Mass Readings and Meditations “The Word among Us” Monday, 27 January 2014

Mass Readings and Meditations “The Word among Us” Monday, 27 January 2014

Meditations: Matthew 4: Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee

12 Now when Jesus[a] heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,

    on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

16 the people who sat in darkness

    have seen a great light,

and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death

    light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”[b]

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Jesus Ministers to Crowds of People

23 Jesus[c] went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news[d] of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Footnotes:

a. Matthew 4:12 Gk he

b. Matthew 4:17 Or is at hand

c. Matthew 4:23 Gk He

d. Matthew 4:23 Gk gospel

Saint Angela Merici, Virgin

How can Satan drive out Satan? (Mark 3:23)

If you’ve ever been near an airfield as a huge jet takes off, you know that it can be a very powerful experience. The deafening noise, the forceful gust, and the shaking ground can make your pulse quicken and your whole body tingle.

Now imagine that you can erase the airplane and the noise, but keep that excited feeling. That’s how some people have described their experience of the Holy Spirit: a quickened pulse, a sense of awe, and an excitement over all that his power can accomplish.

Sometimes, however, the Holy Spirit’s work can be very subtle: perhaps a chance encounter or an answer to an unspoken prayer. It’s this kind of experience, this subtle work of God, that can be overlooked all too easily.

In today’s Gospel reading, the people see Jesus’ miracles and fear that his power is of demonic origin. But Jesus is quick to attribute the miracles to the Holy Spirit. He even rebukes them for slandering the Holy Spirit. It’s striking to see him defending the Spirit as if he were a brother or a close friend.

This close relationship with the Holy Spirit is something that God wants us to develop as well—a relationship so close that we can detect his subtle movements just as easily as his more obvious ones. Pope Francis recently urged us along the same lines:

“Let’s ask ourselves: are we open to the Holy Spirit? Do I pray to him to enlighten me, to make me more sensitive to the things of God? This is a prayer we need to pray every day, every day: ‘Holy Spirit, may my heart be open to the Word of God, may my heart be open to good, may my heart be open to the beauty of God, every day.’ ”

Today, try to identify the Spirit’s work in your life. Pray that you may be open to the word of God, to the goodness in the world, and to the beauty that we experience in creation and in our relationships. Don’t wait for the noise of the jet!

“Holy Spirit, show me the ways that you are working in my life and the path that you have planned for me. Help me to recognize and acknowledge the big and little miracles you have done in my life.” Amen!

2nd book of Samuel 5:  David Anointed King of All Israel

1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, “Look, we are your bone and flesh. 2 For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

Jerusalem Made Capital of the United Kingdom

6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, even the blind and the lame will turn you back”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, which is now the city of David.

10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.

Psalm 89: 20 I have found my servant David;

    with my holy oil I have anointed him;

21 my hand shall always remain with him;

    my arm also shall strengthen him.

22 The enemy shall not outwit him,

    the wicked shall not humble him.

25 I will set his hand on the sea

    and his right hand on the rivers.

26 He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,

    my God, and the Rock of my salvation!’

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