12 January Monday TODAYS READINGS: DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH DIDACHE STUCK! Then they left their nets and followed him. – Mark 1:18 I have heard that monkeys are caught through using coconut shells with holes as traps. The shells have holes big enough for food to be placed inside, but small enough for only the hand of the monkey to pass through. When a monkey puts its hand through the hole to get the food, it wouldn’t be able to pull out its hand unless it lets go of the food. The monkey is stuck and is eventually caught. Friends, regardless of our relation to monkeys, we do act similarly. There are things we desire and are not willing to let go of, even if holding on to them causes us difficulty, stagnation or outright harm. These desires could very well be harmful behaviors we habitually cling to. And because we seem unable to let go, we end up stuck! As Rush Limbaugh said, “Being stuck is a position few of us like. We want something new but cannot let go of the old — old ideas, beliefs, habits, even thoughts. We are out of contact with our own genius. Sometimes we know we are stuck; sometimes we don’t. In both cases we have to do something.” Are you stuck? Let go... and let God. Jonathan Yogawin (jyogawin@gmail) Reflection: What do you need to let go of? Do something about it. Act and create the New Year you very well deserve! Lord, I surrender everything to You. Lead me. St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, virgin, pray for us. Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top COMPANION 1ST READING It is important to remember that humanity is the most like God among all of creation. We have been made in His image and likeness as the Book of Genesis tells us. In the Letter to the Hebrews, we are reminded of this special place and of our great responsibility to follow God’s will and obey His commands. Hebrews 1:1-6 1 Brothers and sisters: In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; 2 In these last days, he spoke to us through the Son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, 3 who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say: You are my son; this day I have begotten you? Or again: I will be a father to him, and he shall be the son to me? 6 And again, when he leads the first born into the world, he says: Let all the angels of God worship him. P S AL M Psalm 97:1-2, 6-7, 9 R: Let all his angels worship him. 1 The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad. 2 Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. (R) 6 The heavens proclaim his justice, and all peoples see his glory. 7 Let all his angels worship him. (R) 9 Because you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth, exalted far above all gods. (R) GOSPEL I very much doubt that the Apostles chose to follow Jesus the first time they heard Him speak. They might have heard Him speak in various contexts and only on clearly hearing the call to follow Him did they choose to do so. The same is true of us. We may not have literally heard Jesus speak but we have heard the Gospel proclaimed numerous times. What stops us from following Jesus wholeheartedly? Our indecision. Let us follow Jesus as His disciples without hesitation or conditions. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel. Mark 1:14-20 14 After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: 15 “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” 16 As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. 17 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 18 Then they left their nets and followed him. 19 He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. 20 Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him. think: We have a great responsibility to follow God’s will and obey His commands. T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST Thank You Lord for: __________________ ____________________________________ God’s special verse/thought for me today_ _____________________________________ READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Luke 1-4 Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top SABBATH THE TIME OF FULFILLMENT John had been arrested. The voice of the one who cried out in the wilderness had been silenced. Soon, he also would be executed. The precursor had bowed out of the running. His mission was done. Could we say that his cause was also done for? But no sooner had John been imprisoned, and Christ, whom he had introduced, began His ministry in earnest. He began by calling and forming individuals to ministry. He called them while deep in human work in order to burrow deeper into Godly work. The precursor might have gone away from the scene, but the cursor, the real runner, was very much in form. John never talked about fulfillment. He only talked about being filled while running on empty. “He must increase but I must decrease.” He had an empty tank and his engine was running on low maintenance fuel: wild locusts and honey. Every one of us dreamed at some point in our lives about being great, being well known, being popular, and being sought after. We Filipinos definitely have it in our genes to follow our collective star complex. Just look at how many fall in line to get a shot at his or her five minutes of fame at Eat Bulaga (a local noontime show). I know of people who are updated about the latest news on every celebrity in Philippine showbiz. Ordinary time has once more set in. It is best described as, well, ordinary. Ordinary means commonplace, regular, the usual, and not the stupendous, the glorious, the marvelous, and definitely not the super whatever. Ordinary time opens with an ordinary man with ordinary plebeian and Spartan tastes — John. The supporting actors are ordinary fishermen, deep in work, called to do the Work that God Himself has given to His Son. And all that was required was obedience. They obeyed. They were filled with zeal. The time of fulfillment has begun! Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB REFLECTION QUESTION: What motivates you in your work, in your service, in your relationships? Purify my motivations, Lord, in whatever I do, so that in all things, only You may be glorified.
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 01:39:48 +0000
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