"This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me"

Mark 7:1-13

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus,
they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.
(For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders.
And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles (and beds).)
So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, "Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?"
He responded, "Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me;
In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.'
You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition."
He went on to say, "How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!
For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'Whoever curses father or mother shall die.'
Yet you say, 'If a person says to father or mother, "Any support you might have had from me is qorban"' (meaning, dedicated to God),
you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother.
You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things." 

Reflection:

Today's Gospel invites us to reflect more of our deeds and acts according tot he law of God and not to the law of the land. We may have certain laws to guide us and protect us and most especially to create order in society. But, today's Gospel is inviting us to discern more of the law of God. Let us observed what is good for the people and not according to certain traditions. We live with our traditions in life but let us not forget that beyond tradition is the love and care that Jesus shared to us.

May the good Lord bless all our endeavors today and we may follow his will not just our usual traditions in life.

Cape Verde, Africa is getting its first cardinal by CBCP

Filed under: World News |

PRAIA, Cape Verde, Feb 3, 2015–At the beginning of the year, Pope Francis announced that among the 20 men he would make cardinal on Feb. 14 is Bishop Arlindo Gomes Furtado of Santiago de Cabo Verde, whose episcopal motto is “Jesus, the Good Shepherd.”

Bishop Gomes will be the first cardinal from Cape Verde, a small island nation of Africa located 350 miles off the coast of Senegal, though the Church was formally established there in 1533 by Portuguese explorers.

Arlindo Gomes was born in 1949 in Figueira das Naus, Cape Verde, the fourth child of Ernesto Robalo and Maria Furtado, and he was baptized in August 1951.

He attended Sao Jose Seminary for secondary school, and then studied at the seminary of Coimbra, in Portugal. In 1976 he returned to Cape Verde, and was ordained a priest of the Santiago diocese.

Fr. Gomes served in several parishes, and from 1978 to 1986 was rector of Sao Jose Seminary. He then spent four years in Rome studying at the Biblical Institute, after which he returned briefly to Cape Verde.

From 1991 to 1995 he taught at the Higher Institute of Theological Studies in Coimbra, and helped in parishes as well. Then he returned to Cape Verde, where he was a pastor, a member of the National Board of Education, a professor at the National Police Training School, and vicar general of the Santiago diocese.

He has served as a professor of Scripture and of English, Greek, and Hebrew.

When the Diocese of Mindelo was erected in 2003 from the territory of the Santiago diocese, Fr. Gomes was appointed its first bishop. He served there until 2009, when Santiago’s bishop retired and he was transferred back, to be bishop of his home diocese.

According to Vatican Radio, Bishop Gomes “is praised not only for his pastoral zeal but also for taking a keen interest in the pastoral welfare of Cape Verdean communities in the diaspora.”

Bishop Gomes will be made a cardinal during a Feb. 14 consistory at the Vatican. At age 65, he is one of the 15 new cardinals who will be eligible to vote in a papal conclave. (CNA)

"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. 

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB 

Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ (the Son of God).
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.'"
John (the) Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.
John was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey.
And this is what he proclaimed: "One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit."

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day : 

Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622), Bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church
Sermon for the fourth Sunday of Advent

"Prepare the way of the Lord"

Since our divine Savior is so near, what are we to do to prepare ourselves for his coming ? Saint John the Baptist teaches us : « Repent! » he says, « bring low those mountains of pride, fill those valleys of laziness and pusillanimity, for salvation is near at hand. » The ‘valleys’ are nothing other than fear which, when it becomes too great, leads to discouragement. The sight of the great sins we have committed brings with them a shock and fear that strikes the heart. These are the valleys we have to fill with trust and hope for the coming of our Lord.

« Bring low mountains and hills » : what are these but presumption, pride and self-esteem, which is a very great hindrance to our Lord’s coming, who is accustomed to humble and bring low the proud, for he penetrates right to the bottom of our hearts to uncover the pride hidden within them. “Level the highways, the crooked ways make straight to make them a plain.” This is as though he were to say: “Put right all those doubtful intentions so that you may have none but that of pleasing God by doing penance, this being the goal to which we should all aim.”

Make straight the path, smooth down your feelings by the mortification of your passions, inclinations and aversions. Oh, what a desirable thing it is, this equanimity of mind and feeling; how faithfully we ought to work to acquire it! For we are more changing and inconstant than can be told. People are to be found who at one moment, being in a good temper, will be of a pleasant and joyful conversation; yet look on the other side and you will find them sad and restless – in sum, the winding and uneven ways are to be made straight for the coming of our Lord.

 

“Great signs in heaven”

Luke 21:5-11.

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said,
"All that you see here--the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."
Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?"
He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them!
When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end."
Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky. 

Commentary of the day : 

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (313-350), Bishop of Jerusalem, Doctor of the Church
Baptismal catechesis 15

“Great signs in heaven”

The Lord who was lifted up in the clouds will come from heaven on the clouds (Acts 1,9). Indeed, it was he who said: “And they will see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory”, (Mt 24,30). But what will the true sign of his coming be, for fear that the powers of our enemies dare to deceive us by simulating them? “And then the sign of the Son of Man,” he said, “will appear in heaven,” (Mt 24,30). Now, the true and distinctive sign of Christ is the cross. The sign of a shining cross goes before the king designating the one who had first of all been crucified so that those who beforehand had pierced him with nails and surrounded him with snares might beat their breasts at this sight (Zec 12,10), saying: “Behold him who was buffeted, whose face was spat upon, the one who was bound with chains, who in times past was humbled on the cross.” “Where shall we flee from the face of your anger?” they will say. And, surrounded by the angelic hosts, they will find no hiding place anywhere, (cf Rv 6,16-17).

Fear will be the sign where enemies of the cross are concerned; but joy for its friends, who have believed in, preached or suffered for it. Who will then have the happiness of being found a friend of Christ? This glorious king, whom a guard of angels surrounds and who sits on the same throne as his Father, will not shun his servants (Rv 3,21). So that the elect are not confused with his enemies, “he will send out his angels with a trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds,” (Mt 24,31). He did not forget Lot in his isolation (cf. Gn 19,15; Lk 17,28); how could he forget the great multitude of the just? “Come, you who are blessed by my Father,” (Mt 25,34) is what he is going to say to those who will be carried off on chariots of cloud and whom the angels will gather together.