Gospel for February 18, 2011

Gospel of St. Mark 8:34-38.9:1

Jesus called the crowd to him with his disciples and said to the: " If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake and follow me continually. For whoever wants to save his soul will lose it; but whoever loses his soul for the sake of me and the good news will save it. Really, of what benefit is it for a man to gain the whole world and to forfeit his soul? What, really, would a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever becomes ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the  Son of man will also be ashamed of him when he arrives in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

Furthermore, he went on to say to them: "Truly I say to you, There are some of those standing here  that will not taste death at all until  first they see the kingdom of God already come in power."

Gospel For February 17,2011

Gospel from St. Mark 8:27-33

Jesus and his disciples now left for the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he began questioning his disciples, saying to them: " Who are men saying that I am?" They said to him: "John the Baptist, and others, Elijah, still others, One of the prophets." And he put the question to them: " You, though, who do you say I am?" In answer Peter said to him: "You are the Christ." At that he strictly charged them not to tell anyone about him. Also, he started teaching them that the Son of man must undergo many sufferings and be rejected by the older men and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and rise three days later. Indeed, without outspokenness he was making that statement. But Peter took him aside and started rebuking him. He turned, looked at his disciples and rebuked Peter, and said: "Get behind me, Satan, because you think, not God's thoughts, but those of men."

Gospel for February 16, 2011

Gospel of St. Mark 8:22-26

When they arrived at Bethsaida. Here people brought him a blind man, and they entreated him to touch -him. And he took the blind man by the hand, brought him outside the village and, having spit upon his eyes, he laid his hands upon him and began to ask hi; " Do you see anything? " And the man looked up and began saying: " I see men, because I observe what seem to be trees, but they are walking about ." Then he laid his hands again upon the man's eyes, and the man saw clearly, and he he was restored, and he was seeing everything distinctly. So he sent him off home, saying: " But do not enter into the village."

Gospel for February 15, 2011

Gospel: Mark 8: 14-21

As it was, they forgot to take loaves along, and except for one loaf they had nothing with them in the boat. And he began to order them expressly and say: “Keep your eyes open, look out for the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” So they went arguing with one another over the fact that they had no loaves. Noting this, he said to them: “Why do you argue over your having no loaves? Do you not yet perceive and get the meaning? Do you have your hearts dull of understanding? ‘Though having eyes, do you not see; and though having ears, do you not hear?’ And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand [men], how many baskets full of fragments you took up?” They said to him: “Twelve.” When I broke the seven for the four thousand [men], how many provision baskets full of fragments did you take up?” And they said to him “seven”. With that he said to them: “Do you not yet get the meaning?”. 

Gospel for February 14, 2011

Gospel: Mark 8: 11-13

Here the Pharisees came out and started disputing with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, to put him to test. So he groaned deeply with his spirit, and said: “ Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly I say, No sign will be given to this generation.” With that he left them, got aboard again, and went off to the opposite shore.

Sunday Gospel : Book Of St. Matthew 5:17-37

Gospel is from the Book of Matthew 5: 17-37

The Fulfillment of the Law:

Jesus said “Do not think I came to destroy the Law of the Prophets. I came, not to destroy, but to fulfil; for truly I say to you that sooner would heaven and earth pass away than for one smallest letter or one particle of a letter to pass away from the Law by any means and not all things take place. Whoever, therefore, breaks one of these least commandments and teaches mankind to that effect, he will be called ‘least’ in relation to the kingdom of the heavens. As for the anyone who does them and teaches them, this one will be called ‘great’ in relation to the kingdom of the heavens. For I say to you that if your righteousness does not abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter into the kingdom of the heavens.

Murder:

You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You must not murder; but whoever commits a murder will be accountable to the court of justice.’ However, I say to you that everyone who continues wrathful with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice; but whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme court; whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the fiery of Gehenna.

“If then, you are bringing you gift to the altar and you there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, and go away; first make your peace with your brother, and then, when you have come back, offer up your gift.

“Be about settling matters quickly with the one complaining against you at law, while you are with him on the way there, that somehow the complainant may not turn you over to the judge, and the judge to the court attendant, and you get thrown into prison. I say to you for a fact, you will certainly not come out from there until you have paid over the last coin of very little value.

Adultery:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone that keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If, now, that right eye of yours is making you stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you. For it is more beneficial to you for one of you members to be lost to you than for your whole body to be pitched into Gehenna. Also, if your right hand is making you stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you. For it is more beneficial to you for one of your members to be lost than for your whole body to land in Gehenna.

Divorce:

“Moreover it was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ However, I say to you that everyone divorcing his wife, except on account of fornication, makes her a subject for adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths:

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You must not swear without performing, but you must pay your vows Jehovah.’ However, I say to you: Do not swear at all, neither by heaven, because it is God’s throne; nor by earth, because it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. Nor by your head must you swear, because you cannot turn one hair white or black. Just let your word Yes mean Yes, Your No, means No; for what is in excess of these is from the wicked one.

Gospel for February 12, 2011

Gospel: Mark 8: 1-10

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

In those days, when there was again a big crowd and they had nothing to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said to them: “I feel pity for the crowd, because it is already three days that they have remained near me and they have nothing to eat; and if I should send them off to their homes fasting, they will give out on the road. Indeed, some of them are from far away.” But Jesus disciples answered him: “From where will anybody here in an isolated place be able to satisfy these people with loaves?” Still Jesus went on to ask them: How many loaves have you?” They said: “Seven.” And Jesus instructed the crowd to recline on the ground, and Jesus took the seven loaves, gave thanks, broke them, and began to give them to his disciples to serve, and they served them to the crowd. They also had a few little fishes; and, having blessed these, Jesus told the disciples also to serve these. Accordingly they ate and were satisfied, and they took up surpluses of fragments, seven provision baskets full. Yet there were about four thousand. Finally he sent them away. And immediately Jesus boarded the boat with his disciples and came into the region of Dalmanutha.

Gospel for February 11, 2011

Gospel: Mark 7: 31-37

Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man

Jesus left the regions of tyre and went through Sidon to the sea of Galilee up through the midst of the regions of Decapolis. Here they brought him a man deaf and with speech impediment and they entreated him to lay his hand upon him. And Jesus took him away from the crowd privately and put his fingers into the man’s ears and, after spitting, he touched his tongue. And with a look up into heaven he sighed deeply and said to him “Ephphatha” that is, “Be opened”.  The man’s hearing powers were opened and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he began speaking normally. With that Jesus charged them not to tell anyone; but the more he would charge them, the more they would proclaim it. Indeed, they were being astounded in a most extraordinary way and they said: “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the speechless speak.”

Gospel for February 10, 2011

5th week in Ordinary Time.Gospel: Mark 7:24-30 

Jesus Honors a Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith

Jesus went into the regions of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered into a house and did not want anyone to get to know it. Yet Jesus could not escape notice; but immediately a woman whose little daughter had unclean spirit heard about him and came and prostrated herself at his feet. The woman was Grecian, a Syrophoenician nationally; and she kept asking him to expel the demon from her daughter. But Jesus began by saying to her: “First let the children be satisfied, for it is not right to take the bread of the children and throw it to the little dogs.” In reply, however, she said to him: “yes, sir and yet the little dogs underneath the table eat of the crumbs of the little children.” At this Jesus said to her: “Because of saying this , go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” So she went away to her home and found the young child laid on the bed and the demon gone out.

Gospel for February 9, 2011

Gospel:Mark 7:14-23

The Heart of Man

So, calling the crowd to him again, he proceeded to say to them: “Listen to me, all of you, and get the meaning. There is nothing from outside a man that passes into him that can defile him; but the things that issue forth out of a man are the things that defile a man.” Now when Jesus had entered a house away from the crowd, his disciples began to question him respecting the illustration. So Jesus said to them: Are you also without perception like them? Are you not aware that nothing from outside that passes into a man can defile him, since it passes, not into [his] heart, but into [his] intestines, and it passes out into the sewer?” Thus he declared all foods clean. Further , Jesus said: “That which issues forth out of a man is what defiles a man; for from inside, out of the heart of men, injurious reasonings issue forth: fornications, thieveries, murders, adulteries, covetings, act of wickedness, deceit, loose conduct, an envious eye, blasphemy, haughtiness, unreasonableness. All these wicked things issue forth from within and defile a man.”

Gospel for February 8, 2011

Gospel : Mark 7: 1-13

That Which Defiles

Now the Pharisees and some of the scribes that had come from Jerusalem gathered about him. And when they saw some of his disciples eat their meal with defile hands, that is, unwashed ones – for the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands up to the elbow, holding fast the tradition of the men of former times, and when back from the market, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves by sprinkling; and there are many other traditions that they have received to hold fast, baptisms of cups and pitchers and copper vessels; so the Pharisees and scribes asked him: “Why is it your disciples do not conduct themselves according to the tradition of the men of former times, but they take their meal with defiled hands?” Jesus said to them: Isaiah aptly prophesied about you hypocrites, as it is written, “This people honor me with [their] lips, but their hearts are far removed from me. It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach as doctrines commands of men.’ Letting go the commandment of God, you hold fast the tradition of men.”

Further, Jesus went on to say to them; “Adroitly you set aside the commandment of God in order to retain your tradition. For example, Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ and, ‘Let him that reviles father or mother end up in death.’ But you men sa, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother: “Whatever I have by which you may get benefit from me is corban, (that is a gift dedicated to God)” You men no longer let him do a single thing for his father or his mother, and thus you make the word of God invalid by you tradition which you handed down. And many things similar to this you do.”      

Gospel for February 7, 2011

Gospel :Mark 6:53-56 

And when they got across to land, they came into Gennesaret and anchored ship nearby. But as soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized him, and they ran around all that region and started to carry about on cots those who were ailing to where they heard he was. And wherever Jesus would enter into villages or cities or countryside they would place the sick ones in the market places, and they would plead with him that they might touch just the fringe of his outer garment. And as many as did touch it were made well.

Sunday Gospel for February 6, 2011

Gospel is from the Book Of St. Matthew 5:13-16

Salt and Light

     “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

    “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Gospel for February 5, 2011

Gospel is from the Book of Mark  6:30-34

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all the things they had done and taught. And he said to them: " Come, you yourselves, privately into a lonely place and rest up a bit." For there are so many people were coming and going, and that they did not even have a chance to eat. So off they went in a boat to a solitary place to themselves. But people saw them leaving and recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a great crowd, he was moved with pity for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So Jesus began teaching them many things.

Gospel for February 4, 2011

Gospel:  Book Of St. Mark 6:14-29

John the Baptist Beheaded

Now it got to the ears of King Herod, for the name of [Jesus] became public, and people were saying: " John the baptizer has been raised from the dead , and on that account the powerful works are operating in him." But others were saying: " It is Elijah."  Still others were saying: " It is a prophet like one of the prophets. But when Herod heard it he began to say: The John that I beheaded , this one has been raised up." For Herod himself had sent out and arrested John and bound him in prison on account of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her. For John had repeatedly said to Herod: It is not lawful for you to be having a wife of your brother." But Herodias was nursing a grudge against him and was wanting to kill him, but could not. For Herod stood in fear of John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man; and he was keeping him safe. And after hearing him he was at a great loss what to do, yet he continued to hear him gladly. But a convenient day came along when Herod spread an evening meal on his birthday for his top-ranking men and the military commanders and the foremost ones of Galilee. And the daughter of this very Herodias came in and danced and pleased Herod and those reclining with him. The King said to the maiden: " Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you."  Yes, he swore to her:  " Whatever you ask me for, I will give it to you, up to half my kingdom."  And she went out and said to her mother:  " What should  I ask for?" She said:  " The head of John the baptizer."  Immediately she went in with haste to the king and made her request, saying:  " I want you to give me right away on a platter the head of John the Baptist." Although he became deeply grieved, yet the king did not want to disregard her, in view of the oaths and those reclining at the table. So the king immediately dispatched a body guardsman and commanded him to bring his head. And he went off and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter, and he gave it to the maiden, and the maiden gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it they came and took up his corpse and laid it in a memorial tomb.