Title: Meditation: Monday, January 21, 2002
The Catholic Calendar for Monday, January 21, 2002
St. Agnes, virgin, martyr
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Samuel 15:16-23
Psalm 50:8-9,16-17,21,23
Mark 2:18-22
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
"Amen, I say to you, I do not know you." (Matthew 25:12)
One of the greatest dangers in the practice of one's faith is becoming
so mired in routine, that worship becomes empty. Lacking a personal
relationship with the Lord, such a person ceases listening to and
obeying God's biddings; hence, service to Him is not spiritual, but
merely follows natural inclinations.
The latter is seen in Saul's disobeying God's instructions by
sacrificing the best of Amalak's (the conquered king's) sheep, thinking
it a fitting tribute to God for granting him victory. In consequence,
God rejected Saul as a ruler of His people. Obedience, not sacrifice, is
of primary importance to God.
This same theme of obedience to God is seen in Mark's Gospel when Jesus
allows His disciples to break the fast prescribed by the Pharisees. His
actions not only spoke out against the spiritually empty practices of
the religious leaders of His day, but they also announced a new
religious era to be lived by putting His (God's) word into practice. It
would be a dynamic time, filled with life like new wine, unable to be
contained by old, dried, patched wineskins, the present religious
regime.
The optional Gospel, the Parable of the Ten Virgins, (Memorial--St.
Agnes) emphasizes preparedness for Christ's second coming. Those lacking
the "oil" of the Holy Spirit Who imparts God's light and love to
obedient souls will be excluded from the marriage feast of the Lamb,
banished to the outer darkness.
Righteous Lord,
help us to accept and live in your will.
Give us gentle and accepting hearts,
knowing that all you ordain and permit
is for our good. Amen.
- Marie L. Bocko, ocds ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
YOU CAN HELP to evangelize the Word of God: Please recommend our website
to your friends and Catholic webmasters. The Daily Meditations appear online
in English & Spanish at: http://homepage.mac.com/ojoachim3/DailyMeds.html
ARCHIVED Meditations at: http://www.abcsoffaith.com/quiet/quietplace.html
and at: http://www.mail-archive.com/dailymed%40saturn.nibcomp.com
For ALL communications, including subscribe/unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
(c)2002 The Way, The Truth, The Life. Permission granted to make reprints
of the meditations or to post on any web page, except for profit.
All scripture quotes are from the Douay-Rheims edition of the Catholic Bible.
Full text from the New American Bible: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
Lives of the Saints: http://www.christdesert.org/public_texts/martyrology/
