Posts Tagged "Passion Sunday reflection"

Sixteenth Sunday – 19 July 2009

Posted by on Jul 18, 2009 in Reflections, Sunday Reflections | 0 comments

Gospel: Mark 6:30-34 Year B The Apostles reported to Jesus all that they had done and taught … One can imagine their joy on returning from their first mission. You share this joy in listening to them, in perhaps asking them questions. Is this not what You want from us on Sunday? How can we return to You after an often hectic week? Yes, Lord, give us the simplicity of Your Apostles to come to Mass with all that we have done to bring You all that has happened to us: joys, sorrows, successes and failures, to offer You all this … then to rest a moment near You, because You also say to us: Come away to some lonely place and rest a while! In the reality of our world where silence can no longer find a little space …. You offer us a time of rest and calm to celebrate the Eucharist. You give us the joy of gathering with brothers to praise You, far from all too frequent pressures of daily life. Let us rediscover the sense of Sunday rest, Lord. It has taken on for Christians the spirit of Sabbath rest which you knew: for six days you will work, but the seventh day is a day of rest for the Lord Your God (Ex. 20:9-10). On arrival, Jesus saw a large crowd …. What deception for You and Your Apostles: the lonely place is invaded by people from all over the place. What will You do? You do not think of Yourself, of Your tiredness … you remain available. The call of this crowd is more important that Your rest: You are seized with pity! You have come to look for the lost sheep, to gather them into the sheepfold of the Father … So You only listen to Your heart: You teach them at some length. And this is what You do for us at each Mass. Thank you, Lord … and let us share Your attitude. Make us attentive to the needs of our...

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Fifteenth Sunday – 12 July 2009

Posted by on Jul 12, 2009 in Sunday Reflections | 0 comments

Gospel: Mark 6: 7-13 Year B Jesus called the twelve and sent them out…. It’s the first mission of Your Apostles. A Good Educator, You make them experience a little bit of what their life will be like. You send them two by two: they will have to help each other, mutual support…. They will most importantly of all have to proclaim Your message of love by example of their lives: They will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another…(Jn. 13:35). You give them power over evil spirits… The mission You entrust to them is not easy. It is Your mission. It involves liberating people from the clutches of the devil, and restoring them to life as children of God…. You pointed this out from the start of Your ministry: I came to liberate captives, to free the downtrodden (Lk. 4:18). It is necessary to rescue those imprisoned by sin, captives of the devil. The task is difficult, because this devil is not going to relinquish his prey without resistance, nor to allow himself to be dispossessed from domination of the world that he has overwhelmed. He instructed them to take nothing for the road…. What a strange recommendation for an almost impossible mission! Your disciples haven’t the slightest formation for such a mission … and You deprive them of all resources! Truly, Lord, Your ‘logic’ is not that humans! You thus remind us that the salvation of the world does not come from us, but from You. It is not ‘our’ message, ‘our’ ideas that we must proclaim, but Your message … and Your love. We must not rely on ‘us’, but must be docile instruments in Your hands. The Apostles understood … and the result followed: They set out to preach repentance, casting out demons and healing the sick…. Through the Eucharist, You remain with us, Lord, and You are our strength to accomplish what You ask of us. May You be blessed for this Bread of Life so generously offered! Keep us aware of our poverty, and of Your ever-faithful...

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Fourteenth Sunday – 5 July 2009

Posted by on Jul 5, 2009 in Sunday Reflections | 0 comments

Gospel: Mark 6: 1-6 Year B Many who heard were astonished…. You have often been a target for interrogation for those who met You, Jesus …. and You will be again until the end of the world. Even Mary and Joseph asked questions about You … right from Your birth. Similarly at your presentation in the Temple (you were 40 days old!), they were astonished at what Simeon and Anna said of You (Luke 2:48). How often Your Apostles also were stunned by Your words and Your actions! After the storm on the lake they said among themselves: So Who is He? (Lk. 8:25). With good reason will the crowd often ask the same question! Isn’t this the carpenter? …. The question can lead to two opposing attitudes: faith like Mary who ponders these things in her heart (Lk. 2:51), like Peter at the announcement of the Eucharist; he hadn’t understood it any better than Your other teaching, but he responds: Where can we go? You have the message of eternal life (Jn. 6:68). incredulity, like the inhabitants of Nazareth: they only see You as the carpenter, Mary’s son, a man like others. They have their set ideas about You and they don’t want to change them. To-day, people continue to raise questions about You, Lord. So Who is He? Rid us of the pride which makes us think ourselves capable of understanding everything. Through your Spirit, come and stabilise our faith. Keep us open to You, and we will enter ever more deeply into Your Mystery. He was astonished at their lack of faith ... You suffered, Jesus, because of the refusal of Your fellow Nazarenes, but this did not stop You from pursuing Your mission: He went through all the villages teaching … Keep us from discouragement, in the face of the difficulties we can meet on our way following...

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Palm Sunday

Posted by on Apr 4, 2009 in Sunday Reflections | 0 comments

5 April 2009 Gospel: Marck 11: 1-10 (Procession) Some days before the feast of Passover, Jesus and His disciples went up to Jerusalem …. Some days before the feast of Passover …. It is the last time that You go up to Jerusalem. Your “Hour” has come, the hour of Your Passover, of Your passage from this world to the Father (Jn. 13:11). You know that it is through suffering and death that this passage will be made, that for every son of man, for each one of us. And You know also how Your disciples will be disconcerted by Your unexpected, quick, and sad departure. So You will prepare them for this test, to help them to see the other side: Your victory over death. Jesus and His disciples went up to Jerusalem …. Jerusalem is the city of David, Your ancestor. You are at home! So, for once, You Who have always shunned royal honours, You will act like a King, and You yourself organise Your entry into Your city. Now Jerusalem is the “City of Peace” … and You are the “Prince of Peace” (Is. 9:6). Your entry into the city will therefore be a peaceful “Demonstration”. You don’t enter there on horseback, in triumph, like the Roan occupiers. You enter Jerusalem seated on a donkey, a humble shepherd. you don’t come to rule; You come to serve, to guide, to save…. The simple folk understand and welcome You: Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord! But the leaders of the people do not understand, and their animosity towards You will only be reinforced by all this. Some days later, You will once again be in a procession, but to leave Jerusalem, carrying a cross, to go to Calvary. And it will be cries of hatred and death from the crowd… In Your heart however, nothing has changed: it is always the same love; it is the shepherd Who gives His Life for His sheep. But the “Glory” of Palm Sunday will return, more glorious still, on the morning of the first day of the week, on the morning of Your...

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