2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,
3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
4 Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus.
5 Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
6 He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
7 Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
8 Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.
9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
Image from Google.
REFLECTION
As you may have noticed, we have made a great jump from Mark’s first chapter to the ninth chapter. Those first eight chapters layout Jesus action style – preaching and healing and preparing his disciples. At this particular moment he wants to share his full identity with Peter, James and John. They were among the very first disciples chosen to follow Jesus and now he reveals himself to them in his glory and through a powerful voice from Heaven.
We hear that they are bewildered by the events, but most surely strengthened in their trust in Jesus of Nazareth. But as they go down the mountain Jesus asked them to keep events secret until “ . . . the Son of Man is risen from the dead.” If the Transfiguration was a moment of glory, this is a disturbing end to the day. They were bewildered – we will see how it works out in a few weeks.
MY PRAYER
Today’s Gospel is quite graphic, even brilliant. It lends itself well to the power of imaginative prayer. So, as we settle in quiet prayer, we let our imagination picture the event – Jesus in glory.
As you prepare yourself for this time of prayer –Set yourself quietly for a few moments, Read again the story of the Transfiguration above
Consider what grace, what blessing you desire at this moment for your life:
a renewal of God’s blessings for you;
a renewed sense of God’s presence, Jesus presence in your life;
a sense to live the reality of being a son, a daughter of God in the spirit of Jesus.
See Jesus and the brightest of his bright white garments. See Moses and Elijah – the Law and Profits of the Old Testament
I pray –
Jesus – It is good to be here (say that again and again; repeated again and again – )
Jesus – Let me prepare a place for you – (repeat and repeat)
Jesus – speak and help me to listen –
I thank the Lord Jesus – that in him God is my Father –
Thank you, Jesus, that you have called me to be with you –
Father Bill Kreutz, SJ, Scripture from the New American Bible
The Temptation of Jesus. [Jesus was baptized by John at the river Jordan.]
12 At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert,
13 and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.
The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry.
Image from Google.
14 After John had been arrested,Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
15 “This is the time of fulfillment.The kingdom of God is at hand.Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
A REFLECTION
Perhaps there are three keywords for this week’s reflection and prayer: Listen – Repent — Gospel = Good News(the meaning from old English). Consider these three for a few moments:
Listen – how well the picture captures the intense attitude of those with Jesus; that will be the first grace we will pray for – to listen –
Repent – to be sorrowful for evil/sin done and to ask for forgiveness.
Gospel – hearing Good News, can we live it and share it with others. The good news – the gospel – is that the Father loves us in Jesus; the One who would come among us and die for us and be raised in glory. By reading the Gospel each day of the Lenten season and reflecting even for a few moments on this testimony to Jesus we can ask for grace to know and love and to follow the lifestyle of Jesus. This is a grace that is in the Ignatian spirit as one contemplates the Gospels.
MY PRAYER
As we move to this time of personal prayer, I quiet myself – recalling who I am and where I am. I recall that I am always in God’s presence — and that God in Jesus is always with me. I offer a prayer of thanks for God’s grace that has touched my life in so many ways. I pray to the Lord for the grace that I need, that I desire, at this moment.
Lord, I want to listen – help clear my mind my thoughts for this short time – Keep me still so I can better listen to Jesus your Son – Grant me the grace to be moved by his words, to act in accord with directions.
Lord, help me to see my true self, especially my sins and shortcomings – give to me the grace to change and to live by your grace that my life may be a blessing – not a curse – to my family and those who share my life and even those beyond my close circle.
Lord, help me to live the lifestyle of your son, Jesus. I too am your daughter, your son, bless me with the spirit of Jesus – what I think, what I say, what I do. I desire to live in his style – for others – bringing to them the Good News.
I ask for the grace: to know, love, and to follow the lifestyle of Jesus –– compassion, generosity and forgiveness –
Father Bill Kreutz, SJ, Loyola House of Studies, Scripture from the New American Bible. Images from Google
40 A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.”
42 The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
43 Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.
44 He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;that will be proof for them.”
45 The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He remained outside in deserted places,and people kept coming to him from everywhere.He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me.
Fr. William “Bill” Kreutz, SJ, Loyola House of Studies
21 Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.
22 The people were astonished at his teaching,for he taught them as one having authorityand not as the scribes.
23 In their synagogue was a manwith an unclean spirit;
24* 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 Jesus rebuked him and said,“Quiet! Come out of him!”
26 The unclean spirit convulsed himand with a loud cry came out of him.and with a loud cry came out of him.
27 All were amazed and asked one another,“What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spiritsand they obey him.”
28 His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
A REFLECTION
This Sunday’s gospel continues the beginning of Jesus public life –
Jesus is baptized at the river Jordan – three weeks ago; Jesus meets two disciples at the Jordan – two weeks ago; Jesus calls Peter and Andrew and James and John to follow him – last week. Today – Jesus, with his disciples, exhibits his power as a teacher and his power over evil spirits.
How blessed we are that people remember the stories and wrote them down and so, have invited us to be present.
Presence and healing will be our prayer today –
MY PRAYER
As always, take time to recall God’s presence in your life and at this moment. –Look at the picture, or close your eyes and ask for the grace to be present with the apostles and to be healed –Yes – to be healed – not just to be present – of the evil within me –
Holy One of God – drive out the evil within me –anger, resentment, jealousy, vengeance, laziness of spirit and body, total self -absorption –
Holy One of God – give to me a new spirit –give to me a spirit of love and service for my family and those who share my life –and others – especially those neglected and those in need –
3rd Sunday of the Year 2021, January 24, Source: Mark 1.14-20
The Word
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
14 After John [the Baptizer] had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
15 “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
16 As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrewcasting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen.
17 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
18 Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.
19 He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.They too were in a boat mending their nets.
20 Then he called them.So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.
Image from Google.
A REFLECTION
It was just last week that we read the gospel about Jesus meeting two disciples of John the Baptist who wanted to talk with him. One of them, as we know, was Andrew. He in turn shared his experience of Jesus with his brother Simon. They were both fishermen. We recall that it was Jesus himself who gave Simon the name Peter. Perhaps, after this first experience, they all met a few times. Jesus knew who they were.
Today we hear that Jesus had begun his ministry of teaching and healing. And he desired that others would share that experience with him. So, he looked for those whom he knew – Peter and Andrew and the two brothers John and James. They were all fishermen.
Jesus called them and asked/invited them to journey with him, to learn from him, to share his ministry of Good News. And so, they all left their nets and their fishing boats and their families to go with Jesus. They were invited to share the ministry of Jesus.
MY PRAYER
To get started in this time of prayer, put yourself in a quiet comfortable mode –Recall that God is always with us as promised. Ask for the grace to hear the call to ministry – and to accepted and live by it
What is the ministry of Jesus?
Pope Francis and others have put it like this – Compassion, Mercy, Forgiveness, Healing, Generosity, Kindness
>> Reflect and pray over each of these –Do I bring these ministries of Jesus to others? Is there something holding me back? Anger? Resentment? Hurt feelings? Jealousy?…..
>> Ask for the grace to be a minister of blessing – as in each of the above- in the spirit of Jesus – Father give me the grace to know and to love and to share in the ministry of Jesus!
Father Bill Kreutz, SJ, Scripture from the New American Bible
2nd Sunday of the Year 202, Invitation of Jesus, January 17, 2021
The Word
Source: John 1.35-42, The Invitation of Jesus
Image from Google.
35 The next day John [the Baptizer] was there again with two of his disciples,
36 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”
37 The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
38 Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?”
39 He said to them, “Come, and you will see.”So they went and saw where he was staying,and they stayed with him that day.It was about four in the afternoon.*
40 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him,“We have found the Messiah” (which is translated anointed).
42 Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John;* you will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).a
A REFLECTION
This event, the two disciples meeting Jesus, happened sometime after Jesus’ baptism. Many people had gone to the river Jordan to be cleansed. Many were looking for a Messiah. We know that John said that he was not the Messiah, only a prophet crying in the wilderness. But he did understand that Jesus’ was very special – he called him the “Lamb of God.” And he pointed him out to these two seekers. Andrew and another (perhaps evangelist John himself) were among the seekers. Some want to say that this is an autobiographical remembrance. The two were excited by the words of John and bold enough to follow that Lamb of God.
We in turn, 2000 years later, are still called into the scene – “Come and see.”.”
MY PRAYER
May I start with a few words of direction?
When entering into this prayer period, try to set yourself comfortablyand quietly for a few minutes.Then read the Scripture story again to put yourself in place,perhaps see yourself in the picture – with Jesus.The prayer time may be short – five or 10 minutes – or longer as your heart desires.Give full concentration to Jesus as these two men do.You might try to do this same prayer two or three times during the week as possible.
I first thanked the Lord Jesus for the invitation to “Come and see.” I am called – that is why I am here at this moment.
What would I want to say to Jesus ?
What would I want to hear him saying to me :
what comfort or peace do I need
do I need to ask for forgiveness
can I say to him – “I thank you and I love you.”
Thank you, Jesus, for inviting me – I love you – I want to be with you and you with me.
Father Bill Kreutz, SJ, Scripture from the New American Bible
Reflections on Why We Jesuits Need to Study for So Long
by Fr. Arnel C. Aquino, SJ
(Repost from Windhover, July 2010.Editor’s note: This article was written through the request made by the editor to Fr. Arnel, [missioned to study in the US at the time] to explain to those who are contemplating to enter the Society of Jesus why we take so much pain sending our men abroad for further studies.)
Fr Arnel at the Jesuit Vocation Workshop, 2013, FB Pinoy Jesuits.
Dear Weng:
Pax Chisti! You asked that I try and write an article to answer the question, “why do Jesuits have to study for years and years?” Thank you for your request. But you should have to forgive me for writing this on the fly. Let me nevertheless assure you that the following thoughts were not set down without the requisite reflection you wished for me to do. I had been reading the documents of the latest general congregation through our triduum retreat in preparation for vow renovation. For some reason, your question came to mind. I decided to the make the question my own. My answer might not be as straightforward as you might wish. I leave it to you to do the math.
Fortress or Bridge
When you go for long years of studies, especially when sent to pursue a doctorate in a chosen field, you must eventually be confronted with the question whether you would like to be a fortress or a bridge; two figures of awesome strength, of particular beauty, and most of all, of specific use.
To build either a fortress of a bridge takes time. You begin not from actually building the thing, but by being a seated apprentice to the disciplines. This is what you and I do when we eventually move from the novitiate into the scholasticate that marks the onset of years-long apprenticeship to the masters of grammar and literature, of philosophy and theology, with languages, education, some psychology and theology on the side, etc. Like a bridge or fortress builder is ushered into the many different, overwhelming, and even boring world of forms, functions, strength of materials, you and I are introduced into quite a different, overwhelming, if but occasionally dreary sphere of the humanities and some of the sciences –not so much in order to regurgitate information, though it feels that way sometimes—but to really see a much broader picture, this time with deliberate, reflective, and academic acuity. We are to realize that the world we are missioned to serve has a provenance in thought and meaning begun centuries before our own birth, not our own, but to which we can eventually contribute and make our own. But before anything else, we sit and listen. For the people we are asked to minister to are both a dynamic product and an agent of meaning born by history, culture, human behavior, and spirituality. Our formators in the Society are not about to throw us into that world, blind and wayward with our two-cent worth horse sense. Our action in and for this world is to be intimately wedded, till death do they part, to contemplation – which means prayer, yes, but also a proficiency in synthesizing things learned. This can come only from a years-long practice at the foot of the masters, where we sit and we listen.
Bridges and fortresses are things of beauty, especially as they wear on in years. The more carefully they are built, the more clearly they reflect the accuracy, the discipline, the vigilance and dedication of their builders. They say that Jesuit studies never really end, as we keep learning and updating on our field long after we’ve earned our degrees—at least, we’re expected to, if we do not wish to be encrusted in obsolescence. But it is only after long years of studies that we eventually see the beauty of it all when everything comes together, especially when we’re teaching things we’ve learned not only from the masters but from living people who tell us their stories. After years of diligent studies, our creative imaginations naturally earn freer rein. You know you’ve made everything you learned very much your own only when you’ve well prayed and well lived out your books.
You can ignore all these foregoing thoughts should you find nothing really novel in them. But on this last one, I go personal, and from it I hope you are able to gather something worthwhile.
As a Jesuit on studies for very long, I have had to decide somewhere along the way to eventually either be fortress or bridge. Granted that both are things of beauty, fruits of skilled labor, pillars of strength. But have you noticed how there are less and less of fortresses than there are of bridges that continue being spanned across distances? For good reason. I see fortresses as bastions of defensive self –preservation, walled up against some old toothless enemy, defensive in stance and demeanor in the hope of concealing fear out of which they are built, and sweatered with the ivy of pomp and power begging for awe and subservience lest the fear and the faults show.
Bridges, on the other hand, I see as rather vulnerable to the wear and tear of crisscrossing feet. But they are so only because they are channels to and from familiar grounds and new frontiers. There is something wide open about bridges, something unconcealed, welcoming and light-hearted that fortresses are heard put at projecting. There is an openness about bridges to new experiences made accessible from the other side upon which their other knee rests. There is something less dogmatic and unyielding about them, more conciliatory and relational. While a fortress stands high to look down upon the rest of the word, a bridge kneels so that the apparently sundered might be finally connected to make one world.
I can go on rhapsodizing and even design a whole if not tawdry retreat of fortresses and bridges but you know what I mean. We Jesuits wager long hours of study so that we may minister full-minded and full-hearted to God’s people, the Church of all humanity – which, if I may say so, should really be more and more bridge than fortress. But in order to contribute to making her so, we, as Jesuits on long years of study, must make the critical choice, the critical, intelligent choice, to be either one.
7 And this is what he [John the Baptizer] proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
8 I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit.”
9 It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
10 On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
10 On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
11 And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Take some time and imagine yourself to be one of the spectators in the picture.
What do you see? What do you hear? What do you feel? This is the Beloved Son of God – filled with the Spirit.
A REFLECTION and PRAYER
Ritual cleansing of one sin in a flowing stream or river is not uncommon. For sure, John the Baptizer was one of the many who is continually, like the prophets, calling the people back to God. Quite significant in this gospel reading today is that Jesus enters fully into the human situation, he will be baptized although he is without sin. John understood this, but Jesus said it is to fulfill all that has been written.
Our reflection today will focus on the gift of the Spirit as symbolized by the dove coming down upon Jesus. What did this mean for Jesus – and, in the same way, what does it mean for you and me?
Can I take a few moments for some important observation? This week – the last week of the Christmas Season – the Gospels at Holy Mass are focused on the early activities of Jesus – preaching and healing. But there is one special gospel story this week that set the tone for a good part of the gospel story. It concerned the visit to his own town of Nazareth and his activity in the synagogue on the Sabbath.
Please be patient to read this carefully – Luke’s Gospel Chapter 4, verses 16-22
Jesus visits Nazareth after his baptism and ministry in Galilee
16 He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. He stood up to read
17 and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed, go free,
19 and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”
20 Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
21 He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
22 And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”
Can we ask for this same gift of the Holy Spirit? Do we want this gift – healing and comfort for others sharing with those in need
forgiveness given that those who have hurt us – much to ask for – we are believers, we want the same Holy Spirit that Jesus received.
Father, give to us the Spirit of Jesus –that we may help renew the face of the earth.
Pray this prayer often today and every day of this week
Father Bill Kreutz, SJ, Loyola House of Studies, Scripture from the New American Bible
1 Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.
3 A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
4 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; The rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley.
5 Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed and all mankind shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
9 Go up onto a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings Cry out at the top of your voice: Here is your God!
10 Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm; Here is his Reward with him, his recompense before him.
11 Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, Carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.
A REFLECTION and PRAYER
How wonderful the words of encouragement – today’s first reading. We are all feeling a bit low – COVID 19 devastates us with such heavy news, bad news each day. Some, for sure, feel endangered and they are worried about their families and friends. Others carry the heavy burden of the many in the hospitals -doctors and nurses, laboratory and office staffand the many maintenance personnel and cleaners – all carry the burden.
This is a very hard time – we really need good news; Yet I am sitting here, thinking of bright lights and listening to beautiful choral Christmas music.
Is this the best that I can do – is this all I can do? I am not sure but like the Magi, I follow the Star. These bring peace and joy to my heart. Some say this is just romanticism, but I have a gift of faith, I believe; I am comforted by the words of the Profit Isaiah.
And I take heed to John the Baptist’s call to change my life – to be better in the spirit of the Lord – for others. Can I bring comfort and joy to others? a telephone or video chat, a greeting, an email – with some beautiful pictures attached; a kind thought, a prayer; a forgiveness in my heart for those who have hurt me – and a prayer for them.
Using the style of Ignatian imagination:
I close my eyes and imagine myself walking through the wards of a crowded hospital
I stop at one bed and another and talk for a few moments with the poor patient, perhaps an old person, a young mother, a crying child; and with each I pray to Jesus for healing and comfort and a Hail Mary.
You may also want to use this method:
Walking along the street and encountering many beggars who are in need; a little girl selling flower: can I visit a poor family with only a simple parol hanging at the door, no Belen. What do I say to these people – what do I do?
This is my offering, my time – taking time in prayer for others
I really don’t know how it works – but Jesus does –
A personal response to John’s call for change –
Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Scripture from the New American Bible, Images from Google Images
