My reflections for Feb. 18, 2006 - Saturday

February 18, 2006

Reading I
James 3:1-10

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters,
for you realize that we will be judged more strictly,
for we all fall short in many respects.
If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man,
able to bridle the whole body also.
If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us,
we also guide their whole bodies.
It is the same with ships:
even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds,
they are steered by a very small rudder
wherever the pilot’s inclination wishes.
In the same way the tongue is a small member
and yet has great pretensions.

Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze.
The tongue is also a fire.
It exists among our members as a world of malice,
defiling the whole body
and setting the entire course of our lives on fire,
itself set on fire by Gehenna.
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature,
can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species,
but no man can tame the tongue.
It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With it we bless the Lord and Father,
and with it we curse men
who are made in the likeness of God.
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.
My brothers and sisters, this need not be so.

(James is keenly aware that the tongue can be a very dangerous organ in someone's life. The words that we speak often indicate the state of our hearts. So much can be discerned by the way in which a person speaks and the words that he or she uses. Hopefully, we are all aware of this and so make the effort to be guarded in our language. Our words can be tremendous allies in proclaiming the Gospel, but they can also be a great liability if they get out of control.)

Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 12:2-3, 4-5, 7-8

R. You will protect us, Lord.
Help, O LORD! for no one now is dutiful;
faithfulness has vanished from among the children of men.
Everyone speaks falsehood to his neighbor;
with smooth lips they speak, and double heart.
R. You will protect us, Lord.
May the LORD destroy all smooth lips,
every boastful tongue,
Those who say, “We are heroes with our tongues;
our lips are our own; who is lord over us?”
R. You will protect us, Lord.
The promises of the LORD are sure,
like tried silver, freed from dross, sevenfold refined.
You, O LORD, will keep us
and preserve us always from this generation.
R. You will protect us, Lord.

Gospel
Mark 9:2-13

Jesus took Peter, James, and John
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
and they were conversing with Jesus.
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.”
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
then from the cloud came a voice,
“This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
Suddenly, looking around, the disciples no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.

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.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant.
Then they asked him,
“Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
He told them, “Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things,
yet how is it written regarding the Son of Man
that he must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt?
But I tell you that Elijah has come
and they did to him whatever they pleased,
as it is written of him.”

(The Transfiguration of Jesus is a reminder to the apostles, or at least Peter, James and John, of the divinty of Jesus. The Father reveals the true, identity of His Son to them. The experience held them in awe as they witnessed Jesus conversing with Moses and Elijah. What wouldn't we give to have been there with them! However, that was not to be and we have to be content with the revelation that God chooses to make to each one of us. Let us be thankful for that and always be ready to share our experiences with others if it will benefit their faith.)

God's special verse/thought for me today.
The Crucifix is not just an ordinary object. Rather, it is the sign of Someone who loves me and desires to save me at every moment of my life.
Call for mercy - to ask to be immersed in the fruits of the Most Holy Sacrifice.

Look a the Crucifix and ask interiorly:

Lord, purify me of the leprosy of my sins.
Purify me of the impurities of my adultery with this
new idol.
Immerse me in Your death and Resurrection.
Restore in me the dignity of being Your child.


my reflections
think: The words that we speak often indicate the state of our hearts.
Lord, I'm very grateful that from the start of this year 2006, You filled me with the Holy Spirit and began expressing myself in foreign tongues and make bold proclamation as the Spirit prompted me. Bless those people who listens to Your words that they may understand exactly your message to them. May Your people Lord take actions according to Your message.

thank You Lord for: the crucifix to remind me that You love me and that you desire to save me from any moment of my life.

thank You Lord for the interior prayer to the crucifix so you may purify my sins and restore in me the dignity of being Your child.

thank You Lord for filling me with the Holy Spirit so I may express myself in foreign tongues and make bold proclamation.

thank You Lord for giving me the opportunities to share my experiences to others so it may benefit their faith. thank You Lord for sharing my experiences to my sister Margie and bless her Lord that from now on she will be more attentive to your knockings.