"God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it."

Prayer is the place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against sadness.--St. John Chrysostom

(Gospel text: MK1,29-39)

On leaving the synagogue

Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.

Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.

They immediately told him about her.

He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.

Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset,

they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.

The whole town was gathered at the door.

He cured many who were sick with various diseases,

and he drove out many demons,

not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn,

he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.

Simon and those who were with him pursued him

and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages

that I may preach there also.

For this purpose have I come.”

So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons

throughout the whole of Galilee.

I am particularly struck by the line in today’s gospel passage which stated, “he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed".  Jesus was obviously very busy and surrounded by people all the time but he too recognized the need for quiet, individual prayer and He modeled that for us.

We often say: —I have no time!

We are so busy with our homework, our professional activity, the countless tasks in our agenda... So, quite often, we believe we should be relieved from our daily prayers. We do a lot of important things, but often run the risk of forgetting the absolutely necessary one: prayer. We have to establish a balance to be able to do the former without neglecting the latter.

Saint Francis addressed this subject: «We must faithfully and devotedly work, without extinguishing the spirit of the holy prayer and devotion which the worldly things must be submitted to».

In the final analysis, maybe we should organize ourselves, as well as prioritize our time a little bit better.

Certainly, what is important must be done. But what is necessary should be an absolute must.

Don't be scared by the word authority - No man commands safely unless he has learned well how to obey.

“The Devil doesn’t fear austerity but holy obedience.”– St. Francis de Sales

(Gospel Text: MK 1:21-28)

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers,

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.

In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;

he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?

Have you come to destroy us?

I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”

Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!”

The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.

All were amazed and asked one another,

“What is this?

A new teaching with authority.

He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

Before ascending into heaven, Jesus said to his apostles: "Full authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you" (Mt 28:18-20).

But Christ also speaks to us today with his authority through the teaching of the Catholic Church, to whom he gave his own amazing authority to continue his saving work.

He gave that authority in a special way to the visible head of the Church he founded. He told Peter that he was the rock on whom he was going to build his Church and then gave him the authority to open and lock the way to heaven: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Mt 16:19).

The Church firmly believes that that authority was passed down to St. Peter's successors all the way to Pope Benedict. Christ also gave his authority to the apostles as a whole (and their successors, the bishops) so that they could, as ambassadors, teach authoritatively in his name, "Whoever hears you hears me, and whoever rejects you rejects me" (Lk 10:16).

Do we follow it, ignore, or resist the Lord as he teaches us in Sacred Scripture, or through his Vicars on earth, or through the successors of the apostles? Do we trust in our own opinions more than we trust what he has said, done and established?

St. John Marie Vianney addresses one of the biggest obstacles for us when it comes to grasping this truth, "I tell you that you have less to suffer in following the cross than in serving the world and its pleasures."

We need to overcome the mindset, that we learned everything we need to know about the faith by the time we were confirmed (i.e. age 14).

It's simply not true.

There's so much to learn, and this truth will set our lives free.

http://www.catholic-pages.com/pope/hahn.asp

“It is only because he became like us that we can become like him.”

“To live without faith, without a patrimony to defend, without a steady struggle for truth, that is not living, but existing.” - Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, Turin, Italy, 1922)

(Gospel Text: MK 1:14-20)

After John had been arrested,

Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:

“This is the time of fulfillment.

The Kingdom of God is at hand.

Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,

he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;

they were fishermen.

Jesus said to them,

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Then they left their nets and followed him.

He walked along a little farther

and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.

They too were in a boat mending their nets.

Then he called them.

So they left their father Zebedee in the boat

along with the hired men and followed him.

We see that Christ called Simon and Andrew, who were lowly fishermen, followers of an occupation that did not receive a whole lot of attention or encouragement. Yet Christ, the perfect teacher, called on two fishermen in today’s gospel text to become his first “fishers of men.” 


Asking a group of fishermen to be one's disciples does not look like a successful plan.  One would think that as an emerging Jewish leader, Jesus would have included members of the Sanhedrin, Pharisees, or teachers of the Law among his first disciples.  It would have been pragmatic to select a few people who had political or social influence.  Jesus did none of those things.  

Instead, he sought people who were laborers, honest and unsophisticated.

From the moment of our baptism, we have embarked on the path of Christian discipleship.  Occasionally we have strayed from the right road.  Sometimes we have fallen.  At other times, we have moved forward steadfastly, trusting in the grace of God to guide us.

Like the first disciples, each baptized Christian is too called to be a “fisher of men”. Do not be discouraged, wherever you are, because no matter what you do or who you are, you have already been given the most prestigious gift that any human being can receive: God’s love and grace with no price tag!

Always remember, if you keep throwing out the net, Jesus will provide the fish. Those who fish a lot catch a lot of fish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqtOvt7d490

Conversion is not a repairing of the old building; but it takes all down, and erects a new structure.

We are to be re-made. All the rabbit in us is to disappear-and then, surprisingly, we shall find underneath it all a thing we have never yet imagined: a real Man, a son of God, strong, radiant, wise, beautiful, and drenched in joy. -  C.S Lewis

(Gospel text: LK 3:15-16, 21-22)

The people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

After all the people had been baptized
and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,
heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
in bodily form like a dove.
And a voice came from heaven,
“You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased.”

Jesus walked the earth at a time when modern communication and the news media simply did not exist.  A spiritual movement within the Jewish people was being stirred up by John the Baptist. It is John the Baptist who announces to the crowds: "Behold, the Lamb of God!" (John 1: 36) 

In today's culture, many people, even those who are baptized Christians, have great difficulty with their own identity.  Many people wonder what their purpose is in this life.  People find little or no meaning as they carry out their daily activities. A cloud of laziness hangs over many people as they also strive to find direction for their lives. 

This Sunday's liturgy shows us that Jesus gives us meaning, purpose and direction.   It is through the sacrament of baptism that we become his disciples.  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and it is precisely in Jesus that our human existence finds fulfillment.

The consideration of Jesus' baptism, gives us an opportunity to remember our own baptism.  If we truly “do”—truly believe—may we express such and demonstrate such with our daily living.

Do you believe in God the Father, Almighty, creator of heaven and earth?

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church, we are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.