Dear Parish Family,
“I will extol thee, my God and King, and bless your name for ever and ever.” Ps. 145
The 10:00 Mass this weekend is full. Remember to call the office – 601-856-2054 – Monday thru Thursday, 8:30 – 4:00 to make reservations each week.
A friend shared this prayer for all who are suffering the effects of Covid – and that would be ALL of us!
Jesus, during Your ministry on Earth You showed Your power and caring
by healing people of all ages and stations of life from physical, mental,
and spiritual ailments. Be present now to people who need Your loving
touch because of COVID-19. May they feel Your power of healing through
the care of doctors and nurses.
Take away the fear, anxiety, and feelings of isolation from people receiving
treatment or under quarantine. Give them a sense of purpose in pursuing
health and protecting others from exposure to the disease.
And while it may be heartbreaking, comfort families as they decide to keep
their distance from elderly or other high-risk family members.
In Your name, we pray. Amen
God bless,
Pam
Friday after Epiphany
First Reading: 1 John 5:5-13
Beloved:
Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is
the Son of God?
This is the one who came through
water and Blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and
Blood. The Spirit is the one who testifies, and the Spirit is
truth. So there are three who testify, the Spirit, the water, and the
Blood, and the three are of one accord. If we accept human testimony, the
testimony of God is surely greater. Now the testimony of God is this,
that he has testified on behalf of his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of
God
has this testimony within himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a
liar
by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is
the testimony:
God gave us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son.
Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God
does not have life.
I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 147:12-13, 14-15,19-20
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Gospel: Luke 5:12-16
It happened that there was a man
full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he
fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me
clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will
it. Be made clean.”
And the leprosy left him immediately. Then he ordered him not to tell
anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what
Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The report about him
spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him
and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to
pray.
Homily
“Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” Luke 5:12-16
When Jesus cures the leper in Luke’s Gospel, he does not wait to bask in the thanks and praise of the now-clean man – in fact, Jesus orders him to tell no one. He tells the man to show himself to the priest of the temple and offer a gift of thanks at the temple.
Let your thanks speak for itself, Jesus tells the now-clear leper. Let the wonder be “proof” that the love of God is now in your midst.
In this new year, let our compassion and care be the “proof” that the love of God is among us. Let our facemasks and social distancing be “proof” of our care for one another. Let our time and support of groups working to care for the poor and vulnerable be “proof” of our discipleship. Let our patience and understanding and support of those in need be “proof” of our belief in the sacred dignity of everyone as daughters and sons of God.
Forget the pious words and “church” language – “show” what God has meant in our lives by the integrity and generosity of our lives. Never mind the expressions of gratitude – give to others what we have been given by God.
Lord Jesus, instill in us a spirit of gratitude that enables us to behold your love in even our most difficult moments. Accept the good we are able to do for others as our prayer of thanks for the good you have done for us; may the love we extend to others mirror your love in our own lives.
An Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are present
in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You
sacramentally,
I ask You to come spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You, trusting that you are already
there and I unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
