January 29, 2015

Jan. 29

January 29, 2015:  Thursday, 3rd week, Ordinary Time

  • 'Blood drop' pin: Through Jesus' blood we can enter the sanctuary (1st reading)
  • 'Girl with heart' pin:  Approach with sincere heart, clean of evil... (1st reading, psalm)
  • Blue shirt:  ...and bodies washed in pure water (1st reading)
  • 'Stick figures' tie pin:  Don't stay away from the assembly (1st reading)
  • 'Earth' tie with children's faces:  The Lord's are the earth and its fullness (psalm); This is the people that longs to see your face (psalm)
  • 'Menorah' button:  A lamp is to be placed on a lampstand; all will come to light (gospel) (I know it's not Chanukah, but the candles are all I have relating to light :-)
  • 'Eyeball' tie pin:  All will be made visible (gospel)
  • 'Ruler' tie bar:  The measure you measure will be measured to you (gospel)
Listen

Jesus saved each person personally:  he gave his life for me and opened me to new life.  But he also saved us as part of his people, from when he called Abraham.  So "Be concerned for each other"; don't privatize it.  To not do so, have faith in Jesus who purifies us, hope stirring us to go forward, and practice charity, taking care of each other.
When I’m in a community, I can privatize salvation to a small social level.  To not do so, communicate faith, communicate hope, and communicate and practice charity.
"Don't absent yourself from your assemblies."  Absenting also happens when we judge or scorn others; that also privatizes salvation to "ecclesial elites."  Do you privatize faith instead of being close to God's people and practicing faith, hope and charity?
Don't hide the light
(animate)
Read
  • Heb 10:19-25  Jesus is our great high priest; through his blood we can enter the sanctuary.  Approach with sincere heart and in trust, clean from evil, holding to your confession that gives hope.  Rouse each other to love and good works.  Don't stay away from the assembly, but encourage one another.
  • Ps 24:1-4ab, 5-6  "Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face."  The Lord's are the world and those who dwell in it.  Who may stand in his holy place?  Those of sinless hands and clean heart; they'll receive God's blessing.
  • Mk 4:21-25  “A lamp is to be placed on a lampstand, not under a bushel!  All will come to light.”  “The measure you measure will be measured out to you, and still more given.  To those who have, more will be given; from those who have not, what they have will be taken.”
Reflect
    • Creighton:  Mark uses words and images that appeal to the senses, evoke meanings, and connect ideas.  Christ is the beacon that must be brought out from under the basket, the Light of the World who must be revealed and proclaimed.   Also, we must not hide our lamp but rather live as light and example, rousing each another to love and good works, not staying away from the assembly [faith community].
    • One Bread One Body:  "Presence or absent?":  When we gather in Jesus' name, we're are more deeply united with him and each other and so are more open to God's will and roused to love and good deeds, and can foster a new Pentecost. 
    • Passionist:  I can stuff away my knowledge of our unity in God with rules, rituals, and biases.  What's my bushel-basket and why am I using it?
    • DailyScripture.net:  Lamps enable people to see and avoid stumbling, and "light" expresses God's beauty, truth, and goodness.  Christ's light shines in believers' hearts, enabling us to see God's kingdom.  We're to be his light-bearers so others may see the truth and be freed.  We can try to hide things from others, from ourselves, and from God, but God sees all.  What freedom and joy for those who live in God's light!  They'll have what they need and will shine for those who hunger for God's truth and wisdom.
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