January 28, 2021 Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church

2021년 1월 28일 연중 제3주간 목요일 

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

제1독서

히브리서. 10,19-25
19 형제 여러분,
우리는 예수님의 피 덕분에 성소에 들어간다는 확신을 가지고 있습니다.
20 그분께서는 그 휘장을 관통하는 새롭고도 살아 있는 길을
우리에게 열어 주셨습니다.
곧 당신의 몸을 통하여 그리해 주셨습니다.
21 우리에게는 하느님의 집을 다스리시는 위대한 사제가 계십니다.
22 그러니 진실한 마음과 확고한 믿음을 가지고 하느님께 나아갑시다.
우리의 마음은 그리스도의 피가 뿌려져 악에 물든 양심을 벗고 깨끗해졌으며,
우리의 몸은 맑은 물로 말끔히 씻겼습니다.
23 우리가 고백하는 희망을 굳게 간직합시다.
약속해 주신 분은 성실하신 분이십니다.
24 서로 자극을 주어 사랑과 선행을 하도록 주의를 기울입시다.
25 어떤 이들이 습관적으로 그러듯이
우리의 모임을 소홀히 하지 말고, 서로 격려합시다.
여러분도 보다시피 그날이 가까이 오고 있으니 더욱더 그렇게 합시다.

복음

마르코. 4,21-25

그때에 예수님께서 군중에게 21 말씀하셨다.

“누가 등불을 가져다가 함지 속이나 침상 밑에 놓겠느냐? 등경 위에 놓지 않느냐?
22 숨겨진 것도 드러나기 마련이고 감추어진 것도 드러나게 되어 있다.
23 누구든지 들을 귀가 있거든 들어라.”
24 예수님께서 다시 그들에게 말씀하셨다. “너희는 새겨들어라.
너희가 되어서 주는 만큼 되어서 받고 거기에 더 보태어 받을 것이다.
25 정녕 가진 자는 더 받고 가진 것 없는 자는 가진 것마저 빼앗길 것이다.”

January 28, 2021

Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Daily Readings — Audio

Daily Reflections — Video

http://www.usccb.org/bible/ 

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

Reading 1

Heb 10:19-25

Brothers and sisters: 
Since through the Blood of Jesus 
we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary 
by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, 
that is, his flesh,
and since we have “a great priest over the house of God,” 
let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, 
with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience 
and our bodies washed in pure water.
Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, 
for he who made the promise is trustworthy.
We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.
We should not stay away from our assembly, 
as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, 
and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Gospel

Mk 4:21-25

Jesus said to his disciples,
“Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed,
and not to be placed on a lampstand?
For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; 
nothing is secret except to come to light.
Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”
He also told them, “Take care what you hear.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, 
and still more will be given to you.
To the one who has, more will be given; 
from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

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

 Today’s liturgy is prayed in honor of Saint Thomas Aquinas, “the Angelic Doctor,” for both his innocence and his brilliance. The structure of his theological thought served to guide and articulate Catholic Church thinking from his own lifetime in the early 12th Century until well into the 20th.

Standing as a giant intellect across the centuries of Western Civilization, Thomas, of the Noble Family of Aquino, Italy, is remembered in the Catholic Church for his mystical graces, his profound devotion for the Eucharist, (accompanied by his compositions of poetry and hymn) and his integration of Jewish, Islamic and Christian threads of insight that dramatically expanded the wisdom of theological insights in the 12th Century.

One of my favorite insights into Thomas’s talents was his ability to dictate four or five different theological texts at a time while pacing a room.  Not only could he keep his mind on the multiple arguments that he was making, he could do it in four or five languages.  So he might be writing one text in French by dictating it line by line as we walked down the room.  But each time he turned to walk up the long room he switched to Latin for another argument in another text altogether.  This is multitasking beyond my imagination!   Such were his gifts of insight into reality that he could keep a thought materially focused, while processing the logic of several other lines of thought at the same time.  With such extraordinary talent Thomas serves as an exemplar of today’s readings.

We may not have the gift of multi-tasking for the sake of the kingdom but perhaps we do have an unusual capacity for patience, or kindness, generosity, wisdom, insight – so many of the living gifts – the real expression of divine existence that is given to persons who desire them – bring their own expansion by practice.  The Letter to the Hebrews that provides the first reading today challenges us to help one another find and exercise these gifts for one another.  When that comes to pass then our mutual hope and our mutual love take us far beyond any isolated search for the good.  What is truly gifting for any of us will be gifting for all of us, times infinity.

On a chilly day in January, it is helpful to explore the warmth of the greater gifts we bear, to express gratitude and to practice their power.  We will be astonished at the wondrous empowerment that explodes within us, especially if the practice is aimed toward “filling up what is lacking” in any member of the Body of Christ.

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

 

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

“We should not absent ourselves from the assembly, as some do, but encourage one another; and this all the more because you see that the Day draws near.” —Hebrews 10:25

This Scripture passage is used to encourage people to go to church on Sundays, but it also applies to many other gatherings. How many have made worship a Sunday-only obligation? These too are absenting themselves from the assembly for almost all of the week.
Some go to the assembly but stay to themselves. They are present in body but absent in spirit. Most Christians absent themselves from the assembly by confining prayer to church and not assembling for family prayer at home. Many Catholics look for the quickest Mass, come late, sit by the door, and leave early. Some people come to church for the wrong reasons; they may be merely cultural Christians or looking to make a deal with God. These too are absences. How many assemble in Jesus’ name and not their own?
We need to repent of our absences and be present at church, present to one another, and in God’s presence.

Prayer:  Father, You are always present, always there for me. May I be like You.

Promise:  “In the measure you give you shall receive, and more besides.” —Mk 4:24

Praise:  St. Thomas used his towering intellect to synthesize Greek philosophy and Catholic theology. His influence permeates all aspects of the Faith.

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

 What does the image of light and a lamp tell us about God's kingdom? Lamps in the ancient world served a vital function, much like they do today. They enable people to see and work in the dark and to avoid stumbling or losing their way. The Jews also understood "light" as an expression of the inner beauty, truth, and goodness of God. Many passages from the Old Testament Scriptures describe how God's light guides and helps us grow in our knowledge of him and his truth and wisdom for our lives. In his light we see light ( Psalm 36:9). His word is a lamp that guides our steps (Psalm 119:105).

We are light-bearers of God's truth and love
The truth cannot remain hidden, or suppressed, or destroyed. We might refuse to face the truth or try to suppress it, or destroy it, but the truth will always prevail because it is indestructible. That is why God wants us to know the truth and to stake our lives on it. God's grace (his indwelling presence and power at work in us) and his word of truth enable us to hear, believe, and obey him without fear or reservation. Just as natural light prevails over the darkness around us and enable us to see clearly, so the light of Christ shines in the hearts of all who hear and believe his word. God wants to fill us with his Holy Spirit so that we may shine brightly with the radiance of his truth, love, and goodness.

Jesus called John the Baptist "a burning and shining lamp" (John 5:35) because he bore witness to God's word and pointed others to Jesus, the true Light and Savior of the world. Our call and mission, like John the Baptist, is to be light-bearers of Jesus Christ so that many others may hear and understand the truth of the Gospel (the good news of Jesus Christ) and be set free from the blindness of sin, ignorance, and deception.

Living in the light brings true freedom and joy
Jesus remarks that nothing can remain hidden or secret. We can try to hide things from others, from ourselves, and from God. How tempting to shut our eyes from the consequences of our sinful ways or bad habits, even when we know what those consequences are. And how tempting to hide them from others and even from God. But, nonetheless, everything is known to God who sees all.

There is great freedom and joy for those who live in God's light and who seek his truth and goodness. Those who listen to God and heed his voice will receive more from him. And they will not lack what they need to live as Christ's disciples. And they will shine as lights that show the wisdom and truth of God's word. Do you know the joy and freedom of living in God's light and truth?

Lord Jesus, you guide me by the light of your saving truth. Fill my heart and mind with your light and truth and free me from the blindness of sin, ignorance, and deception that I may see your ways clearly and understand your will for my life. May I radiate your light and truth to others in word and deed.

Psalm 132:1-5, 11-14

1 Remember, O LORD, in David's favor, all the hardships he endured;
2 how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,
3 "I will not enter my house or get into my bed;
4 I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,
5 until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."
11 The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies which I shall teach them, their sons also for ever shall sit upon your throne."
13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation:
14 "This is my resting place for ever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.

Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Called to shine in the midst of darkness, by Tertullian, 160-225 A.D.

"Why does the Lord call us the light of the world? Why has he compared us to a city on a hill (Matthew 5:14)? Are we not called to shine in the midst of darkness, and stand up high for those most sunk down? If you hide your lamp beneath a bushel (Matthew 5:15; Luke 8:16, 11:33), you will soon notice that you yourself will be in the dark. You will find others bumping into you. So what can you do to illumine the world? Let your faith produce good works. Be a reflection of God's light. The good is not preoccupied with darkness. It rejoices in being seen (John 3:21). It exults over the very pointings which are made at it. Christian modesty not only wishes to be modest, but also it wishes to be beheld as what it actually is." (excerpt from ON THE APPAREL OF WOMEN 2.13)

 

 

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 January 31, 2019