MIND YOU SAY NOTHING TO ANYONE

THURSDAY WEEK 1 IN ORDINARY TIME: Universalis

Do not take God's mercy for granted

CI: First Reading 1 Samuel 4:1-11  Israel is defeated and the ark of God is captured

It happened at that time that the Philistines mustered to fight Israel and Israel went out to meet them in battle, encamping near Ebenezer while the Philistines were encamped at Aphek. The Philistines drew up their battle line against Israel, the battle was hotly engaged, and Israel was defeated by the Philistines and about four thousand of their army were killed on the field. The troops returned to the camp and the elders of Israel said, ‘Why has the Lord allowed us to be defeated today by the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of our God from Shiloh so that it may come among us and rescue us from the power of our enemies.’’  

So the troops sent to Shiloh and brought away the ark of the Lord of Hosts, he who is seated on the cherubs; the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, came with the ark. When the ark of the Lord arrived in the camp, all Israel gave a great shout so that the earth resounded. When the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, ‘What can this great shouting in the Hebrew camp mean?’ And they realised that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp.

 At this the Philistines were afraid; and they said, ‘God has come to the camp.’  ‘Alas!’ they cried ‘This has never happened before. Alas! Who will save us from the power of this mighty God? It was he who struck down Egypt with every kind of plague! But take courage and be men, Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been slaves to you. Be men and fight.’

So the Philistines joined battle and Israel was defeated, each man fleeing to his tent. The slaughter was great indeed, and there fell of the Israelites thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured too, and the two sons of Eli died, Hophni and Phinehas.

Responsorial Psalm: Redeem us, O Lord, because of your love: CAM

Gospel Mark 1:40-45 The leprosy left the man at once, and he was cured

CDR: A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me.’ Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘Of course I want to!’ he said. ‘Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.’ The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.

Lord take away my shame. Take away my reproach among your creatures. Heal me from all infirmity and leprosy. Merciful Lord you touched the leper and became unclean. You stayed away from the crowd. You went to a lonely place from the crowed because the law is that touching a leper makes one unclean. The people came you to be cleansed, for healing and for restoration for they know you are sinless, you are Holy, you are pure.

Lord in your mercy you took my place that I be cleansed. Give me grace to live a pure life may I never take the grace, and mercy of God for granted.

Jesus I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. God’s Angels and Saints pray for me. My Guardian Angel pray for me.

Pray the Holy Rosary. Hail Mary full of grace.