“It is not on the size of the army that victory in battle depends, but strength comes from Heaven.” (1 Maccabees 3:19)
In the militant Church, we are indeed a small flock that must defend itself against the attacks and assaults of evil. Is this a reason to give up? No, because the above verse from the Book of Maccabees is preceded by the following: “It is easy for many to be hemmed in by few, for in the sight of Heaven there is no difference between saving by many or by few.”
Eph 6:10-13,18
Reading corresponding to the memorial of St. Anthony Abbot
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. Read More
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful” (Psalm 139:14).
Have we ever said this to our heavenly Father? Have we ever tried to look at ourselves as God looks at us and become aware of the love with which He has called us into existence? Have we thanked Him with all our hearts?
St. Francis had sent six of his friars to preach the Gospel in Saracen lands. He himself had tried to convert the Sultan of Egypt, but had failed.
The superior of the six missionaries fell ill, so the remaining five left for Spain. Their names were Berardo, Otto, Peter, Acursio, and Adyuto. Their mission was to proclaim the message of Christ to the Muslims living in Spain. Their first destination was Seville, which at that time was under Muslim rule, as was the entire southern part of the Iberian Peninsula.
“You must eliminate the word ‘discouragement’ from your vocabulary. The more you feel your weakness, the more you must remember that one abyss calls to another (Psalm 41:8): the abyss of your misery attracts the abyss of His mercy” (Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity).
Mk 1:40-45 (Reading from the Novus Ordo)
And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.
“It is better to die at this time than to obey any order that would violate the virginal chastity of truth” (St. Hilary of Poitiers).
Mk 1:29-39 (Reading from the Novus Ordo)
And at once on leaving the synagogue, he went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed and feverish, and at once they told him about her. He went in to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to serve them. That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were sick with diseases of one kind or another; he also drove out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was. In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neigh-bouring country towns, so that I can proclaim the message there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out devils.
“Let no one doubt the goodness of God, for even if their sins were as black as night, God’s mercy is stronger than our misery. But one thing is necessary: that the sinner open the door of his heart a little to the ray of God’s mercy” (Saint Faustina Kowalska).
Mk 1:21-28
They went as far as Capernaum, and at once on the Sabbath he went into the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority. And at once in their synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit, and he shouted, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked it saying, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The people were so astonished that they started asking one another what it all meant, saying, ‘Here is a teaching that is new, and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And his reputation at once spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside. Read More
