"He cured many who were sick with various diseases"

Mark 1:29-39

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.

Reflection:

I am inviting you to journey with me in this short reflection of mine in today's Gospel. I am touched by the phrase "He cured many who were sick with various diseases".

This phrase touched me for he reason that all of us needs healing from our Lord. Though we say it's not instant yet through series of formations and discipline we can be assured by the grace of God touching us and healing us in a very special way. Most of our problems today are psychological related diseases, if we open our hearts and allow God to touch us then healing is very possible.

In my very personal experience and encounter with my God in my formation years, i face many frustrations and challenges in life. I have more anxieties than of trusting my self and others. It is not easy to face them as they surface one by one. And as i recognize my weakness slowly i face them and open my heart and allow the Holy Spirit to work in my life. The will is from God to heal but the choice is within us to open our hearts and recognize this burdens we have in life.

At this very point i am challenging you in a very special way to offer to our God whatever you feel right now, your frustrations, diseases, ailments and other psychological related problems. Open your heart and allow God to touch you. Pray constantly and with humility ask for healing.

"Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing"

                                                                            Luke 4:14-22

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.
He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read
and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord."
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them, "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."
And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, "Isn't this the son of Joseph?"

Reflection:

Today's Gospel invites us to hear day by day the words of God in the scripture. This is very challenging for all of us even to my self who hear daily masses yet there are times that i lost the very sight of whom should i encounter in the holy sacrifice of the mass. I hear and i forgot easily. Though this is very challenging for us let us try to make effort to listen deeply and apply them into our day to day endeavors in life. 

"Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." this is a clear manifestation of Jesus' beginning to fulfill the ministry. May we listen more of the working of the Holy Spirit so that we will be able to encounter God day to day. Active listening is not just hearing but requires full communion in responding to the call of the Gospel. As Jesus said "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing" it has taken its course of action. To begin the ministry and we should also begin to respond to what we are called for.

May the very invitation of hearing the scripture bring us closer in communion to our God. And may it challenge us to hear and listen more to the scripture and be inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Mt 2:1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 

saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage."

When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 

Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: 

'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"

Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance. 

He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage." 

After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. 

They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 

and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. 

Commentary of the day :

Saint Bernard (1091-1153), Cistercian monk and doctor of the Church
1st Sermon for the Epiphany

"They prostrated themselves and did him homage"

God’s intention was not only to come down to earth but to become known there; not only to be born but to be recognised. In fact, it is with this recognition in mind that we hold this celebration of the Epiphany, the great day of his manifestation. For it was today that the Magi came from the East in search of the Sun of Justice at its rising (Mal 3,20), he of whom we read: “Behold a man whose name is the Orient,” (Zec 6,12 Vul.). Today they have adored the Virgin’s newborn child, following the guidance of a new star. What great cause for joy do we not find here, my brethren, as also in those words of the apostle Paul: “The kindness and generous love of God our Saviour have appeared,” (Tit 3,4)…

What is this you are doing, you Magi? What is this you are doing? Are you adoring an infant at the breast in a wretched hovel, wrapped in miserable rags? Can a child such as this really be God? Yet, “The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven.” (Ps 11 [10],4) while you are looking for him in a common stable, held in his mother’s arms! Whatever are you doing? Why are you offering him gold? Could such as one as this be king? Where, then, is his royal court, his throne, his crowd of courtiers? Can a stable be a palace, a crib a throne, Mary and Joseph members of his court? How on earth could wise men be so crazy as to adore a baby, as contemptible by reason of his age as for the poverty of his family?

Mad? Yes, they have become so in order to be wise. The Holy Spirit has taught them already what the apostle Paul would later proclaim: “Whoever would be wise, let him become a fool. For since the world, in all its wisdom, did not come to know God in his Wisdom, it has pleased God to save those who believe through the foolishness of the Gospel we proclaim, (cf 1Cor 1,21)… And so they prostrate themselves before this poor child; they do him homage as to a king; they adore him as a God. He who outwardly guided them by a star has cast his light into the interior of their hearts. 

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