DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE LEGAL PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN

Read: 2 Sm 5: 1-7, 10 Mk 3: 22-30

“The scribes who arrived from Jerusalem asserted, ‘He is possessed by Beelzebul,’ and ‘He expels demons with the help of the prince of demons.’” (Mk 3:22)

Faith depends more on the heart than on the intellect. The faithful heart has an open disposition that serenely accepts others without prejudice. The most brilliant minds are almost incapable of turning around to see the divine will and the divine plan for each of us.

This is what happened in Jesus’ case. In His human intellect, He was somehow in contact with His divine and eternal intellect. The religious leaders came expressly to observe Jesus… with an attitude filled with preconceived notions and prejudices against Him.

In their closed-mindedness, they would not recognize Jesus’ miracles as the very action of God. Instead, they preferred to try to convince the people that Jesus was an instrument of the devil, who was giving Him the power to do the miraculous actions; actions that they could not negate.

This goes on among us as well. We encounter people who are against the Lord, who are unable to accept His goodness or His teachings… People who have poisoned their intelligence and have closed off any ability to reason for the faith… They reject outright the things of the Lord and cannot see with good judgment. They accept every reason to reject the faith… but will not allow the faith any room for growth.

Jesus calls us to recognize the opportunity before us. He calls us to see!

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 47:8 “God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne.”

Read: Jon 3:1-5, 10 1 Cor 7:29-31 Mk 1:14-20 (Pss III)

“As he made his way along the Sea of Galilee, he observed Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, ‘Come after me; I will make you fishers of men.’” (Mk 1: 16-17)

Jesus’ call came with great grace. Their enthusiastic response is a strong indication of their willingness to abandon all to follow the Lord — while not understanding the implications.

Jesus said: “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (Jn 14:21) When the rich young man asked Jesus how to attain eternal life, the man claimed he had lived in accord with the commandments, then Jesus responded: “There is one thing further you must do. Sell all you have and give to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.” (Lk 18:22)

But that young man had many possessions and was incapable of abandoning all to follow Jesus. Jesus lamented the youth’s intransigence. We do not even know his name.

It is a great responsibility to have received an evident and powerful call from the Lord, a vocation to service for our God. It is a calling for us to participate in the work that the Father assigned to His Son: to carry the reign of God to His people.

Today, we have no lack of vocations: He is calling many hearts of so many people — especially the young. But human, earthly concerns, riches, carnal desires, etc., hold them back from responding wholeheartedly.

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 47:1 “All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness, for the Lord is the great king over all the earth.”

Sts. Fabian, Sebastian, Martyrs

Read: 2 Sm 1: 1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27 Mk 3: 20-21

“He came home. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this, they set out to seize him, for they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’” (Mk 3:20-21)

Jesus never manifested His miracles in His hometown of Nazareth. Understandably, the people did not acknowledge Him for who He was.

Through his fame, preaching, and presence, He managed to elicit so much hostility with His words that they yanked Him from the Synagogue intending to kill Him. Jesus then said: “No prophet gains acceptance in his native place.” (Lk 4:24)

Jesus had admirers and multitudes of sincere people who accepted His teachings and thanked Him for His miracles, yet He also had many powerful detractors.

“It is by Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.” (Lk 11:14)

Jesus “is destined to be the downfall and rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed.” (Lk 2:34)

Today, Jesus is ignored and rejected (nothing new), just as He was in times past. Many respond as did His family members: “He is out of his mind.” His great vindication comes on the day of the Resurrection.

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 139: 1-3 “O LORD, you have probed me and you know me; you understand my thoughts from afar.

St. Fabian, d. 250 under Decius; a layman elected bishop of Rome in 236; an “incomparable man” (St. Cyprian to Pope St. Cornelius).

St. Sebastian, d. 288 at Rome under Diocletian; a Christian soldier whose “Acta” tells of his being pierced by arrows, and later being clubbed to death.

Read: 1 Sm 24: 3-21 Mk 3: 13-19

“He then went up the mountain and summoned the men he himself had decided on, who came and joined him. He named twelve as his companions whom he would send to preach the good news.” (Mk 3:13-14)

Jesus chose the Twelve from among His many followers, contemplating His decision through prayerful reflection (Lk 6:12). The Spirit moved the Gospel’s author to share this detail with us so to understand the importance of prayer while making life decisions. To make good and holy decisions, we must seek His Presence, know His holy will, and beg His protection. Above all, we must strive to unite ourselves with God, following His precepts, and submitting to His Word.

He “summoned the men he himself had decided on.” We can only imagine the joy and weight of the moment, as the Lord called out the men who would form His “inner circle.”

What a solemn moment for those men, having demonstrated their love, fidelity, and openness to the Master. From this day forward, they will be His most intimate students and companions — a family of faith.

It would be presumption to pretend to merit the friendship and trust through which the Lord Himself honored His Apostles… Yet, we must be open to that level of divine intimacy, that friendship, with the Lord: “Come. You have my Father’s blessing! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.” (Mt 25:34)

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 139: 23-24 “Probe me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; see if my way is crooked, and lead me in the way of old.”

Read: 1 Sm 18: 6-9; 19: 1-7 Mk 3: 7-12

“Jesus had cured many, all who had afflictions kept pushing toward him to touch him.” (Mk 3:10)

The Lord used miracles and healing to convince the people that He was indeed the Messiah. Yet, He was not the political Messiah that the people desired to liberate them from the oppression of the Roman occupation. Rather, He was the true Messiah announced through the prophets. The Messiah was to be the Servant of Yahweh: “Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations.” (Is 42:1)

The sick were moved with hope by Jesus, they closed in on Him shouting: Son of David…” thus recognizing His great power.

Divinity cannot be seen with the eyes of flesh but can be seen through the heart.

Those closest to Jesus saw the abundant miracles He performed in His own Name, with His own person, authority, and power. “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” (Mt 16:15) and, in the end, all testified to the veracity of their convictions through martyrdom.

God’s goodness is manifested daily on an ordinary day as we are showered with His great gifts. And, in accord with His Holy Will, with a miraculous intervention. If we seek Him fervently, “push toward him to him to touch him” we can see Him with our heart’s eye and receive His great healing Hand.

His miracles keep on coming.

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 91:14 “I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in distress.”