My reflections for Jan. 24, 2006 - Tuesday

January 24, 2006

Reading I
2 Samuel 6:12b-15, 17-19

David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom
into the City of David amid festivities.
As soon as the bearers of the ark of the LORD had advanced six steps,
he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.
Then David, girt with a linen apron,
came dancing before the LORD with abandon,
as he and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD
with shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn.
The ark of the LORD was brought in and set in its place
within the tent David had pitched for it.
Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
When he finished making these offerings,
he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
He then distributed among all the people,
to each man and each woman in the entire multitude of Israel,
a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat, and a raisin cake.
With this, all the people left for their homes.

(David rejoices because he knows that God is present with His people. As Christians, we believe that this presence is not only within the individual, each one of us, but in a sacramental way in the form of the Real Presence in the Eucharist. This is why we should always genuflect when we enter a church where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. It is out of respect to the presence of God that we do this. In our hearts we should be rejoicing that God has chosen to make Himself perpetually present to us in this form.)

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10

R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

Gospel
Mark 3:31-35

The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house.
Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him.
A crowd seated around him told him,
“Your mother and your brothers and your sisters
are outside asking for you.”
But he said to them in reply,
“Who are my mother and my brothers?”
And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,
“Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother.”

(Jesus goes to great lengths to affirm the truth that He has come for all people. "Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my mother, brother." Jesus is not being rude. He is simply stating the truth! Let us welcome the truth with open arms and allow the Spirit to help us fulfill the requirement of doing the Father's will so as to ensure that Jesus will recognize us on judgement day as men and women who belong to his family. )


God's special verse/thought for me today
I am happy because I am able to receive the body of Christ everyday.

my reflections
think: Let us welcome the truth with open arms and allow the Spirit to help us fulfill the requirement of doing the Father's will.
O Lord my God, I open wide my door to welcome you happily in my life as I heard you knocking calling my name. I am here Lord to serve you and to fulfill your will.