Walk in the Spirit February 2020

16
Tuesday 11th February 2020
Our Lady of Lourdes
1 Kings:8/22-23,
27-30
Psalm:83/3,4,5.10,11
(84/2-4,9-10)
Mark:7/1-13
OR
Isaiah:66/10-14
Psalm:Judith:13/18,19
John:2/1-11
Introduction
Let us read today’s Proclamations
meditatively where the central theme
is God’s faithfulness to man, despite
man’s constant unfaithfulness towards
Almighty God, our Abba Father/Mother!
Song of Praise (Psalm 84: 3, 4, 5, 10,
11)
Even the sparrow finds a home, and
the swallow a nest for herself, where she
may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord
of hosts, my King and my God. Happy
are those who live in your house, ever
singing your praise. Happy are those
whose strength is in you, in whose heart
are the highways to Zion. ......
First Proclamation
Then Solomon stood before the
altar of the Lord in the presence of all
the assembly of Israel, and spread out
his hands to heaven. He said, "O Lord,
God of Israel, there is no God like you
in heaven above or on earth beneath,
keeping covenant and steadfast love
for your servants who walk before you
with all their heart.
"But will God indeed dwell on the
earth? Even heaven and the highest
heaven cannot contain you, much less
this house that I have built! Regard
your servant's prayer and his plea, O
"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"
Lord my God, heeding the cry and
the prayer that your servant prays to
you today; that your eyes may be open
night and day toward this house, the
place of which you said, 'My name
shall be there,' that you may heed the
prayer that your servant prays toward
this place.
Prayerful Awareness
In today’s Gospel Proclamation the
Pharisees and scribes ask Jesus why His
disciples are not respecting the tradition
of the elders but eat their food with unclean
hands. It is not because the disciples
had eaten with unwashed hands but
that they had not followed the elaborate
washing tradition established by the Jews
as per their interpretations of the Law.
To which Lord Jesus admonished them
saying 'How rightly Isaiah prophesied
about you hypocrites in the passage of
scripture: This people honours me only
with lip-service, while their hearts are
far from me’.
Our Lord Jesus Christ was not
bound/ restricted or constrained by man
made rules and regulations and traditions.
His only concern was doing His
Father’s Will to the fullest, at all times,
filled with His Father’s Universal, Sacrificial,
Humble/Serving and Constant
eternal unconditional Love which He exuded
to those around Him, being led by
the Holy Spirit at all times. His free way
of life influenced the disciples to also live
likewise as per the Lord’s example. This
is the same life that the Lord grants the
believers, and what a great gift it is for
us to be not unduly bound by man made
rituals and traditions! Also, as is written
in God’s Word, ‘So, if the Son sets you
free, you are free indeed!’ (John 8:36).
When one is led by the Holy Spirit, such
a person is full of the fruits of the Spirit
such as love, joy, peace, etc. (Galatians
5:22-26) and is always full of joy (1
Thessalonians 5:16-18). Amen! Alleluia!
Praise the Lord!