| Minute Meditations
St. Berard and Companions Preaching the gospel is often dangerous work. Leaving one's homeland and adjusting to new cultures, governments and languages is difficult enough; but martyrdom caps all the other sacrifices. They tried preaching in Seville, then in Muslim hands, but made no converts. They went on to Morocco where they preached in the marketplace. The friars were immediately apprehended and ordered to leave the country; they refused. When they began preaching again, an exasperated sultan ordered them executed. After enduring severe beatings and declining various bribes to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ, the friars were beheaded by the sultan himself on January 16, 1220. These were the first Franciscan martyrs. When Francis heard of their deaths, he exclaimed, "Now I can truly say that I have five Friars Minor!" Their relics were brought to Portugal where they prompted a young Augustinian canon to join the Franciscans and set off for Morocco the next year. That young man was Anthony of Padua. These five martyrs were canonized in 1481. Comment: The deaths of Berard and his companions sparked a missionary vocation in Anthony of Padua and others. There have been many, many Franciscans who have responded to Francis' challenge. Proclaiming the gospel can be fatal, but that has not stopped the Franciscan men and women who even today risk their lives in many countries throughout the world. Quote: Before St. Francis, the Rules of religious orders made no mention of preaching to the Muslims. In the Rule of 1223, Francis wrote: "Those brothers who, by divine inspiration, desire to go among the Saracens and other nonbelievers should ask permission from their ministers provincial. But the ministers should not grant permission except to those whom they consider fit to be sent" (Chapter 12).
Presence Dear Lord as I come to you today Freedom By God's grace I was born to live in freedom. Consciousness I remind myself that I am in the presence of the Lord. I will take refuge in His loving heart. He is my strength in times of weakness. He is my comforter in times of sorrow. The Word of God Reading 1 Heb 4:1-5, 11Let us be on our guard while the promise of entering into his rest remains, that none of you seem to have failed. For in fact we have received the Good News just as our ancestors did. But the word that they heard did not profit them, for they were not united in faith with those who listened. For we who believed enter into that rest, just as he has said: As I swore in my wrath, "They shall not enter into my rest," and yet his works were accomplished at the foundation of the world. For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this manner, And God rested on the seventh day from all his works; and again, in the previously mentioned place, They shall not enter into my rest. Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall after the same example of disobedience. Responsorial Psalm Ps 78:3 and 4bc, 6c-7, 8R. (see 7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord! What we have heard and know, and what our fathers have declared to us, we will declare to the generation to come The glorious deeds of the LORD and his strength. R. Do not forget the works of the Lord! That they too may rise and declare to their sons that they should put their hope in God, And not forget the deeds of God but keep his commands. R. Do not forget the works of the Lord! And not be like their fathers, a generation wayward and rebellious, A generation that kept not its heart steadfast nor its spirit faithful toward God. R. Do not forget the works of the Lord! Alleluia Lk 7:16R. Alleluia, alleluia.A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 2:1-12When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, "Child, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth" --he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home." He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this." Conversation Remembering that I am still in God's presence, I thank God for these few moments we have spent alone together and for any insights I may have been given concerning the text.
1st Week in Ordinary time Let us strive to enter into that rest. (Hebrews 4:11)
Wait a minute! Aren't "striving" and "resting" diametrically opposed to each other? How can you strive to be restful? Perhaps we think about how we feel at the end of a busy day. We have been trying hard to do well at our work and be kind to the people around us. Then comes the end of the day, when we sink into bed exhausted, grateful to stop "striving" for a few hours before it starts over all again. Finally, we can rest! But this isn't the kind of "rest" that the writer of Hebrews has in mind. Notice he says that after working the miracle of creation, God rested on the seventh day. Having made all things "very good," he is now peacefully guiding the world as its history unfolds (Genesis 1:31). He isn't idle. He is actively sustaining his creation and intervening in billions of people's lives, urging them to turn to him. And yet God is also at rest, perfectly content as he goes about his work. This is the kind of "rest" God wants us to experience. He wants us to be at peace with him, at peace with ourselves, and at peace with the people around us. It's the kind of peace we can experience no matter how many responsibilities, concerns, or chores occupy our minds. But beware. If we drift away from his love and his presence, we risk losing sight of that rest. Anxiety creeps in. Perhaps envy or frustration finds a home, too. We become rest-less. This is where the "striving" comes in. It's up to us to stay close to the Lord, to try to think as he thinks, to feel as he feels, and to let go of what doesn't matter to him. This may sound like a lot of work, but it's not meant to be. When an obstacle surfaces, just toss it aside, and breathe a little prayer. In that short breath, draw near to the Lord. Lean on him, and let him bring you back to his peace. Make it a habit of turning to him during the day, and you'll find yourself more alert to the attitudes and actions that disturb your peace. You'll find yourself entering into his rest! "Father, I belong to you. Help me to rely on your strength working in me."
Psalm 78:3-4, 6-8
my2cents: OH HELP ME LOVE YOU MORE AND MORE yours in Christ our Lord, adrian | |||||||||
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