January 6, 2021 Wednesday after Epiphany

2021년 1월 6일 주님 공현 후 수요일 

오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp 

제1독서
요한 1서. 4,11-18
11 사랑하는 여러분, 하느님께서 우리를 이렇게 사랑하셨으니
우리도 서로 사랑해야 합니다.
12 지금까지 하느님을 본 사람은 없습니다.
그러나 우리가 서로 사랑하면,
하느님께서 우리 안에 머무르시고 그분 사랑이 우리에게서 완성됩니다.
13 하느님께서는 우리에게 당신의 영을 나누어 주셨습니다.
우리는 이 사실로 우리가 그분 안에 머무르고
그분께서 우리 안에 머무르신다는 것을 압니다.
14 그리고 우리는 아버지께서 아드님을 세상의 구원자로
보내신 것을 보았고 또 증언합니다.
15 누구든지 예수님께서 하느님의 아드님이심을 고백하면,
하느님께서 그 사람 안에 머무르시고 그 사람도 하느님 안에 머무릅니다.
16 하느님께서 우리에게 베푸시는 사랑을 우리는 알게 되었고 또 믿게 되었습니다.
하느님은 사랑이십니다.
사랑 안에 머무르는 사람은 하느님 안에 머무르고
하느님께서도 그 사람 안에 머무르십니다.
17 사랑이 우리에게서 완성되었다는 것은,
우리도 이 세상에서 그분처럼 살고 있기에
우리가 심판 날에 확신을 가질 수 있다는 사실에서 드러납니다.
18 사랑에는 두려움이 없습니다.
완전한 사랑은 두려움을 쫓아냅니다.
두려움은 벌과 관련되기 때문입니다.
두려워하는 이는 아직 자기의 사랑을 완성하지 못한 사람입니다.

복음
마르코.6,45-52
예수님께서는 오천 명을 배불리 먹이신 뒤, 45 곧 제자들을 재촉하시어
배를 타고 건너편 벳사이다로 먼저 가게 하시고,
그동안에 당신께서는 군중을 돌려보내셨다.
46 그들과 작별하신 뒤에 예수님께서는 기도하시려고 산에 가셨다.
47 저녁이 되었을 때, 배는 호수 한가운데에 있었고
예수님께서는 혼자 뭍에 계셨다.
48 마침 맞바람이 불어 노를 젓느라고 애를 쓰는 제자들을 보시고,
예수님께서는 새벽녘에 호수 위를 걸으시어 그들 쪽으로 가셨다.
그분께서는 그들 곁을 지나가려고 하셨다.
49 제자들은 예수님께서 호수 위를 걸으시는 것을 보고,
유령인 줄로 생각하여 비명을 질렀다.
50 모두 그분을 보고 겁에 질렸던 것이다.
예수님께서는 곧 그들에게 말씀하셨다.
“용기를 내어라. 나다. 두려워하지 마라.”
51 그러고 나서 그들이 탄 배에 오르시니 바람이 멎었다.
그들은 너무 놀라 넋을 잃었다.
52 그들은 빵의 기적을 깨닫지 못하고 오히려 마음이 완고해졌던 것이다.

January 6, 2021

Wednesday after Epiphany

Daily Readings — Audio

Daily Reflections — Video

http://www.usccb.org/bible/ 

Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass 

Reading 1

1 Jn 4:11-18

Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another. 
No one has ever seen God. 
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.

This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit. 
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world. 
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God. 
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.

God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. 
In this is love brought to perfection among us,
that we have confidence on the day of judgment
because as he is, so are we in this world. 
There is no fear in love,
but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment,
and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 72:1-2, 10, 12-13

R. (see 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Gospel

Mk 6:45-52

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied,
Jesus made his disciples get into the boat
and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,
while he dismissed the crowd. 
And when he had taken leave of them,
he went off to the mountain to pray. 
When it was evening,
the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. 
Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing,
for the wind was against them. 
About the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea. 
He meant to pass by them. 
But when they saw him walking on the sea,
they thought it was a ghost and cried out. 
They had all seen him and were terrified. 
But at once he spoke with them,
“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” 
He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. 
They were completely astounded. 
They had not understood the incident of the loaves. 
On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

 Beloved, if God so loved us,

we also must love one another. ...
God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. ...
There is no fear in love,
but perfect love drives out fear. 1 John 4 

“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”  Mark 6

This is a wonderful day to ask for the grace to let God's love into our hearts and to let that love drive fear away.

Fear is so debilitating. It is especially damaging to our peace, our ability to face challenges with courage, and our ability to love. There are many things that can lead us to fear. Certainly bad experiences of the past can cause fear of the future, fear of being hurt again. Uncertainty alone can lead to fear of the unknown. We all know from experience that the longer fear has a grip on us the deeper it gets.

What is the opposite of fear? What happens when love drives fear out? Fearlessness, for sure, is one result. There is a freedom and even a flexibility and courage. To be unafraid allows us to be bold, even to take risks we never would have taken before. It allows us to be vulnerable and less guarded or defended. Peace and a calm comes, in the absence of fear, that allows us to hear better, see better, experience more fully, and to discern the movement of the Holy Spirit more freely.

John is urging us to love, because God is love. He is inviting us to remain in God's love and to let God remain in us. He clearly states the obvious, which is so difficult to let deep inside of us. "If God so loved us, we also must love one another." We can see the tragic results when we try to love God and not love our neighbor. Our credibility as witnesses of God's love in us goes out the window. We know something is wrong. Upon reflection, we may discover that at the root of our struggle to love others is our fear, our many fears.

John tells us, "There is no fear in love." God's love takes away our fear. Whatever happens to us, we are in the loving embrace of our God, all the time. John describes it as "perfect love" which "drives out fear." God's love for us is perfect - like no other love we've ever experienced. It is un-conditional. God doesn't love us only when, and if, we do this or that. God loves us because God made us; God knows our story; and God is aware of our pain and our sin. God loves us because God always wants to help us be whole and free and loving. It is how God's love works. When we let ourselves experience, feel and embrace the security of that complete love, our fears begin to lessen and melt away. We can say, "Lord, with your love, I'm no longer afraid." If we say it over and over, this simple prayer becomes liberating, empowering, and it gives us the courage to love others fear-less-ly.

In the gospel, there's a storm at sea. Pope Francis, at the beginning of the pandemic turned to this passage and reminded us that while we are all "at sea, in a storm," we are in the same boat, with Jesus. Whatever sea tosses us around, whatever storm threatens our security, whatever fear begins to take hold of us. Jesus is there to say, "Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!"

Our role is to be open to, to ask for, to trust and rely on that love. We can choose to live in his love and to let his love drive out our fear. Then, we will have courage and be freer and more centered and readied to calm the stormy seas others are facing, because we know he is with us always.

 http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp

 

SHOCKING LOVE

“They were taken aback by these happenings.” —Mark 6:51

Throughout Epiphany week, God’s Word proclaims Jesus’ mastery over creation. He can heal the sick (Monday), multiply food (Tuesday), and walk on the water (today) (Mk 6:48). These miracles show us Jesus’ almighty power and how much He emptied Himself (Phil 2:7) when He became a helpless Infant. The all-powerful Creator of the world could not walk, talk, or roll over. The second Person of the Blessed Trinity talked baby-talk, wet His diapers, and spit out His food. Almighty God weighed just a few pounds, shivered, cried, and nursed at His mother’s breast.

The message of Christmas and God’s Incarnation is shocking. He Who created the billions of galaxies with billions of stars, Who created the countless creatures on this little planet, became completely dependent on His parents, just like us. It seems almost blasphemous to suggest that God became a weak human being. Yet He did, out of love for us, and amazingly, “we must have the same love for one another” (1 Jn 4:11). “If we love one another God dwells in us” (1 Jn 4:12). “God is Love, and he who abides in Love abides in God, and God in him” (1 Jn 4:16). The meaning of Christmas is shocking, but ultimately, it is love.

Prayer:  Infant Jesus, I prostrate myself before You in homage.

Promise:  “Love has no room for fear.” —1 Jn 4:18

Praise:  St. André Bessette had an intense devotion to St. Joseph. The Holy Spirit inspired André to obtain the initial funds to build what would eventually become the Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was given the gift of healing and his prayers were sought by many.

 http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/

 Does the Lord Jesus ever seem distant when trials or difficulties come your way? Right after Jesus performed the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, he left his disciples by themselves so he could go to a remote place to pray alone.It was at Jesus' initiative that the disciples sailed across the lake of Galilee, only to find themselves in a life-threatening storm. Although they were experienced fishermen, they feared for their lives. The Lake of Galilee was known for its sudden storms whipped up by strong winds which swept down from the nearby mountains. The disciples must have cried out for help when they recognized that their boat was about to be capsized by the threatening waves.

Jesus always intercedes for us
Although Jesus was not physically with them in the boat, he nonetheless had been keeping vigilant watch for them in earnest prayer. When Jesus perceived their trouble he came to them walking on the sea and startled them with his sudden appearance. The disciples were terrified rather than joyful when they saw Jesus' presence on the water. They thought a ghost had appeared to seal their doom. They couldn't believe it was really him until he spoke words of assurance: "Don't give in to fear or panic, but take courage and be calm, because I am here for you and ready to help you in your need." Jesus not only calmed their fears, but the threatening waves and storm as well.

Do you recognize the Lord's abiding presence with you?
Does the Lord Jesus seem distant when trials and difficulties come your way? The Lord never leaves us alone, but keeps constant watch over us at all times, especially when we are tempted and feel weak or helpless. Do you look to the Lord Jesus to give you his strength and help when you are in need? Jesus assures us that we do not have to give into fear or discouragement if we put our trust in Him and remember his great love for us. He will see us through any trial that comes our way. When calamities and trials threaten to overwhelm you, do you respond with faith and hope in God's love and presence with you?

Lord Jesus, may I never doubt your saving help and your ever watchful presence, especially in times of adversity. Fortify my faith with courage and my hope with steady perseverance that I may never waver in placing all my trust in you who are my all.

Psalm 72:1-2, 10-13

1 Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!
2 May he judge your people with righteousness, and your 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. 

Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: The wind was against them, by Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD)

"Meanwhile the boat carrying the disciples - that is, the church - is rocking and shaking amid the storms of temptation, while the adverse wind rages on. That is to say, its enemy the devil strives to keep the wind from calming down. But greater is he who is persistent on our behalf, for amid the vicissitudes of our life he gives us confidence. He comes to us and strengthens us, so we are not jostled in the boat and tossed overboard. For although the boat is thrown into disorder, it is still a boat. It alone carries the disciples and receives Christ. It is in danger indeed on the water, but there would be certain death without it. Therefore stay inside the boat and call upon God. When all good advice fails and the rudder is useless and the spread of the sails presents more of a danger than an advantage, when all human help and strength have been abandoned, the only recourse left for the sailors is to cry out to God. Therefore will he who helps those who are sailing to reach port safely, abandon his church and prevent it from arriving in peace and tranquility?" (excerpt from SERMON 75.4)

 

 

  

More Homilies

January 9, 2019 Wednesday after Epiphany