A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark 1:40-45
40 And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.
It would be too easy to associate only with people who desire comfortable lives, who wish just to be “towed along”, to be helped or assisted, or just to receive. With them you can play the part of big brother, making them dependent on you.
Your role ought to be that of forming responsible people who want to stand on their own two feet, like real men and women.
It is hard, but you must be decisive and help others to rouse themselves from inactivity, to think for themselves, to organise their own lives, to stand up for themselves, and if necessary to disagree with you.
In that way you will be truly happy to see them growing alongside you.
Card. François-Xavier Van Thuan
Spera in Dio!
Città Nuova, Roma 2008, p. 42
(published by the Priestly Branch of the Focolare Movement)
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark 1:29-39
29 And immediately he left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them. 32 That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together about the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35 And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him pursued him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Every one is searching for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
I am aware that you, God the Father almighty, have to be the main aim of my life, in such a way that every word of mine, every feeling, expresses you.
The exercise of the word, that you have given me, can have no greater reward that that of serving you by making you known, of showing this world that ignores you or… denies you, that you are Father, Father of the only (Son of) God. This is the only aim I have.
Saint Hilary of Poitiers
PL 10, 48
(published by the Priestly Branch of the Focolare Movement)
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark 1:21-28
21 And they went into Caper’na-um; and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; 24 and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
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