Mass Reflection: Sunday, 28th February 2021

 February 28, 2021 — Second Sunday of Lent

GN 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; PS 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19; ROM 8:31b-34; MK 9:2-10

Our readings today are a powerful testimony to God’s profound love for each one of us. This is an important message that is conveyed during this holy season of Lent as we partake in the suffering, death and resurrection of God’s only Son. It is also a reminder for us, as Christian stewards, to surrender all that we have to the Gracious Giver. 
 
The First Reading from Genesis is the infamous story of God putting Abraham to the test. God commands Abraham to offer his son, Isaac, to the Lord as a sacrifice. Abraham obeys the Lord. He takes Isaac up to the land of Moriah, builds an altar and prepares to slaughter his son. Yet, a messenger of the Lord cries out at the last moment to stop him, “Do not lay your hand on the boy… I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.” Because of Abraham’s faithfulness and surrender to the Lord, the Lord blesses him abundantly, “I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky.”
 
We can only imagine how Abraham felt, offering the life of his son, not understanding why, but blindly obeying. Yet, Abraham’s response of total surrender to God’s plan is a beautiful testament to trust in God’s deep love for us. As Christian stewards, we are called to surrender all to the Lord — our time, our talents and even our material possessions. We should willingly give God our entire lives with the confidence that He will take care of us. When we surrender all to the Lord, we are allowing Him to be in charge. And just as we see in Abraham’s story, when God is in control, He blesses abundantly. Our God is all good, all knowing and all loving. All that He has in store for us is for the good of our salvation. He will not disappoint. 
 
St. Paul echoes this message so beautifully in our Second Reading. He says, “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him?” God loves us so much that He gave us His only Son who suffered, died and rose for us. He has given us His very best. Can we not entrust our entire lives to Him knowing He will continue to pour out His love on us? 
 
In our Gospel, Jesus took Peter, James and John up a mountain, apart from the rest. It says, “he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white.” Then God spoke out from a cloud, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Peter, James and John had this intimate moment with Jesus, seeing Him as He truly is. 
 
God desires to have this intimate relationship with us too. As we entrust our lives to God, He will more fully reveal Himself to us. We will more clearly see Christ in our lives as He truly is and, in turn, we will become more dazzling ourselves. 
 
Let us strive to journey up the mountain with Jesus during this Lenten season — growing in our intimate relationship with Him. May we reflect on His profound love for us on this journey. And let us pray for total surrender to His providence. 

Mass Reading: Sunday, 28th February 2021

 

First reading       Genesis 22:1-2,9-13,15-18

The sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith

God put Abraham to the test. ‘Abraham, Abraham’ he called. ‘Here I am’ he replied. ‘Take your son,’ God said ‘your only child Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him as a burnt offering, on a mountain I will point out to you.’

  When they arrived at the place God had pointed out to him, Abraham built an altar there, and arranged the wood. Then he bound his son Isaac and put him on the altar on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and seized the knife to kill his son.

  But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven. ‘Abraham, Abraham’ he said. ‘I am here’ he replied. ‘Do not raise your hand against the boy’ the angel said. ‘Do not harm him, for now I know you fear God. You have not refused me your son, your only son.’ Then looking up, Abraham saw a ram caught by its horns in a bush. Abraham took the ram and offered it as a burnt-offering in place of his son.

  The angel of the Lord called Abraham a second time from heaven. ‘I swear by my own self – it is the Lord who speaks – because you have done this, because you have not refused me your son, your only son, I will shower blessings on you, I will make your descendants as many as the stars of heaven and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants shall gain possession of the gates of their enemies. All the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your descendants, as a reward for your obedience.’

The word of the Lord.

  

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Responsorial Psalm    Psalm 115(116):10,15-19

I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

I trusted, even when I said:

  ‘I am sorely afflicted,’

O precious in the eyes of the Lord

  is the death of his faithful.

I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

Your servant, Lord, your servant am I;

  you have loosened my bonds.

A thanksgiving sacrifice I make;

  I will call on the Lord’s name.

I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

My vows to the Lord I will fulfil

  before all his people,

in the courts of the house of the Lord,

  in your midst, O Jerusalem.

I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

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Second reading     Romans 8:31-34

God did not spare his own Son

With God on our side who can be against us? Since God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up to benefit us all, we may be certain, after such a gift, that he will not refuse anything he can give. Could anyone accuse those that God has chosen? When God acquits, could anyone condemn? Could Christ Jesus? No! He not only died for us – he rose from the dead, and there at God’s right hand he stands and pleads for us.

The word of the Lord.

 

 

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Gospel Acclamation   Mt17:5

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

From the bright cloud the Father’s voice was heard:

‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

 

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Gospel    Mark 9:2-10

This is my Son, the Beloved

Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus: ‘Rabbi,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and there came a voice from the cloud, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.

  As they came down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean.

The Gospel of the Lord.

NewBec - 28th February 2021

 

Second Sunday Of Lent

 

Mass Reading: Sunday, 21st February 2021

First reading   Genesis 9:8-15 ·

'There shall be no flood to destroy the earth again'

God spoke to Noah and his sons, ‘See, I establish my Covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; also with every living creature to be found with you, birds, cattle and every wild beast with you: everything that came out of the ark, everything that lives on the earth. I establish my Covenant with you: no thing of flesh shall be swept away again by the waters of the flood. There shall be no flood to destroy the earth again.’

  God said, ‘Here is the sign of the Covenant I make between myself and you and every living creature with you for all generations: I set my bow in the clouds and it shall be a sign of the Covenant between me and the earth. When I gather the clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, I will recall the Covenant between myself and you and every living creature of every kind. And so the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all things of flesh.’

The word of the Lord

Responsorial Psalm     Psalm 24(25):4-6,7b-9

Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love for those who keep your covenant.

Lord, make me know your ways.
  Lord, teach me your paths.
Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:
  for you are God my saviour.

Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love for those who keep your covenant.

Remember your mercy, Lord,
  and the love you have shown from of old.
In your love remember me,
  because of your goodness, O Lord.

Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love for those who keep your covenant.

The Lord is good and upright.
  He shows the path to those who stray,
He guides the humble in the right path,
  He teaches his way to the poor.

Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love for those who keep your covenant.

Second reading       1 Peter 3:18-22 ·

The water on which the Ark floated is a type of the baptism which saves you now

Christ himself, innocent though he was, died once for sins, died for the guilty, to lead us to God. In the body he was put to death, in the spirit he was raised to life, and, in the spirit, he went to preach to the spirits in prison. Now it was long ago, when Noah was still building that ark which saved only a small group of eight people ‘by water’, and when God was still waiting patiently, that these spirits refused to believe. That water is a type of the baptism which saves you now, and which is not the washing off of physical dirt but a pledge made to God from a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has entered heaven and is at God’s right hand, now that he has made the angels and Dominations and Powers his subjects.

The word of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation     Mt 4:4

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!

Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!

Gospel      Mark 1:12-15

Jesus was tempted by Satan, and the angels looked after him

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness and he remained there for forty days, and was tempted by Satan. He was with the wild beasts, and the angels looked after him.

  After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. ‘The time has come’ he said ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday, 21st February 2021

 GN 9:8-15; PS 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 PT 3:18-22; MK 1:12-15

As we celebrate our first Sunday of Lent, our readings today remind us why we partake in this 40-day Lenten journey — to prepare our hearts for the resurrection of Christ on the glorious Easter morning.

 
Many times throughout Scripture, God presents great blessings after 40 days of purification. We see an example of this in our First Reading from Genesis. In the story of Noah and the flood, Noah preserves his family and animals on an ark for 40 days and 40 nights. There is no doubt that this journey was filled with a great deal of sacrifice and prayer as those days dragged on and the earth was swallowed up by waters. Yet, after that time of trial, Noah and his family received a covenant from the Lord. God says, “See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you… that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood.” And the sign of this covenant between God and man is a rainbow, “When I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow appears in the clouds, I will recall the covenant I have made between men and you and all living beings.” Without the 40-day journey in the ark, Noah would not have been able to receive this covenant with a grateful heart. God presents great blessings to those who are prepared to receive them. 
 
St. Peter reminds us in our Second Reading of the many blessings we receive from Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. He proclaims, “Christ suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous that he might lead you to God.” And again, “[Baptism] is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” These are the many blessings God has shared with us through the gift of His Son. 
 
In order to more readily receive the blessings from Christ’s passion, death and resurrection, we too are called endure 40 days “in the desert.” In our Gospel from St. Mark, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert where He was tempted by Satan. Jesus was called to face trials and to confront evil. During this time, He committed to intense prayer and fasting. It was not necessary for Jesus to go into the desert so that He might be purified. But it was necessary for Him to go into the desert to endure temptations of man for our sake. He was fully man, and experience temptations just like us, yet responded to them perfectly, never falling into sin. Once He was finished, He began proclaiming the Gospel, saying, “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” The Good News of Jesus Christ was announced. 
 
We should strive to fully participate in this Lenten season by mirroring Jesus, the model steward by Whom we are called to imitate. Through our time in the desert, we will confront evil by weeding out the roots of sin in our lives through fasting. And we will be sustained and nourished in the desert by prayer. If we willingly choose to spend this Lent like Jesus, we will be ready to receive the glorious gift of Himself and partake in the riches that pour forth from that Gift. 
 
Let us strive to purify our hearts for the remainder of these 40 days so that we might be ready to receive all that God plans to bless us with on Easter. 

Mass Reading: Wednesday, 17th February 2021

First Reading       Joel 2:12-18 

Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn

‘Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks –
come back to me with all your heart,
fasting, weeping, mourning.’
Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn,
turn to the Lord your God again,
for he is all tenderness and compassion,
slow to anger, rich in graciousness,
and ready to relent.
Who knows if he will not turn again, will not relent,
will not leave a blessing as he passes,
oblation and libation
for the Lord your God?
Sound the trumpet in Zion!
Order a fast,
proclaim a solemn assembly,
call the people together,
summon the community,
assemble the elders,
gather the children,
even the infants at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his bedroom
and the bride her alcove.
Between vestibule and altar let the priests,
the ministers of the Lord, lament.
Let them say,
‘Spare your people, Lord!
Do not make your heritage a thing of shame,
a byword for the nations.
Why should it be said among the nations,
“Where is their God?”’
Then the Lord, jealous on behalf of his land,
took pity on his people.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm   Psalm 50:3-6,12-14,17

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.

In your compassion blot out my offence.

O wash me more and more from my guilt

and cleanse me from my sin.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

My offences truly I know them;

my sin is always before me

Against you, you alone, have I sinned;

what is evil in your sight I have done.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

A pure heart create for me, O God,

put a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence,

nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Give me again the joy of your help;

with a spirit of fervour sustain me,

O Lord, open my lips

and my mouth shall declare your praise.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Second Reading        2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2

Be reconciled to God

We are ambassadors for Christ; it is as though God were appealing through us, and the appeal that we make in Christ’s name is: be reconciled to God. For our sake God made the sinless one into sin, so that in him we might become the goodness of God. As his fellow workers, we beg you once again not to neglect the grace of God that you have received. For he says: At the favourable time, I have listened to you; on the day of salvation I came to your help. Well, now is the favourable time; this is the day of salvation.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation        Ps50:12,14

Your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!

A pure heart create for me, O God,

and give me again the joy of your help.

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!

Gospel       Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

Your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So, when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

‘And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

‘When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head

and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday, 14th February 2021

 February 14, 2021 — Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

LV 13:1-2, 44-46; PS 32:1-2, 5, 11; 1 COR 10:31-11:1; MK 1:40-45

Our readings today prepare us for the penitential season of Lent that we are about to enter. They call us to consider what our Lenten journey might be like — an opportunity to be healed and cleansed on our journey as disciples of Christ. 
 
Our First Reading and our Gospel are tied closely together. In the book of Leviticus, the Lord tells Moses and Aaron in regard to a person with leprosy that “As long as the sore is on him he shall declare himself unclean… He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.” It was said that if a man had visible skin diseases, he would have to show himself to the priest who would declare him clean or unclean. If declared unclean, he would reside outside the community, separating himself from the rest.  
 
Now in our Gospel, a leper came to Jesus, knelt before Him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched this diseased man and healed him. He then encouraged the man to show himself to the priest and offer himself a cleansing, referencing what was commanded in the Law of Moses. By completing these rituals, this man might be reinstituted into the community.   
 
Let us approach this holy season of Lent like the leper. We are filled with sores and wounds — namely, our sins. By our faults, we have distanced ourselves from God and His community. The leper reminds us Who to go to so that we might be healed. Let us approach the Lord this season on our knees asking for forgiveness and healing from our offenses, saying, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” There is no doubt that, if we have a contrite heart, Jesus will stretch out His hand in forgiveness and His mercy will touch our lives.  
 
And like the leper, we too should go forth from being healed with a commitment to cleanse ourselves from the lasting effects of sin. Lent is a time to offer acts of reparation through Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving so that we might be purified in all areas of our life and walk with the Gracious Healer, Who sacrificed His life for our sake. Let us commit to spending extra time with our Lord in prayer — He will purify the heart that has been wounded. Let us fast from something that competes for our attention or holds us back from our relationship with God. As we offer that sacrifice to the Lord, we will be filled with freedom and peace, and will be strengthened in the face of temptation. And let us give alms to God in thanksgiving for His gifts that He has poured out on us. It will remind us that everything we have is a gift from God — everything good comes from Him, and we want to share every aspect of our lives with Him.
 
Let us approach this holy season of Lent as an opportunity to be healed and cleansed. As we prepare for Ash Wednesday this week, reflect on the sores and wounds that we can bring to the Lord during this season. He is ready to stretch out His hand to heal us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. And let us consider what we can do to offer acts of reparation so that we might be purified and one day partake in the resurrection of Christ. 

Mass Reading: Sunday, 14th February 2021

First reading
Leviticus 13:1-2,44-46

The unclean man must live outside the camp

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘If a swelling or scab or shiny spot appears on a man’s skin, a case of leprosy of the skin is to be suspected. The man must be taken to Aaron, the priest, or to one of the priests who are his sons.

  ‘The man is leprous: he is unclean. The priest must declare him unclean; he is suffering from leprosy of the head. A man infected with leprosy must wear his clothing torn and his hair disordered; he must shield his upper lip and cry, “Unclean, unclean.” As long as the disease lasts he must be unclean; and therefore he must live apart: he must live outside the camp.’

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 31(32):1-2,5,11

You are my refuge, O Lord; you fill me with the joy of salvation.

Happy the man whose offence is forgiven,

  whose sin is remitted.

O happy the man to whom the Lord

  imputes no guilt,

  in whose spirit is no guile.

You are my refuge, O Lord; you fill me with the joy of salvation.

But now I have acknowledged my sins;

  my guilt I did not hide.

I said: ‘I will confess

  my offence to the Lord.’

And you, Lord, have forgiven

  the guilt of my sin.

You are my refuge, O Lord; you fill me with the joy of salvation.

Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord,

  exult, you just!

O come, ring out your joy,

  all you upright of heart.

You are my refuge, O Lord; you fill me with the joy of salvation.

Second reading
1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 ·

Take me for your model, as I take Christ

Whatever you eat, whatever you drink, whatever you do at all, do it for the glory of God. Never do anything offensive to anyone – to Jews or Greeks or to the Church of God; just as I try to be helpful to everyone at all times, not anxious for my own advantage but for the advantage of everybody else, so that they may be saved. Take me for your model, as I take Christ.

The word of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation	cf.Ep1:17,18

Alleluia, alleluia!

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

enlighten the eyes of our mind,

so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.

Alleluia!

Or:	Lk7:16

Alleluia, alleluia!

A great prophet has appeared among us;

God has visited his people.

Alleluia!

Gospel	Mark 1:40-45

The leprosy left the man at once, and he was cured

A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me.’ Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘Of course I want to!’ he said. ‘Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.’ The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reading: Sunday, 07th February 2021

 

First reading

Job 7:1-4,6-7 ·

My life is but a breath

Job began to speak:
Is not man’s life on earth nothing more than pressed service,
  his time no better than hired drudgery?
Like the slave, sighing for the shade,
  or the workman with no thought but his wages,
months of delusion I have assigned to me,
  nothing for my own but nights of grief.
Lying in bed I wonder, ‘When will it be day?’
  Risen I think, ‘How slowly evening comes!’
  Restlessly I fret till twilight falls.
Swifter than a weaver’s shuttle my days have passed,
  and vanished, leaving no hope behind.
Remember that my life is but a breath,
  and that my eyes will never again see joy.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 146(147):1-6

Praise the Lord who heals the broken-hearted.

Praise the Lord for he is good;
  sing to our God for he is loving:
  to him our praise is due.

Praise the Lord who heals the broken-hearted.

The Lord builds up Jerusalem
  and brings back Israel’s exiles,
he heals the broken-hearted,
  he binds up all their wounds.
He fixes the number of the stars;
  he calls each one by its name.

Praise the Lord who heals the broken-hearted.

Our Lord is great and almighty;
  his wisdom can never be measured.
The Lord raises the lowly;
  he humbles the wicked to the dust.

Praise the Lord who heals the broken-hearted.

Second reading

1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-23

I should be punished if I did not preach the Gospel

I do not boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty which has been laid on me; I should be punished if I did not preach it! If I had chosen this work myself, I might have been paid for it, but as I have not, it is a responsibility which has been put into my hands. Do you know what my reward is? It is this: in my preaching, to be able to offer the Good News free, and not insist on the rights which the gospel gives me.

  So though I am not a slave of any man I have made myself the slave of everyone so as to win as many as I could. For the weak I made myself weak: I made myself all things to all men in order to save some at any cost; and I still do this, for the sake of the gospel, to have a share in its blessings.

The word of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

Jn8:12

Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
anyone who follows me will have the light of life.
Alleluia!

Or:

Mt8:17

Alleluia, alleluia!
He took our sicknesses away,
and carried our diseases for us.
Alleluia!

 

Gospel

Mark 1:29-39

He cast out devils and cured many who were suffering from disease

On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon’s mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straightaway. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them.

  That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.

  In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils.

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

Mass Reflection: Sunday, 07th February 2021

 JB 7:1-4, 6-7; PS 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; 1 COR 9-16, 22-23; MK 1:29-39

Our readings today remind us that Christ came to serve. The world often encourages us to look inward — for ways that someone or something can better serve us. Countering this typical mindset, Jesus’ entire life was focused on others. He came to fulfill His Father’s mission — the salvation of mankind. And He labored for this mission by becoming the humblest of servants. This is made evident in our Gospel today. Let us recall that as disciples of Christ, we are called to be imitators — to labor for our Father’s mission by becoming a humble servant.   
 
Healing people was a central part of Jesus’ ministry. In today's Gospel, He heals Simon’s mother-in-law from a fever, in addition to those who are diseased and possessed. Jesus was becoming well known from these miracles as Simon says to Jesus, “Everyone is looking for you.” Jesus did deserve all glory and honor — yet, He did not seek after the praise. Rather, He responded by saying, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also.” Jesus was already looking to whom He could serve next. 
 
As Christian stewards, we too are called to be humble servants who labor for our Father’s mission. We should strive to imitate Christ — the Perfect Steward — Who was constantly aware of the needs of those around Him and put His gifts to good use. For us, this begins right here in our homes, parish and community. It doesn’t need to be complex, but rather, very simple — to live each moment in awareness of our Father’s mission and in gratitude for all He has given us. When we intentionally live each moment for Christ, even the ordinary moments are made significant.  
 
In our Second Reading, St. Paul exemplifies becoming a humble servant for Christ. He says, “I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak… All this I do for the sake of the gospel.” He, like Christ, handed his life over to God in service to the salvation of mankind. He has become an imitator of Christ. And he tells the people of Corinth, “If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast.” This mission has been entrusted to him and it is by God that it is made possible. 
 
And how might we live in awareness of our Father’s mission? Jesus tells us that the way to be attentive is through prayer. Before Jesus made the decision to “go on to the nearby villages” so that He might preach there too, He first “went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.” It is through prayer that Jesus could hear what His Father was asking of Him so that He could perfectly accomplish His will. We, too, are called to spend time in daily prayer — we will then become aware of the opportunities to serve the Lord. We will also recognize that it is He Who gives us the strength as a steward — therefore, He should receive every ounce of gratitude. 
 
Let us commit to finding some quiet time this week to pray. Let us ask the Lord — how can I serve You better throughout my days? How can I make more time for You that I may better know your plans for me? And let us pray, "Make me humble, Lord."