1.31.15

Lectio: Mk  1.21-28                                                         

 Meditatio: "The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one with authority and not as the scribes.” Mk 1.2

 Oratio: O God, with Your Son’s coming You were able to change the people’s aspirations.
  
 I remember the people would now have genuine spiritual teachings for Your Son taught at one with authority and He showed He had such authority with the miracles He worked. In prayer thank our God for giving us His Son to enlighten us and to guide us for He alone is the Way, the Truth, the 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:"astonished...taught....authority”; Jesus backed up His authoritative teaching with miracles for He knew they needed such a display of power to overcome doubts that may arise. Sadly the religious leaders did not accept Him because He did not fit their preconceived notion as to what the Messiah would be. Seek the grace to set aside prejudgments and be open to what is being taught by the Church for She is Christ for us now.

Tomorrow's reading:Lk 2.22-32

1.30.15

Lectio: Mk 4.35-41                                                 

 Meditatio: "They were filled with awe and said to one another,’ Who then is this whom even the wind and sea obey’?” Mk4.41

 Oratio: O God, what power You gave to Your Son!
  
 I remember Jesus rebuked the wind and the stormy sea and all was still! What power! But not surprisingly for He is Your Son and has the power of God. In prayer place my trust in the Lord for He will see me through all crises. .
    
 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....wind...sea obey’;” Jesus is God and therefore nothing is beyond His ability and even inanimate things like the wind and sea obey  Him. Seek the grace to always turn to Him in the spiritual and physical storms of life knowing He can and will truly help.                                                             
Tomorrow's reading:Mk 1.21-28

1.27 to 1,29,15

1.27.15

Lectio: Mk 4.1-20

Meditatio: "He answered them, 'The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables," Mk 4.11

Oratio: O God, to  those who are open to You and the Divine, You reveal Yourself but to those who are not, You remain hidden.

I remember Jesus told His disciples He taught in parables so that those who did not believe in Him would not understand the mysteries while those who accept Him, would. In prayer ask the Lord to help your unbelief and He will.

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:"mystery...granted...you...outside .. Parables"; to believers, the kingdom and it's mysteries are made known.  Seek the grace to believe always even when all us dark, and the light of Christ will shine on you to your great joy.

Tomorrow's reading: Mk 4.21-25



1.28.15

Lectio: Mk 4.21-25

Meditatio: "He said to them, 'Is a lamp to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not on a lamp stand '?" Mk 4.21

Oratio: O God, You know the importance of being pro-active in spreading our faith for the benefit of those who look and do not see.

I remember Jesus used the parable of the lamp and where it should be placed to emphasize the obvious. Yet in our density we often fail to the detriment of our neighbors and to the loss of their love for God.  In prayer be a source of faith for others and not an obstacle.

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:"lamp..placed...under...?"; reflect on our obligation to spread the Gospel.  Seek the grace to be a light for those who are in darkness so they may be blest as we are blest.

Tomorrow's reading: Mk 4.26-34


 1.29.15

Lectio: Mk 4.26-34                                                 

 Meditatio: "He said, ‘This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, and he knows not how’.” Mk 4.26,27

 Oratio: O God, You provide the seed of faith and if we accept it, you provide the grace for its growth.                                                                         
 I remember Jesus made this point in His parable about how faith grows and likened it to a seed and how it grows. In prayer nourish the faith that has been given to you daily so that it may produce the growth that the Lord wants.
    
 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:"seed...grow...knows not’;” faith is a gift and its growth is gradual and it is nourished by grace that God freely gives for our turning to Him. Seek the grace to treasure the gift of faith and to do the good that enhances it so as to do our part to bring it to full growth by cooperating with the will of God.

Tomorrow's reading:Mk 4.35-41

1.26.15

Lectio: Mk 3.31-35                                                 

 Meditatio: "For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and motherl.” Mk 3.35

 Oratio: O God, how gracious and how wonderful for us to be included among Your close family.                                                                                    
 I remember Jessus declared that all who do God’s will are His familly. Think of thet -we are not    Just believers but we are part of the inner circle of His family - mother, sitster, brother. In prayer may I come to know God’s will and do 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:"will...God is.....brother, sister...mother”; What a revelation! What a gift! Jesus’ family member.  Seek the grace to do God’s will and You will be greatly gifted with being part of Jesus’ family.                

Tomorrow's reading:Mk 4.1-20

1.25.15

 
Lectio: Mk 3.22-30                                      

 Meditatio: "The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, ‘He is possessed by Beelzebul,’ and ‘By the prince of demons he casts out demons’.” Mk 3.22

 Oratio: O God, how patient and merciful You are with our stupidity.                                                                                                             
 I remember some scribes, the official interpreters of the Hebrew scriptures, asserted the ridiculous that Jesus casts out demons because He was possessed by the Prince of Demons. In prayer may I always open to the God’s revelation and always attribute to God the works of God and never attribute to Satan the attributes of God.                          

 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:"scribes....He....possessed”; imagine, seeing all that Jesus was doing and saying and then attributing His casting out demons to Satan’s power. Seek the grace to see God at work in all things and give Him praise and thanks for being so kind and good to us.

Tomorrow's reading: Mk 3.31-35

1.24.15

Lectio:  Mk 1.14-20                           

 Meditatio: "This is the time of fulfillment, The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mk 1.15                 

 Oratio: O God, You promise and You keep Your promise.                                                                                                                 
 I remember You promised to send a Messiah to the chosen people of Israel and You kept it when Jesus came.  He made it clear that His presence was what You promised - proclaiming ‘this is the time of fulfillment.’    In prayer thank God for making known through Jesus the Good News and respond to it by doing God’s will as it is made known to us.

 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:"time...fulfillment,...repent...believe”; God promised, God kept His promise and we are all the beneficiaries of the Good News. Seek the grace to respond in the twofold manner that Jesus made known to us by repenting and by believing in the Gospel. If we do,  it will be for us the time of fulfillment and source of lasting peace, joy and love and so much more..

 Tomorrow's reading: Mk 3.22-30

1.23.15

 
Lectio:  Mk 3.20-21                

 Meditatio: "When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him; for they said, ‘He is o ut of his mind’.” Mk 3.21                 

 Oratio: O God, You made it so easy for people to recognize your Son who spoke with authority and showed He had Your approval with the many cures He performed - Yet!

 I remember Your Son’s relative said of Him that He was out of His mind because He allowed people to come to Him and place such demands on Him that He did not have time to even eat. In prayer let  me imitate Jesus and remember He did not come to serve but to serve; and may I do the same.

 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:"relatives....He...out....his mind”; Jesus allowed people to put such demands on Him that He did not time for Himself and His relatives came for Him to “rescue” Him for they considered this madness. Seek the grace to see that demands placed upon you by others in need and Your responding to it is what Jesus would do; and then strive to meet these demands for that is the essence of discipleship - serving others in their needs.

 Tomorrow's reading: Mk 1.14-20