Friday, February 7, 2025

Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(Hebrews 13:1-8; Mark 6:14-29)

Today’s gospel passage raises the question behind all gospels: Who is Jesus?  According to the passage, because of his marvelous works, some say he is Elijah.  The prophet Elijah was taken up to heaven without dying and was expected to return.  Others say that Jesus is a new, extraordinary prophet.  Most curious is the response given to the question: Jesus is John the Baptist risen from the dead.

As Mark tells the story, Herod reluctantly had John beheaded.  It may be surmised that Herod’s guilt elicits fear that the ever-just John has risen from the dead to make retribution. He internally links Jesus’ “mighty powers” with his own fear of reprisal. Mark’s gospel doesn’t say it, but Luke’s relates that someone told Jesus that Herod was out to kill him.

Herod is correct in thinking that Jesus might pursue him.  But Jesus would do so not for revenge but because he was born to call sinners to repentance.  Not out of spite but from love Jesus would bother himself with Herod as he does with us.

 

Thursday, February 6, 2025

Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and companions, martyrs

(I Kings 2:1-4.10-12; Mark 6:7-13)

An old Shaker hymn reminds us that it is a gift to be simple and free.  Today’s gospel points to the efficacy of such a lifestyle.

Jesus sends his apostles to preach the good news.  They are not to carry anything “just in case…”  Rather they are to cast themselves on God’s Providence.  Nothing is said either about teaching the truths of the faith or morality.  The apostles are simply to proclaim God’s love by word and deed.  Regarding deeds, they will anoint the people to strengthen their faith which facilitates healing.  The people will learn what a right relationship with the Lord is.  That is, they will recognize how God provides for those who care about others.

St. Paul Miki and companions were apostles to the people of Japan.  They announced God’s love by word and deed.  They did not turn away at the threat of suffering for giving testimony to their faith.  Rather, they knew that such faith would bring both their people and them to complete intimacy with God in eternal life.

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Memorial of Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr

(Hebrews 12:4-7.11-15; Mark6:1-6)

John Milton defines his purpose in his epic “Paradise Lost” as “justify(ing) the ways of God to men.”  The author of the Letter to the Hebrews has the same intention in today’s first reading.  He writes that the slowness of Christ’s coming and the affronteries experienced by Hebrew Christians are meant to discipline them.  The suffering gives the people both time and need to seek salvation from God.

Rather than complain or withdraw, the author encourages his readers to think positively about the trials they face.  As isometric exercise providing resistance to counterweight makes an athlete strong, so patience and endurance will make the Christian holier and more pleasing to God.

Saints, as always, can be looked to as models.  Today’s patron, St. Agatha, suffered greatly to retain her virginal devotion to the Lord.  After undergoing harassment and torture, she died in a prison in 251 A.D.  Since then, he has been widely acclaimed as one of the greatest martyrs of the Church.

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(Hebrews 12:1-4; Mark 5:21-43)

During the nineteen sixties an Episcopalian priest wrote a book of prayers entitled Are You Running with me Jesus?  He had a vibrant ministry which required the Lord’s help.  So he asked for assurance that Christ was at his side.  Today’s reading from the Letter to the Hebrews also pictures the Christian running through life as if in a race.

The Letter focuses first on eternal life, the prize for winning.  But like in the great city marathons – New York or Berlin – all who finish the race receive the prize.  The letter also mentions Jesus going before the pack.  He leads all in the right direction and sets the pace of the race.  Without him runners would not be able to show their best.  Indeed, some would lose the way.

We too might pray, ´Are you running with me …?  We believe that he leads us, but at times we need reassurance.  Knowing that he runs with us, we achieve part of our reward from the very start.

Monday, February 3, 2025

(Optional) Memorial of Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr

(Hebrews 11:32-40; Mark 5:1-20)

Today’s gospel shows both Jesus’ immense compassion and power.  The demoniac is deeply troubled.  Although he has great strength, he is confined to tombs where human remains fester in decay.  Undaunted by the man’s strength and unperturbed by the ghastliness of the tombs, Jesus demands that the evil spirits, the source of the man’s distress, depart from him at once.  The spirits cannot but comply.

In ancient times religious writers linked disease with demonic possession.  Mental illness was especially symptomatic of demons at work.  Today, of course, there are not only medical explanations of disease but also effective medical treatment.  Even the most religious people visit a doctor, not an exorcist, to cure a sick relative.  But the success of medicine should not cause people to stop praying for the sick.  God heals humans in more than physical ways.

Today we remember St. Blaise, a bishop and martyr at the time of the Church Fathers.  He has become a symbol of our faith in God’s power over all types of ailments.  In Blaise’s name, we bless our throats asking God to save us from all kinds of diseases.