Jesus cured many who were sick with various diseases.

"That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.  The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons."  (Mark 1: 32 - 34).

After Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, the Spirit drove Him into the desert where He prayed and fasted for 40 days.  During this period too, He underwent vigorous temptation from the devil.  (Matthew 4: 1 - 11).  Now He was ready to start His ministry.  He exercised His ministry in three areas.
#1.  He taught everyone who had ears to listen.
#2.  On some occasions, He fed everyone who attended His revival meetings.
#3.  When the sick and the demon possessed were brought to Him, the Gospels report that He healed many and cast out many demons.

What does the Catechism teach about illness?

"Illness and suffering have always been among the gravest problems confronted in human life. In illness, man experiences his powerlessness, his limitations, and his finitude. Every illness can make us glimpse death."  (CCC 1500)

"Illness can lead to anguish, self-absorption, sometimes even despair and revolt against God. It can also make a person more mature, helping him discern in his life what is not essential so that he can turn toward that which is. Very often illness provokes a search for God and a return to him."  (CCC 1501).

The Church exercises her healing ministry through the Anointing of the Sick:
"By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. And indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ."  (CCC 1499).

Prayer for the sick:
"God our Father, your Son accepted our sufferings to teach us the virtue of patience in human illness. Hear the prayers we offer for our sick brother/sister. May all who suffer pain, illness, or disease realize that they have been chosen to be saints and know that they are joined to Christ in his suffering for the salvation of the world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen."

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Ask something of Me and I will give it to you.

In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said: Whatever you ask I shall give you."  (1 Kings 3: 5).

"Solomon answered:... Give your servant, therefore, a listening heart to judge your people and to distinguish between good and evil."  (1 Kings 3: 6, 9).

Solomon asked for the very best of God's gifts and the Lord was pleased.

"The Lord was pleased by Solomon’s request.... . I now do as you request. I give you a heart so wise and discerning that there has never been anyone like you until now, nor after you will there be anyone to equal you.  In addition, I give you what you have not asked for: I give you such riches and glory that among kings there will be no one like you all your days."  (1 Kings 3: 10, 12 - 13).

God is always very pleased to give us the highest and best gifts.
"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"  (Luke 11: 13).

"... We ask that through perfect wisdom and spiritual understanding, you should reach the fullest knowledge of his will and so be able to lead a life worthy of the Lord, a life acceptable to him in all its aspects." (Colossians 1: 9 – 10)

The fruit of perfect wisdom and spiritual understanding is discernment of God's will for our life. Perfect wisdom and spiritual understanding come from regular reading and reflection of God's word and prayer.  Unless of course, it is given to you "here and now" like Solomon.  Most saints acquire it bit by bit. 

Sacred Scripture urges us to acquire wisdom and understanding at all cost.  These twin gifts are two of the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

"The first principle of wisdom is: acquire wisdom; at the cost of all you have, acquire understanding! Hold her close, and she will make you great; embrace her, and she will be your pride; she will provide a graceful garland for your head, bestow a crown of honor on you."(Proverbs 4: 7-9) 

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Jesus is presented in the Temple to His Heavenly Father.

"When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,  just as it is written in the law of the Lord."  (Luke 2: 22 - 23).

The Church celebrates today the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

"The presentation of Jesus in the Temple shows him to be the firstborn Son who belongs to the Lord. With Simeon and Anna, all Israel awaits its encounter with the Savior-the name given to this event in the Byzantine tradition. Jesus is recognized as the long-expected Messiah, the "light to the nations" and the "glory of Israel", but also "a sign that is spoken against". The sword of sorrow predicted for Mary announces Christ's perfect and unique oblation on the cross that will impart the salvation God had "prepared in the presence of all peoples".  (CCC 529).

"The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;  and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted  (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”   (Luke 2:  33 - 35).

The prophetic dimension of the ministry of Jesus would bring Him into confrontation with the Jewish leaders which would ultimately lead to His death.
Where are you called to bear witness to the Truth?

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Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the First Friday of February 2018.

February 2nd , 2018 First Friday in February 2018.

The 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus:  Jesus promised 12 special favors to all those who will honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month.  In the 2nd month of the year 2018, we look at Promise #2.

#2. "I will give peace to their families.

What is peace?
"You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You."  (Isaiah 26: 3 AMP).

How would you like to enjoy this peace?
Why is it so important for families?
Peace is the foundation for joy, happiness and prosperity. The all encompassing Shalom that Jesus promises will make a great difference to you and your family.

"Perfect peace, inward peace, outward peace, peace with God, peace of conscience, peace at all times, under all events; this peace shall be put into, and kept in the possession of, whose mind is stayed upon God, because it trusts in him."  (Matthew Henry on Isaiah 26: 3).

“Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”  (John 14: 27)

Peace and contentment do not depend on circumstances.  No, they do not depend on money, good health, great family, good job, nice home and tools.  Peace and contentment depend on what Jesus, our hope of glory is doing inside us here and now.  Where Jesus abides, there abide peace and contentment. 

Jesus is the direct and efficient cause of peace and contentment in the heart.  Any other presumed cause or agent is there to exploit our weakness and insecurity.

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Friday, February 2nd.

For the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, click the link below:

http://sfjweb.com/?q=content/sacred-heart-12-promises

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The Last Will of David.

"When the time of David’s death drew near, he gave these instructions to Solomon his son:  “I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong and be a man!  Keep the mandate of the Lord, your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in whatever you do, and wherever you turn."  (1 Kings 2: 1 - 3).

The Warrior gives his last testament as he departs this world. Let us consider another last testament in the Bible:

Joshua:
"After Moses, the servant of the Lord, had died, the Lord said to Moses’ aide Joshua, son of Nun: 
.........  Only be strong and steadfast, being careful to observe the entire law which Moses my servant enjoined on you. Do not swerve from it either to the right or to the left, that you may succeed wherever you go."  (Joshua 1: 1, 7).

The two testaments above establishes the open secret of success in life:  It is observing closely God's Commandments.  If you are on your death bed tonight, will this be part of your Last Will to your son or daughter?

In His Last Will [Testament] the Night before He died, Jesus said among many important things:
"Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.   As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.   And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth." (17 - 19).

Are you consecrated in the truth?

"Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.  So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,  and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."  (Ephesians 6: 13 - 17).

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Where did the son of Mary, the village carpenter get all this learning?

"Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary."  (Mark 6:  3).

Let us consider for a moment how the home crowd see their homeboy, Jesus:

#1 Of course, he is the son of Mary, now a widow.
#2  He is the carpenter, the small business man with little success.
#3  The young man who refused to leave home and establish a family after his age group had become parents of grown children.
#4  The handsome young man who had no fiancee or girlfriend.

“Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!"  (Mark 6: 2).

The town's people were astonished that after less than a year Jesus disappeared from their town, he returned as a superstar.

But they could not reconcile themselves to this new reality.  And Jesus said to them:
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.”  (Mark 6: 4).

God promises that he who is in Christ is a New Creation. (2 Corinthians 5: 17).  St Irenaeus, a second century Church Father said that "The handsome man/woman is the glory of God."  Jesus came to make us beautiful but many reject Him.  Whatever you do, never allow familiarity to breed contempt.

"So he [Jesus] was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them."  (Mark 6:  5).
Very sad.  What a missed opportunity!

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Do not be afraid; just have faith!

“Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?”  Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.”  (Mark 5: 35 - 36).

Jairus approached Jesus believing that he could heal her daughter. Before Jesus reach his home, Jairus' daughter died. Everything seemed lost and hopeless. Jairus could have thought: "If only the Master had hurried and arrived while the child was still alive, he could have done something." Jesus knowing what Jairus was thinking, urged him not to waver in his original belief in spite of the New disconcerting development.

The Christian has a silver bullet in his armor against fear: Faith!  Faith is generated by prayer and nourished by the word of God. Faith destroys fear, worry and doubt.

"Fear is useless; what is needed is trust."  (Luke 8: 50; Mark 5: 36)

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Go home and tell your people what the Lord has done for you.

“Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.”  (Mark 5: 19).

Jesus has just freed the man called Legion from an overpowering demonic possession.  Out of sheer gratitude for the miracle, the man pleaded with Jesus to allow him to become one of His friends. Jesus had another mission for the man.  He sent him off to go and evangelize starting from his family.
Mary Magdalene had such an overwhelming joy and gratitude for the healing and rehabilitation that Jesus brought to her life.  She became a diehard follower of Jesus. She walked the Via Dolorosa with Jesus and witnessed the entire crucifixion and death of Jesus at the side of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

"Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed." (Mark 5: 20).

Has Jesus done any significant things for you?

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What is this new teaching with authority?

"Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.  The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.......“What is this? A new teaching with authority.  (Mark 1: 21 - 22,  27).

Yes indeed.  Jesus taught with authority.  He is still teaching today with authority through the Church.  It is ridiculous for Jesus to found a Church without giving the Church real authority to teach.  "Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”  (Luke 10: 16).

The name of this authority is the Magisterium.  It comes from the Latin word magister, which means "teacher."  Actually, the divine teaching role of the Church stands on 3-legged stool:
#1  Sacred Scriptures
#2  Sacred Tradition
#3  Magisterium

Like the 3-legged stool, each of the legs need each other to support the superstructure.  The teachings of the Magisterium cannot contradict Sacred Scriptures or Sacred Tradition and vice-versa.

In today's first Reading from Deuteronomy, we read:
"I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kindred, and will put my words into the mouth of the prophet; the prophet shall tell them all that I command.  Anyone who will not listen to my words which the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will hold accountable for it.  But if a prophet presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die."  (Deuteronomy 18:  18 - 20).

You may call this the legal code that establishes Authority in the future, Qahal, Ecclessia or Church.
It can never be exaggerated that Authority is at the core of the life of the Church.

"What is this? A new teaching with authority?"  (Mark 1: 27).
Actually not a new teaching.  The same teaching from the Rabbi Moses.  The word of God!

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I have sinned against the Lord.

"You have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife."  (2 Samuel 12: 10).

David despised God by his sin. I looked up DESPISE in the dictionary and found the following:
1: to look down on with contempt or  aversion 
2: to regard as  negligible, worthless, or distasteful 

Pretty strong language.

" Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan answered David: “For his part, the Lord has removed your sin. You shall not die,  but since you have utterly spurned the Lord by this deed, the child born to you will surely die.” (2 Samuel 12: 13-14).

Here is David at his very best.  No pretenses. No excuses. "I have sinned against the Lord."

"A clean heart create for me, God;
renew within me a steadfast spirit. Do not drive me from before your face, nor take from me your holy spirit.
Restore to me the gladness of your salvation; uphold me with a willing spirit. I will teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you."  (Psalm 51:  12 - 15).

Psalm 51 is the best and greatest prayer of repentance.  It was good for David. It has been good for kings and queens, princes and princesses, soldiers and common people throughout the centuries.
God still listens to it with delight.

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Go into the world and spread the Good News

"Jesus said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. (Mark 4:  26 - 27).

What is your notion of apostolic work and endeavor? Hard work, boisterous energy, personal investment of time, talent and treasure?  Jesus says that the Seed Grows of Itself, that is, by the power of God and not by anything you or me can contribute.  So be humble and learn what this means.

"Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat — for he grants sleep to those he loves."  (Psalm 127:  1 - 2).

"Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.  And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” (Mark 4: 28 - 29).

How much does God need and depend on our hard work and services?  As much as a mother busy in the kitchen needs the "hard work and services" of her one year old daughter.

But yet, we all have a part to play to evangelize the world.  This is the mystery.

"Go into the whole world, and proclaim the Gospel.  I am with you always, says the Lord."  (Mark 16: 15; Matthew 28: 20 RM).

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David and Saul

"David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David amid festivities.....
Then David, girt with a linen apron,
came dancing before the LORD with abandon....
Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. (2 Samuel 6:12-15, 17-19).

The entire passage of the first Reading today (2 Samuel 6: 12 - 15, 17 - 19) is a type and shadow of the Eucharistic liturgy where King David is the High Priest prefiguring Jesus Christ our Eternal High Priest.  We know that David is a type of Christ.

Note the choice of vocabulary in the liturgical narrative:
David was dressed in a linen apron.
He sacrificed an ox and a fatling every six steps of the procession.
The crowd (all the House of Israel) blew the horn and shouted with joy as they processed with the Ark.
David danced before the Ark with abandon.
Acting like a priest, he offered burnt and peace offerings before the Lord.
David then blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Hosts.
Then came Communion time:  David distributed among the entire people a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat, and a raisin cake.  With this came the dismissal of the people. (Ite Missa est).

Why is David the man after God's heart?  In spite of his moral weaknesses, David is humble and a repentant sinner.  Saul who lost his kingship to David was a proud and unrepentant sinner.  The sin of Saul, disobedience was described as similar to witchcraft and idolatry.  David committed adultery with murder but God regarded it as a sin of weakness.  When David was accused, he did not argue like Saul but acknowledged his sin. Thanks to his repentance, David left us Psalm 51, the most profound prayer of repentance.

God said of David:  "He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock of my salvation!.....
Forever I will maintain my mercy for him; my covenant with him stands firm. "  (Psalm 89: 27, 29).

David's legacy in the genealogy of Jesus Christ is a very important one.

Addendum:

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
(1 Timothy 1:12-17 NIV) 012518

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Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.

"Jesus said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. (Mark 4:  26 - 27).

What is your notion of apostolic work and endeavor? Hard work, boisterous energy, personal investment of time, talent and treasure?  Jesus says that the Seed Grows of Itself, that is, by the power of God and not by anything you or me can contribute.  So be humble and learn what this means.

"Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat — for he grants sleep to those he loves."  (Psalm 127:  1 - 2).

"Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.  And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” (Mark 4: 28 - 29).

How much does God need and depend on our hard work and services?  As much as a mother busy in the kitchen needs the "hard work and services" of her one year old daughter.

But yet, we all have a part to play to evangelize the world.  This is the mystery.

"Go into the whole world, and proclaim the Gospel.  I am with you always, says the Lord."  (Mark 16: 15; Matthew 28: 20 RM).

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God has chosen you from the world to bear witness to His Resurrection.

"The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice;  for you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard."  (Acts 22: 14 - 15).

Today is the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, the Apostle.
St Paul was specially chosen to bear witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the keystone of the the Christian faith. "And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless."  (1 Corinthians 15: 14).

We too are mandated by the Lord Jesus Christ to bear the same witness every day.
 “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature."  (Mark 16: 15).

"You did not choose me; I chose you. And I gave you this work: [appointed you] to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last[remain; abide]. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name."  (John 15: 16 EXB)

"I will bear witness to You in the world O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of Your name among my brothers and sisters.  (Psalm 17: 50 ; 21:23 RM)

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Trusting Divine Providence

"Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word,  but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit."  (Mark 4: 18 - 19).

The lure of riches:  Why are we tempted to acquire more riches than we need?
#1 Lack of faith that God will provide our necessities when we need them.
#2  We hoard riches in order to beat the the designs of God's Providence. 

God's gracious will is that there will be times and seasons in life for all creation. This Order in Creation, that is, Times and Seasons is threatening to many people. They would like to change it.  If they can, the world will have only spring time, always sunny, always full heath, purse always full of gold coins, etc, etc. This is ridiculous.

A man may have all the money in the world and store up all the food and drinks he can, but illness that is beyond his control will prevent him from enjoying that food.
So we see that Divine Providence is always in control.

"I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all."  (Ecclesiastes 9: 11).

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Where are you anxious?

"Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word,  but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit."  (Mark 4: 18 - 19).

Among the chokers of life mentioned here are:
#1 Anxieties 
#2 Riches 
#3 Pleasures of life

Most spiritual writers say that anxieties is the worst of the 3. If the other two choke the spiritual life out of you quick and easy, anxieties act like a giant python that wraps you in a deadly embrace and kill you by slow motion.

First identify the thorns choking your spiritual life and move away from them. For help: what occupies your thoughts 60% of the time? Health, Family, Money, Job, etc.  Whatever it is, that is your treasure. That is probably what is choking your heart.

Now apply repeatedly the medicine of the word of God:
"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4: 6 - 7 NLT).

Since God promises to provide you all the money you need, fight and conquer anxiety about money.
“For the love of money is the
root of all kinds of evil. Some
people, eager for money, have
wandered from the faith and
pierced themselves with
many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6: 10).

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Forever I shall maintain my mercy for David.

"David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David amid festivities.....
Then David, girt with a linen apron,
came dancing before the LORD with abandon....
Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. (2 Samuel 6:12-15, 17-19).

The entire passage of the first Reading today (2 Samuel 6: 12 - 15, 17 - 19) is a type and shadow of the Eucharistic liturgy where King David is the High Priest prefiguring Jesus Christ our Eternal High Priest.  We know that David is a type of Christ.

Note the choice of vocabulary liturgical narrative:
David was dressed in a linen apron.
He sacrificed an ox and a fatling every six steps of the procession.
The crowd (all the House of Israel) blew the horn and shouted with joy as they processed with the Ark.
David danced before the Ark with abandon.
Acting like a priest, he offered burnt and peace offerings before the Lord.
David then blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Hosts.
Then came Communion time:  David distributed among the entire people a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat, and a raisin cake.  With this came the dismissal of the people. (Ite Missa est).

Why is David the man after God's heart?  In spite of his moral weaknesses, David is humble and a repentant sinner.  Saul who lost his kingship to David was a proud and unrepentant sinner.  The sin of Saul, disobedience was described as similar to witchcraft and idolatry.  David committed adultery with murder but God regarded it as a sin of weakness.  When David was accused, he did not argue like Saul but acknowledged his sin. Thanks to his repentance, David left us Psalm 51, the most profound prayer of repentance.

God said of David:  "He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock of my salvation!.....
Forever I will maintain my mercy for him; my covenant with him stands firm. "  (Psalm 89: 27, 29).

David's legacy in the genealogy of Jesus Christ is a very important one.

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A Kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.

"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand."  (Mark 3: 24)

Today is Monday, 22nd January 2018, 3rd Week in Ordinary Time.  Today is the beginning of the Week of Prayer by all Churches for Christian Unity.  Today is also the Day of Prayer for the Protection of human life, especially Unborn Children.

Is there any connection between Christian Unity and Protection of human life? The key Scripture for today warns that "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand." (Mark 3: 24).

The splinters of the Church in the 16th century brought about a worldview that gave birth to abortion and sexual license.  Families are divided against themselves, churches against churches, political parties against political parties.  If the Church is one as intended by her Founder Jesus Christ, don't you think that a unified strong voice proclaiming the Good News and shining the Light of Christ on the world will be more effective?

Pray for Christian Unity. Pray for protection of human life.

"Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel."  (Cf 2 Timothy 1: 10).

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Come. Trust Me. I will teach you how to catch men.

“As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fishermen.  And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.’  And at once they left their nets and followed him.” (Mark 1: 16 – 18)

Notice how Simon and Andrew reacted to the call of Jesus.  They answered at once and followed him to become fishers of men.  Many are called to collaborate with Jesus closely in his work of building the kingdom of God.  It seems that few answer the call.  I imagine that fewer respond at once and with enthusiasm.  

The crisis of vocation in the Church is a mystery.  Why do few people want to respond to the call of Jesus to become fishers of men?  Why do people prefer to have temperamental, selfish bosses in their places of employment rather than Jesus who is the best of bosses?  Why should celibacy constitute an obstacle to answering the call of Christ to the priesthood when everybody knows that today one out of every two Christian marriages fail woefully, leaving behind them trails of unhappiness sometimes for life?  The psalmist prayed to God to show him the shortness of life so that he can gain wisdom of heart.  Why is it that in considering the call of Jesus, we are blinded to the truth of the brevity of this life and the eternity of everlasting life?

Lord Jesus, you are God.  You know all things.  You know the answer to all these questions.  You are the good Shepherd who has promised to provide all that your Church needs.  May your divine mercy be upon your Church and grant us numerous good vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Amen.

May we all, by virtue of our baptism, answer that call.

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What price will be too much for you as a disciple of Jesus?

"Then Jesus went home. Again such a large crowd gathered that Jesus and his disciples had no time to eat.  When his family heard about it, they set out to take charge of him, because people were saying, “He's gone mad!”  (Mark 3: 20 - 21 GNT).

Has anybody ever accused you of being crazy or a religious fanatic?

Jesus Christ our Lord Himself was considered "out of his mind?"  (Mark 3: 21).  By His relatives and friends.  Jesus warned all His followers not to expect decent treatment from the world. Those who are committed to follow Him should expect anything and everything from the world.

Throughout the centuries, the lives of many saints have vindicated the prophecy of Jesus viz:  the Apostles, St John of the Cross, St Joan of Arc to name but a few.

Are you prepared to pay the price  of discipleship?  Jesus was prepared to pay any price for our salvation.

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