† Quote of the Day "Here is a rule for everyday life: Do not do anything which you cannot offer to God." — St. John Vianney Today's Meditation "And let me make it quite clear that when Christians say the Christ-life is in them, they do not mean simply something mental or moral. When they speak of being 'in Christ' or of Christ being 'in them', this is not simply a way of saying that they are thinking about Christ or copying Him. They mean that Christ is actually operating through them; that the whole mass of Christians are the physical organism through which Christ acts—that we are His fingers and muscles, the cells of His body. And perhaps that explains one or two things. It explains why this new life is spread not only by purely mental acts like belief, but by bodily acts like baptism and Holy Communion. It is not merely the spreading of an idea; it is more like evolution—a biological or superbiological fact. There is no good trying to be more spiritual than God. God never meant man to be a purely spiritual creature. That is why He uses material things like bread and wine to put the new life into us. We may think this rather crude and unspiritual. God does not: He invented eating. He likes matter. He invented it." —C.S. Lewis, p. 64
An excerpt from Mere Christianity Daily Verse "Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." — Proverbs 30:5 | St. Sebastian (d. c. 288 A.D.) was born in Gaul, present-day France, to wealthy Italian parents. According to tradition he went to Rome to serve and encourage the Christians who were being persecuted under the Roman Emperor Diocletian. To do so effectively and without suspicion, he enrolled in the Roman army as an officer. In this position he did much to encourage the faith of the Christians in the face of brutal martyrdom, and in the process made many new converts through his gift of healing. Once he was discovered to be a Christian, he was seized by Roman officers, tied to a tree, and shot through with arrows. He survived this, and was healed by St. Irene of Rome. Being fully recovered, he returned to preach to Diocletian himself. Diocletian then had him beaten to death with clubs. St. Sebastian is the patron of many causes, most notably of archers, athletes, police officers, soldiers, and against plague victims and enemies of religion. St. Sebastian's feast day is January 20th. | Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Hebrews 5:1-10 Brothers and sisters:
Every high priest is taken from among men
and made their representative before God,
to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring,
for he himself is beset by weakness
and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself
as well as for the people.
No one takes this honor upon himself
but only when called by God,
just as Aaron was.
In the same way,
it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest,
but rather the one who said to him:
You are my Son:
this day I have begotten you;
just as he says in another place,
You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.
In the days when he was in the Flesh,
he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears
to the one who was able to save him from death,
and he was heard because of his reverence.
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered;
and when he was made perfect,
he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4 R. (4b) You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand
till I make your enemies your footstool."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion:
"Rule in the midst of your enemies."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
"Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent:
"You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek. Alleluia Hebrews 4:12 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mark 2:18-22 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast.
People came to Jesus and objected,
"Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast,
but your disciples do not fast?"
Jesus answered them,
"Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast on that day.
No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak.
If he does, its fullness pulls away,
the new from the old, and the tear gets worse.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins,
and both the wine and the skins are ruined.
Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins." | Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ! | Daily Meditation: Mark 2:18-22 New wine is poured into fresh wineskins. (Mark 2:22) John the Baptist and his disciples were deeply devoted to following God and preparing for the Messiah. They fasted and prayed rigorously in order to be ready for him. So when the Messiah arrived, did they immediately celebrate and exchange their preparations for rejoicing? Not exactly. In fact, it was a surprisingly difficult shift to make! Like the people in today's Gospel, many of John's followers were confused by Jesus' new teachings and practices, including his disciples' lack of fasting. "Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" (Mark 2:18). As he often did, Jesus reframed their question to not only give information but to make transformation possible in their hearts. His answer—"New wine is poured into fresh wineskins" (2:22)—essentially said, "Rather than comparing me to other people, ask yourself if you are able to change enough to receive what I am offering you?" If they were like old inflexible wineskins, they wouldn't be able to understand Jesus' teachings. But if they were like fresh flexible wineskins, they would be able to hold all that he wanted to give them—and it would make a profound difference in their lives. What's challenging you right now? In what ways might you be like an "old wineskin"? Perhaps you are having trouble accepting a new situation in your family or at work. Maybe your church is navigating changes that affect you in some way. Or perhaps you sense God inviting you to be kinder, more patient, or more compassionate to the people around you. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you identify any similar challenges you might be facing. Jesus wants to help you. He wants to soften your heart so that you are flexible enough to receive his new wine. Turn to him today and tell him about the areas of your life that are difficult for you. Then ask him to give you his heart and his perspective. Trust him to fill you afresh with his power, his love, and his peace. He is faithful, and he will do it! "Thank you, Jesus, for making me flexible to receive all that you have for me!" Hebrews 5:1-10
Psalm 110:1-4 | Reflections with Brother Adrian: |  Hear AI Read it for u | In the Holy Scripture we hear today: "Jesus answered them,
"Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast on that day.
No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak.
If he does, its fullness pulls away,
the new from the old, and the tear gets worse.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins...." end Gospel quote, word of the Lord. | From Bishop Barron: "Throughout the ministry of Jesus you find that same motif: he will gather the scattered tribes—yes, the elite, but also the sinners and the outcasts. All are invited to the table of the Lord, establishing this wedding banquet and unity that God wants with his people.
Jesus presents himself as the coming together of heaven and earth. He's the coming together of divinity and humanity in his own person. He is this wedding banquet. "Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" Because this great banquet is going on!....." end quote.
From Roberto Juarez reflections:
"These images indicate that Jesus' message cannot be limited to the old structures of Judaism or rigid interpretations of the law. He inaugurates a new covenant that requires openness and transformation.
Are we willing to leave behind our rigid ways of thinking and acting to embrace the newness of the gospel? Do we allow Jesus to transform our lives to be new wineskins that can contain his love and grace?" end quote.
In our Holy Church, we have periods of fasting and feasts. We can fast however much we like though, it is a very crucial part of prayer. Fasting has always been a form of powerful prayer, from the times before Jesus our Lord walked the earth as a human. And He did not say to end this great prayer form, for He too fasted, 40 days, and many times before and after. But, just like his first miracle, the wedding at Cana, it was time for feast, of food, and wine, and gladness with cheer.
It is evident that He would reveal Himself to the world in this feast, an offering and revelation, all things that happen in a Holy Mass offering.
And what is an old cloth and old wine-skin? Simply the old that cannot contain the new. Your old ways have gotten you only so far, in the advancement and knowledge and love of the Lord. And let us not think of the temporal body and our temporal desires and needs, but let us think of the new that is coming. And it starts now, for we are forming the body to house the temple of God. Temples are always in need of renovation, some are burned to the ground, some are dilapidated, and some are abandoned. All need a renewal, for a new time that is to come, a new era of faith and hope. Sure, we've been trampled, but up comes the new shoot, from the stump of David, it is our Lord, the Messiah. We wouldn't need a Messiah if everything was perfect.
So how will things be in Heaven if everything is perfect, will we not need our Messiah?
Perfect love will happen. The need is fulfilled there in every sense of the word, and this is the ultimate good. For no thing on earth can fulfill our every desire, but God Himself. Lord, may we desire and hunger for more of You, more love, a new love, a new being, a forever being in the eternal now. For your sacrifice on earth was not a one time thing, but eternal. And so is the wedding feast, the groom with His Love, the Holy Church, the body...one in and with Jesus our Love! |  audio | Random Bible Verse 1
Proverbs 17:17 17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. "Word of the Lord!" | If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace | | |
