who has defeated a weak man. It does not concern the joy of someone and the crying of others. The “Gospel of God”, the happy announcement, no longer concerns the powerful in turn. The happy “good news” is proclaimed by Jesus, meek and humble at heart. This good news is proclaimed in the name of God-Love, it is God himself who in Christ makes himself present in the world and in history.

The phrase: “Proclaiming the Gospel Jesus said: ‘Time is complete and the kingdom of God is near; convert and believe in the Gospel “(Mk 1: 14) could be reformulated as follows:” Proclaiming the good news, Jesus said:” The auspicious time has come. The Kingdom of God is near. Convert and believe in the good news’ “.

The meaning of this sentence is not: “Make your moral conversion and then believe in the good news”, but rather “Accept the good news with living faith. Doing so, all your way of thinking, wanting, and acting will be changed “. Let us become converted to Christ by recognizing him as the Way, the Life, and the Truth, and as the person in whom the Father makes visible all his love.

In short, if we convert by changing our mind and heart we can believe in the joyful and good news that God is among us. In a sense, to convert is to see beyond, to have a look that goes beyond. In fact, the word converting translates the Greek word which literally means “looking beyond”, therefore, understanding beyond appearances the true meaning of things.

Also St. John the Apostle and Evangelist introduces the commandment of conversion that asks to love the others as Christ loved us, with the power of the Gospel of joy and with the announcement of the good news: “I have told you these things, so that my joy dwell in you and your joy be full. This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you “(Jn 15: 11-12).

If we are converted to Christ, who invites us to abide in him to make his glad tidings dwell in us, we will always better understand that the true meaning of God’s commandment is not to be an imposition but a communication of love. The “command” to convert is an invitation of love, which Christ addresses to his disciples so that they can enter into communion with him and accept his offer of friendship.

In short, Christian conversion is not so much a new relationship to an imperative or new ideas but a personal relationship with Jesus, who proposes his friendship allowing a welcoming that is festive, humble, and grateful of the saving truth

 

2) Conversion and the following of Christ.

If conversion is to dwell in Christ and follow Him, it means that this “being in Him” is a verb of movement. There is an idea of movement in conversion, as in the motion of the sunflower which every morning raises its corolla and sets it on the paths of the sun. “To convert” means “to turn towards” the light because the Light is already here.

In fact, communion with Him implies following Him. Christ is not so much a Word to hear or to read. He is the Logos, that is, the Word that gives meaning (understood as direction) to our life and light to our steps.

When St. Mark writes that Jesus “passing along the Sea of Galilee saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother,” He said to them: ‘follow me'”. He did not say: “Learn” because the first characteristic of the Christian disciple is to “follow”. In fact, the verb, which usually accompanies the word disciple, is to learn. Instead, using the verb to follow, the Gospel emphasizes that, in the first place, there is not a doctrine but a way of living that implies walking with the Master, identifying oneself in him.

The evangelical following is never a call to stand still but to walk. The evangelical call is an invitation to go out, to go towards the world and the mission. If the following does not imply a “going after Christ”, it means that we only follow ourselves. The evangelical sequela is different from those sequences that instead invite to separate from the others and withdraw in ourselves.

Thus, the novelty of existence begins: going after Christ who calls and proposes himself as the path to life for his disciples, we included.

Jesus sees and speaks to two people, the quality of the relationship he initiates is a sign of the novelty of Love. “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men” means that Jesus asks Simon and Andrew to convert not doing who knows what, but following him and making sure that the mission of salvation of Christ becomes their vocation.

The vocation to conversion is to enter into a relationship with him, to let be loved by him and to take his love and his truth into the world. Jesus asks to respond to his Love: Jesus loves and asks to be loved. Here it is: the novelty of history is the beginning of the relationship of Love, aimed at tasting Love and introducing Love in every moment, in every action in which life unravels. This is the “conversion” that Jesus asks: not making life a means to do things, but living life in such a Love so that everything lives.

 

3) The sequela of the consecrated Virgins.

An example of living the reality of disciples following Christ is given to us by the consecrated Virgins. With their gesture of offering themselves to the Lord Jesus, these women testify that following Christ is to imitate Jesus chaste, poor, and obedient, begging him to be made capable of loving with His love, of giving with His Heart, of serving with His light, and of working with His gifts.

With their consecrated life they testify, first of all, that the initiative belongs to Christ and that his call is free. Secondly, they show that it is possible to respond to the call of Jesus even if it involves such a radical and profound separation that St. Mark speaks of abandonment of the father and of the work. Abandoning the trade and the family is like being uprooted. But it is worthwhile because in this way one can root oneself in Christ.

Their life pushes us to make our own the prayer that the priest today says at the beginning of the Mass: “O Father, who in your Son have given us the fullness of your word and your gift, let us feel the urgency of convert us to you and to adhere with all our soul to the Gospel, so that our life may also announce to the doubtful and distant the only Savior, Jesus Christ “.

Following the example of the consecrated Virgins, each of us, every morning, at every awakening, is able to say: “I too can ‘convert’, I can and must move thoughts, feelings, and choices towards God so that He may enter more into my heart and that of the world.