6th Sunday of the Year (B)

(Edited) Reflections (From) 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B), February 12, 2012

Liturgical readings

Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46
Psalm 32
1 Corinthians 10:31 - 11:1
Mark 1:40-45

"I do will it. Be cured."

In the past Sunday gospels, people kept coming to Jesus for healing. It was clear to the people "Who" and "What" the Good News is: He is Jesus, and He brings restoration and healing. Today's passage describes another healing miracle which Jesus performed. It is a story of a leper. A leper approached Jesus and begged for healing. Jesus, moved with compassion, cured the leper. Jesus warned the healed man not to spread the "Word", but because of the man's joy, he made the story public. The Good News he made public, which the healed man concretely experienced in his life produced such joy in him that it overflowed to others.

Part of the realities of life that all people of all cultures experience are sin, sickness and death. It is clearly plain in the reading of the Scriptures, both in the Old and the New Testament. And it is experienced in every part of man's life. But these negative realities, these death-dealing direction should not be "the" reality. The Word of God incarnated in Jesus is a greater "reality". In truth, He is the best. In Him, the Good News of life and eternal life is being revealed to every member of the faithful from the rising of the sun until its setting. Our main task is to believe in Christ and receive continuous healing from our sins through prayer, the Sacraments, and good works. The joy the healed man experienced can be the same joy for all. It is a joy from amendment in one's state of life and fulfillment of one's responsibilites.

What do the classics say about this? The Classics regard Jesus as the Divine Physician of our souls. May this quote from St. Augustine give clarity to this great truth in the Person of Jesus:

"Rightly is my hope strong in Him, because You will heal all my diseases, through Him "who sits at Your right hand and makes intercession for us," elsewise I would despair. Many and great are those infirmities of mine, many they are and great, but more potent is Your medicine. We could think that Your Word is far from union with men, and we could despair of ourselves, unless He has been "made flesh and dwell amongst us." (from the Confessions of St. Augustine)

Memorial of Saints (February 5)

St. Agatha dedicated herself to God and a life of chastity early in life. A Roman consul desired her and used the persecutions to possess her. When Agatha refused his advances, the consul subjected her to all kinds of tortures including the cutting off of her breasts. The final torture which led to her death was her being rolled over red-hot coals (date of death unknown).

St. Avitus of Vienne succeeded his father as bishop in 490 A.D. Avitus became known for his wisdom, learning and charity. He converted King Sigismund of Burgundy to Christianity in 516 A.D. Avitus wrote an allegorical epic on the creation of man, a poem on chastity, and many homilies and letters still existing to this day (died ca. 525 A.D.).

St. Bertoul came from Germany and was converted to Christianity when he went to Flanders. He became the steward of Count Wambert. Bertoul accompanied the Count and his wife on a pilgrimage to Rome. Upon the death of the Count and his wife, Bertoul was granted their estate, but he decided to retire instead to a monastery he had founded at Renty. It was here that St. Bertoul spent his last years (died ca. 705 A.D.).

Sts. Indractus and Dominica were siblings from Ireland. They were children of an Irish chieftain and were Christians. The two siblings went on a pilgrimage to Rome with several of their companions but they were killed by Saxons near Glastonbury, England (died ca. 710 A.D.).

St. Vodalus was from the north of the British Isles. He went to Gaul to preach the Christian faith and then became a recluse beside St. Mary's Convent as Soissons. He was known for his holiness and dedication to a life of poverty. Noted also to have performed miracles, he died ca. 720 A.D.

St. Adelaide of Bellich was the daughter of the Count of Guelder. She became abbess of Bellich convent, near Bonn, and also at St. Mary's in Cologne. These two abbeys were built by her father. Known for her charity to the poor, this is where she spent her last years (died ca. 1015 A.D.).

The Martyrs of Japan were seventeenth-century martyrs which included: one layman, 10 Dominican priests, and 13 Dominican laypeople. Some of their names were: Peter Baptist, Martin de Aguirre, Francis Blanco, Philip de las Casas, Paul Miki, John Goto, James Kisai, Francis Miako, Gonsalo Garcia, Louis Ibarko, Thomas Kasaki and Francis-of-St-Michael (died ca. 1637 A.D.).

5th Sunday of the Year (B)

(Edited) Reflections: (From) 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B), February 5, 2012

Liturgical readings

Job 7:1-4, 6-7
Psalm 147
1 Corinthians 9:1-19, 22-23
Mark 1:29-39

"He went off to a lonely place in the desert to pray."

Jesus teaches all who hear the gospel that prayer is the key to make lives, relationships and work contribute to healing in all its forms. Though Jesus was busy healing many people (including Simon Peter's mother-in-law), He showed a good example to those who follow Him, how He makes prayer the first priority in His ministry: "He rose up early in the morning to pray." Like Jesus, in prayer, all the faithful can receive from the Father that life-giving spirit that brings healing and help to many, with its primary source in the Eucharist.

For many who live in the city or semi-urban areas, discipline and planning is necessary to manage time and set some for prayer, reading of Scripture, and reflection. Following the example of Jesus, anyone can rise early in the morning and make prayer the first priority of his work day. What Jesus exemplifies in the gospel has become a well-founded tradition in the Church: from the monastic spirituality of ancient Christianity up to present daily Mass-goers of many parishes. The Sacraments invite all to be healed of many bad habits that need to be replaced by life-giving ones that the faithful may be a strong witness to others.

There are many practical helps to lead the faithful to prayer. Meditation tapes are very popular. There are also many books that give ideas how each one can pray more effectively. If one's intuitive and feeling faculties are strong, then these are a big help (especially in reading Scripture passages). Intuition and feeling accompanied with God's grace lifts up minds and hearts to God. St. Augustine, a known authority in the faith, is noted to have used his intuitive and feeling faculties in prayer. The prayer and spiritual tradition of other saints can also help (St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Thomas of Aquinas, and St. Francis of Assisi). Following the Saints' tradition of prayer helps well to obtain that depth of rootedness needed to make Christian life an instrument of peace and hope for many.