2.28.14

Lectio:   Mk 10.13-16                                                                                

Meditatio: ”Amen, I [Jesus] say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Mk 10. 15

Oratio: O God, You want our total allegiance and You will grant us eternal life if we give it.

I remember Jesus proclaimed that we must accept the kingdom of God like a child, that is with total dependence upon You and obedient to His words.

Grant that I may have the humility of a child and accept without hesitation all that has been proclaimed by Jesus so that I will have the right disposition towards things that are too marvelous for me to comprehend but which Jesus wants for me.

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect"accept..like...child”; a child had no rights and was virtually a non-person at the time of Christ; It is this attitude towards the kingdom that Christ wants - that it is total gift and it is a gift that He wants for us. In prayer seek the grace to have a child-like attitude towards the truths of the kingdom, put them into practice  and all will go well.
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Tomorrow' s reading: Mt 6.24-34                      

2.27.14

Lectio:   Mk 10.1-12                                                                     

Meditatio: ”Therefore what God had joined together, no human being must separate.”
 Mk 10.9

Oratio: O God, You desire that the marriage between a man and a woman be permanent.

I remember Jesus declared that it was only because of the hardness of hearts that Moses permitted the Israelites to divorce; but that is not Your intention, present nor from the beginning.

Grant that I may uphold the permanence of marriage; support  couples who are struggling; and prepare well those who are contemplating marriage for in the permanency of their love they will discover and rejoice as that is  how God loves them.

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect"God...joined...no... must separate”; God ordained the permance of marriage from the beginning; and couples are to mirror Christ’s love for us in their love. Since Christ’s love is always there for us, a married man’s and woman’s love should be the same; and the couple will be richly blest if it is and so will we be blest by their love.
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Tomorrow' s reading: Mk 10.13-16                      

2.26.14

Lectio:   Mk 9.41-50                                                          

Meditatio: ”Everyone will be salted with fire.” Mk 9.49

Oratio: O God, You so much want us for Your own! 

I remember Jesus declared that everyone should be salted with fire; and as we reflect on this simile, we realize that He wants us to have a faith that we not only preserve as salt is a preservative; but He also wants a faith that is refined and purified for that is the meaning of fire as it was used in His time to eliminate the dross in precious metals.

Grant that I may be blessed with a vibrant and strong faith, one which reflects the tenets which Jesus wants of His followers and for the grace to put it into practice.

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect"salted...fires”; salt is a preservative; fire is purifying agent; Jesus wants us to have a faith that is lasting and pure; in prayer seek the grace to have such a faith; a faith that leads to living in accord with the Great Law of Love for in our living our faith we best give praise to God.

Tomorrow' s reading: Mk 10.1-12  

2.25.14

Lectio:   Mk 9.38-40                                               

Meditatio: ”For whoever is not against us is for us.” Mk 9.40

Oratio: O God, You want us to be tolerant!       

I remember Jesus rebuked His disciples for trying to prevent a person who was not of their company from casting out demons in Jesus’s name; declaring that no one who does a good deed in His name can be against Him.

Grant that I may have be tolerant of others who are not of the same persuasion as I am for God is most tolerant of the diversity which exists in this world; and as His children we should be tolerant of all who seek the good of others regardless of their affiliation.

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect"not against...for us”; it is not affiliations which Jesus counts, it is the good that is one’s heart that does. In prayer seek the grace of tolerance and be concerned only with the good other’s accomplish; for that is God’s way and it must be our way, too.

Tomorrow' s reading: Mk 9.41-50                   

2.24.14

Lectio:   Mk 9.30-37                                               

Meditatio: ”But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.” Mk 9.32

Oratio: O God, How dense we can be at times!       

I remember Jesus told His disciples that He was going to handed over, killed and that He would rise. He spoke plainly, but they did not understand Him.

Grant that I may have the grace to accept the things that are too wonderful for me to reason to, for they are Your gifts to me and for my eternal good.

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect"afraid..question Him”; why would His disciples be afraid to question Jesus? Was it true fear or was it that His prediction of His passion and death did not fit their picture of Him and the personal glory they were seeking? In prayer thank Jesus was willingly undergoing His passion and death so that we might live; and out of gratitude live the life He calls us to.          

Tomorrow' s reading: Mk 9.38-40 

2.23.14

Lectio:   Mt 9.14-29                                                

Meditatio: ”While he [Jesus] was saying these things to them, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, ‘My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live’.” M9.18

Oratio: O God, What gifts You give if we faith!

I remember Jesus brought back to life a little girl because her father had faith in Him and asked Him to lay His hand on her and she will live; and He did and she lived! Wow!

Grant that I may have just a small portion of the faith of that official and I know You will respond to me in my need and grant what I truly need or what the other truly needs for Your ways are bought mysterious and generous.

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect"daughter...died, lay hand...live”; the faith of the father was so strong that Jesus could do the unheard of and bring his daughter back to life and Jesus did because of the  man’s faith! Pray for the grace of a strong faith and to work as everything depended upon me and to pray knowing that everything depends upon God; and I will have the right attitude towards God and towards life.

Tomorrow' s reading: Mt 9.30-3   

2.22.14

Lectio:  Mt 5.38-48                                     

Meditatio: ”But I [Jesus] say to you, love your enemies , and pray for those who persecute you.” Mt 5.44

Oratio: O God, You want us to imitate You and love will enable us to do so.

I remember Jesus told us that we must love our enemies and pray for them; but that is so hard; however, love, which seeks the good of the other for the other’s sake will enable us to do so.

Grant that I may have the grace to love as Jesus wants me to love, without counting the cost, without discriminating,  and the end will be what He wants of me.                    

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect"love...enemies”; but how? Pray for the grace to forgive them, pray for their welfare; pray to see them as fellow journers to the kingdom; seek the grace to do so and you will be able to love your enemies.                                  

Tomorrow' s reading: Mt 9.14-29

2.21.14

Lectio:  Mt 16.13-19                     

Meditatio: ”He [Jesus] said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am’?” Mt 16.15

Oratio: O God, You want us to know who You sent to redeem us.

I remember Jesus both spoke with authority and worked miracles so we would recognize that He was sent from you and marvelously, He was your very Son.

Grant that I may ever grateful to You for sending Jesus to redeem us and may I always have the grace to believe in Him and show my belief by the way I live.

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect"who?”; from all that has been revealed and passed down through the ages, God had made it so easy for us to answer this question. Seek the grace to live your answer by living a life of selfless love - the essence of the Good News of Jesus.

Tomorrow' s reading: Mt 5.38-48

2.20.14

 Lectio:  Mk 8.34-38, 9.1                                                                                                                                                                                 
Meditatio: ”What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”
 Mk 8.36                                                                   
 
Oratio: O God, You know how easy for us to concentrate on the here and the now and forget what life is all about.
                  
I remember Jesus warned His disciples about the danger of being this world centered for if the things of this world are your goal, you will miss out on the most important gift - eternal life.

Grant  that I may ever keep God’s will for me in mind and take up my cross each day and follow Him and I will find the wonderful destiny He has for me - eternal life.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect"gain...forfeit”; if our goal in life is to gain the world’s riches and not God’s will, then all is woe for me. In prayer seek the grace to do God’s will for me and I will gain everything that really matters.
              
Tomorrow' s reading: Mt 16.13-19

2.18.14

 Lectio:  Mk 8.. 22-26                                                                                                                                                                 
Meditatio: ”Then he [Jesus] laid hands on his eyes a second time, and he saw clearly; his sight  restored and he could see everything distinctly.” Mk 8.25
 
Oratio: O God, Your ways at times seem so incomprehensible.                         
                  
I remember Jesus took a blind man away from the crowd, and then only after laying his hands  upon his eyes a second time, did the blind man recover his sight fully. Why? We know Jesus could heal with a single word and at a distance. So the answer cannot be a defect in His power. Perhaps as some commentators speculate, it was a reminder that people only slowly came to see Him as the Messiah.

Grant  that I may ever rejoice in my God, a God who is mysterious, but a God that is almighty and all-loving.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect"second time...saw clearly”; Jesus healed a blind man but only after a second effort did the man see clearly. In prayer seek the enlightenment that comes from faith so that I may always walk in the ways of the Lord.
              
Tomorrow' s reading: Mk 8.27-33

2.17.14

 Lectio: Mk 8.14-21

Meditatio: ”He [Jesus] enjoined them, ‘Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod’.” Mk 8.15          
 
Oratio: O God, You know how bad example can adversely affect us.                    
                  
I remember Jesus warned the disciples about the dispositions of the Pharisees and of Herod toward Him as it would greatly harm them, but at first they thought that Jesus was simply referring to their lack of bread when He referred to their dispositions by using the metaphor of ‘leaven’. But when they questioned Jesus, thinking it was because they only had one loaf of bread with them,  He reminded them of His multiplication  of 5 loaves and then 7 loaves to feed the hungry and then they understood.

Grant  that I may be in tune to the ways of the Lord and be open to the marvelous things and events that surround me including the gift of Himself.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect"enjoined ...guard ...leaven”: the Pharisees’ and Herod’s disposition toward Jesus was one of opposition and was rebellious towards Him; and this type of opposition is what they must guard against. In prayer ask for the grace to respond to Jesus with one’s whole heart, mind and strength and seek the grace to do His will in all things for that will insure that the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod will not affect our growth in the ways of the Lord. And we will be the great beneficiaries.
              
Tomorrow' s reading: Mk 8.22–26

2.16.14

Lectio:
 Mk  8.11-13                                                                                                                                           

Meditatio: ”The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.” Mk 8.11
 
Oratio: O God, How dense we are at times and especially those who should know better.                  
I remember the Pharisees, the religious elite of those days, demanded that Jesus give them a sign from heaven of His authority - yet He just got done feeding 4000 with 7 loaves and with 7 baskets full of left overs.  Jesus refused. If they simply were open to God’s ways, they would not have demanded any signs of His authority.

Grant  that I may be in tune to the ways of the Lord and be open to the marvelous things and events that surround me including the greatest gift - Christ in the Eucharist.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect"a sign...to test him”: the Pharisees were not sincere. They demanded a sign to test Jesus. He already had given many miraculous signs of His authority. Jesus refused their demands and got into a boat and left them. In prayer seek not a sign from God but seek a greater faith so that all things will be seen with the eyes of faith and we will be the great beneficiaries.
              
Tomorrow' s reading: Mk 8.14-21 

2.15.14

 Lectio:  Mt 15.17-37   
                                                                                                                           
Meditatio: ”But I [Jesus] say to you, do not swear at all.” Mt 15.34a                                                                  
Oratio: O God, You gave us the ability to communicate and You expect us to use this gift rightly.

I remember Jesus warned about taking oaths and He made it very clear that whatever we say, whether ‘yes’ or ‘no,’  is the truth as we know it.

Grant  that I may be a person of integrity so that all can rely on what I say for that is the reason I have the gift of speech and that is how God wants me to use it.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect"do not...swear”; Jesus made it very cleat that we should not use our gift of speech to deceive but that our ‘Yes’ should mean ‘Yes’ and our ‘No’ mean ‘No.” Seek the grace to be a person of integrity so that our word is indeed our bond for then do we use this gift from God rightly.

Tomorrow' s reading: Mk 8.11-13     

2.14.14

 Lectio:  Mk 8.1-10                                                                                                                     

Meditatio: ”He [Jesus] ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd.” Mk 8 6
                                                                            
Oratio: O God, You do not simply feel for people in their need but You do for them.

I remember when Jesus had been preaching to a large crowd all day and it was time for them to be dismissed, He felt pity for them because they had no food and it was a long way home for many; and so He multiplied the seven loaves and a few fish and fed the four thousand.

Grant  that I may be ever grateful that Jesus continues to feed us daily with the greatest of all food, the Eucharist; and seek the grace to be Eucharist for others out of gratitude.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect"taking..., gave thanks, broke, and gave”; these actions of Jesus in the multiplication of the seven loaves are the same actions that He performed when He instituted the Eucharist. These are the same actions His priests perform every day as they do so in memory of Him.  In prayer seek the grace of gratitude to Jesus for continuing to feed us with the finest of food and show gratitude by being Christ for others and the Food we receive will have the wonderful nourishment intended.

Tomorrow' s reading: Mt 15.17-37                      

2.13.14

 Lectio:  Mk 7:31-36                                                                                                                    

Meditatio: ”He [Jesus] took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue.” Mk 7.33
                                                                            
Oratio: O God, Your ways are at times mysterious but always good.

I remember Jesus cured a man who was deaf and with a speech impediment by taking the man off by himself and there Jesus put His finger into the man’s ears and spitting, touched the man’s tongue, and the man was cured.

Grant  that I may be always aware that God’s ways are not our ways but they are always full of compassion and love and we should imitate Him by showing compassion and love for others.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect"finger  into ... ears and, spitting, touched his tongue”; Jesus’ action in curing the deaf man with a speech impediment is gross from our standpoint. Jesus often healed by a command, why did He cure in such a way? I don’t know, but there is a lesson to learn from Jesus’ action;  and that is, love often demands we do what many  consider gross such as cleaning up fluids of a sick person or of a sick child; and we do it out of love.  In prayer seek the grace of awe at the power of God and at His ways and be ever mindful that His ways are not our ways but they are always ways of love. Seek the grace to be guided by love in all our decision and God will be pleased and we will be blest for proclaiming the Good News with our lives.

Tomorrow' s reading: Mk 8.1-10             

2.12.14

 Lectio:  Mk 7.24-30                                                                                          

Meditatio: ”Then he [Jesus] said to her, ‘For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter’.” Mk 7.29           
                                                                            
Oratio: O God you do so much for us if we simply persist in faith.

I remember Jesus cured the Syrophoenician woman's daughter because she bribe end in His power and she would not take a put down as an answer and Jesus healed her daughter long distance,

Grant  that in my unworthiness of God's  favors to seek Him in my need and He will do for me what is best for He is a good and gracious God who loves us.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect"for saying...demon gone"; the Gentile woman parried with Jesus over food for the children and dogs taking it and Jesus was impressed with her humility and perseverance and He healed her daughter long distance. In prayer seek the grace to approach Jesus with a  humble and contrite heart and be persistent and our God  who is a God of surprises will respond for He loves us.

Tomorrow' s reading: Mk 7:31-36

2.11.14

 Lectio:  Mk 7.14-23                                                                                          

Meditatio: ”Nothing that comes from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” Mk 7.15
                                                                            
Oratio: O God! How easy it is for us to develop habits and then to glorify them to our detriment.
        
I remember Jesus declared to His disciples that it is not certain foods that can defile you but only the evil that comes from your heart. Thus He declared all foods clean which included the unthinkable for His time - pork to be clean and edible..

Grant that we may be ever mindful of the goodness of Your creation and that abuse of it comes from our misuse of it and not from our use of it.
I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect: “things...within...defile”; Jesus very important statement to His disciples which tells of the source of evil - our intent.   May we always remember that God’s creation  is good and it is our misuse of it that brings about evil. In prayer seek the grace to respect God’s creation and use it for the good of others and self. And seek the grace to develop a clean heart so as to honor the Lord all the days of our lives.

Tomorrow’s reading: Mk 7.24-30

2.10.14

 Lectio:  Mk 7.1-13                                                                                

Meditatio: ”You disregard God’s commandments but cling to human tradition.” Mk 7. 8
                                                                            
Oratio: O God! How fickle we can and are be at times!
        
I remember that the Jewish religious elite taught practices that had only human origins and which allowed them to ignore commandments of Yours;  and worse they imposed them upon the people and criticized those who did not keep them. But Jesus would have none of that and He made it quite clear to them.

Grant that we may be ever mindful of Your commandments and seek Your grace to keep them and to allow them to be our guiding principles in this life so that we might with Your help successfully journey to Your kingdom.

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect: “God’s commandments...cling to human tradition”; the Jewish religious leaders taught traditions to the detriment of the people and Jesus castigated them for doing so.   May we always remember that it is God’s precepts which should guide us in moral choices and not man’s. In prayer seek the grace to be faithful to the commands of God as proclaimed by the Church for she is infallible when it comes to matters of faith and morals.

Tomorrow’s reading: Mk 7.14-23  

2.09.14

 Lectio: Mk 6.53-56                                                                     

Meditatio: ”Whatever villages or towns or countryside he [Jesus] entered, they laid their sick in the marketplace and begged him that they might touch only the tassel of his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.”  Mk 6.56
                                                                            
Oratio: O God! What power Your Son displayed in  the town of Gennesaret!                                             
I remember that every place to which Jesus visited, the people brought their sick to their marketplace and Jesus healed them and He allowed many to simply touch the tassel of His cloak to tap into His healing power.

Grant that we may be ever mindful of the great miracle He works for all of us today, resurrected life. In prayer seek the grace to live in accord with the Good News so that we may  enjoy the miracle of resurrected life in the heavenly kingdom for that is the destiny and the reason we are given the miracle of victory over death.

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect: “sick...touch...healed”; touching Jesus’ tassel on His cloak was sufficient for a persons to receive His healing. What power in a touch!  May we always remember that Jesus wishes to touch all of us with His love and He has given us the greatest gift of the Eucharist -His very self -  to make it possible every day.
    
Tomorrow’s reading: Mk 7.1-13   

2.08.14

 Lectio: Mt 5.13-16                                                          

Meditatio: ”You are the light of the world, A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.”
           Mk 5.14
                                                                            
Oratio: O God! You called us to be Your Son’s disciples and gave us the light of faith.

I remember that Jesus used the metaphor of light to indicate a major role for us. As His disciples, we are not to keep the faith for ourselves but we are  to share it with others.

Grant that we may the lives we live show forth clearly we are Christians and especially by our love for others. Then  Jesus will be pleased that others will come to know Him through us and one day be happy with Him in heaven - a happiness that is the destiny of all true believers.

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect:  "light....mountain”; Jesus wants us to share the faith He gives us and not to keep it for ourselves; and He wants us to share it to all for that it is the meaning of ‘a mountain cannot be hidden.’ Seek the grace to do so; and we and those whose lives we touch will be on the right course to the kingdom.
    
Tomorrow’s reading: Mk 6.53-56   

2.07.14

 Lectio: Mk 6.30-34                                               

Meditatio: ”So they [ the Twelve and Jesus] went off to a deserted place.” Mk 6.32
                                                                            
Oratio: O God! You know the importance of rest so that we can recover both physically as well as mentally from our work.

I remember when the Twelve returned from their first missionary journey, Jesus took them to a deserted place so they could rest awhile, for He knew they could exhaust themselves in ministry and they would not last or be effective.

Grant that we may always remember the importance of rest and quiet time so that not only will my energies be recharged but my relationship with the Lord will grow in those quiet times spent in meditation.

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect:  "went...deserted place”; Jesus took His disciples to a deserted place so that they could rest  from their labors and not to escape the needs of the people; and Jesus showed this for when He found the crowds had followed them and He, not His disciples, ministered to them. In prayer seek balance in one’s life so that one’s mission in life will be effective for self  and for others.
    
Tomorrow’s reading: Mt 5.13-16                 

2.06.14

 Lectio: Mk 6.14-29                                              

Meditatio: ” The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her.” Mk 6.26    
                                                                            
Oratio: O God! You want us to keep our word and especially our oaths but not if they are rash.

I remember Herod had  John the Baptist beheaded because of the oaths he gave to Herodias’ daughter - how wrong!

Grant that we may always remember that we should keep our word but not if it was given rashly and it will result in harm to others for that is not God’s way nor should it be our way.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect:  "Oaths...wish break..word”; Herod killed an innocent man because of his oaths and he had the power to order his execution; but Jesus made it quite clear that we should keep our word but not if it was given rashly and with evil consequences. In prayer seek the grace to always keep our promises that are made with reflection and which do not cause harm to others or to self.

Tomorrow’s reading: Mk 6.30-34         

2.05.14

 Lectio: Mk 6.7-13                                    

Meditatio: ”So they [the Twelve] wen off and preached repentance. They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.” Mk 6. 12,13

Oratio: O God! You made it very easy for those who were the first to hear the Good News.

I remember Jesus sent out the Twelve and gave them the charge not only to preach but also the ability to cure those who were sick as a sign of their authority and many were cured and many believed.

Grant that we may always realize the debt we owe to those who first accepted the Good News and allow the practice of called for by the Good News be our guiding principle and we will be cured of the deadly sickness - life without God.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect:  "Preached...cured"; Jesus charge to the Apostles was to preach and He gave them the power to cure as a sign to the people that their words should be accepted. Let us seek the grace to carry out our Baptismal duty and spread the Good News and be a source of comfort to those whose lives we touch.

Tomorrow’s reading: Mk 6.14-29      

2.04.14

 Lectio: Mk 6.1-6                           

Meditatio: ”He [Jesus] was amazed at their lack of faith.” Mk 6.6

Oratio: O God!  How obstinate we are at times!

I remember Jesus had already performed many miracles and He preached with great wisdom and authority; yet the people of His hometown rejected Him because they knew His origin.

Grant that we may always have the wisdom to realize that it is not are origins which count but what we become; and may we have the grace to become true disciples of the Lord and show it in the lives we  live.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect:  "amazed... lack..faith"; Jesus was not just disappointed in His hometown   people but He was amazed that they did not accept Him because He already had done great things and had preached so well; but before we rush to judgment on His hometown people, don’t we at times forget all the great things God has done for us and the wisdom of His commands;  and simply ignore them and ignore God.  In prayer  seek the grace of a strong faith, a faith that holds in good times and in bad; and then seek the grace to live a true life of faith in the Good News.
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Tomorrow’s reading: Mk 6.7-13                 

2.03.14

 Lectio: Mk 5:21-43                         

Meditatio: ”He [Jesus] took the child by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum’ which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise’!” Mk 5.41          

Oratio: O God! What graces and favors You grant to those who have faith.

I remember on one occasion a woman with who suffered for many years with a hemorrhage had such faith that by simply touching the clothes of Jesus she was healed;  and at Jesus command and his grasping her hand of a little girl,  she was brought back to life - wow!

Grant that we may always have the gift of faith and practice it,  not because of the favors which often flows from it, but that it opens to all the greatest gift - eternal life.
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect:  "Talitha koum...arise"; Jesus gave this command to a dead girl and she was immediately brought back to life; how wonderful for her parents! How important to have faith for our own well being. In prayer  seek the grace to believe with your whole heart, mind and strength, for one day with such  faith we, too, will  hear the word, ‘Arise!’ And we will be given eternal life with the Lord.

Tomorrow’s reading: Mk 5:21-43

2.02.14

 Lectio: Mk 5:1-20               

Meditatio: ”But he [Jesus] would not permit him but told him instead, ‘Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you’.” Mk 5.19          

Oratio: O God you showed us in Your Son’s healing of the Gerasene demoniac that there are a variety of ways in which He wants us to spread the Good News.

I remember Jesus rejected the man from whom He had cast a Legion of devils to follow Him; but instead told him to go home and there spread the Good News  of what Jesus had done for him.

Grant that we may always realize that being a disciple of Jesus does not mean we must be a member of a religious order or a priest or deacon but that we are called to proclaim the Good News in the situation which our life’s calling finds us; and Jesus is most pleased if we do.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect:  "Go home..announce...all"; Jesus denied the man’s request to physically follow Him and but instead told him to proclaim all that Jesus did for him at his home; and the man did;  and all in the Decapolis (the ten cities) were amazed. In prayer seek the grace to realize that we are called to be disciples in the state of life we find ourselves and then seek the grace to proclaim the Good News especially by the lives we live.

Tomorrow’s reading: Mk 5:21-43

2.01.14

Lk 2:22-40

Meditatio: ”When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to The Lord. Lk 2:22

Oratio: O God you showed us through the parents of Your Son very good example.

I remember they took Jesus up to the Temple as a child to be consecrated to The Lord for that was required by their religion.

Grant us the grace to adhere to the laws of our religion which begins with baptism through which we are consecrated as a child of God and called to be a prophet of the Good News,

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: reflect:  "purification...law of Moses"; a rite of Judaism that not only applied to the child but also to the mother under their Holiness Code.  Our baptism plays the same role for our new bournes  and our churching  practice. The latter has now been replaced with a special blessing for mom and her baby as part of the conclusion of the Baptismal Rite. In prayer seek the grace to conform to church law as the Holy Family did and our lives will be pleasing to our God.

Tomorrow’s reading: Mk 5:1-20