The Ongoing Process of Spiritual Conversion --- & --- Mark 8:22-26 -- Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida - Ġesù jfejjaq raġel agħma f'Betsajda

 



WEDNESDAY GOSPEL OF WEEK 6 IN ORDINARY TIME

Ġesù jfejjaq raġel agħma f'Betsajda

EVANĠELJU
L-agħma kien imfejjaq, hekk li sar jara kollox tajjeb mill-bogħod ukoll.
Mk 8, 22-26

Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Mark

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù u d-dixxipli waslu Betsajda, u ħadulu quddiemu raġel agħma u talbuh imissu. Qabad l-agħma minn idu u ħadu barra mir-raħal, beżaqlu f’għajnejh, qiegħed idejh fuqu u staqsieh: “Qiegħed tara xi ħaġa?”. Dak ħares ’il fuq u qal: “Qiegħed nara n-nies, imma qiegħed narahom donnhom siġar mexjin”. Imbagħad raġa’ qegħedlu jdejh fuq għajnejh, u beda jara ċar: u kien imfejjaq, hekk li sar jara kollox tajjeb mill-bogħod ukoll. Bagħtu lura lejn daru, u qallu: “Qis li ma tgħid xejn meta tmur ir-raħal”.

Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu



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Some points to reflect on ... The ongoing process of spiritual conversion :-

The Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament

 

 

- The people brought to Jesus the blind man --- This is the same as when we visit the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist to intercede for someone who needs help to be freed from the blinding slavery to sin. Faith may move mountains but insisting prayer moves God, in His time and in His mysterious ways --- Although the blind man did not ask himself for Jesus to heal him, or maybe he did not even ask to be brought to him, Jesus did what was told by the people who brought him ... and more ...

 

- Jesus touched him, took his hand and led him outside the village --- as when Jesus, who listens to our prayers, touches the heart of the person we prayed for, brings him conscious of his disillusioned way of living, encourages him to pick up courage to leave that environment and change his behaviour: The infinite Mercy of God restores and recreates - physically, psychologically, morally, emotionally, spiritually ...

 

- 23b and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?” --- Jesus opens our eyes through His Word, little by little: The more we listen to it, the more we meditate on it, the more we become conscious of the reality we live in - the evil around us and the struggle in us between good and evil, that tries to steal our attention from Jesus; that tries to steal our dignity; that tries to allure us to egoistic desires of power(prestige), pleasure, possessions...

Tower of Babel



... The man was not blind from birth for when Jesus asked him, he replied that he could see people but they looked like trees walking ! --- The same happens when we accept to convert: we have recollections of the sweet experiences of our humble innocence before we got trapped into the peer pressure of the culture of the day - corruption, abuses, deceit, marginalization, drugs, sex outside marriage, frenetic consumerism --- cultures of extremes:
> The throw away culture: The media uses advertisements to blame you for not being beautiful enough, for not being strong enough, for not being intelligent enough, for not being rich enough, for not being young enough, for not buying the latest gadgets enough, for not being free enough ... if you do not do what is advertised !
> Falling into the playboy culture: Throwing away commitments by irresponsible, immature and selfish behaviour, which may be even the results of lack of basic formation and information.
> The “culture of well-being” and comfort that convinces married men and women to intentionally remain childless, choosing a carefree life of world travel and summer homes ... even preferring to raise pets instead of kids; solo living; autonomy; self-sufficiency.
> The culture of death: contraception, abortion, euthanasia, illicit scientific experiments on humans and the creation,  wars, genocides.

Pope: Jesus is the good shepherd


 

- 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. --- The more we open our heart to Jesus the more we become conscious of how much He was patient and merciful with us; how much He waited upon us to change. How many times He prevented us from sinning by providing people who corrected us, who taught us by their good examples. The closer we come to Jesus the more we become conscious of how much more we need to become humble, obedient, gentle, patient, forgiving, happy in simple ways, conscious of how difficult it is not to offend His honesty, His loyalty due to our frailty and weakness...Only by His grace we succeed to experience our transformation in a marvellous new reasoning, through the spiritual wisdom He bestows on us ... even through trials, ridicule, difficulties, humiliation, provocations, temptations, tragedies, sickness, persecution, isolation ... for all that God permits, is good for our purification and salvation.

 

- 26b “Do not even go into the village." --- Conversion is not a one time event but an ongoing process, day by day, second by second to overcome temptation: A nagging itch, a fleeting thought, a curious glimpse and bad thoughts start racing in our mind. (You cannot stop a bird from flying over your head BUT you can stop it from making a nest IN your head) Conversion comes as a result of our righteous efforts to follow God. These efforts include Prayer, Sacred Scripture, sincere repenting of sin, receiving the sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist and enduring to the end in faith. We can endure all when we have an intimate relationship with Jesus, our teacher, our Saviour, our redeemer ... in silence and even in solitude (not isolation ! ).

God loves us. God loves you. God loves me.

 

 

 

 

 

 







Pope Francis: Nothing, and no one, can take away the assurance that God loves us  

 

Fr. Ignatius on the first reading from Sirach where we are admonished to not delay our conversion since this is presumption on God's later mercy when he is giving this mercy now.





... Once you see the primacy of Grace, Prayer is God's addressing of us ... "Whatever is good and true and right in our prayer is the Holy Spirit already praying in us" ... Authentic petitionary prayer is the Holy Spirit prompting you to ask for what He wants to give. So its the primacy of the Lord's involvement ...

Bishop Barron Comments on Prayer

LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD,

have mercy on me, a sinner

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Fr. Casey - The Spiritual Battle of Our Time --- The Devil: Liar and Murderer
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEYDcemW6Gv9C50iDimuuAi87yHlLc6_c








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Vatican magazine "Una nuova bellezza digitale" 27-01-2017 --- I Musei Vaticani - The Vatican Museums and MORE

Published on Jan 27, 2017




I Musei Vaticani - The Vatican Museums

http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html

 



New Vatican Museum website: "Less is more"

Television cameras enter the laboratories of the Vatican Museums for the first time - Published on Mar 12, 2017






Vatican Magazine, "I depositi “nobili” dei Musei Vaticani", 24-03-2017






Vatican Magazine "La Menorà tra San Pietro e la Sinagoga" 19.05.2017







Vatican Magazine, "Un nuovo, sorprendente Giudizio Universale", 20-10-2017












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JANUARY 26 - Saints Timothy & Titus, Bishops

 

The Ripple Effect (1/26/17)



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sts. Timothy and Titus, Bishops
Feast Day: January 26

http://www.liturgies.net/saints/timothyandtitus/timothytitus.htm

 

 

 

Readings
for the Feast of

STS. TIMOTHY AND TITUS
Bishops
January 26

http://www.liturgies.net/saints/timothyandtitus/readings.htm

EITHER:

First reading 2 Timothy 1:1-8

From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus in his design to promise life in Christ Jesus; to Timothy, dear child of mine, wishing you grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.

  Night and day I thank God, keeping my conscience clear and remembering my duty to him as my ancestors did, and always I remember you in my prayers; I remember your tears and long to see you again to complete my happiness. Then I am reminded of the sincere faith which you have; it came first to live in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I have no doubt that it is the same faith in you as well.

  That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God’s gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control. So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord, or ashamed of me for being his prisoner; but with me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy.

 

OR:

Alternative First reading Titus 1:1-5

From Paul, servant of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ to bring those whom God has chosen to faith and to the knowledge of the truth that leads to true religion; and to give them the hope of the eternal life that was promised so long ago by God. He does not lie and so, at the appointed time, he revealed his decision, and, by the command of God our saviour, I have been commissioned to proclaim it. To Titus, true child of mine in the faith that we share, wishing you grace and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our saviour.

  The reason I left you behind in Crete was for you to get everything organised there and appoint elders in every town, in the way that I told you.

---

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 95(96):1-3,7-8,10

Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.

O sing a new song to the Lord,

  sing to the Lord all the earth.

  O sing to the Lord, bless his name.

Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.

Proclaim his help day by day,

  tell among the nations his glory

  and his wonders among all the peoples.

Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.

Give the Lord, you families of peoples,

  give the Lord glory and power;

  give the Lord the glory of his name.

Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.

Proclaim to the nations: ‘God is king.’

  The world he made firm in its place;

  he will judge the peoples in fairness.

Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.

---

Gospel Acclamation (Lk4:17)

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Lord has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,

to proclaim liberty to captives.

Alleluia!

Gospel Luke 10:1-9

Your peace will rest on that man

The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, “The kingdom of God is very near to you.”’

THE GOSPEL:

Lk 10:1-9 -- The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few - il-ħsad kbir imma l-ħaddiema ftit

Evanġelju

Lq 10: 1-9

 

Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Luqa

 

F’dak iż-żmien: Il-Mulej qabbad tnejn u sebgħin oħra u bagħathom tnejn tnejn qablu f’kull belt u post fejn kien sejjer hu. U qalilhom: “Il-ħsad hu kbir, tassew, imma l-ħaddiema ftit. Itolbu mela ’l sid il-ħsad biex jibgħat ħaddiema għall-ħsad tiegħu. Morru! Araw, qiegħed nibgħatkom bħal ħrief qalb l-ilpup.

 

Teħdux magħkom, la but, la ħorġa u lanqas qrieq, u fit-triq issellmu ’l ħadd. Fid-dar fejn tidħlu, l-ewwel għidu, ‘Sliem lil din id-dar.’ U jekk fiha jkun hemm bin is-sliem, jistrieħ is-sliem tagħkom fuqu; jekk le, it-tislima tagħkom terġgħalkom lura għandkom. Ibqgħu għand dik il-familja, u kulu u ixorbu milli jkollhom huma, għax il-ħaddiem ħaqqu ħlasu. Toqogħdux idduru mingħand familja għal oħra. F’kull belt li fiha tmorru u jilqgħukom, kulu dak li jqegħdulkom quddiemkom; fejqu l-morda tagħha, u lin-nies għidulhom, ‘Is-Saltna ta’ Alla waslitilkom.’”

 

Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu.

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Pope: transmit the faith with the courage of truth and witness

http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2018-01/pope-homily-santa-marta.html

During his homily at morning Mass in the Casa Santa Marta Pope Francis reflected on the how we announce the Gospel message saying that words are empty if they do not reflect real life.

 

By Linda Bordoni

At the heart of Pope Francis’ homily on Friday morning in the Casa Santa Marta was a reflection on how to transmit the faith.

Taking his cue from the liturgical reading of the day in which the apostle Paul addresses his disciple Timothy recalling his “sincere faith” that first lived in his grandmother and then in his mother, the Pope highlighted the words that indicate how faith is to be transmitted: “son”, as Paul calls Timothy, “mother,” “grandmother,” and finally "testimony".

The 'folly of preaching' according to Paul 
 

The Pope said that Paul generated Timothy with the “folly of preaching.” He said that in the reading a mention is also made of “tears” because, he explained, Paul does not sweeten his preaching with half-truths, he does so with courage because the announcement of the Gospel “cannot be lukewarm”.

“Preaching is - allow me the word – ‘a slap’. A slap that moves you and pushes you forward” he said.

Paul himself, Francis said, describes it as ‘the folly of preaching’: “it's folly, because to say that God became man and then he was crucified and then he rose again ...” There is always a pinch of folly in preaching which must not be tempted by mediocrity and half-truths.

The Word without testimony has no strength
 

The second word Pope Francis chose to highlight is testimony. Faith, he affirmed, is to be transmitted through witness which gives strength to the Word and he commented on how people used to say of the first disciples: “How they love each other.”

He noted that in some parishes today, many tongues can be heard wagging about this person or that… and instead of commenting on ‘how they love each other’ one could be enticed to comment on how people speak badly of each other, on “how they use their tongues like knives to ‘skin’ the other!”

“How can you transmit the faith in an atmosphere that is spoilt by gossip, by slander?” he said.

True testimony, the Pope explained means never speaking badly of the other, it means doing works of charity, visiting the sick, and it means asking oneself why others behave or live as they do.

Pope Francis also emphasized the fact that evil acts as “counter-testimony” or as bad testimony: it takes away faith and weakens people.

The Church gives life like a mother
 

The other word and concept picked out by Pope Francis is “mother” and “grandmother”. He explained that “faith is transmitted in a womb, the womb of the Church”.

He said that the “Church’s motherhood is prolonged in the maternity of the mother, the woman”.

He recalled a meeting he had with a nun while he was in Albania. She had been imprisoned during the dictatorship, but sometimes the guards would let her take a walk along the river thinking there could be no harm in that.

But the nun was clever, the Pope said, and the women of the nearby villages would bring their children to her when she went out and she would secretly baptize them in the river.

“I ask myself, he said, are mothers and grandmothers like the ones Paul speaks of?” Or do they trust in the fact that the children will learn when they go to catechism?

“It gives me sadness, Francis continued, when I see children who do not know how to make the sign of the Cross” because their mothers and grandmothers have not taught them.

Let us ask the Lord, he concluded, to teach us to be witnesses and preachers and to teach women who are mothers to transmit the faith.

+ Audio

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Dominican Father Ezra Sullivan reflects on the significance of the 800-year anniversary of the founding of his order.

The example of the Word - Published on Jan 23, 2017

2017.01.21 Holy Mass for the 8th Centenary of the Dominican Order
Pope Francis presides over the Eucharistic Celebration for the closing of the 8th Centenary celebrations to mark the foundation of the Order of Preachers, the Dominicans.





Pope Francis will close the jubilee for the Dominicans - Published on Jan 17, 2017






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