Archive for February 9, 2015

Stay Awake and Be Ready

Posted: February 9, 2015 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys
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This morning at approximately 0550hrs l was standing at the bus stop doing my reflections on the Word, while waiting for the bus to arrive. Then I noticed a young man in army fatigues, who was seated suddenly slump forward and grab the large pole next to him. His spectacles had fallen to the ground at the same time. I continued to do my reflections thinking he was simply balancing and reaching down for his glasses which had fallen.

It was only when a lady screamed for us to help him that I rushed to try and help him up. He was having some sort of seizure and because he was heavy set, we struggled to take off his backpack, lift him up and set him down flat on the seat. Thankfully there were two nurses at the bus stop who tended to him. As he was slowly gaining consciousness I left to take my bus which had arrived.

While on the bus I chided myself for not reacting faster perhaps when I first noticed him slumped forward I could have at least checked. Then for forgetting to pray while attending to him. Perhaps I should have stayed to ensure he was totally ok and taken the next bus? The message of the first week of Advent came to mind…. Stay awake and be ready.

I take consolation in knowing he was in good hands. Lord please watch over him. Amen

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: February 9, 2015 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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The powerful Word of God can bring order out of chaos. Light from darkness and hope when there is none. All that is good comes from God.

And so the Word made flesh has come into our lives. Jesus brings order out of chaos, light into darkness and hope where there is none. Such is His power that all we need is faith in Him and we will be healed. But even then today in Holy Eucharist; He has given of Himself for us to touch, to hold in our hands and partake of the Word.

Praise be our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

First reading
Genesis 1:1-19

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was a formless void, there was darkness over the deep, and God’s spirit hovered over the water.
  God said, ‘Let there be light’, and there was light. God saw that light was good, and God divided light from darkness. God called light ‘day’, and darkness he called ‘night.’ Evening came and morning came: the first day.
  God said, ‘Let there be a vault in the waters to divide the waters in two.’ And so it was. God made the vault, and it divided the waters above the vault from the waters under the vault. God called the vault ‘heaven.’ Evening came and morning came: the second day.
  God said, ‘Let the waters under heaven come together into a single mass, and let dry land appear.’ And so it was. God called the dry land ‘earth’ and the mass of waters ‘seas’, and God saw that it was good.
  God said, ‘Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants, and fruit trees bearing fruit with their seed inside, on the earth.’ And so it was. The earth produced vegetation: plants bearing seed in their several kinds, and trees bearing fruit with their seed inside in their several kinds. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came: the third day.
  God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of heaven to divide day from night, and let them indicate festivals, days and years. Let them be lights in the vault of heaven to shine on the earth.’ And so it was. God made the two great lights: the greater light to govern the day, the smaller light to govern the night, and the stars. God set them in the vault of heaven to shine on the earth, to govern the day and the night and to divide light from darkness. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came: the fourth day.

Gospel
Mark 6:53-56

Having made the crossing, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up. No sooner had they stepped out of the boat than people recognised him, and started hurrying all through the countryside and brought the sick on stretchers to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, to village, or town, or farm, they laid down the sick in the open spaces, begging him to let them touch even the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched him were cured.