D.R.R.
January 15th 2004, 01:27 AM
Be Made Clean
Author: Father Timothy Mulcahey, LC
January 15, 2004
Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 1:40-45
A leper came to him (and kneeling down) begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean." The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, "See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them." The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, in the sin of our first parents, we have all sinned. In your redemption we are all offered freedom from eternal punishment. Help me to experience the freedom of your mercy and forgiveness. Free me from all evil in body and in soul.
Petition: Lord, give me complete freedom from my sins. Help me to overcome the persistent and recurrent ones.
1. Symbolic Interpretation. Many parallels can be drawn from the truth contained in the Gospel. One commentator, Bede of Yarrow, saw a certain symbolism tucked into the text of Mark chapter 1, that we have been meditating on this week. The demon that we read about on Tuesday, silenced by Christ in verse 25, pays the price, imposed by Christ, for the seduction of our first parents in the Garden of Eden. The woman cured of a fever (Peter’s mother-in-law) in verse 31 (see yesterday’s meditation) is freed from the painful consequences of Eve’s sin. The leper we read about today is made whole of the disease and decay resulting from Adam’s sin. It is a symbolic interpretation, but a meaningful one as well.
2. The Price of Sin. The consequences of sin are death; that death can be sudden and quick or it can be long and painful. Our sin has brought that upon us and we all pay the price. We can all benefit also. Christ wills us all to be freed. It is not his desire for us to be permanently enslaved to sin. He wants fullness of life for us. Pity moves him to pay the price to help us.
3. Christ’s Cure. Christ’s cure is instantaneous and complete. We can imagine this leper, like the woman who suffered with a hemorrhage, having spent many painful years under this increasingly heavy burden. The pain increases daily. The ugliness corrupts God’s handiwork rendering it grotesque and putrid. Skin begins to fall off and the leper is shunned by all. This leprous death is halted in an instant. Now there is only life where death once prevailed. Christ can cure anyone this way, even the darkest, most leprous souls.
Dialogue with Christ: Lord I come before you as a leprous sinner. If you want you can cure me. Give me that cure today. Make me whole and clean. Restore the fulness of life to me. I will sing your praises for all eternity.
Resolution: I will be sure to go to confession this week. I will invite someone along with me.
By Father Timothy Mulcahey, LC
We would like to announce that Catholic.net will be publishing daily meditations for young people. Many of you have wished to share this wonderful prayer resource with your children. Now you have the chance. To check them out please visit Catholic.net by clicking here.
Want to help us maintain this free service? Make a tax-deductible donation online by clicking here.This link will take you to the online donation page of the Legion of Christ, but accessing it by this specific link will create a report letting us know your donation is for the daily meditation service from RegnumChristi.org.Thank you and God bless you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your Sins are Forgiven
Author: Father Timothy Mulcahey, LC
January 16, 2004
Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 2:1-12
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ’Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ’Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"-- he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home." He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, all that I have comes from you. Help me to ask for the things I really need. Help me to be concerned for the needs of others. Help me to seek your glory above all else.
Petition: Lord, give me a firm and practical faith like that of the paralytic and his friends.
1. Be Persistent. How many others would have given up on the first try? The Gospel gives us few examples of faith as persistent as the one seen in these friends of the paralytic. They knew they needed to get close to Christ and their faith pushes them on. Christ honors their efforts and, as always, is ready to show those present that faith is the key to his heart. Their faith has been noticed and rewarded.
2. Help me, Lord. Jesus loves to be begged. We can understand this very well. Don’t we like to be asked favors? Don’t we like to see that we are really needed and that perhaps we can give assistance that no one else can give? “Help me, Lord” is our petition in many situations. We turn to him daily, even hourly, for the things we so badly need. These are the first words to come from our lips at the prayer of each of the liturgical hours. They ought to be present in all of our prayers. Even our actions ask his help.
3. Humility. Faith is humble and confident. The paralytic and his friends are certain that they will be helped. They were not deterred by impracticality or naysayers. Their faith pushed them on. To be humble is to be open to God’s plan, his will. I only want it if He wants it. If not, I don’t want it either. I know it is not for me. I know I will not be happy. All for his glory.
Dialogue with Christ: Lord you test those you love to make them strong. Help me understand that the test is not a sign of your disfavor but of your great love. I need to understand that trial and difficulties are personal crosses that you entrust to me, crosses that no one else can carry. Thank you for trusting in me. I promise my faithfulness to you. Help me be faithful.
Resolution: This week I will count all my crosses as blessings not curses, asking the Lord to help me carry them well and to take away only those that he wants taken away.
By Father Timothy Mulcahey, LC
We would like to announce that Catholic.net will be publishing daily meditations for young people. Many of you have wished to share this wonderful prayer resource with your children. Now you have the chance. To check them out please visit Catholic.net by clicking here.
Want to help us maintain this free service? Make a tax-deductible donation online by clicking here.This link will take you to the online donation page of the Legion of Christ, but accessing it by this specific link will create a report letting us know your donation is for the daily meditation service from RegnumChristi.org.Thank you and God bless you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Follow Me
Author: Father Timothy Mulcahey, LC
January 17, 2004
Saint Anthony, Abbot
Mark 2:13-17
Once again he went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus heard this and said to them (that), "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I am your apostle. Send me where you need me. Help me to remember that you have called many. It is easy to “write off” certain souls as permanently lost and incapable of conversion. Help me to remember that those are the souls closest to your heart. You will always leave the ninety-nine to find the one who is lost.
Petition: Lord help me not to judge others
1. Whomever he wills. God calls whomever he wills. We can imagine the group of followers Christ had already gathered struggling with this choice. Perhaps they didn’t voice their opinions but we can safely speculate that they were a little surprised at the choice. Matthew, here called Levi, was considered a traitor to his people since he worked in collusion with the occupying Roman authorities. Himself a Jew, Matthew collected taxes that would be sent to Caesar, an unclean pagan. Matthew probably took a healthy cut for himself as well, as most tax collectors did.
2. The gravity of our fallen nature. Heaven is for tax collectors. Christ came to call sinners and it was his great joy to find so many of them receptive to his message. We need to feel the gravity of our fallen nature in order to open up completely to the invitation God makes us. Unfortunately the Pharisees did not really feel it. Sometimes we don’t feel it, especially when we see ourselves so much “better” than others. We are greatly edified when we see the tax collectors and sinners who pass through our lives receive such great favors from God.
3. The worst become the greatest. If the greatest become the worst when they are corrupted, we can be sure that the opposite is true. Christ never receives so much love as he does from one who has been greatly forgiven. I have much to thank him for. Like the Samaritan woman I want to go and proclaim the wonders he has worked in my life. I want to invite others to the same opportunities. “Come and see him who has told me all I ever did.” (Jn 4:39)
Dialogue with Christ: Lord, you have come to call not the just but sinners. Help me recognize that I too am a sinner, a great sinner in need of your grace. Give me your love and forgiveness and that will be enough for me.
Resolution: I will make an effort to judge others according to God’s love for them.
By Father Timothy Mulcahey, LC
We would like to announce that Catholic.net will be publishing daily meditations for young people. Many of you have wished to share this wonderful prayer resource with your children. Now you have the chance. To check them out please visit Catholic.net by clicking here.
Want to help us maintain this free service? Make a tax-deductible donation online by clicking here.This link will take you to the online donation page of the Legion of Christ, but accessing it by this specific link will create a report letting us know your donation is for the daily meditation service from RegnumChristi.org.Thank you and God bless you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can send your testimony to testimonies@regnumchristi.org
If you would like any further information please contact infoeng@regnumchristi.org
If you did not subscribe to this service or you would like to cancel your subscription please click here or send an email to wmeditation-request@regnumchristi.org with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.
© Regnum Christi http://www.regnumchristi.org/
Author: Father Timothy Mulcahey, LC
January 15, 2004
Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 1:40-45
A leper came to him (and kneeling down) begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean." The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, "See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them." The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, in the sin of our first parents, we have all sinned. In your redemption we are all offered freedom from eternal punishment. Help me to experience the freedom of your mercy and forgiveness. Free me from all evil in body and in soul.
Petition: Lord, give me complete freedom from my sins. Help me to overcome the persistent and recurrent ones.
1. Symbolic Interpretation. Many parallels can be drawn from the truth contained in the Gospel. One commentator, Bede of Yarrow, saw a certain symbolism tucked into the text of Mark chapter 1, that we have been meditating on this week. The demon that we read about on Tuesday, silenced by Christ in verse 25, pays the price, imposed by Christ, for the seduction of our first parents in the Garden of Eden. The woman cured of a fever (Peter’s mother-in-law) in verse 31 (see yesterday’s meditation) is freed from the painful consequences of Eve’s sin. The leper we read about today is made whole of the disease and decay resulting from Adam’s sin. It is a symbolic interpretation, but a meaningful one as well.
2. The Price of Sin. The consequences of sin are death; that death can be sudden and quick or it can be long and painful. Our sin has brought that upon us and we all pay the price. We can all benefit also. Christ wills us all to be freed. It is not his desire for us to be permanently enslaved to sin. He wants fullness of life for us. Pity moves him to pay the price to help us.
3. Christ’s Cure. Christ’s cure is instantaneous and complete. We can imagine this leper, like the woman who suffered with a hemorrhage, having spent many painful years under this increasingly heavy burden. The pain increases daily. The ugliness corrupts God’s handiwork rendering it grotesque and putrid. Skin begins to fall off and the leper is shunned by all. This leprous death is halted in an instant. Now there is only life where death once prevailed. Christ can cure anyone this way, even the darkest, most leprous souls.
Dialogue with Christ: Lord I come before you as a leprous sinner. If you want you can cure me. Give me that cure today. Make me whole and clean. Restore the fulness of life to me. I will sing your praises for all eternity.
Resolution: I will be sure to go to confession this week. I will invite someone along with me.
By Father Timothy Mulcahey, LC
We would like to announce that Catholic.net will be publishing daily meditations for young people. Many of you have wished to share this wonderful prayer resource with your children. Now you have the chance. To check them out please visit Catholic.net by clicking here.
Want to help us maintain this free service? Make a tax-deductible donation online by clicking here.This link will take you to the online donation page of the Legion of Christ, but accessing it by this specific link will create a report letting us know your donation is for the daily meditation service from RegnumChristi.org.Thank you and God bless you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your Sins are Forgiven
Author: Father Timothy Mulcahey, LC
January 16, 2004
Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 2:1-12
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ’Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ’Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"-- he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home." He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, all that I have comes from you. Help me to ask for the things I really need. Help me to be concerned for the needs of others. Help me to seek your glory above all else.
Petition: Lord, give me a firm and practical faith like that of the paralytic and his friends.
1. Be Persistent. How many others would have given up on the first try? The Gospel gives us few examples of faith as persistent as the one seen in these friends of the paralytic. They knew they needed to get close to Christ and their faith pushes them on. Christ honors their efforts and, as always, is ready to show those present that faith is the key to his heart. Their faith has been noticed and rewarded.
2. Help me, Lord. Jesus loves to be begged. We can understand this very well. Don’t we like to be asked favors? Don’t we like to see that we are really needed and that perhaps we can give assistance that no one else can give? “Help me, Lord” is our petition in many situations. We turn to him daily, even hourly, for the things we so badly need. These are the first words to come from our lips at the prayer of each of the liturgical hours. They ought to be present in all of our prayers. Even our actions ask his help.
3. Humility. Faith is humble and confident. The paralytic and his friends are certain that they will be helped. They were not deterred by impracticality or naysayers. Their faith pushed them on. To be humble is to be open to God’s plan, his will. I only want it if He wants it. If not, I don’t want it either. I know it is not for me. I know I will not be happy. All for his glory.
Dialogue with Christ: Lord you test those you love to make them strong. Help me understand that the test is not a sign of your disfavor but of your great love. I need to understand that trial and difficulties are personal crosses that you entrust to me, crosses that no one else can carry. Thank you for trusting in me. I promise my faithfulness to you. Help me be faithful.
Resolution: This week I will count all my crosses as blessings not curses, asking the Lord to help me carry them well and to take away only those that he wants taken away.
By Father Timothy Mulcahey, LC
We would like to announce that Catholic.net will be publishing daily meditations for young people. Many of you have wished to share this wonderful prayer resource with your children. Now you have the chance. To check them out please visit Catholic.net by clicking here.
Want to help us maintain this free service? Make a tax-deductible donation online by clicking here.This link will take you to the online donation page of the Legion of Christ, but accessing it by this specific link will create a report letting us know your donation is for the daily meditation service from RegnumChristi.org.Thank you and God bless you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Follow Me
Author: Father Timothy Mulcahey, LC
January 17, 2004
Saint Anthony, Abbot
Mark 2:13-17
Once again he went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus heard this and said to them (that), "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I am your apostle. Send me where you need me. Help me to remember that you have called many. It is easy to “write off” certain souls as permanently lost and incapable of conversion. Help me to remember that those are the souls closest to your heart. You will always leave the ninety-nine to find the one who is lost.
Petition: Lord help me not to judge others
1. Whomever he wills. God calls whomever he wills. We can imagine the group of followers Christ had already gathered struggling with this choice. Perhaps they didn’t voice their opinions but we can safely speculate that they were a little surprised at the choice. Matthew, here called Levi, was considered a traitor to his people since he worked in collusion with the occupying Roman authorities. Himself a Jew, Matthew collected taxes that would be sent to Caesar, an unclean pagan. Matthew probably took a healthy cut for himself as well, as most tax collectors did.
2. The gravity of our fallen nature. Heaven is for tax collectors. Christ came to call sinners and it was his great joy to find so many of them receptive to his message. We need to feel the gravity of our fallen nature in order to open up completely to the invitation God makes us. Unfortunately the Pharisees did not really feel it. Sometimes we don’t feel it, especially when we see ourselves so much “better” than others. We are greatly edified when we see the tax collectors and sinners who pass through our lives receive such great favors from God.
3. The worst become the greatest. If the greatest become the worst when they are corrupted, we can be sure that the opposite is true. Christ never receives so much love as he does from one who has been greatly forgiven. I have much to thank him for. Like the Samaritan woman I want to go and proclaim the wonders he has worked in my life. I want to invite others to the same opportunities. “Come and see him who has told me all I ever did.” (Jn 4:39)
Dialogue with Christ: Lord, you have come to call not the just but sinners. Help me recognize that I too am a sinner, a great sinner in need of your grace. Give me your love and forgiveness and that will be enough for me.
Resolution: I will make an effort to judge others according to God’s love for them.
By Father Timothy Mulcahey, LC
We would like to announce that Catholic.net will be publishing daily meditations for young people. Many of you have wished to share this wonderful prayer resource with your children. Now you have the chance. To check them out please visit Catholic.net by clicking here.
Want to help us maintain this free service? Make a tax-deductible donation online by clicking here.This link will take you to the online donation page of the Legion of Christ, but accessing it by this specific link will create a report letting us know your donation is for the daily meditation service from RegnumChristi.org.Thank you and God bless you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can send your testimony to testimonies@regnumchristi.org
If you would like any further information please contact infoeng@regnumchristi.org
If you did not subscribe to this service or you would like to cancel your subscription please click here or send an email to wmeditation-request@regnumchristi.org with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.
© Regnum Christi http://www.regnumchristi.org/