One Walk

Dear Lord God, I wake as I went to sleep, thankful, committed and anticipating; for You, to You and of You. It is like I know I must do my part, but I also know I must wait on You to do Your part, even of that is just to point and show me the way. I mean after all we did not get to this point without reason or purpose. Even if I made mistakes a long the way I believe we are at the fork in the road that You had planned. So I look up to You, and I look within to You; thinking it is like the roller coaster 360 loop; starting forward, looking upward, rolling over and inward, back to the starting point but slightly off to the right or left to go forward again. But on path is narrow than the other, guide me Lord onto the path You will for me. O Lord I know You are with me and hear my thoughts, feel my prayers; protect, comfort, hold those I hold dear in You. These things I say and ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If He who was without sin prayed, how much more ought sinners to pray?

— St. Cyprian

Tobit 1:3; 2:1-8  3 I, Tobit, walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life, and I performed many acts of charity to my brethren and countrymen who went with me into the land of the Assyrians, to Nineveh.

                        1 When I arrived home and my wife Anna and my son Tobias were restored to me, at the feast of Pentecost, which is the sacred festival of the seven weeks, a good dinner was prepared for me and I sat down to eat. 2 Upon seeing the abundance of food I said to my son, "Go and bring whatever poor man of our brethren you may find who is mindful of the Lord, and I will wait for you." 3 But he came back and said, "Father, one of our people has been strangled and thrown into the market place." 4 So before I tasted anything I sprang up and removed the body to a place of shelter until sunset. 5 And when I returned I washed myself and ate my food in sorrow. 6 Then I remembered the prophecy of Amos, how he said, "Your feasts shall be turned into mourning, and all your festivities into lamentation." And I wept. 7 When the sun had set I went and dug a grave and buried the body. 8 And my neighbors laughed at me and said, "He is no longer afraid that he will be put to death for doing this; he once ran away, and here he is burying the dead again!"

Bible Study: [1] Tobit: in the fragments of the book found at Qumran, is given as Tobi, an abbreviated form of Tobiyah (Tobit 1:9; Ezra 2:60) or of Tobiyabu (2 Chron 17:8), a name which means "Yahweh is good." Tobiel, "God is good"; Hananiel, "God is merciful." The book abounds in theophoric names.

                  [1] The feast of Weeks: also called by its Greek name Pentecost, was celebrated fifty days after the Passover. Cf Lev 23:15-21; Deut 16:9-12. [2] Almsgiving and charity to the poor are important virtues taught by the book (4:7-11, 16, 17; 12:8, 9; 14:10, 11).

Psalm 112:1-6

1 Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house; and his righteousness endures for ever. 4 Light rises in the darkness for the upright; the LORD is gracious, merciful, and righteous. 5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice. 6 For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered for ever.

Bible Study: [Psalm 112] An acrostic poem detailing the blessings received by those who remain close to God by obedience to the commandments. Among their blessings are children (Psalm 112:2), wealth that enables them to be magnanimous (Psalm 112:3, 5, 9), and virtue by which they encourage others (Psalm 112:4). The just person is an affront to the wicked, whose hopes remain unfulfilled (Psalm 112:10). The logic resembles Psalms 1; 111.

Mark 12:1-12

1 And he began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. 2 When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they took him and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent to them another servant, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. 5 And he sent another, and him they killed; and so with many others, some they beat and some they killed. 6 He had still one other, a beloved son; finally he sent him to them, saying, `They will respect my son.’ 7 But those tenants said to one another, `This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this scripture: `The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; 11 this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?" 12 And they tried to arrest him, but feared the multitude, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them; so they left him and went away.

Bible Study: [1-12] The vineyard denotes Israel (Isaiah 5:1-7). The tenant farmers are the religious leaders of Israel. God is the owner of the vineyard. His servants are his messengers, the prophets. The beloved son is Jesus (Mark 1:11; 9:7; Matthew 3:17; 17:5; Luke 3:22; 9:35). The punishment of the tenants refers to the religious leaders, and the transfer of the vineyard to others refers to the people of the new Israel.      

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Dear Lord God,  how St. Vincent teaches us about the proud man who did good works but lack humility thinking his looks, works were all his doing was declared evil; yet the humble sinner conscious of his quilt was justified because he was lowly in heart. O how mush we have to learn, O how far I still have to go; practicing a walk with You present aware of Your grace and mercy, thankful in all that You would forgive and love someone like me. Not that I am the worst, but nor am I not. For it is true but for Your grace I am what I am, Your child a sinner seeking to repent, looking to be one with You.

                        How Solomon teaches us about wisdom his mistress, how she was Your first creation present from the beginning part of each of us but only found by those willing to sacrifice and pay the price; a secret treasure to be sought by all, but obtained by a select few and even then elusive if not nurtured by You and seen through Your eyes, spoken with Your words, discerned by Your heart. O Lord God I know I have been a poor steward of the gifts and blessings You have given, I know I allow myself to trip me up and take me down the wrong paths, but even Solomon stumbled and fell, failing to heed Your words after You had given him the woman he desired most. Is she truly like the other treasures under the sun, corrupting those that find her. Only You know my Lord God, in all I know is that she will only be mine if You see fit to bless me with her; if it is Your will for me, if it enables me to fulfill Your purpose for me.

                        How blessed I am to be able to meditate on these readings today, to read them over and over, to know that through the Holy Spirit is helping me discern their meaning for me, and that this is likely different for each of my brother and sister believers. For just as we are the same, we are different and through the Spirit You work within me and those You seek You and know that Jesus is the door to You, a door that we must open if we are to let Him into our hearts so the Spirit can do Your work. O Lord God there is so much to think of, so much to know. Is this why Jesus tells us to be like young children, not thinking, not asking to know, just accepting, just believing with all the love, faith and hope that only a child can give with out questions.

                        O Lord thank You for these words today, for this time, for Your Son Jesus, My Lord and for giving Him the Spirit to give to me.  

What, on the other hand, was the lot of the Pharisee? Here was a man praying, fasting and doing many good works, and in spite of all that he was censured by God. Why was this? Simply because he prided himself on his good works, and took satisfaction out of them as though they were of his own doing. Here we see a just man lacking humility and declared evil, and a sinner, conscious of his guilt and moved to a real sense of humility, justified because of his lowliness of heart.

— St Vincent de Paul

Proverbs 8:22-31

22 The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. 23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth; 26 before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. 27 When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, 29 when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 then I was beside him, like a master workman; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, 31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the sons of men.

Bible Study: [1-36] Wisdom is here personified as in Proverb 1:20-33, to confirm the words of the teacher of wisdom. She exalts her grandeur and origin, and invites all (Proverb 8:1-11) to be attentive to her salutary influence in human society (Proverb 8:12-21), for she was privileged to be present at the creation of the world (Proverb 8:22-31). Finally, she promises life and the favor of God to those who find her, death to those who despise her. [22-31] Wisdom is of divine origin. It is here represented as a being which existed before all things (Proverb 8:22-26) and concurred with God when he planned and executed the creation of the universe, adorned it with beauty and variety, and established its wonderful order (Proverb 8:27-30). Here that plurality of divine Persons is foreshadowed which was afterward to be fully revealed when Wisdom in the Person of Jesus Christ became incarnate. [23] Poured forth: the exact meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain; the expression must imply the equivalent of "born." The Hebrews liken the movement of air and of spirit to that of liquids. [24-26] The formless mass from which God created the heavens and the earth; cf Genesis 1:1-2; 2:4-6. [30] His craftsman: furnishing God with the plan, as it were, for the creation of all things; cf Job 38:1-2; Wisdom 7:22-8:1. I was his delight: the ever-present object of God’s complacency.

Psalm 8:4-9

4 what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost care for him? 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!

Bible Study: Of David – [Psalm 8] While marveling at the limitless grandeur of God (Psalm 8:2-3), the psalmist is struck first by the smallness of human beings in creation (Psalm 8:4-5), and then by the royal dignity and power that God has graciously bestowed upon them (Psalm 8:6-9). [1] Upon the gittith: probably the title of the melody to which the psalm was to be sung or a musical instrument. [3] Babes and infants: the text is obscure. Some join this line to the last line of Psalm 8:2 (itself obscure) to read: "(you) whose majesty is exalted above the heavens / by the mouths of babes and infants." Drawn a defense: some prefer the Septuagint’s "fashioned praise," which is quoted in Matthew 21:16. Enemy and avenger: probably cosmic enemies. The primeval powers of watery chaos are often personified in poetic texts (Psalm 74:13-14; 89:11; Job 9:13; 26:12-13; Isaiah 51,9). [5] Humans . . . mere mortals: literally, "(mortal) person". . . "son of man (in sense of a human being, Hebrew ‘adam)." The emphasis is on the fragility and mortality of human beings to whom God has given great dignity. [6] Little less than a god: Hebrew ‘elohim, the ordinary word for "God" or "the gods" or members of the heavenly court. The Greek version translated ‘elohim by "angel, messenger"; several ancient and modern versions so translate. The meaning seems to be that God created human beings almost at the level of the beings in the heavenly world. Hebrews 2:9 finds the eminent fulfillment of this verse in Jesus Christ, who was humbled before being glorified. Cf also 1 Cor 15:27 where St. Paul applies to Christ the closing words of Psalm 8:7.

Romans 5:1-5

1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.

Bible Study: [1-11] Popular piety frequently construed reverses and troubles as punishment for sin; cf John 9:2. Paul therefore assures believers that God’s justifying action in Jesus Christ is a declaration of peace. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ displays God’s initiative in certifying humanity for unimpeded access into the divine presence. Reconciliation is God’s gift of pardon to the entire human race. Through faith one benefits personally from this pardon or, in Paul’s term, is justified. The ultimate aim of God is to liberate believers from the pre-Christian self as described in Romans 1-3. Since this liberation will first find completion in the believer’s resurrection, salvation is described as future in Romans 5:10. Because this fullness of salvation belongs to the future it is called the Christian hope. Paul’s Greek term for hope does not, however, suggest a note of uncertainty, to the effect: "I wonder whether God really means it." Rather, God’s promise in the gospel fills believers with expectation and anticipation for the climactic gift of unalloyed commitment in the holy Spirit to the performance of the will of God. The persecutions that attend Christian commitment are to teach believers patience and to strengthen this hope, which will not disappoint them because the holy Spirit dwells in their hearts and imbues them with God’s love (Romans 5:5).

John 16:12-15

12 "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Bible Study: [13] Declare to you the things that are coming: not a reference to new predictions about the future, but interpretation of what has already occurred or been said.

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Dear Lord God, by no means or way do I seek that which You do not want me to have nor do think, say or do that which You do not will. While I know Your secrets are many and run deep for obvious reasons due to my weak nature. So I walk step by step trusting that You will by portion that You know is sufficient reveal that which You want me to know. So has Jesus sees fit teach me, but while I await help stay a float, do not let the waters rise above me, keep me a float by focusing in the now through prayer and eyes of faith. This I ask in Jesus name, Amen.

Another very good path of repentance is to put out of our minds the harm done us by our enemies, in order to master our anger, and to forgive our fellow servants’ sins against us. The end our own sins against the Lord will be forgiven us. Thus you have another way to atone for sins. Forgive you forgive your debtors, your heavenly Father will forgive you.

— St. John Chrysostom

Sirach 51:12-20

12 for thou didst save me from destruction and rescue me from an evil plight. Therefore I will give thanks to thee and praise thee, and I will bless the name of the Lord. 13 While I was still young, before I went on my travels, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer. 14 Before the temple I asked for her, and I will search for her to the last. 15 From blossom to ripening grape my heart delighted in her; my foot entered upon the straight path; from my youth I followed her steps. 16 I inclined my ear a little and received her, and I found for myself much instruction. 17 I made progress therein; to him who gives wisdom I will give glory. 18 For I resolved to live according to wisdom, and I was zealous for the good; and I shall never be put to shame. 19 My soul grappled with wisdom, and in my conduct I was strict; I spread out my hands to the heavens, and lamented my ignorance of her. 20 I directed my soul to her, and through purification I found her. I gained understanding with her from the first, therefore I will not be forsaken.

Psalm 19:8-11

8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Mark 11:27-33

27 And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, 28 and they said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?" 29 Jesus said to them, "I will ask you a question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? Answer me." 31 And they argued with one another, "If we say, `From heaven,’ he will say, `Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But shall we say, `From men’?" — they were afraid of the people, for all held that John was a real prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

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Dear Lord God, God eternal within my body; O how I seek You above all for I believe with You in the now there is no need for any of the things under the sun, no need to look at yesterday or tomorrow. For one moment with You in the now is worth thousands without You else where. O how I seek oneness with You through prayer, teach me how, let these words that I listen to help teach me according to Your will. For I am aware and do believe the words of Jesus in today’s gospel, "whoever says to this mountain, `Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." Lord Jesus grant that according to will I will learn to pray with this belief, taking away my self will and replace it with Your will. This I ask in Your name, Amen.

Take away self-will and there will be no hell.

— St Bernard

Sirach 44:1, 9-13

1 Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers in their generations. 9 And there are some who have no memorial, who have perished as though they had not lived; they have become as though they had not been born, and so have their children after them. 10 But these were men of mercy, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten; 11 their prosperity will remain with their descendants, and their inheritance to their children’s children. 12 Their descendants stand by the covenants; their children also, for their sake. 13 Their posterity will continue for ever, and their glory will not be blotted out.

Bible Study: [44:1-50:24] As in the previous section God’s wisdom shone forth in the works of nature, so in these chapters it is also revealed through the history of God’s people as seen in the lives of their patriarchs, prophets, priests and rulers. The example of these great men, whose virtues are here recalled, constitutes a high point of the author’s teaching and illustrates his belief in the canonical Scriptures.

[1-15] The reader is here introduced to those men of Israel, later mentioned by name, who through various achievements and beneficial social activities have acquired great renown (Sirach 44:1-8, 14-15); and also to those who, though forgotten, endure through the fruit of their virtues and through their families because of God’s covenant with them (Sirach 44:9-13).

Psalm 149:1-6, 9

1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful! 2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker, let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King! 3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with timbrel and lyre! 4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory. 5 Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, 9 to execute on them the judgment written! This is glory for all his faithful ones. Praise the LORD!

Bible Study: [Psalm 149] A hymn inviting the people of Israel to celebrate their God in song and festive dance (Psalm 149:1-3, 5) because God has chosen them and given them victory (Psalm 149:4). The exodus and conquest are the defining acts of Israel; the people must be ready to do again those acts in the future at the divine command (Psalm 149:6-9). [9] The glory: what brings honor to the people is their readiness to carry out the divine will, here conceived as punishing injustice done by the nations.

Mark 11:11-26

11 And he entered Jerusalem, and went into the temple; and when he had looked round at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. 12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it. 15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons; 16 and he would not allow any one to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he taught, and said to them, "Is it not written, `My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers." 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and sought a way to destroy him; for they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city. 20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, "Master, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered." 22 And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, `Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

Bible Study: [12-14] Jesus’ search for fruit on the fig tree recalls the prophets’ earlier use of this image to designate Israel; cf Jeremiah 8:13; 29:14; Joel 1:7; Hosea 9:10, 16. Cursing the fig tree is a parable in action representing Jesus’ judgment (Mark 11:20) on barren Israel and the fate of Jerusalem for failing to receive his teaching; cf Isaiah 34:4; Hosea 2:12; Luke 13:6-9. [26] This verse, which reads, "But if you do not forgive, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your transgressions," is omitted in the best manuscripts. It was probably added by copyists under the influence of Matthew 6:15.

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Dear Lord God, forgive my weakness of the flesh help me in the time of tribulation to focus on the righteous ways we have started to build and not to take anymore steps back ground; renewed by love, faith and hope in the words of St. Paul, mindful of the prize that awaits me at the end of the race. O Lord as much as I try, read, think, look yet a lose focus distracted by the flood waters. Strengthen my resolve to stay mindful of Your works within me, blessed by the signs You have given me, encouraged by the words of St. Catherine today so that You would occupy my intellect and memory this day as I try to stay above the rushing flood waters. Let the fruit of the spirit be visible in my actions, words and thoughts. This I ask in Jesus name, Amen.

If it were given a man to see virtue’s reward in the next world, he would occupy his intellect, memory and will in nothing but good works, careless of danger or fatigue.

— St. Catherine of Genoa

Zephaniah 3:14-18

14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has cast out your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear evil no more. 16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. 17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing 18 as on a day of festival. "I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it.

 or Romans 12:9-16

9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited.

Isaiah 12:2-6

2 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation." 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name; make known his deeds among the nations, proclaim that his name is exalted. 5 "Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. 6 Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."

Luke 1:39-56

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechari’ah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." 46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, 52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever." 56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.

Bible Study: [43] Even before his birth, Jesus is identified in Luke as the Lord. [45] Blessed are you who believed: Luke portrays Mary as a believer whose faith stands in contrast to the disbelief of Zechariah (Luke 1:20). Mary’s role as believer in the infancy narrative should be seen in connection with the explicit mention of her presence among "those who believed" after the resurrection at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:14). [46-55] Although Mary is praised for being the mother of the Lord and because of her belief, she reacts as the servant in a psalm of praise, the Magnificat. Because there is no specific connection of the canticle to the context of Mary’s pregnancy and her visit to Elizabeth, the Magnificat (with the possible exception of v 48) may have been a Jewish Christian hymn that Luke found appropriate at this point in his story. Even if not composed by Luke, it fits in well with themes found elsewhere in Luke: joy and exultation in the Lord; the lowly being singled out for God’s favor; the reversal of human fortunes; the fulfillment of Old Testament promises. The loose connection between the hymn and the context is further seen in the fact that a few Old Latin manuscripts identify the speaker of the hymn as Elizabeth, even though the overwhelming textual evidence makes Mary the speaker.

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VISITATION IS PRELUDE TO JESUS’ MISSION

Pope John Paul II

Like Elizabeth, the Church rejoices that Mary is the Mother of the Lord who brought her Son into the world and constantly co-operates in his saving mission

At the General Audience of Wednesday, 2 October, the Holy Father returned to his series of reflections on the Blessed Virgin Mary. Speaking of the Visitation, the Pope said: "Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, in fact, is a prelude to Jesus’ mission and, in co-operating from the beginning of her motherhood in the Son’s redeeming work, she becomes the model for those in the Church who set out to bring Christ’s light and joy to the people of every time and place". Here is a translation of his catechesis, which was the 34th in the series on the Blessed Virgin and was given in Italian.

1. In the Visitation episode, St Luke shows how the grace of the Incarnation, after filling Mary, brings salvation and joy to Elizabeth’s house. The Saviour of men, carried in his Mother’s womb, pours out the Holy Spirit, revealing himself from the very start of his coming into the world.

In describing Mary’s departure for Judea, the Evangelist uses the verb "anístemi", which means "to arise", "to start moving". Considering that this verb is used in the Gospels to indicate Jesus’ Resurrection (Mk 8:31; 9:9,31; Lk 24:7, 46) or physical actions that imply a spiritual effort (Lk 5:27-28; 15:18,20), we can suppose that Luke wishes to stress with this expression the vigorous zeal which led Mary, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to give the world its Saviour.

Meeting with Elizabeth is a joyous saving event

2. The Gospel text also reports that Mary made the journey "with haste" (Lk 1:39). Even the note "into the hill country" (Lk 1:39), in the Lucan context, appears to be much more than a simple topographical indication, since it calls to mind the messenger of good news described in the Book of Isaiah: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion: ‘Your God reigns’" (Is 52:7).

Like St Paul, who recognizes the fulfilment of this prophetic text in the preaching of the Gospel (Rom 10:15), St Luke also seems to invite us to see Mary as the first "evangelist", who spreads the "good news", initiating the missionary journeys of her divine Son.

Lastly, the direction of the Blessed Virgin’s journey is particularly significant: it will be from Galilee to Judea, like Jesus’ missionary journey (cf. 9:51).

Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, in fact, is a prelude to Jesus’ mission and, in cooperating from the beginning of her motherhood in the Son’s redeeming work, she becomes the model for those in the Church who set out to bring Christ’s light and joy to the people of every time and place.

3. The meeting with Elizabeth has the character of a joyous saving event that goes beyond the spontaneous feelings of family sentiment. Where the embarrassment of disbelief seems to be expressed in Zechariah’s muteness, Mary bursts out with the joy of her quick and ready faith: "She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth" (Lk 1:40).

St Luke relates that "when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb" (Lk 1:41). Mary’s greeting caused Elizabeth’s son to leap for joy: Jesus’ entrance into Elizabeth’s house, at Mary’s doing, brought the unborn prophet that gladness which the Old Testament foretells as a sign of the Messiah’s presence.

At Mary’s greeting, messianic joy comes over Elizabeth too and "filled with the Holy Spirit … she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’" (Lk 1:41-42).

By a higher light, she understands Mary’s greatness: more than Jael and Judith, who prefigured her in the Old Testament, she is blessed among women because of the fruit of her womb, Jesus, the Messiah.

4. Elizabeth’s exclamation, made "with a loud cry", shows a true religious enthusiasm, which continues to be echoed on the lips of believers in the prayer "Hail Mary", as the Church’s song of praise for the great works accomplished by the Most High in the Mother of his Son.

In proclaiming her "blessed among women", Elizabeth points to Mary’s faith as the reason for her blessedness: "And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord" (Lk 1:45). Mary’s greatness and joy arise from the fact the she is the one who believes.

In view of Mary’s excellence, Elizabeth also understands what an honour her visit is for her: "And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Lk 1:43). With the expression "my Lord", Elizabeth recognizes the royal, indeed messianic, dignity of Mary’s Son. In the Old Testament this expression was in fact used to address the king (cf. I Kgs 1:13,20,21 etc.) and to speak of the Messiah King (Ps I 10: 1). The angel had said of Jesus: "The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David" (Lk 1:32). "Filled with the Holy Spirit", Elizabeth has the same insight. Later, the paschal glorification of Christ will reveal the sense in which this title is to be understood, that is, a transcendent sense (cf. Jn 20:28; Acts 2:34-36).

Mary is present in whole work of divine salvation

With her admiring exclamation, Elizabeth invites us to appreciate all that the Virgin’s presence brings as a gift to the life of every believer.

In the Visitation, the Virgin brings Christ to the Baptist’s mother, the Christ who pours out the Holy Spirit. This role of mediatrix is brought out by Elizabeth’s very words: "For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my cars, the babe in my womb leaped for joy" (Lk 1:44). By the gift of the Holy Spirit, Mary’s presence serves as a prelude to Pentecost, confirming a co-operation which, having begun with the Incarnation, is destined to be expressed in the whole work of divine salvation.

/      raangulo

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Dear Lord God, today I wake with the thought of prayer on my mind and in my spirit, thinking of the new information and opinions I have been exposed to about the benefit of prayer in the native language of Jesus (Aramaic), about the importance of focusing of creating an image of You in my mind and Your presence in my heart, feeling You in me and separating emotion from that feeling, knowing that what I think and how I look effects how judge and what see; for what I send out, I receive. If I send out love, trust, understanding, this is what I will receive; if I focus on being aware that in each moment I have choices that will effect the outcomes of other of other things in an rippling affect; and no matter what with You in me and with me I have no need to fear or worry, free to make the right choice, the right way. These things I accept as excursuses that I must practice and nourishment that I must consume to strengthen my spirit, it is like when I get to the level of physical conditioning that exercising or running releases endorphins that make the exercise and run so enjoyable I cannot go without it, something I cannot wait to do; this is how I want to be with You Lord God in prayer. O Lord help me balance, guide my thirst and hunger to be closer to You, to know You more by balancing with the pure peace and enjoyment of this time together even in the midst of tribulation. Let me be a better example for those I love of how to love You, know You and enjoy You. This I ask in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Dear Lord God once again, You show me Your presence, O what a blessing, O what a joy, to know You are walking with me. Thank You Jesus!

I want to be only a poor Friar who prays…Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer…Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart. You must speak to Jesus with not only your lips but with your heart. In fact on certain occasions you should speak to Him only with your heart…

— Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

Sirach 36:1, 4-5, 10-17

1 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, the God of all, and look upon us, 4 As in us thou hast been sanctified before them, so in them be thou magnified before us; 5 and let them know thee, as we have known that there is not God but thee, O Lord. 10 Crush the heads of the rulers of the enemy, who say, "There is no one but ourselves." 11 Gather all the tribes of Jacob, and give them their inheritance, as at the beginning. 12 Have mercy, O Lord, upon the people called by thy name, upon Israel, whom thou hast likened to a first-born son. 13 Have pity on the city of thy sanctuary, Jerusalem, the place of thy rest. 14 Fill Zion with the celebration of thy wondrous deeds, and thy temple with thy glory. 15 Bear witness to those whom thou didst create in the beginning, and fulfil the prophecies spoken in thy name. 16 Reward those who wait for thee, and let thy prophets be found trustworthy. 17 Hearken, O Lord, to the prayer of thy servants, according to the blessing of Aaron for thy people, and all who are on the earth will know that thou art the Lord, the God of the ages

Bible Study: [1-17] Making an act of faith and hope in the supreme Lord of the universe, the author begs God to continue manifesting his holiness and mercy through Israel, his people (Sirach 36:1-3, 10-13), and his power and justice through the punishment of the nations (Sirach 36:2, 5-9), that all the earth may acknowledge him the eternal God (Sirach 36:4, 14-17).

Psalm 79:8-9, 11, 13

8 Do not remember against us the iniquities of our forefathers; let thy compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name; deliver us, and forgive our sins, for thy name’s sake! 11 Let the groans of the prisoners come before thee; according to thy great power preserve those doomed to die! 13 Then we thy people, the flock of thy pasture, will give thanks to thee for ever; from generation to generation we will recount thy praise.

Bible Study: [Psalm 79] A communal lament complaining that the nations have defiled the temple and murdered the holy people, leaving their corpses unburied (Psalm 79:1-4). The occasion is probably the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army in 587 B.C. The people ask how long the withdrawal of divine favor will last (Psalm 79:5), pray for action now (Psalm 79:6-7), and admit that their own sins have brought about the catastrophe (Psalm 79:8-9). They seek to persuade God to act for reasons of honor: the nations who do not call upon the Name are running amok (Psalm 79:6); the divine honor is compromised (Psalm 79:1, 10, 12); God’s own servants suffer (Psalm 79:2-4, 11).

Mark 10:32-45

32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." 35 And James and John, the sons of Zeb’edee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." 36 And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" 37 And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." 38 But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" 39 And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Bible Study: [38-40] Can you drink the cup . . . I am baptized?: the metaphor of drinking the cup is used in the Old Testament to refer to acceptance of the destiny assigned by God; see the note on Ps 11, 6. In Jesus’ case, this involves divine judgment on sin that Jesus the innocent one is to expiate on behalf of the guilty (Mark 14:24; Isaiah 53:5). His baptism is to be his crucifixion and death for the salvation of the human race; cf Luke 12:50. The request of James and John for a share in the glory (Mark 10:35-37) must of necessity involve a share in Jesus’ sufferings, the endurance of tribulation and suffering for the gospel (Mark 10:39). The authority of assigning places of honor in the kingdom is reserved to God (Mark 10:40). [42-45] Whatever authority is to be exercised by the disciples must, like that of Jesus, be rendered as service to others (Mark 10:45) rather than for personal aggrandizement (Mark 10:42-44). The service of Jesus is his passion and death for the sins of the human race (Mark 10:45); cf Mark 14:24; Isaiah 53:11-12; Matthew 26:28; Luke 22:19-20.

/      raangulo

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Check out my blog at http://raagroup.blogspot.com/ where daily readings and more are posted daily.