25 February 2013 2nd Week of Lent -- Monday Jesus cures a paralytic The joy the inhabitants of Capernaum showed at the return of Jesus compensated for the insult offered him by the Gerasenes. As soon as news of his arrival in the house spread, the crowd increased till it was almost impossible for anyone to get near especially those carrying the sick. Four men brought a paralytic “... when they could not find a way to get in because of the crowd, they went up the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in his bed into the midst before Jesus” (Lk 5:19). Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic -- “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” (Mt 9:2). The paralytic sought only the cure of his bodily ailment; and he receives also that of his soul. The paralytic’s spiritual cure was immediately followed by the healing of his body. Jesus desired to prove to the unbelieving Scribes and Pharisees that he is really God. Thus, he said to them -- “That you may know the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” ... and addressing the sick man, “‘Arise, take up your bed and go home’” (Mt 9:6). “And he arose and went home.” (Lk 5:25) This ingenious expedient is admirable, unique, prompt and bold. What caused the great eagerness of the paralytic? His desire to be cured of his disease. “Ah! if only we felt the diseases of the soul as we do those of the body, we should find plenty of bold and persevering expedients to remedy them.” (“Imitation of Christ”, ‘Curé d’Ars’ [St Jean Marie Vianney]) Despite this lesson most men live as if they had no soul to save. We should get rid of the spiritual paralysis which hinders us from making any progress and threatens to become incurable. Like the multitude, let us praise God who has committed to his priests the power to absolve our sins. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp400-401 Jesus raises to life the daughter of Jairus Jairus, a certain ruler, came up and adored Jesus, saying, “My daughter is dying; come lay your hand on her that she may be safe and live” (Mk 5:23). This prayer so pleased Jesus that it brought several miracles. Why? 1) It was ‘humble’ and ‘reverent’ as both the words and the supplicant show; 2) ‘earnest’ and ‘pleading’, coming from the heart of an afflicted father; and 3) ‘simple’ and ‘childlike’. Jairus makes his request without any superfluous words; and trusts on the mercy of Jesus, to the tenderness of his heart. As Jairus turned home with Jesus who had ‘immediately’ granted his prayer, someone came saying, “Thy daughter is dead; why trouble the Master any further?” (Mk 5:35). Jairus turned to Jesus, and said, “Lord, my daughter is now dead; but come, lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live” (Mt 9:18). Jesus answered, “Fear not; believe only, and she shall be safe” (Lk 8:50). When Jesus reached the house, he went in and taking the girl by the hand, cried out, "Little girl, arise”. (Mark, 5:42; Luke, 8:55) Her spirit returned, and she rose immediately. He bid them give her food to eat. Her parents were astonished. Do our prayers always breathe with humility, this exterior and interior reverence worthy of God’s majesty? Are they earnest, coming from the heart which feels the misery and know that it is beyond remedy? Let us admire and imitate the ‘constancy’ of faith and confidence of this Jewish ruler. The least difficulty often suffices to discourage us. The confidence of Jairus increased where ours would be shaken. Imitate also the ‘promptitude’ of Jesus in responding; and render ‘at once’ any service demanded of us. “He who gives quickly, gives doubly.” (‘Proverb’) We lose the merit of our good actions if we perform them grudgingly. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp406-8 Prayer Detects God’s Presence in Our Souls Prayer is so important that Jesus himself tells us: “Pray constantly” (Lk 21:36). He wants us to pray to his Father, as he himself did. The Gospel tells us that Jesus prayed all night before choosing his Apostles (cf Lk 6:12). And later on, in his passion, at the height of his suffering, Christ “prayed with all the greater intensity” (Lk 22:44). Jesus not only gave us the example of prayer, he actually ‘taught us how to pray’. One of the most beautiful scenes of the Gospel shows Jesus gathered with his disciples, teaching them to pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus was showing his disciples the value of praising God: the importance of God’s name, his Kingdom and his Holy will. At the same time Jesus was telling them -- “Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive the wrong we have done as we forgive those who wrong us. Subject us not to the trial but deliver us from the evil one.” (cf Mt 6:9-13; Lk 11:2-4) It is through prayer that Jesus leads us to his Father. It is in prayer that the Holy Spirit transforms our lives. It is in prayer that we come to know God: to detect his presence in our souls, to hear his voice speaking through our consciences, and to treasure his gift to us of personal responsibility for our lives and for our world. It is through prayer that we can ‘clearly focus our attention on the person of Jesus Christ’ and see the total relevance of his teaching for our lives. We begin to see things his way. Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp261-2 Lourdes: The ninth apparition ‘Thursday.’ At five o’clock in the morning Bernadette, with her aunts, was already at Massabielle. Despite the rainy weather hundreds of onlookers were present. She began to recite the rosary and soon fell into ecstasy. Suddenly she dropped the candle and rushed into the grotto where she bent and kissed the ground. Then she retraced her steps, but abruptly, as if summoned, she ran back into the far left side of the grotto. She appeared to be looking for something. In Bernadette’s words “(the Lady) told me to go and cleanse myself in the spring. I saw none and went to the Gave. She replied that it wasn’t there, and pointed at a spot below the precipice. “I found a bit of water which looked more like mud, but there was so little I could hardly get any into my hand. I started digging and so I got more. It was so salty that I had to spit it out three times.” The crowd watching all of these movements, grew more and more puzzled. The anti-Bernadettes had no doubts: she was evidently crazy. Questioned later, she replied that she didn’t have the faintest idea why she had done what she did. She did what the Lady had asked of her and that was enough. Another surprise awaited her that day. Against the mayor’s wishes, Commissioner Jacomet, who was afraid of things getting out of hand, had requested and obtained the intervention of the Imperial Procurator, M. Dutour. Bernadette was summoned to appear before him. M. Dutour exploiting every trick of his trade again made Bernadette contradict herself. She later recounted, “I told him the whole story which he put down in writing. Then he read the statement aloud ... he had added things I’d never said. So I told him, ‘Sir, I never said such a thing’.” The questioning went on for four hours until M. Dutour, like Jacomet before him, was forced by the angry crowd outside to release Bernadette. Ref: G Menotti, “Lourdes”, 9-10 • Our Lady of Great Power. Quebec. 1673. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Great Power, Quebec, Canada (1673). (www.divine will.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of Victory, at Constantinople. The city was delivered from the siege of the Saracens by the aid of the Blessed Virgin, in the year 621. — Fereolus Locrins. ( “Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady of Victory, Constantinople (621). (www.divine will.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of Victory. Constantinople. 621. (See also Oct. 7.) (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Victory (Constantinople). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Mary, Queen of Peace -- Carmel of St Therese of the Child Jesus “Diamond Jubilee Calendar 2000”. • Madonna of Nicopeia (Venice, Italy) (http://mariedenazareth.com)