Tuesday, February 10, 2015
WEDNESDAY, 5TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
February 11, 2015 WEDNESDAY, 5TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Our Lady of Lourdes
Green
Gn 2: 4b –9, 15 –17 / Mk 7:14–23
[February 11 marks the first of eighteen apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes in France to fourteen-year old St. Bernadette Soubirous (1844–1879) in 1858.]
Reading: Gn 2: 4b –9, 15 –17
On the day that Yahweh God made the earth and the heavens, there was not yet on the earth any shrub of the fields, nor had any plant yet sprung up, for Yahweh God had not made it rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the earth, but a mist went up from the earth and watered the surface of the earth.
Then Yahweh God formed Man, dust drawn from the clay, and breathed into his nostrils a breath of life and Man became alive with breath. God planted a garden in Eden in the east and there he placed Man whom he had created. Yahweh God caused to grow from the ground every kind of tree that is pleasing to see and good to eat, also the tree of Life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Yahweh God took Man and placed him in the garden of Eden to till it and take care of it. Then Yahweh God gave an order to Man saying, "You may eat of every tree in the garden, but of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, you will not eat, for on the day you eat of it, you will die."
Gospel: Mk 7: 14–23
Jesus then called the people to him again and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and try to understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can make a person unclean. It is what comes out from within that makes unclean. Let everyone who has ears listen."
When Jesus got home and was away from the crowd, his disciples asked him about this saying, and he replied, "So even you are dull? Do you not see that whatever comes from outside cannot make a person unclean? Since it enters, not the heart but the stomach and is finally passed out." Thus Jesus declared that all foods are clean.
And he went on, "What comes out of a person is what defiles, for evil designs come out of the heart: theft, murder, adultery, jealousy, greed, maliciousness, deceit, indecency, slander, pride and folly. All these evil things come from within and make a person unclean."
Reflection:
In today's Gospel passage, Jesus reminds that what comes out of our hearts determines who we are. We are made unclean by evil thoughts, words and actions.
Jesus invites us to see his teaching in a positive note: Jesus leads us to reflect on what forms our character. The growth of our character is a most important aspect of our formation: our character tells us who and what we are. As we mature, we are taught to be careful with what we think, say and do because these reveal what is in our heart. Jesus reminds us always to keep good and loving hearts.
In the blessed Virgin Mary God has given us a supreme example of having a pure and loving heart. As we recall her apparitions at Lourdes where she revealed she was the "Immaculate Conception," we are reminded to be like her.
Like Mary, each one of us is called to be holy. A challenge for us throughout our lives, God promises to help us to walk the right path and to return to him every time we stray from it.
Like St. Bernadette we are asked to open ourselves to the mystery of God's love for us. The young St. Bernadette did not fully understand the apparitions of Our Lady to her. But she opened herself to the wonderful ways of God and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Our Lady continues to ask us to pray for the world; she reminds us that prayer keeps our hearts pure, allowing ourselves to think, speak and act in accordance to God's will for us.
Let us ask for Mary's intercession that, like her, we may have pure and generous hearts, always ready to say "Yes" to the Father.
WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:
BIRTHDAY
RALPH DIXEL B. GARRO
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
EDWARD & JENNIFER NOCENTES
GERALD & GERALDINE SY
JEROME & SALLY LIM GOTAMCO
IN MEMORIAM (+)
LUCIA C. TIU
FOR OTHER INTENTIONS:
For the successful surgery, complete healing and recovery of ALICE G. FAROLAN
For the thanksgiving and special intentions of Beny Chua
For the speedy recovery of Pinky Abiog
For the eternal repose of Rosendo Saguin
For the prayer intentions of LJ Koh & famly
For the intentions of Grace Sandoval
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 12:35 PM 
