God on the Move
Jesus takes Galilee by storm
Announcements for February 6, 2021:
We're sticking to the sacramental schedule announced last week:
Inside Masses: Saturday at 5:15 and 7:00pm (Spanish); Sunday at 7:30, 9:00, and 11:00am.
Outside Mass: Sunday at 9:00am (Walmart).
Confessions: Take place inside after the 8:00am Saturday Mass (8:30-9:30am) and before the 5:15pm Saturday Mass (4:00-5:00pm).
All of our announcements are now online. Keep tabs on that page for all up-to-date information.
Please be in touch with me if you need anything at all, or if you'd like to share any questions or concerns.
Dear Saints,
I know my subtitle is edgy, but it isn't misleading: This weekend's Gospel passage has Jesus taking Galilee by storm.
So far in Mark's Gospel, we've seen a. the preaching of John the Baptist, b. Jesus' Baptism, and c. the calling of the disciples. This weekend we get a look at Jesus' teaching and healing ministry.
If we put on the right interpretive lens here, we'll see the story unfold: a. John proclaims (and prepares the way for) the coming of God's kingdom, b. Jesus is marked out by the holy Spirit as God's anointed king, and c. his rebel movement begins to gain a following in the dedicated few. Now we see that movement spread -- Jesus' incursion into enemy-occupied territory is picking up steam!
What Jesus is doing in his teaching and healing is that he is bringing the kingdom of God to bear. Through and with and in Jesus, God's rule is confronting and overcoming the disfiguring rule of sin and death.
If that sounds dramatic, it is. But it's not simply a grand narrative. It matters in the small details of real people's lives, and we get a look at what that means with the healing of Simon's mother-in-law.
There's not much banter in the scene: Jesus is told about the sick woman and, taking her by the hand, he heals her. But it doesn't stop there. We hear, "... she waited on them." or, as the King James Version puts it, "... she ministered unto them."
This isn't simply social custom. The woman's healing - and ours - comes through Jesus sharing God's own life of love. When that takes root in us, it flourishes in a life of joyful self-gift.
In short, we are saved in order to serve.
God plans for his kingdom movement to reach every corner of creation, and he will make it so in and through Jesus' faithful followers, one love-filled act at a time!
I love you, my friends. I hope to see you soon!
Christ's Peace,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
PS We have a new Marian Antiphon! From now until Holy Saturday, we'll be chanting the Ave Regina Caelorum.
PPS Check out the scene from this weekend's Gospel in The Chosen.
Jesus heals Simon's mother-in-law
The Chosen
Preparing for Mass?
Check out this weekend's readings:
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Christ Healing Peter's Mother-in-Law
Rembrandt, ca.1650