Mark 4:1-43

 
Icthus  - fish in Greek – was the secret symbol of the early church. It was the acronym made up of the first Greek letters of “Jesus, Son of God, Saviour.” Early Christians scratched the fish symbol into the walls of the Catacombs, and both electric and fossil fuel vehicles of Christians bear the sign today. The message continues to resound through time and space: Jesus the Word who is the Son of God Incarnate has brokered peace with God for all people of all times. It is either true or it isn’t. If it is true, then we are challenged daily and even hourly.  Do I, with my thoughts, words and actions bear witness to the fact that Jesus is the Christ at all times? Do I remember when I am confused that He is the One Savior of the world, who can and does pull us out of the clutches of the world, the flesh and the evil one? Does my being at home, at work, and at play bear witness to this fact?  If Jesus truly is the Savior of the world do I live into his ability and his desire to speak the Good News of peace with God into my heart, to cleanse me from my transgressions, to release me from the prisons of sin, despair and despondency (acedia), to cast out the demons that have taken up strongholds in me, and to raise the dead parts of my existence? Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me listen to You as the One with authority.  
 
Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you. At a time of distress, the rush of  mighty waters shall not reach them. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble and surround me with the gladness of deliverance. (Psalm 32: 6,7)
 
All for God and for God’s glory. In whatever you do, think of the glory of God as your focus.
St. John Bosco
 
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
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Mark 4:1-20

As soil receives seed, I receive the Word of God every time I read the Word of God with my lips and meditate on it in my heart, each time I ponder the words of scripture my eyes have seen or my ears have heard. But what then? Those life-giving seeds of phrases and sentences expressing the mystery of God’s Word need the watering of my attention and the sunshine of the Holy Spirit to be able to germinate and grow as they are designed to do, and to then bear fruit in my own life and in my dealings with others.  Will my life be a good garden for the Creator’s life-giving words?  Will my time here on earth grow the good fruits the Holy Spirit of God longs to have ripen in my home, my place of work, my friendships and my community?  Holy Spirit, help me let the Word of God sprout, grow and bear fruit in my life. 
 
And these are the ones sown on good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty, and sixty and a hundredfold. (Mark 4:20)
 
If you seek Jesus in all things you will surely find Jesus. And if you seek yourself, you will surely find yourself, but only to your ruin.
Thomas à Kempis
 
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
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1 Samuel 15:16-23 & John 1:35-42

 
With God’s help, under King Saul the Israelite army won the battle yet again. The slain enemy left behind women and children, whole households and other treasure.  It only made sense to Saul to let his tired troops take what they wanted from the spoils of war. Even though he had received definite word from the ‘seer’, Samuel, that the Lord forbade the Israelites from taking, and so bringing into their own lives, the possessions of the Amalekites, Saul deferred to public pressure and waffled;  Well, sure, why not, just this one time. As a result the Israelites descended into a godlessness that cost them future victories, and Saul and his family were replaced by King David and his family as the royal line of the Jews. How often do I waffle the Word of God, and just this one time say something that is cruel or only half true, allow impure or violent thought patterns into my thinking, act out of greed or resentment or bring into my life any one of the godless media posts, movies or motives that surround us these days? Will I, like Saul, ignore the wisdom of God placed in my heart by the Holy Spirit, and just this once, use society’s spoils, or will I, like Jesus’ faithful eleven, listen to his Word and follow in our Redeemer’s footsteps?  Christ Jesus, help me heed your word and follow your steps.  
 
Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear… Then I said, “Here I am… I delight to do your will.”    (Psalm 40:6,7)
 
Incline my heart according to your will, O God.
Speed my steps along your path.
Responsory, Wednesday Morning Prayer, Week III, Liturgy of the Hours
 
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
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1 John 3:7-10 & Mark 1:29 -39

 
The tussle between good and evil, light and dark, God and Satan, is a old as the hills, and not dusty; this battle for human will is still, perhaps more than ever, a reality. As human beings gifted with free will, we have always had the ability to draw into ourselves the darkness of the deceitful instigations of the evil one or the light from the Holy Spirit of God. It is the despondency of darkness that shrouds and minimizes the effects of demonic activity in our lives and prevents us from taking in the Message of God’s mercy. Dispositions to addictions, malice, violence, depression hard heartedness, and illness of body, mind and spirit are signs of demonic activity in our lives today.  Jesus spent a good part of his ministry “proclaiming the message and casting out the demons” that destroy our ability to enter into God’s mercy-full presence and holy rest. Will I hold onto the demons in my life? Or will I ask Christ Jesus to cast them out of my life so that I can integrate his Message, his Word of salvation, of Light and Life, into my being?  Christ Jesus, cast out the demons and fill me with your Message.
 
The Son of God was revealed for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.  (1John 3: 8 )
 
Holy Spirit of Jesus,
Help me put on the helmet of Salvation,
The shoes of Peace,
The belt of Truth,
The chest protector of Righteousness,
And take up the shield of Faith,
And the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God,
To stand beside you in Truth and Love,
As you bring souls to heaven. Amen
See Ephesians 6:10-17
 
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
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1 John 4;1-6 & Matt 2:1-12

 
It took months if not years for the wise men from the east to find Jesus. “Why do that?” Their friends may have asked – just as the world asks us today –“You say you seek a King, but you don’t know where he is. You are trusting the testimony of ancient writings and signs of nature??! And this promise of Light in the world, what is that?? It’ll take precious hours (if not weeks and years as it was for the Magi) for the journey. It’s a waste of time!” But the three Wise Men from afar packed their treasured gifts for the promised King of Kings, the Messiah, loaded their camels, and left home.  Their journey was even more challenging than they expected. The star disappeared from their view when they arrived in Judea; the King of Israel seemed ‘off’ and of ill intent; there seemed to be no local astrologers reading the stars; the common folk of Israel didn’t seem to care that a King of Kings could be born in their midst; and eventually the house where they found the child was not only plain, but empty of other worshippers. But the journey was worth it! No matter the times of uncertainty, when the three travelers found the child, they realized that they were beholding God face to face. Truly the Child was worthy of all time, all worship and their priceless gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. In this present age, heralded by the mantra, I don’t have time, discouragements to the journey inward are just as plentiful as they were in the days of the first Epiphany. Wise men and women still seek Jesus, but we are perhaps just as few and far between as in the days of Herod. Will I, like the naysayers of Jesus’ day, turn a blind eye to his presence in my own life and times? Or will I, like the wise men from the east, take the time and effort to search for Jesus in the events, the places and people of my life – and find the Messiah, the King of Kings? Will I offer up the minutes, the hours, and perhaps the days it takes to not only seek, but find, Christ Jesus -– find the promises of God fulfilled? Holy Spirit of God, help me always to take time to find the King of Kings.   
 
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  (St Matthew 5:8 )
 
If you seek Jesus in all things you will surely find Jesus. And if you seek yourself, you will surely find yourself, but only to your ruin.
Thomas à Kempis
 
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
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