Daily Reading & Meditation
Thursday (1/22): "All who had diseases pressed upon Jesus to touch him"
Scripture: Mark 3:7-12
7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed; also from Judea 8 and Jerusalem and Idume'a and from beyond the Jordan and from about Tyre and Sidon a great multitude, hearing all that he did, came to him. 9 And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they should crush him; 10 for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. 11 And whenever the unclean spirits beheld him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." 12 And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.
Meditation: Is there anything holding you back from giving yourself unreservedly to God? Jesus offered freedom to everyone who sought him out. Wherever Jesus went the people came to him because they had heard all the things he did. They were hungry for God and desired healing from their afflictions. In faith they pressed upon Jesus to touch him. As they did so power came from Jesus and they were healed. Even demons trembled in the presence of Jesus and acknowledged his true identity: You are the Son of God. When you hear God's word and consider all that Jesus did, how do you respond? With doubt or with expectant faith? With skepticism or with confident expectation? Ask the Lord the increase your faith in his saving power and grace.
"Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Inflame my heart with a burning love for you and with an expectant faith in your saving power. Set me free from all that hinders me from drawing closer to you."
Psalm 56:2-3, 9-14
2 My enemies trample upon me all day long, for many fight against me proudly.
3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in thee.
9 Then my enemies will be turned back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust without a fear. What can man do to me?
12 My vows to thee I must perform, O God; I will render thank offerings to thee.
13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, yea, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Go to | Daily Reading & Meditation Index |
(c) 2009 Don Schwager
Inaugurating a New Movement for Life
Some of the major moments of this week are strangely tied together. These events should be unified if America truly hopes to stay united. How providential that our Catholic Faith celebrates a week of Christian unity.
Picture of some of my classmates at our 10 year reunion. Despite our many differences, we are still one in faith.
As Americans celebrate the historic Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama – a real testament to the greatness of the Civil Rights Movement and the inclusive spirit of our democracy – another group of Americans will celebrate the 36th annual March for Life, the movement for true understanding of our responsibility to protect our rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These historic moments are intimately related, requiring our country and our world to pray as one human family.
Young people at the WYD '08 in Sydney, coming together as a family.
Since I write these weekly messages a few days before they are published, I can’t predict what will happen at any of these events. I only pray that all goes smoothly. I also beg the good Lord that the true spirit that makes America the United States will bring people together to inaugurate a new movement; not just a new presidency, but a renewed movement to see the dignity and sanctity of human life. And, what is that true spirit? It is, of course, the Holy Spirit, our Lord and giver of life.
This is the view of the main altar. See the Holy Spirit above?
By now, you know my position on our nation’s laws and how I will always side with upholding and maintaining the dignity of human life from conception to natural death. Why? Without a firm position on what makes life sacred, society can be easily influenced to believe just about anything that may harm and degrade humanity. The tyranny of relativism is dangerous, and it has affected our politicians who claim to be believers. Looking at our lawmakers, it’s easy to see how their relativistic and utilitarian mentality makes them believe that life is only worth protecting and saving if it’s useful. That’s why children, especially unborn children, are threatened by a culture that may not see their potential in a mother’s womb.
I thank God that President Obama’s mother saw the potential of her child. Despite the challenges that the young Obama must have faced growing up (especially as a biracial child) he had an extremely supportive mother and grandparents. His success is the fruit of a loving family. Without families coming together to promote the dignity of every human life, our dreams for hope or change remain political rhetoric.
In this week packed with so many fruits of the Holy Spirit, we cannot forget to be thankful for all the ways that God has blessed our world. Even though I completely disagree with the current President’s promise to give more leeway for abortions, I still thank God the nation stayed together (and surprisingly peaceful) after such contentious elections. I now pray that President Obama can see Thursday’s gathering of Americans significant and worth listening to, as the pro-life movement is such a young movement.
The recent death of Fr. Richard Neuhaus reminds me of how powerfully he allowed the Civil Rights Movement to change his life. He realized that human rights are not limited to social or racial activism. In order to be truly socially just and to afford equal rights to all, we must pay close attention to human life. Fr. Neuhaus said it best: the pro-life movement is the natural extension of the Civil Rights Movement. Interestingly enough, Dr. King’s dream is not yet realized, even with an African American president, until we see the dignity of every human life. If you don’t believe me, just listen to what Dr. King’s niece, Alveda King, has to say about it. She now works with Priest for Life to show how the pro-life movement is not a political group, but a group of true Americans.
Our Grace Before Meals family recognizes that our American family must see the connection between Tuesday’s Inauguration, Thursday’s March for Life, and this week’s prayer for Christian unity.
The only way we can have true hope is if we change this culture of death into a culture that is truly pro-life.
Can our country come together as truly united states that protect the dignity of life from conception to natural death? Yes, we can.
An Unlikely Combination – Beef Stew-styled Crab Soup
Somehow strange combinations seem to work. If the Inauguration crowd joined the March for Life, that would be a strange combination. But, it would really work because they share the dignity of life as their base.
Me hanging out with young people at youth rallies. Despite our major differences of culture, music, and dress, we have one thing in common:
Our love for God!
The same is true for a very simple recipe. Obviously fresh ingredients are always better than canned, but I think I came up with a real winner. This strange combination works because of the soup’s great broth base. It’s crab soup made out of canned beef stew.
This warm soup would definitely be a crowd pleaser for all those who gather in freezing temperatures this week to celebrate and march for change.
Click here for the stuffed chicken recipe
Inaugurating Life in the Spirit of Unity
This prayer comes from the opening prayer for Christian unity that we pray at Mass.
Almighty and eternal God, You keep together those You have united. Look kindly on all who follow Jesus, Your Son. We are all consecrated to You by our common baptism; make us one in the fullness of faith and keep us one in the fellowship of love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit; one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Ask Fr. Leo for fatherly advice.
Any submissions may be used in future Grace Before Meals publications.Sphere: Related Content
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment