On this Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, we remember that Jesus built his church on the rock that is Peter. But we also remember that he next told Peter, "Get behind me Satan!" There is good and bad in all of us, so let's celebrate the good and forgive and challenge the bad.
Jesus told the crowds that they will get no sign from him except the "sign of Jonah." Jonah tried to run from God until he spent three days in the belly of the whale. When he came out, he had a new conviction. Likewise, the apostles, after the resurrection, preached with a new conviction. May our preaching be as powerful.
Jesus preached for three days to 4000 people in a deserted place in gentile territory. They ran out of food, but in the end, Jesus miraculously fed them. But they stayed listening for three days, knowing they had no food. May we be so open to God's working in the world that we stick around until the final blessing.
Jesus healed a man who was deaf and mute by going off alone, sticking his fingers in the man's ears, spitting on his tongue, and groaning to heaven. Can we heal and be healed away from the spectacle but in the midst of the mess of life, because that is where we will find grace.
For 7 February 2024, Wednesday of week 5 in Ordinary Time, based on Mark 7:14-23
Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time, pointing out that life can sometimes be a drudgery, but if we look deeper, we can find God even in there. We simply need to be honest and clear in our view of the world.
In today's reading, King David sinned by ordering a census to count his soldiers in preparation for war. God punished him, giving him a choice between the inevitable fruits of war: famine, pestilence, and more war. Do we stand with God against war, and demand that our politicians work to end war, not extend it?
In a healing within a healing, a woman who has suffered for twelve years finds enough faith approach Jesus for a cure. What renews your own faith today? Grab on to it.
On this Feast of the Epiphany, we recall that the magi found Jesus because they followed the signs and looked for him. If we follow the signs that God gives us and search for Jesus, we also will find him, and have an epiphany of our own.
On this optional memorial for St. André Bessette there are at least 12 options for the two readings at mass. Which truth is for us today? We each need to honestly search our hearts for what seems to be the deepest truth and follow that today.