"All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle."
--St. Francis
"All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle."
--St. Francis
January 28, 2021
Memorial of Saint
Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 320
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 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.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A lamp to my feet
is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.”
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How to help others become more loving
"We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works," says today's first reading. We all know people who need to be roused (i.e., awakened in the faith), people who stay away from our assembly, whose paths need to be redirected back to the faith.
Perhaps you're dealing with someone who's self-centered and arrogant, who's ignoring your needs and who's uncaring toward others. People like this need to be roused into the daylight of truth so that they'll want to change. And what about those who profess to be good Catholics while disobeying God's will?
We have been commissioned to be the voice of Christ awakening them into a life of unconditional, selfless love, good deeds, and moral obedience. But how do we do this? Scripture tells us to "consider" the possibilities. Study the situation, get to know the persons you want to rouse. What woundedness and worldly training has made them unloving and selfish? What are they struggling with, and would they like to be free of it?
Once we understand their situations, we can look for an opportunity to invite them to trade up to something better, e.g., a relationship with Jesus that will heal them, a better understanding of being loved so that they can more generously give love, an appreciation of their giftedness and how it benefits others, etc.
There are valid reasons why people stray from the path of holiness. By identifying and addressing those reasons, we can become more effective in encouraging them to change. If we only tell them the law that they're breaking in order to explain how they should change, we chase them away.
Addressing the reasons why people stray invites growth and change; addressing the need to change only invites stubbornness and running farther away. The first method takes much time and patience, a lot of effort and a willingness to serve those who are not pleasant to befriend. The other method is an easy-for-us short-cut that requires no loving sacrifices from us. It usually fails.
The first method means that we are light glowing from the lampstand that Jesus mentions in today's Gospel reading. The other method is a measurement that we ourselves do not wish to be measured by, for when our own sinfulness is identified, the little love we do have is taken away by our lack of humility. If we're condemning others, you can bet that others are busy condemning us for our arrogance!
God has placed into our lives people who need us to encourage them into greater holiness, greater love, and greater generosity in good works. But he has also given these people to us so that we will grow in holiness, love and good works. Isn't that a scary bit of irony!
Today's Prayer
Forgive me, Lord, for the times I refused my brothers' and sisters' corrections. Forgive me for not correcting the others with mercy and humbleness. Thank You for reminding me that we are all necessary to build Your Church. Amen.
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God Bless You.....
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