MORNING PRAYER

:
OUR FATHER......., HAIL MARY......., GLORY BE.......
Lord Jesus, we give You praise and thanks for bringing us safely to another day. We most gladly offer You throughout this entire day, all our thoughts and intentions, all our affections and desires, all our words and deeds, in imitation of the most Holy Heart of the Blessed Virgin, Mary Immaculate. AMEN!!!!

05 FEBRUARY, 2014
(Wednesday Of The 4th Week In Ordinary Time)
+Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr+

1st Reading  2 sm 24:2, 9-17
Responsorial Psalm - PS 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7

GOSPEL - MARK 6:1-6
Jesus departed from there and came to His native place, accompanied by His disciples. When the sabbath came He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. They said, “Where did This Man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given Him? What mighty deeds are wrought by His hands! Is He not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in His native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So He was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying His hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

REFLECTION:
In today’s first reading, David decides to take a census of the people but having done so regrets it and asks the Lord for forgiveness. The Lord gives him three penances and he must choose one. The one he chooses results in death and hardship. In the end David asks the Lord to punish him and his family and none else, for the sin was his alone. We are not told why the Lord became angry at the census but it is possible that it showed that David was relying more on human resources in leading the Chosen People than reliance on God.

The Responsorial Psalm takes up this theme of seeking forgiveness. "Lord, forgive the wrong I have done."

The earlier passages of the Gospel of Mark which we have encountered in recent days depict Jesus the miracle worker, Jesus the healer, Jesus the teacher.  This rapid succession of mighty deeds and words comes to an abrupt halt as Jesus returns to his native place, to Nazareth.  The astonishing account we hear today depicts Jesus’ “friends and neighbors” from His growing up years as clearly aware of all that He has been saying and doing.  They remain impressed with His teachings and miracles.  Then, to our surprise, the gospel reveals their heart-felt reaction to Jesus:  “And they took offense at Him.”

DAILY MEDITATION:
The maturing of our commitment to Jesus becomes as source of isolation and distance at family gatherings.  Perhaps a new and growing faith finds us parting company with old friends, friends from former times and former ways.  What do we do with that isolation and aloneness, with the sorrow that rises in our hearts?  Jesus stands ready to receive from us these experiences so that, as One who has truly walked this path before, He may console us and draw us into a place of communion and love with Him.

PRAYER:
Lord, teach me to receive You with a heart ready to leave my rationalistic way of acting and choosing. Help me to know how to read Your invitations with supernatural faith and to follow them in true obedience, where true love proves itself. Mother OF FMMG! Pray For Us,
AMEN!!!!