Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time &
Saint Angela Merici, Virgin
Biographical Information about St. Angela Merici
Readings for Saturday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time
Commentary:
Reading 1 Heb 11:1-2, 8-19
The beginning of this reading gives us a rather interesting definition of faith: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” That is followed by a description a few verses later of Abraham’s response to faith and the Lord’s reward, incomplete before Christ and completed by him.
Responsorial Psalm Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75
R. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
This responsorial is taken from the Canticle of Zachariah. Zachariah sings to his new born son, John the Baptist about his role as forerunner to Jesus. He reminds us of the Lord fulfilling the promise made to Abraham in this first section of the Canticle.
Gospel Mk 4:35-41
In our Gospel, Jesus embarks in what is probably a fishing boat with his disciples. A storm comes up and the disciples a afraid. Jesus with a word, “Quiet! Be still!" silences the storm and waters. The implication of his next statement is that if they had a mature faith, they could have done the same. The disciples are awed by his command of the elements.
Reflection:
We are forced to face up to the question the Lord asked the disciples today; “Then he asked them, ‘Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?’” We see the disciples afraid, even though the Lord is with them in the boat. They do not yet fully realize that as long as they have the Lord with them, nothing can hurt them.
It brings us to the realization that fear for our physical selves, while natural, should be the least of our worries. We only have these shells of human form for a short while in the eyes of God (Ps 91;4) but we look forward to an eternity with God the Father in his Heavenly Kingdom.
This miracle of Jesus does more that demonstrate his authority over God’s creation. It reminds us that our faith in Him must put us in a place where we can reach out for the salvation of our souls. If we could not do that, we should indeed be terrified.
It is, however, a hard thing to do. But we have it in us. In Baptism we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit, in Confirmation that gift is sealed and in the Eucharist we receive the Sacred Body and Blood of him who saves us. Those gifts combine to point the way. They are our compass in the storm of life. If the Lord wishes and we have faith he can calm that storm as well and we need not be afraid.
Pax
Saint Angela Merici, Virgin
Biographical Information about St. Angela Merici
Readings for Saturday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time
Commentary:
Reading 1 Heb 11:1-2, 8-19
The beginning of this reading gives us a rather interesting definition of faith: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” That is followed by a description a few verses later of Abraham’s response to faith and the Lord’s reward, incomplete before Christ and completed by him.
Responsorial Psalm Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75
R. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
This responsorial is taken from the Canticle of Zachariah. Zachariah sings to his new born son, John the Baptist about his role as forerunner to Jesus. He reminds us of the Lord fulfilling the promise made to Abraham in this first section of the Canticle.
Gospel Mk 4:35-41
In our Gospel, Jesus embarks in what is probably a fishing boat with his disciples. A storm comes up and the disciples a afraid. Jesus with a word, “Quiet! Be still!" silences the storm and waters. The implication of his next statement is that if they had a mature faith, they could have done the same. The disciples are awed by his command of the elements.
Reflection:
We are forced to face up to the question the Lord asked the disciples today; “Then he asked them, ‘Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?’” We see the disciples afraid, even though the Lord is with them in the boat. They do not yet fully realize that as long as they have the Lord with them, nothing can hurt them.
It brings us to the realization that fear for our physical selves, while natural, should be the least of our worries. We only have these shells of human form for a short while in the eyes of God (Ps 91;4) but we look forward to an eternity with God the Father in his Heavenly Kingdom.
This miracle of Jesus does more that demonstrate his authority over God’s creation. It reminds us that our faith in Him must put us in a place where we can reach out for the salvation of our souls. If we could not do that, we should indeed be terrified.
It is, however, a hard thing to do. But we have it in us. In Baptism we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit, in Confirmation that gift is sealed and in the Eucharist we receive the Sacred Body and Blood of him who saves us. Those gifts combine to point the way. They are our compass in the storm of life. If the Lord wishes and we have faith he can calm that storm as well and we need not be afraid.
Pax
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