Part 1 of 2
Daily Office Readings for Sunday of the 5th Sunday after the Epiphany: Year 1
AM Psalms 93 and 96; PM Psalm 34;
Isaiah 57:14to21; Hebrews 12:1to6; John 7:37to46
“As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” ’Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:38 and 39)
You and I are living in the post-glorification of our Lord and therefore have received the Holy Spirit. Jesus has ascended into heaven and sent us the Holy Spirit which came to us 40 days after his ascension. We are the believers from whose hearts flow the rivers of living water.
Part 2 of 2
Eucharistic Readings for the 5th Sunday after the Epiphany: Year B
Isaiah 40:21to31; Psalm 147:1to12 and 21c; 1st Corinthians 9:16-23: Mark 1:29to39;
“When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” (Mark 1:37)
I so wish everyone was searching for our Lord Jesus. Finding Jesus is not about going to a secret place. It is about being in a state of prayer. Finding Jesus is about being faithful in prayer and service. Finding Jesus is about being of service to those who need it.
Jesus has just healed Peter’s mother-in-law. And then healed many others and cast out demons and made those demons be silent about who Jesus is. From this point Jesus prays and proclaims that he must go on and continue in the ministry of proclaiming the Good News.
It seems that the proclamation of the Gospel is our Lord Jesus’ main effort. Healing and casting out demons are by-products of his ministry. We of today might focus too much on the by-products of his ministry and not the very important work of his message of the Good News.
While we can’t always heal, and even less cast out demons, all of us who live into the Good News are able to proclaim that Good News to the communities in which we live. Our Lord Jesus has set us the example of what we are able to do, and should be doing. The Good News of the Gospel is that all people are loved by God and we are called to love one another as God Loves us. Also, there is eternal life; this life is not the end. This Good News is the most important of all.
Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 