Jan. 16, 2015 Friday: 1st Week in Ordinary Time
1. Quiet my soul
My soul longs for your presence, Lord.
When I turn my thoughts to you,
I find peace and contentment.
2. How do I find myself today?
I ask how I am within myself today? Am I particularly tired, stressed, or off-form? If any of these characteristics apply, can I try to let go of the concerns that disturb me?
3. Today's Scripture (Mark 2:1-12)
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
4. Reflection (www.sacredspace.ie)
Faith opens a door to a living relationship with God in Jesus. Faith was the door opening to the forgiveness of sins, and then to the cure of the sick man. The faith of all helped the sick man - he was healed by ‘their' faith. Our faithful time of prayer may help people we know or do not know. All Christian prayer reaches out to many.
5. Personal prayer/dialog with God
Lord, I have felt paralysed at times, without the courage to act because of some failure or criticism that took the heart out of me. Then I relied on the help of good friends, like the four stretcher-bearers, to bring me to the point where I could hear you say: Get up and walk. Suddenly, as W.H.Auden put it, I was able to approach the future as a friend, without a wardrobe of excuses.
My soul longs for your presence, Lord.
When I turn my thoughts to you,
I find peace and contentment.
2. How do I find myself today?
I ask how I am within myself today? Am I particularly tired, stressed, or off-form? If any of these characteristics apply, can I try to let go of the concerns that disturb me?
3. Today's Scripture (Mark 2:1-12)
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
4. Reflection (www.sacredspace.ie)
Faith opens a door to a living relationship with God in Jesus. Faith was the door opening to the forgiveness of sins, and then to the cure of the sick man. The faith of all helped the sick man - he was healed by ‘their' faith. Our faithful time of prayer may help people we know or do not know. All Christian prayer reaches out to many.
5. Personal prayer/dialog with God
Lord, I have felt paralysed at times, without the courage to act because of some failure or criticism that took the heart out of me. Then I relied on the help of good friends, like the four stretcher-bearers, to bring me to the point where I could hear you say: Get up and walk. Suddenly, as W.H.Auden put it, I was able to approach the future as a friend, without a wardrobe of excuses.
