Mark 1:21-28

Gregory Mussmacher, Jesus protect me from my enemies and fill those who wish to do me harm with the Holy Spirit and help them find and recognize the Truth!!

Daily Reading & Meditation

Tuesday (1/13): "Jesus taught them as one who had authority"

Scripture: Mark 1:21-28

21 And they went into Caper'na-um; and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; 24 and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Meditation: Do you believe that God’s word has power to change and transform your life. And are you eager to hear and believe the word of God? When Jesus taught he spoke with authority. He spoke the word of God as no one had spoken it before. When the Rabbis taught they supported their statements with quotes from other authorities. The prophets spoke with delegated authority – “Thus says the Lord.” When Jesus spoke he needed no authorities to back his statements. He was authority incarnate – the Word of God made flesh. When he spoke, God spoke. When he commanded even the demons obeyed.

Augustine (5th century church father) remarked that the “devils confessed Christ, but lacking charity it availed nothing. ..They confessed a sort of faith, but without love. Hence they were devils.” Faith is mighty, but without love it profits nothing (1 Corinthians 13). True faith works through love (Galalatians 5:6) and abounds in hope (Romans 15:13). That is why faith is both a free gift of God and the free assent of our will to the whole truth that God has revealed. To live, grow, and persevere in the faith to the end, we must nourish it with the word of God. The Lord gives us his Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds that we may grow in his truth and in the knowledge of his great love for each of us. If we approach God’s word submissively, with an eagerness to do everything the Lord desires, we are in a much better position to learn what God wants to teach us through his word. Are you eager to be taught by the Lord and to conform your life according to his word?

"Lord Jesus, your word is power and life. May I never doubt your saving love and mercy, and the power of your word to bring healing and deliverance to those in need."

Psalm 8:2,5-9

2 by the mouth of babes and infants, thou hast founded a bulwark because of thy foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
5 Yet thou hast made him little less than God, and dost crown him with glory and honor.
6 Thou hast given him dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet,
7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the sea.
9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all the earth!



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Mark 1:14-20 and Is God Still Speaking?

Gregory Mussmacher, "Do all in your power not to fall, for the strong athlete should not fall. But if you do fall, get up again at once and continue the contest. Even if you fall a thousand times...rise up again each time." Dear Jesus, Mother Mary, all the angels and saints please give the strength to keep getting up when I fall or when the evil one tries to push me down!!
—St. John of Karpathos (date unknown)


Daily Reading & Meditation

Monday (1/12): "The kingdom of God is at hand"

Scripture: Mark 1:14-20

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel." 16 And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men." 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zeb'edee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zeb'edee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him.

Meditation:What is the preaching of the gospel of God? The word "gospel" literally means "good news". When a king had good news to deliver to his subjects he sent messengers or heralds throughout the land to make a public announcement – such as the birth of a new king or the defeat of an invading army or occupied force. God sent his prophets to announce the coming of God's anointed King and Messiah. After Jesus was baptised in the River Jordan and anointed by the Spirit he begins his ministry of preaching the good news of God and bringing the kingdom of God to those who will receive it.

What is the kingdom of God? The word "kingdom" means something more than simply a place or realm. It literally means "reign" or "kingship" and power to "rule". The prophets announced that God would establish a kingdom not just for one nation or people but for the whole world. God's kingdom is bigger and more powerful than anything we can imagine because it is universal and everlasting (Daniel 4:3). God's throne is in heaven and his rule is over all (Psalm 103:19). His everlasting kingdom is full of glory, power, and splendor (Psalm 145:11-13). In the Book of Daniel we are told that this kingdom is given to the Son of Man and to the saints (Daniel 7:14,18,22,27). The Son of Man is a Messianic title for God's anointed King. The New Testament word for "Messiah" is "Christ" which literally means the "Anointed One" or the "Anointed King". The core of the gospel message is the good news of the kingdom of God. The coming of God's kingdom is both a present event – in the first coming of Christ in which he defeats sin and death on the cross – and a future reality when Christ will come again to establish the kingdom in all its fulness. The kingdom of God is the central theme of Jesus' mission. That is why God sent his only begotten Son into the world to overthrow the kingdom of darkness and to bring us into the kingdom of his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9; Colossians 1:13).

As soon as John the Baptist had finished his testimony Jesus began his in Galilee, his home district. John's enemies had sought to silence him, but the gospel cannot be silenced. Jesus proclaimed that the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Jesus takes up John's message of repentance and calls disciples to believe in the gospel--the good news he has come to deliver. What is the good news which Jesus delivers? It is the good news of peace (restoration of relationship with God), of hope (the hope of resurrection and heaven), of truth (God's word is true and reliable), of promise (he rewards those who seek him), of immortality (God gives everlasting life), and the good news of salvation (liberty from sin and freedom to live as sons and daughters of God). In announcing the good news, Jesus made two demands: repent and believe. Repentance requires a life change, a change of mind, sorrow for sin and its consequences, a hatred of sin and a firm resolution to avoid it in the future. The Lord gives us grace to see sin for what is really is – a rejection of his love and wisdom and a refusal to do what is good and in accord with his will. His grace brings pardon and help for turning away from everything that would keep us from his love. To believe is to take Jesus at his word and to recognize that God loved us so much that he sent his only begotten Son to free us from bondage to fear and sin. God made the supreme sacrifice of his Son on the cross to bring us back to himself. God loved us first and he invites us in love to surrender our lives to him. Do you believe that the gospel has power to free you from bondage to fear and sin?

When Jesus preached the gospel message he called others to follow as his disciples and he gave them a mission – "to catch people for the kingdom of God". What kind of disciples did he choose? Smelly fishermen! In the choice of the first apostles we see a characteristic feature of Jesus' work: he chose very ordinary people. They were non-professionals, had no wealth or position. They were chosen from the common people who did ordinary things, had no special education, and no social advantages. Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do it extraordinarily well. He chose these individuals, not for what they were, but for what they would be capable of becoming under his direction and power. When the Lord calls us to serve, we must not think we have nothing to offer. The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for greatness in his kingdom. Do you believe that God wants to work through and in you for his glory?

Jesus speaks the same message to us today: we will "catch people" for the kingdom of God if we allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine through us. God wants others to see the light of Christ in us in the way we live, speak, and witness the joy of the gospel. Paul the Apostles says, But thanks be to God, who in Christ Jesus always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing (2 Corinthians 2:15). Do you witness to those around you the joy of the gospel and do you pray for your neighbors, co-workers, and relatives that they may come to know the Lord Jesus Christ and grow in the knowledge of his love?

"Lord Jesus, you have called me personally by name, just as you called your first disciples, Simon, Andrew, and James. Help me to be a faithful to the gospel and loyal to you. Fill me with the joy of the gospel and help me to be a good witness of your kingdom to others."

Psalm 25:4-9

4 Make me to know thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me, for thou art the God of my salvation; for thee I wait all the day long.
6 Be mindful of thy mercy, O LORD, and of thy steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth, or my transgressions; according to thy steadfast love remember me, for thy goodness' sake, O LORD!
8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.



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Is God Still Speaking?
Samuel and the Silence of God
For Sunday January 18, 2009
Lectionary Readings (Revised Common Lectionary, Year B)
1 Samuel 3:1–10 (11–20)
Psalm 139:1–6, 13–18
1 Corinthians 6:12–20
John 1:43–51


Four Scenes from the First Book
of Samuel, late 11th century,
miniature on vellum
A church near my house has a sign in its front yard that proclaims, "God is still speaking." Is that really true? And if it is true, what is God saying today?

Many places in the Bible describe God as forgetful, ignorant, remote, deaf, and even asleep (cf. Psalm 44:23). In the Old Testament reading this week, God is portrayed as speechless. It's as if He's unable or unwilling to talk: "in those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions" (1 Samuel 3:1). We generally don't interpret these descriptions of God in a literal way, nor should we. We explain these unflattering depictions of God as "anthropomorphisms," that is, as paltry human attempts to describe Him who is ultimately beyond description, and to articulate the experience of many people today of the loneliness of abandonment in a silent world.

After the Asian tsunami that killed 225,000 people in 11 countries (December 26, 2004), a little Indonesian boy remarked on television, "We have left our traditional ways, and so God was angry with us. He abandoned us. I think I am alive today to tell our people this." Indonesia is no more wicked or deserving of divine punishment than any other country, and in the New Testament Jesus discouraged linking human misfortune with divine punishment (John 9:1–3). But that little boy was on to something, I think. He was right to describe divine activity as mysteriously intertwined with human choices, to picture human history as a dynamic synergism between God's speech and humanity's response. History is not mechanistic, and still less is it meaningless; it consists of the interplay between the free decisions of people and the sovereign love of God.


God calls Samuel,
anonymous, Utrecht,
c. 1430.
That's how I understand Samuel's assessment. The silence of God and the absence of visions he described were not just a subjective feeling, a poetic anthropomorphism, or a human projection onto their image of God. Rather, Samuel accurately described an objective state of affairs. His day was a period of political anarchy in Israel's history when "every person did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6 = 21:25), when the two sons of the priest Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were "wicked men; they had no regard for the Lord" (1 Samuel 2:12). People were not listening. God was not speaking. He was silent. Visions were rare. Having left their traditional ways, as the Indonesian boy put it, God was angry with Israel.

It's a chilling thought to imagine that God might grant humanity's request for autonomy, that He could honor our insistence that He leave us alone, or that He would stop speaking as a consequence of our not listening. Perhaps His last, terrifying word to us might be, "I have answered your prayers and now grant you the horrible freedom you have craved. Since you are so disinterested as not to listen, I will no longer speak. From now on, the only voices you will hear will be your own."


God calls Samuel,
French, c. 1250.
But a single person can make a difference. Samuel proved to be the exception in this story. Dedicated to the Lord by his mother Hannah at an early age, he "continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men" (1 Samuel 2:26). In contrast to the silence that had fallen upon the land, God spoke to him three times as a little boy (Jewish tradition says he was 12 at the time), and he responded with his famous words, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." In contrast to the priest Eli and his two degenerate sons who flaunted their sexploitations in the place of worship (1 Samuel 2:22), "the Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and He let none of his words fall to the ground." The nation recognized him as a prophet who heard from and spoke for Yahweh. Samuel eventually crowned Israel's first king, Saul, but not before warning the nation about the oppression inherent in political power (1 Samuel 8). By himself, Samuel ended the drought of divine silence in Israel, for "Samuel's words came to all Israel" (1 Samuel 3:19, 21).


Samuel anoints Saul as King,
Maciejowski Bible (13th
century illuminated manuscript).
The story of Samuel and the silence of God reminds me of a "saying" from the early desert fathers in Egypt that emphasizes this decisive link between divine speech and human attention, between His call and our response, between word and obedience. Like so many of the desert "sayings," this story from Abba Felix begins in one place but ends in another.

"Some brothers who had some seculars with them went to see Abba Felix and they begged him to say a word to them. But the old man kept silence. After they had asked for a long time he said to them, 'You wish to hear a word?' They said, 'Yes, abba.' Then the old man said to them, 'There are no more words nowadays. When the brothers used to consult the old men and when they did what was said to them, God showed them how to speak. But now, since they ask without doing that which they hear, God has withdrawn the grace of the word from the old men and they do not find anything to say, because there are no longer any who carry their words out.' Hearing this, the brothers groaned, saying, 'Pray for us, abba.'"

Perhaps the Indonesian boy spoke more than he knew. If there are "no more words nowadays" from God, if He has "withdrawn the grace of His word," that might have more to do with our human refusal to listen than with any divine reluctance to speak.

For further reflection:

* When and why have you ever felt the silence of God?
* What are the dangers of claiming that God has spoken to you?
* Is God speaking today? Where and how? What is he saying?


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Image credits: (1) National Gallery of Art; (2) Biblical Art on the WWW; (3) Biblical Art on the WWW; and (4) www.medievaltymes.com.Sphere: Related Content

Luke 4:14-22 & Grace Before Meals

Gregory Mussmacher, Jesus please forgive me for my sins and help me resist temptations!!



Food & Family Fills Week 1 in 2009

I’ve heard it said (and I actually believe it to a degree) that the first few days of the year set a tone for the rest of the year. I’m not superstitious, but there is some truth to this logic. This can motivate and encourage us to start off the year on the best foot possible.

If that’s the case, then I firmly believe that God will truly bless our Grace Before Meals family. Now is the time for you and your family to take the necessary steps to make sure this year is a blessed one.

My family rang in the New Year with all the bells and whistles, but also with the whispering of prayers. As always there was lots of fun, food, and family.


My aunt and mother sampling a pre-dinner dessert:
Filipino fried dough called “piripit.”
Joining my family for dinner was our good friend Fr. DeAscanis. He’s an excellent, smart and faithful priest. My family really looks up to him…in more ways than one!


The next day, although a bit more subdued, was nonetheless filled with family, food, faith and fun. It began with a very pleasant drive on an unbelievably open highway to Washington DC. I cooked sweet champagne beef for Channel WUSA 9. Following the Grace Before Meals principals, I supplied a bite-sized theological tip in the form of a possible New Year’s resolution to spend more time with the family and offered a blessing over the food before the cast and camera crew devoured it.


Chris, the PR representative from Maroon PR who assisted me on this shoot, joined me for breakfast. All that food talk so early in the morning made us hungry. With God’s providence and a little navigational help, we happened on a DC institution:Steak and Eggs on Wisconsin Avenue.


Chris and I celebrated the New Year with the owner. He was genuinely happy to see a priest come to his restaurant in the New Year and welcomed us with open arms.


We both ordered the “Old Favorite,” a great way to start the day and the New Year.


Chris joined me in saying grace, which included a special blessing over this establishment. As soon as we started eating, the place became jam-packed with fruitful business. The owner and his stepsons were confident that the crowd was a blessing from God and a direct response to our prayers.


Upon my return to the seminary, I had a chance to do my annual closet clean out. This annual prayer reminds me of just how much clutter can enter our lives and how diligent we should be about collecting useless possessions.

Despite the media rants about the economic downturn, I firmly believe that cleaning out our closets may offer a humble reminder that we may have enough – in some cases too much – to really complain about financial matters. We may not be rich. We may not have ultra modern gadgets or the latest fashions. We may even bear a cross of financial struggles that fill us with some anxiety about paying bills and make us work extra hard. But, in the long run our faith in God’s presence will carry us through this New Year. With a prayerful perspective, we can begin the New Year recognizing how God has blessed us with just enough to make it through another year. He truly won’t let us down this year if we place our trust in Him, rather than the media’s hyperactive retelling of stock market woes.

And if you’re wondering whether I celebrated Mass on New Year’s Day, it being a Holy Day of Obligation – of course I did! I had the best blessing of that day when I celebrated Mass in our seminary chapel for a group of young men, including three seminarians that I knew from my previous parish assignment.


I pray that your first week of the New Year provides you an opportunity to renew relationships with your family, friends, food, and faith. If this was not the case for your New Year, please know that with each day God provides a new opportunity to make new resolutions. God’s grace isn’t limited to one day out of the calendar year. It’s available anytime you ask for it: before getting out of bed, before work, before sleep, and before meals.



Sweet Champagne-braised Beef

I created this recipe because I wanted to show how champagne, although traditionally used for toasting a New Year, can also be a fun and tasty way to sauce up flavors in your celebration meals. I cooked this for a WUSA9 News segment on New Year’s Day.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have a chance to take a picture of the dish itself because after I blessed the food, the crew ate it all before I could snap a photo. So, you’ll just have to take my word. It was a healthy and tasty way to begin a New Year.

Click here for the recipe



Remembering the Virgin Mother of God prays for us!


We often forget that Mary’s prayers provide us great grace to help us become better Christians. Catholics begin each New Year commemorating Mary as the Mother of God. In so doing, we don’t limit our resolutions to one day of the year. With grace, we can improve, strengthen and make new resolutions every day of our lives.

Let us Pray:
Father, source of light in every age, the Virgin Mary conceived and bore Your Son who is called Wonderful God, Prince of Peace. May her prayer, the gift of a mother’s love, be Your people’s joy through all ages. May her response, born of a humble heart, draw Your Spirit to rest on Your people. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. (From the Roman Sacramentary)



Daily Reading & Meditation

Thursday (1/8): "All wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of Jesus' mouth"

Scripture: Luke 4:14-22 (alternate reading: Mark 6:34-44)

14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the Sabbath day. And he stood up to read; 17 and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." 20 And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." 22 And all spoke well of him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth; and they said, "Is not this Joseph's son?"

Meditation: In Jesus we see the grace of God in action. His gracious words brought hope, joy, and favor to those who were ready to receive him. Where did Jesus began his public ministry? In his own land of Galilee where he was reared from his youth in Nazareth. His proclamation of the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah brought wonder to his kin and townsfolk. Isaiah had prophesied that the Messiah would come in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring freedom to those oppressed by sin and evil (see Isaiah 61:1-2). Jesus awakened their hope in the promises of God. They, in turn, received his words favorably and wondered what would become of "Joseph's son". Their hearts were hungry for the word of life and they looked to Jesus with anticipation and wonder. Do you look to Jesus with confidence and hope in the fulfillment of all God's promises?

What did Jesus come to do for us? He came to set us free from the worst tyranny possible – slavery to sin and the fear of death, and the eternal destruction of both body and soul. God's power alone can save us from emptiness and poverty of spirit, from confusion and error, and from hopelessness and the fear of annihilation. The gospel of salvation is "good news" for us today. Do you know the joy and freedom of the gospel?

"Lord Jesus, you are the fulfillment of all our hopes and dreams. Through the gift of your Holy Spirit you bring us grace, life, truth, and freedom. Fill me with the joy of the gospel and inflame my heart with love and zeal for your kingdom and your will for my life."

Psalm 72:1-2, 14-17

1 Give the king thy justice, O God, and thy righteousness to the royal son!
2 May he judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with justice!
14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight.
15 Long may he live, may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day!
16 May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may men blossom forth from the cities like the grass of the field!
17 May his name endure for ever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May men bless themselves by him, all nations call him blessed!



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From the Judean Desert to the Jordan River & Mark 6:45-52

Gregory Mussmacher, Jesus help me to be a better person and witness to Your life!!


From the Judean Desert to the Jordan River:
John Baptizes His Cousin Jesus
For Sunday January 11, 2009
Lectionary Readings (Revised Common Lectionary, Year B)
Genesis 1:1–5
Psalm 29
Acts 19:1–7
Mark 1:4–11


Baptism of Jesus.
After living in total obscurity his entire life, in his late twenties Jesus left his family in Nazareth to join the movement of his eccentric cousin John. Jesus might have submitted himself to John as a disciple to a mentor. Some think that John was part of the apocalyptic Jewish sect of Essenes who opposed the temple in Jerusalem. At least this much is clear — John the Baptizer was a prophet of radical dissent; his detractors said that he had a demon (Luke 7:33).

Whereas his father had been part of the religious establishment as a priest in the Jerusalem temple, John fled the comforts and corruptions of the city for the loneliness of the desert. There he dressed in animal skins, ate insects and wild honey, and preached. Living on the margins of society, both literally and figuratively, he preached "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" (Mark 1:4), which is to say that he announced a message of both indictment and invitation. Contrary to what we might have expected from such an ascetic man with an austere message, the Gospels say that people flocked to John. Even in far away Ephesus people submitted to the baptism of John (Acts 19:3).

John's preaching in the Judean desert and baptizing in the Jordan river confronted both the religious and the political powers of his day. About six months after John emerged from the desert like some scraggly lunatic and baptized Jesus, he was beheaded at the whim of Herod the tetrarch, who at a dinner party capitulated to the sadistic demand of his girlfriend's daughter. John was the forerunner of Jesus, but he was also a forth-teller to Herod, having rebuked Herod for sleeping with his brother's wife (Mark 6:14–29). But as with many perverse politicians, Herod had his way with him who had spoken truth to power, so John was murdered.


Baptism of Jesus.
The temple establishment in Jerusalem, which exercised a gate-keeper monopoly on mediating God's forgiveness to people, didn't like him preaching from the periphery either. John castigated these religious authorities as a "brood of vipers" (in one translation, "snake bastards"). The religious experts, said Jesus, spurned John's call to baptismal repentance, and in so doing "rejected God's purpose for themselves" (Luke 7:30).

The prophetic word of God from John the Baptist, then, did not originate with the state powers or the religious establishment, nor did it find a receptive audience with them. Instead of cooperation, accommodation, or resignation, John challenged these religious and political powers with his anti-establishment message of "protest and renewal." By joining John the Baptizer's fringe movement, Jesus did likewise (Borg).

With some important stylistic differences, all four Gospels tell the story of Jesus's baptism by John: "When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased'" (Luke 3:21–22 = Mark 1:9–11= Matthew 3:13–17; John 1:29–34).


Baptism of Jesus.
After his radical rupture with his family and conventional society by identifying with the desert troublemaker, Jesus's own family tried to apprehend him. The village of Nazareth tried to kill him as a deranged crackpot (cf. Mark 3:21, Luke 4:29, John 7:5).

Why did Jesus the greater submit to baptism by John the lesser? Did he need to repent of his own sins? The earliest witnesses of his baptism asked this question, because in Matthew's Gospel John the Baptizer tried to deter Jesus: "Why do you come to me? I need to be baptized by you!" John insinuates that Jesus was not getting baptized for his own sins.

Even a hundred years after the event, Jesus's baptism made some Christians feel uneasy. In the non-canonical Gospel of the Hebrews (c. 80–150 AD), Jesus denies that he needs to repent. He seems to get baptized to please his mother: "The mother of the Lord and his brothers said to him, 'John the Baptist baptizes for the forgiveness of sins; let us go and be baptized by him.' But he said to them, 'In what way have I sinned that I should go and be baptized by him? Unless, perhaps, what I have just said is a sin of ignorance.'” Others have suggested that Jesus set an example for us, that just as he was baptized, we too should be baptized.

Jesus's baptism inaugurated his public ministry by identifying with what Mark describes as "the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem." He allied himself with the faults and failures, the pains and the problems, of all the broken and hurting people who had flocked to the Jordan River. By wading into the waters with them he took his place beside us and among us. Not long into his public mission, the sanctimonious religious leaders derided Jesus as a "friend of gluttons and sinners." They were right about that.


Baptism of Jesus, Knislinge church, Sweden,
baptismal font from 12th century.
With his baptism, Jesus openly and decisively stood shoulder to shoulder with me in my fears and anxieties. He intentionally took sides with people in their neediness, and declared that God was biased in their favor: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:15–16, NIV). God's abundant mercy, Jesus declared, is available directly and immediately to every person; it's not the private preserve doled out by the temple establishment in Jerusalem.

Jesus's baptismal solidarity with broken people was vividly confirmed by divine affirmation and empowerment. Still wet with water after his cousin had plunged him beneath the Jordan River, Jesus heard a voice and saw a vision — the declaration of God the Father that Jesus was his beloved son, and the descent of God the Spirit in the form of a dove. The vision and the voice punctuated the baptismal event. They signaled the meaning, the message and the mission of Jesus as he went public after thirty years of invisibility — that by the power of the Spirit, the Son of God embodied his Father's unconditional embrace of all people everywhere.

For further reflection:

* Why do you think Jesus submitted himself to John's baptism?
* Cf. John Howard Yoder on John the Baptist: "To repent is not to feel bad but to think differently."
* Cf. Isaiah 42:3: "A bruised reed he will not break/and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out."
* Consider the functions of water to heal, cleanse, nourish, quench thirst, etc.


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Image credits: (1) Australian EJournal of Theology; (2) The Catholic Community Forum; (3) Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities; and (4) http://www.formonline.se/kyrkor/.



Daily Reading & Meditation

Wednesday (1/7): "Take heart, it is I; have no fear"

Scripture: Mark 6:45-52 (alternate reading: Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25)

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Beth-sa'ida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw him, and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear." 51 And he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Meditation: Does the Lord ever seem distant to you? After the great miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, Jesus sends his disciples away to fend for themselves in the dark of the night while a storm begins to brew on the sea. Although they were experienced fishermen, they were fearful for their lives. The Lord’s sudden presence on the sea only made them more fearful! Mark says they were terrified (verse 50), not only because the sea was threatening to drown them. When they saw Jesus walking on the water, they thought he was a ghost waiting for their imminent destruction. Jesus had to calm them with his reassuring voice: “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” Jesus gave them the courage to cast their anxiety and fear on him who is Lord of the seas as well as their lives. Scripture reminds us that no fear can overtake us if we put our trust in God's love and care for us. John the Evangelist tells us that God's love abides in us and perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:16,18).

Aren’t we like the apostles when we experience trials and adversity? While the Lord may at times seem distant to us, he, nonetheless is constantly present at our side. The scriptures remind us that the Lord is “a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Whatever storms make beset us, he promises to “bring us to our desired haven” (Psalm 107:29-30). The Lord keeps watch over us at all times, and especially in our moments of temptation and difficulty. Do you rely on the Lord for his strength and help? Jesus assures us that we have no need of fear if we trust in Him and in his great love for us. When calamities and trials threaten to overwhelm you, how do you respond? With fear and panic, or with faith and trust in God's love and presence with you?

“Lord Jesus, may I never doubt your saving help and watchful presence, especially in times of adversity. Fortify my faith with courage and hope that I may never waver in my trust in you”.

Psalm 72:1-2, 10-13

1 Give the king thy justice, O God, and thy righteousness to the royal son!
2 May he judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with justice!
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!
11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!
12 For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.



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Matthew 2:1-12

Gregory Mussmacher, Jesus please bless me this year with good news and thank You for all the blessings that You have given me thus far!!

Daily Reading & Meditation
Feast of Epiphany (1/6): "They fell down and worshiped Jesus"
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12 (alternate reading: Mark 6:34-44)

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him." 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: 6 `And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'" 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; 8 and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." 9 When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; 11 and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Meditation: If Jesus truly is who he claims to be, the eternal Son of God and Savior of the world, then why is he not recognized by everyone who hears his word and sees his works? John the Evangelist states that when Jesus came into the world the world knew him not and his own people received him not (John 1:10-11). Jesus was born in obscurity. Only the lowly shepherds recognized him at his birth. Some wise men also found their way to Bethlehem to pay homage to the newborn King of Israel. These men were not Israelites, but foreigners. They likely had read and discussed the Messianic prophecies and were anxious to see when this Messianic King would appear. God led them by means of an extraordinary star across the desert to the little town where Jesus was born. In their thirst for the knowledge of God, they willingly left everything, their home and country, in pursuit of that quest. In their diligent search they were led to the source of true knowledge – to Jesus Christ, the Light and Wisdom of God. When they found the newborn King they humbly worshiped him and gave him gifts fitting for a king.

What fueled their search for the Messianic King? Faith in the promise of God to send a Redeemer, a King who would establish God's reign of peace and righteousness. Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to us. It is through the help of the Holy Spirit, who moves the heart and opens the eyes of the mind, that we are able to understand, accept, and believe the truth which God reveals to us. In faith, the human will and intellect cooperate with grace. "Believing is an act of the intellect assenting to the divine truth by command of the will moved by God through grace" (Thomas Aquinas).

To know and to encounter Jesus Christ is to know God personally. In the encounter of the wise men with Jesus we see the plan of God to give his only Son as King and Savior, not just for the Jewish people but for all the nations as well. The Lord Jesus came that both Jew and Gentile might find true and lasting peace with God. Let us pray today that Jew and Gentile alike will find the Lord and Savior on their journey of life. Do you bring the light of Jesus Christ to those you meet through the witness of your life and testimony?

"Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for bringing salvation to all the nations. May the gospel of salvation be proclaimed to every nation today and to every person on the face of the earth. Help me to be a good witness of the joy of the gospel to all I meet."

Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13

1 Give the king thy justice, O God, and thy righteousness to the royal son!
2 May he judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with justice!
7 In his days may righteousness flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!
8 May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!
11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!
12 For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.



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Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

Gregory Mussmacher, Jesus remove all evil from my life and fill my heart, home and life with Your love and goodness!!

Daily Reading & Meditation

Monday (1/5): “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light”

Scripture: Matthew 4:12-17,23-25 (alternate reading: John 1:43-51)

12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Caper'na-um by the sea, in the territory of Zeb'ulun and Naph'tali, 14 that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 "The land of Zeb'ulun and the land of Naph'tali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles -- 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
23 And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decap'olis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.

Meditation: Do you know the joy and freedom of the gospel? John the Baptist’s enemies had sought to silence him, but the gospel cannot be silenced. As soon as John had finished his testimony Jesus began his in Galilee. Galilee was at the crossroads of the world and much traffic passed through this little region. It had been assigned to the tribes of Asher, Naptali and Zebulum when the Israelites first came into the land (see Joshua 9). For a long time it had been under Gentile occupation. Isaiah foretold (see Isaiah 9) that the good news of salvation would be proclaimed in this land and reach to the Gentiles. Jesus begins the proclamation of the gospel here to fulfill the word of God. The Old Testament prophets spoke of God’s promise to send a Redeemer who would establish God’s rule. That time is now fulfilled in Jesus.
Jesus takes up John’s message of repentance and calls disciples to believe in the good news he has come to deliver. What is the good news which Jesus delivers? It is the good news of peace (restoration of relationship with God), of hope (the hope of resurrection and heaven), of truth (God's word is true and reliable), of promise (he rewards those who seek him), of immortality (God gives everlasting life), and the good news of salvation (liberty from sin and freedom to live as sons and daughters of God). The gospel is the power and wisdom of God: power to change and transform our lives and wisdom to show us how to live as sons and daughters of our Father in heaven. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit the Lord makes it possible for us to receive his word with faith and to act upon it with trust.

In announcing the good news, Jesus made two demands: repent and believe! Repentance requires a life-change and a transformation of heart and mind. The Holy Spirit gives us a repentant heart, a true sorrow and hatred for sin and its consequences, and a firm resolution to avoid it in the future. The Holy Spirit gives us grace to see our sin for what it is – rebellion and a rejection of the love of God. God’s grace helps us to turn away from all that would keep us from his love. Faith or belief is an entirely free gift which God makes to us. Believing is only possible by grace and the help of the Holy Spirit who moves the heart and converts it to God. The Holy Spirit opens the eyes of the mind and makes it easy for us to accept and believe the truth. To believe is to take Jesus at his word, to believe that God loved us so much that he sent his only begotten Son to redeem us from the slavery of sin and death. God made the supreme sacrifice of his Son on the cross to bring us back to himself. Do you know the love of God that surpasses all else and that impels us to give him our all? God wants to change our way of thinking and transform our lives by the power of his word.

"Lord Jesus, your ways are life and light! Let your word penetrate my heart and transform my mind that I may see your power and glory. Help me to choose your ways and to do what is pleasing to you".

Psalm 2:7-8,10-11

7 I will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my son; today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, with trembling
12 kiss his feet, or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way; for his wrath is quickly kindled. Happy are all who take refuge in him.



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John 1:19-28

Gregory Mussmacher, Dear Lord, in the upcoming year continue to bless my family and keep evil away from us. Keep us from harm and all anxiety, please make 2009 the best year we have had in a long time. Please fill my enemies with the Holy Spirit and help them find the truth and be guided by rightly by it, Bless them justly!!

Daily Reading & Meditation

Friday (1/2): "The Christ ...the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie"

Scripture: John 1:19-28

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." 21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" And he answered, "No." 22 They said to him then, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, `Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." 24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" 26 John answered them, "I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." 28 This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Meditation: Do you recognize the Lord’s presence in your life? John the Baptist did such a great job of stirring the peoples’ expectation of the Messiah’s arrival, that many thought he might be the Messiah himself, or at least the great prophet Elijah who was expected to reappear at the Messiah’s coming (see Malachi 4:5, Deuteronomy 18:15). John had no mistaken identity. In all humility and sincerity he said he was only a voice bidding people to prepare the way for the coming of the King. John the Baptist bridges the Old and New Testaments. He is the last of the Old Testament Prophets who points the way to the Messiah. He is the first of the New Testament witnesses and martyrs. He is the herald who prepares the way for Jesus and who announces his mission to the people: Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world! John saw from a distance what the Messiah came to accomplish – our redemption from slavery to sin and our adoption as sons and daughters of God, our heavenly Father. Do you recognize your identity as a child of God and a citizen of heaven?

John was the greatest of the prophets, yet he lived as a humble and faithful servant of God. He pointed others to Jesus, Messiah and Savior of the world. The Christian church from the earliest of times has given John many titles which signify his mission: Witness of the Lord, Trumpet of Heaven, Herald of Christ, Voice of the Word, Precursor of Truth, Friend of the Bridegroom, Crown of the Prophets, Forerunner of the Redeemer, Preparer of Salvation, Light of the Martyrs, and Servant of the Word. Do you point others to Christ by your witness and example?

"Lord Jesus, make me a herald of your word of truth and grace. Help me to be a faithful witness of the joy of the gospel and to point others to you as John did through his testimony."

Psalm 98:1-4

1 O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
2 The LORD has made known his victory, he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!



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The Bittersweetness of a New Year

The New Year is a special time. It is often bittersweet, evidenced by the somber, yet hopeful way we sing “Auld Lang Syne.” Depending on where we are in life, New Year’s can mean many things to different people.



Fr. Brett Brannen, Vice Rector of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, with some special guests at the end of the semester Christmas party
The wild and young at heart see December 31st as the last hoorah of the year and approach the day with revelry. Some approach it with anxiety, especially in light of the current economic instability of which the media constantly reminds us. End of the world “doom and gloomers” are strangely inspired by apocalyptic fear, while lonely people, those who recently experienced a death or break up, find their pain heightened to the point of depression or cynicism.

While December 31st is just another day of the year, it holds a unique importance. For people of faith, this day brings a sense of nostalgic and prayerful reflection of the past as well as joy and hope in the New Year to come.


As Catholics, we not only celebrate the secular understanding of the calendar year’s end, we also celebrate a solemn feast, a Holy Day of Obligation called Mary, the Mother of God. People of faith begin each year in solemn prayer with a distinctive focus. In this celebration, we recognize that Mary, the mother of God, is also our spiritual mother. We have a chance to begin a new year and a new life of grace. If we remember that Jesus (who is God) gave us Mother Mary from the cross, we can truly be born again of the same spiritual mother who gave Jesus to us that first Christmas.


For me, this New Year is extra special. One of my good priest friends, Fr. Patrick Peach, is leaving the Diocesan Priesthood in order to join the Carmel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.


This is a bittersweet departure for his family and friends. I’ll miss Fr. Patrick Peach very much. He’s a great guy and a great priest. I knew him before he entered the seminary and I know that his new life as a semi-contemplative hermit will be powerfully enriching for the entire church. He will serve the church by dedicating his life to contemplation, prayer, and spiritual renewal. Talk about a change: from busy parish life to the business of contemplative prayer.

My young friend’s new life made me reflect on how I should approach the New Year. We have enough poor examples of how the rest of the world approaches the New Year with loud parties and binging. Fr. Peach’s decision helped me to put in perspective how silence, prayer, and deep meditation of God’s goodness is the best way to approach a new year.

Please don’t think I’m trying to put a damper on the holiday/holy day cheer. I just want to offer people an opportunity to approach this significant calendar event in a different way – with some quiet family prayer.

My family celebrates each New Year (and every holiday) with lots of singing, dancing, laughter, and food.


Amidst all the fun, we pause about 20 minutes before midnight for some quiet conversation. We pray, reading the scriptures and offering a thanksgiving prayer to God for the blessings of the past year. We encourage each other to make true resolutions, the same way we resolve to do better after each Confession (which by the way, is a great way to approach the New Year). We pray the Te Deum, a hymn of praise to God. If done with the proper disposition we receive a plenary indulgence; and we always make it to Mass for the Holy Day of Obligation.

As you can see, there is room for celebration in the midst of our prayer. Fr. Peach’s entry to the Carmel is a great reminder for us to make sure that our busy lives permit time for necessary quiet prayer that will help us get through the next year.



While his departure is sad for his family and friends, we are confident that his new life in the New Year will not only balance prayer and celebration, it will combine it perfectly into one act. Prayer will become a true celebration!


Voluntary “Vegetarian”

Fr. Peach’s entry into the Carmel means that he takes on particular disciplines. One is a culinary discipline to abstain from meat. He is not a vegetarian, but he chooses not to eat meat as a form of spiritual sacrifice. He can still eat meat products if, for example, his mission hosts serve him such meals. Other than that, he relishes non-meat delicacies. Believe me, just because one doesn’t eat meat, doesn’t mean one can’t be satisfied. Check out some of our veggie-styled web shows which we’ll post in the New Year.

On Christmas Day, I continued the tradition of cooking for my family and other guests. While I made some dishes such as prime rib roast encrusted with rosemary and seasoned breadcrumbs, I also made citrus and caper salmon, norcina pasta, artichoke and crab dip, and some super tasty grilled veggies.



My brother, a true carnivore, who loved my prime rib roast agreed that if we prepared veggies as tasty as my grilled zuchinni and balsamic beans, that we would be satisfied just eating that as a meal. But, since we’re also meat lovers, we settled on how the prime rib was a great compliment to the veggies.



Click here for the grilled zucchini recipe




To God! A Family Prayer for the New Year

The Te Deum is a great prayer for the entire family to say a few minutes before midnight. It contains deep theological statements about the nature of God and salvation history. It shows that God deserves all praise, for He has been faithful to us this past year. He also promises, as a spouse promises his bride, to be faithful in this life, and more importantly, in the life to come.

I pray that you and your family experience the blessings of the New Year. May our Blessed Mother’s prayers give you a sense of truly being a brother or sister of the Lord.

And by the way, if you don’t say this prayer at midnight, go ahead and pray it anytime, especially on Sundays when priests and religious women pray it as part of their promise of prayer.

Te Deum (To God)

You are God; we praise You;
You are the Lord; we acclaim You;
You are the eternal Father; All creation worships You
To You all angels, all the powers of Heaven, cheribum, and seraphim sing in endless praise; Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise You.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise You.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise You.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims You:
Father, of majesty unbounded; Your true and only Son, worthy of all worship; and the Holy Sprit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the King of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.
When You became man to set us free You did not spurn the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the sting of death, and opened the kingdom of Heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that You will come, and be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help Your people, brought with the price of Your own blood, and bring us with Your saints to glory everlasting.
Save Your people, Lord, and bless Your inheritance. Govern and uphold them now and always.
Day by day we bless You. We praise Your name forever.
Keep us today, Lord, from all sin. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, show us Your love and mercy; for we put our trust in You.
In You, Lord, is our hope; and we shall never hope in vain.

Ask Fr. Leo for fatherly advice.
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