“It is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish” (Mt 18:14).
Jesus uttered this sentence in the context of the parable of the lost sheep, for whose sake He was willing to leave the other ninety-nine to go in search of it and find it. Read More
1 Cor 9:16-19,22-23 (Reading from the Novus Ordo)
In fact, preaching the gospel gives me nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion and I should be in trouble if I failed to do it. If I did it on my own initiative I would deserve a reward; but if I do it under compulsion I am simply accepting a task entrusted to me. What reward do I have, then? That in my preaching I offer the gospel free of charge to avoid using the rights which the gospel allows me. Read More
According to the traditional calendar, today, 3 February, we can choose to celebrate the memorial of Saint Blaise or the first Saturday of the month to make reparation for sins against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On this occasion, I would like to focus on the so-called “Five First Saturdays Devotion”. Let us therefore listen to the Gospel for this devotion:
Jn 19:25-27
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Mag′dalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
“I will once again cast the net of my love” (Inner Word).
In the midst of dark times, when the Church is weakened and disoriented, our Father wants to cast the net of His love once again. Just as at that time the Lord called Peter and the other disciples to be fishers of men (Mt 4:19), so He never ceases to cast the net of His love and to call us to cooperate in fishing, even in the most difficult times.
Lk 2:22-32
When the day came for them to be purified in keeping with the Law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord observing what is written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is prescribed in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to the restoration of Israel and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord.
“You still think too little of my goodness and my love” (Father’s message to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).
We can interpret these words of our Heavenly Father in different ways. On the one hand, it is a statement that recalls Jesus’ frequent rebukes of His disciples for their lack of faith (see, for example, Mt 16:9). Surely our Father wants us to understand that His goodness and love are immeasurable and that it grieves Him greatly that we do not yet know it well enough.
“I long to fill you more and more with blessings. That is why I am constantly offering you new graces and reminding you of the graces you are letting pass without making use of them for your souls” (Message of the Father to Sr. Eugenia Ravasio).
In the traditional calendar, today is the feast of St Ignatius of Antioch. If anyone prefers a meditation based on the current calendar, it can be found here: http://en.elijamission.net/2022/02/03/
According to Church tradition, St Ignatius of Antioch was a disciple of the Apostles Peter and John. He was later appointed Bishop of Antioch, the capital of Syria. He died a martyr’s death and was venerated as a saint in the Church from the earliest times. He always called himself Theophorus (θεοφόρος), which means “God-bearer”.
“Give to the Most High as he has given, and as generously as your hand has found” (Sir 35:10).
What a wonderful invitation to honor our Father and live in a loving relationship with Him! It is a matter of becoming ever more aware of His goodness and responding to it with generosity. As we follow this wise direction, many things will change.
Mk 6:1-6
Jesus went away from there and came to his own country; and his disciples followed him. And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.”
