Carry the gospel with you
Gospel reading of the day:
Mark 3:20-21
Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
Reflection on the gospel reading: All of us want to be understood. Most particularly, we want to be understood by the members of our families. But sometimes the work that we do is so important that it is worth the risk of not being understood. Pursuing our vision of God’s will for our lives strikes me as something sufficiently critical that we can risk not being understood. Doing what God wants us to do is important enough to risk being considered mad. Jesus was willing to take that risk, and he suffered his family’s sense he had lost his mind, but he never gave up on what he knew the Father called him to do. If we will walk in his steps, God will lead us. Let us ever strive to walk in his steps, following faithfully the pattern he left for us.
Saint of the day: Born in about 1580 in England, Alban Bartholomew Roe converted to Catholicism. He studied at the English College at Douai, France, but was dismissed for an infraction of discipline. A Benedictine priest in 1612 at Dieulouard, France, he became a missionary to England. He was arrested and exiled in 1615 for his work. Returning to England in 1618, he was arrested again. He sat in prison until 1623 when the Spanish ambassador obtained his release on condition that Alban leave England. Soon after, Alban returned to his homeland and continued his covert ministry. Arrested again in 1625, he lay in prison for 17 years before being tried and condemned to death for the crime of priesthood. One of the Forty Martyrs
of England and Wales, he died with Blessed Thomas Reynolds. He was hanged, drawn, and quartered on January 21, 1642 at Tyburn, England.
Spiritual reading: Christ made my soul beautiful with the jewels of grace and virtue. I belong to Him whom the angels serve. (Saint Agnes, Martyr)
Fr. Mike, I am interested in purchasing the photo of the many faces of Jesus used on Jan. 21. Can you tell me where the photo is located or where it is from? Thanks! Chris
Chris: I tried to go and look for where I originally found it, but I fear I couldn’t find it. I agree it’s a wonderful picture. I am so sorry I couldn’t find it.