13 Jan Hebrews 3:12-13 (The Word of Life) by Stephanie Kemp
Stephanie’s Reflections: In the Gospel today (Mark 1:40-45) a leper comes up to Jesus, kneels down and begs Him, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Our Lord, who always desires what is good for us, takes pity on him, touches him and says, “I will do it. Be made clean.” After the leper is healed, Jesus warns him to tell no one, but the man, filled with gratitude and joy, shares the Good News with everyone. Jesus waits for us each day in the Blessed Sacrament to restore our strength. He most certainly wants what is good for us. It is those sicknesses that have no cure apart from Jesus that weigh the heaviest on our hearts and exhaust us. How often do we go about or lives fully absorbed in our work and daily concerns? Do we ever stop to consider the Lord of Mercy is really present in every tabernacle of every church just waiting for us to come to Him? This past summer we started weekly Eucharistic Adoration at my parish. The quiet time spent at the feet of Our Lord can be profound. Just listening to His Word or pouring out one’s heart to Him in the quiet of the church can be incredibly healing. I look forward to my special weekly commitment and encourage you to take every opportunity you are given this year to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. The leper today gives us a wonderful example to follow. He is not afraid to come to Jesus, exposing his grotesque affliction that isolated him from others. He teaches us to admit our need for help; to know that we need to be healed of all the things that separate us from others and from God. With the devil’s help, our weakened natures, and the busy ‘noise’ of modern life, we have become experts at muffling our consciences. Over time, we can get to a point where we convince ourselves we really don’t need God. And because we harden our hearts, we don’t hear His Word anymore. We don’t hear the truth about who we are and what we need most. The leper teaches us humility and confidence. In the Eucharist we find God Himself. “If you want to Lord, you can cure me.” In finding God, we can find ourselves.
Faith Challenge: Let us all find the courage to come to Our Lord in humility today…to let go of our pride and give Jesus what He wants the most from us – our sins. “If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”
Counter-Culture News: LSN, Vatican, AFA, Priests for Life, Live Action
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). View, add, updatePrayers on our website. Let’s pray now.
* Pray for mothers and fathers who have bought the biggest lie of our culture and chosen to abort their children. Many have hardened their hearts and despair of God’s mercy and forgiveness. They are the tens of millions of ‘walking wounded’ in America’s War on the Unborn that desperately need God’s healing touch.
Feast Day: Saint Hilary of Poitiers.
Faith Quote: “If our prayer weaves together a healthy awareness for our need for God’s grace and assistance, a real confidence in His power and love, and the elegance of humility, God will be able to do wonders in us as well.” ~ Father John Bartunek, LC.
* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (23% pregnancies).Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa
* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.
Kathy Castle
Posted at 9:57 AM, 13 January 2011Stephanie, I love this special time with the Lord! Since my Mother died two years ago, I go once a week on my lunch hours. I am so sad when I can’t go to visit in his Holy Presence. Somedays I just rest in the Spirit, and I feel renewed. I’m learning to be still and know that He is God. Bless you for all you do! Kathy Castle