February 8, 2013 Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

[이안드레아]

2013년 2월 8일 연중 제 4주 금요일

제1독서

히브리서. 13,1-8
형제 여러분, 1 형제애를 계속 실천하십시오. 2 손님 접대를 소홀히 하지 마십시오. 손님 접대를 하다가 어떤 이들은 모르는 사이에 천사들을 접대하기도 하였습니다. 3 감옥에 갇힌 이들을 여러분도 함께 갇힌 것처럼 기억해 주고, 학대받는 이들을 여러분 자신이 몸으로 겪는 것처럼 기억해 주십시오.
4 혼인은 모든 사람에게서 존중되어야 하고, 부부의 잠자리는 더럽혀지지 말아야 합니다. 불륜을 저지르는 자와 간음하는 자를 하느님께서는 심판하실 것입니다.
5 돈 욕심에 얽매여 살지 말고 지금 가진 것으로 만족하십시오. 그분께서 “나는 결코 너를 떠나지도 않고 버리지도 않겠다.” 하고 말씀하셨기 때문입니다. 6 그러므로 우리는 확신을 가지고 이렇게 말할 수 있습니다. “주님께서 나를 도와주는 분이시니, 나는 두려워하지 않으리라. 사람이 나에게 무엇을 할 수 있으랴?”
7 하느님의 말씀을 일러 준 여러분의 지도자들을 기억하십시오. 그들이 어떻게 살다가 죽었는지 살펴보고, 그들의 믿음을 본받으십시오.
8 예수 그리스도는 어제도 오늘도 또 영원히 같은 분이십니다.

복음

마르코. 6,14-29
그때에 14 예수님의 이름이 널리 알려져 마침내 헤로데 임금도 소문을 듣게 되었다. 사람들은 “세례자 요한이 죽은 이들 가운데에서 되살아난 것이다. 그러니 그에게서 그런 기적의 힘이 일어나지.” 하고 말하였다. 15 그러나 어떤 이들은 “그는 엘리야다.” 하는가 하면, 또 어떤 이들은 “옛 예언자들과 같은 예언자다.” 하였다. 16 헤로데는 이러한 소문을 듣고, “내가 목을 벤 그 요한이 되살아났구나.” 하고 말하였다.
17 이 헤로데는 사람을 보내어 요한을 붙잡아 감옥에 묶어 둔 일이 있었다. 그의 동생 필리포스의 아내 헤로디아 때문이었는데, 헤로데가 이 여자와 혼인하였던 것이다. 18 그래서 요한은 헤로데에게, “동생의 아내를 차지하는 것은 옳지 않습니다.” 하고 여러 차례 말하였다. 19 헤로디아는 요한에게 앙심을 품고 그를 죽이려고 하였으나 뜻을 이루지 못하였다. 20 헤로데가 요한을 의롭고 거룩한 사람으로 알고 그를 두려워하며 보호해 주었을 뿐만 아니라, 그의 말을 들을 때에 몹시 당황해하면서도 기꺼이 듣곤 하였기 때문이다.
21 그런데 좋은 기회가 왔다. 헤로데가 자기 생일에 고관들과 무관들과 갈릴래아의 유지들을 청하여 잔치를 베풀었다. 22 그 자리에 헤로디아의 딸이 들어가 춤을 추어, 헤로데와 그의 손님들을 즐겁게 하였다. 그래서 임금은 그 소녀에게, “무엇이든 원하는 것을 나에게 청하여라. 너에게 주겠다.” 하고 말할 뿐만 아니라, 23 “네가 청하는 것은 무엇이든, 내 왕국의 절반이라도 너에게 주겠다.” 하고 굳게 맹세까지 하였다. 24 소녀가 나가서 자기 어머니에게 “무엇을 청할까요?” 하자, 그 여자는 “세례자 요한의 머리를 요구하여라.” 하고 일렀다.
25 소녀는 곧 서둘러 임금에게 가서, “당장 세례자 요한의 머리를 쟁반에 담아 저에게 주시기를 바랍니다.” 하고 청하였다. 26 임금은 몹시 괴로웠지만, 맹세까지 하였고 또 손님들 앞이라 그의 청을 물리치고 싶지 않았다. 27 그래서 임금은 곧 경비병을 보내며, 요한의 머리를 가져오라고 명령하였다. 경비병이 물러가 감옥에서 요한의 목을 베어, 28 머리를 쟁반에 담아다가 소녀에게 주자, 소녀는 그것을 자기 어머니에게 주었다. 29 그 뒤에 요한의 제자들이 소문을 듣고 가서, 그의 주검을 거두어 무덤에 모셨다.

Friday, February 8, 2013 Daily Mass Reading

February 8, 2013
Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1

Heb13:1-8

Let brotherly love continue.
Do not neglect hospitality,
for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.
Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment,
and of the ill-treated as of yourselves,
for you also are in the body.
Let marriage be honored among all
and the marriage bed be kept undefiled,
for God will judge the immoral and adulterers.
Let your life be free from love of money
but be content with what you have,
for he has said, I will never forsake you or abandon you.
Thus we may say with confidence:

The Lord is my helper,
and I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?

Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you.
Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 27:1, 3, 5, 8b-9abc

R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
Though war be waged upon me,
even then will I trust.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
For he will hide me in his abode
in the day of trouble;
He will conceal me in the shelter of his tent,
he will set me high upon a rock.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Your presence, O LORD, I seek.
Hide not your face from me;
do not in anger repel your servant.
You are my helper: cast me not off.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Gospel

Mk 6:14-29

King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread,
and people were saying,
“John the Baptist has been raised from the dead;
That is why mighty powers are at work in him.”
Others were saying, “He is Elijah”;
still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.”
But when Herod learned of it, he said,
“It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”
Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers,
and the leading men of Galilee.
His own daughter came in and performed a dance
that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”
He even swore many things to her,
“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask for?”
Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
“I want you to give me at once on a platter
the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner
with orders to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter
and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

http://www.staygreat.com/

speak out

John the Baptist was jailed
for protesting Herod's wrongful
marriage. Mark 6:18

The film On the Waterfront deals
with the evil practices of hiring
bosses on New York loading
docks. In one scene Father Barry
lectures the longshoremen for co-
operating with the bosses, saying:

"Some people think the crucifixion
took place on Calvary. They better
wise up. Taking Joey Doyle's life
to stop him from testifying is a cru-
cifixion...Who...keeps silent about
something he knows has happen-
ed shares the guilt... When the
hiring boss blows his whistle,
Jesus stands along side you in
the shape-up." He sees you get
picked and the family man passed
over. He sees you selling your
souls for a day's pay."

What is my attitude toward evil.
Do I remain silent about it?

Those who stand for nothing
fall for everything. Alexander Hamilton

http://www.franciscanretreats.net/

Talk about being rejected! John the Baptist certainly knew all about this as we read in today’s Gospel selection. This rejection idea seems to be a recurrent theme in the early part of Mark’s Gospel. And it was something all of the earlier followers of Jesus had to deal with. This is what the many persecutions of the early Christians were all about.

I read a little story that deserves retelling about Henry Thoreau who went to jail rather than pay a poll tax to support the Mexican War. He saw that particular war as a move to expand slave-holding territories and could not support a government that supported slavery. Ralph Waldo Emerson, who hated slavery too, visited Henry in jail and said, “Henry, why are you here?” Thoreau replied, “Waldo, why are you not here?”

Think about this for a moment and then pray for strength and the virtue of courage.

http://www.evangeli.net/gospel/gospel.html

King Herod also heard about Jesus because his name had become well-known

Today, in Mark's passage we are told about Jesus' reputation —known by his teachings and miracles. His fame was such some were saying He actually was John the Baptist, Jesus' relative and precursor, who had resurrected from the dead. This is what Herod, who had ordered John's death, also thought. But this Jesus was much more than the other men of God: much more than John; much more than any of the prophets who spoke in the name of the Almighty: He was the Son of God, become Man, Perfect God and Perfect Man. This Jesus —present amongst us—, as a man, can understand us and, as God can grant us all we need.

John, the precursor, who had been sent by God before Jesus, with his martyrdom also preceded Jesus in His passion and death. It had also been an unfair death inflicted to a man who was a saint, by Herod, the tetrarch, possibly against his own will, because he respected him and liked to listen to him. Though, John was clear and firm with the king when John criticized his behavior deserving vituperation, because it was not licit to have married Herodias, his brother's sister.

Herod had accepted Herodias' daughter request, induced by her mother, when, at a banquet —after a dance that had delighted the king— he had promised her with many oaths, in front of his guests, to give her what she would ask. «What shall I ask for?», she told her mother, who replied: «The head of John the Baptist» (Mk 6:24). And the petty kinglet had the Baptist beheaded. It was certainly an oath that did not oblige him in any way, as it was an evil thing, against any justice and any conscience.

Experience teaches us, once more, that each virtue has to be always joined to all the others, and all together have to grow organically like the fingers of the hand. And, by the same token, when one incurs in some vice, soon others will follow.

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

The readings for today are wonderful in that they are both reassuring and challenging. As I read them I was filled with encouragement knowing that I have entertained angles and challenged by the gospel to question how I live my faith.

The first reading encourages us to let our love show, to focus on the most important aspects of life. I loved the part about not neglecting hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels. I know that I have been blessed by many angels in my life – some I did not immediately appreciate. I pray regularly throughout the day to my Guardian Angel whose presence I am very much aware of during difficult times. This reading also reminded to not be afraid – we will never be forsaken.

The opening stanza is the responsorial psalm says it all: the LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? There is such power and comfort in those words. Chris Tomlin has a new song entitled, Whom shall I fear? The lyrics really pull together both of these readings with the idea of angel armies at our side. The words are wonderful . . .

I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind
The God of Angel Armies
Is always by my side
The one who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine
The God of Angel Armies
Is always by my side

When I read the gospel I immediately remembered a movie from the 50's or 60's that depicted this story in a very vivid scene. King Herod watched the frenzied dance and was totally entertained making promises that he would regrettably have to keep. I also remembered that growing up at that time there seemed to be many movies of this kind: the “epic” Ben Hur, The Robe, and Quo Vadis to name a few. They are still vivid in my memory because they inspired and intrigued me. I read the books that they were based on with great relish. I imagined what life was for the followers of Christ when he was alive and pondered the hardships of early Christians. I was mesmerized by the challenges they faced. As a child, I would imagine being there. How would I act? What would I do? Obviously, I did not live then so I was not “tested” in that same way. The real question is in my life now, how do I live up to the challenges. Oh, I’m not worried that I have to face lions or soldiers coming to persecute or torture me (although still reality for many Christians in other countries). Do I face challenges in standing up for what I believe to be right and true? Do I stay quiet when my voice should be heard? Do my actions indicate my beliefs? Do I walk “hand in hand?” Will “they know I am Christian by my love, by my love? Will they know I am Christian by my love?”

http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/

Herod's guilty conscience

Do you ever feel haunted by a past failure or a guilty conscience? King Herod, the most powerful and wealthy man in Judea, had everything he wanted, except a clear conscience and peace with God. Herod had respected and feared John the Baptist as a great prophet and servant of God. John, however did not fear to rebuke Herod for his adulterous relationship with his brother's wife. John ended up in prison because of Herodias' jealousy. Herod, out of impulse and a desire to please his family and friends, had John beheaded. Now Herod's conscience is pricked when he hears that some think that the Baptist has risen.

When Herod heard the fame of Jesus he supposed that John the Baptist, whom he had beheaded, had returned from the dead. Unfortunately for Herod, he could not rid himself of sin by ridding himself of the man who confronted him with his sin. Herod was a weak man. He could take a strong stand on the wrong things when he knew the right. Such a stand, however, was a sign of weakness and cowardice. The Lord gives grace to the humble, to those who acknowledge their sins and who seek God's mercy and pardon. His grace and pardon not only frees us from a guilty conscience, it enables us to pursue holiness in thought and action as well. God's grace enables us to fight fear with faith and to overcome the temptation to compromise goodness and truth with wrongdoing and falsehood. Do you rely on God's grace and help to choose his way of holiness and to reject whatever would compromise your faith and loyalty to Christ?

"Heavenly Father, form in me the likeness of your Son that I may imitate him in word and deed. Help me to live the gospel faithfully and give me the strength and courage I need to not shrink back in the face of adversity and temptation."

Psalm 27:1-3, 5, 7-9

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me, uttering slanders against me, my adversaries and foes, they shall stumble and fall.
3 Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent, he will set me high upon a rock.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You hast said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, Your face, LORD, do I seek."
9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Cast me not off, forsake me not, O God of my salvation!

http://www.daily-meditations.org/index2.html

http://www.contemplative.com/weekday_readings.htm

Herod thought that John the Baptist was so powerful that he was raised from the dead and was doing the marvelous works attributed to Jesus. And yet John was in such a weak position that the whims of a young, frivolous girl and the schemes of an adulterous woman could bring John to his horrible death by having his head chopped off. In the middle of the night, with the roar of the boisterous party still blazing away, the small delegation of soldiers come down and quickly do their deed. The head that bore all the knowledge of God's Kingdom is born up on a tray for the gratification of worldly and petty revenge. Our prayer is for an inner vision and a transforming love that is eternal and transcendental, but it is not a guarantee for worldly success or for a happy life according to the common wisdom. No one can take away this vision of the Kingdom. It is beyond the intact head on the shoulders. It is deep within the spirit which is born upon angel wings into Abraham's bosom.

http://goodnews.ie/calendar.php

‘Herod the Great’, five times married, and father of the Herod of this story, had the dubious distinction of having killed everyone he ever loved; there was a saying, “It is safer to be Herod’s pig than to be his son.” Still, this son survived somehow, and continued the family tradition of lust and cruelty. Innocent people die at the hands of such people: the Holy Innocents at the hand of the father, John the Baptist at the hands of the son.

Josephus, the 1st-century Romano-Jewish historian gave an account of the incident in today’s reading, filling in further details. Herod’s wife, whom he repudiated in favour of his own brother’s wife, was the daughter of Aretas, king of Petra. Aretas took a dim view of this and waged war on Herod, and destroyed his entire army. Eusebius (c. 260-340) wrote: “He suffered this calamity on account of his crime against John.” Today we would be more conscious of what all those soldiers suffered for Herod’s drunken bravado.

“I had John beheaded, yet he has risen from the dead!” Don’t be surprised; he has inevitably risen. If you want the truth to sprout, cut off its head. It will grow twenty heads. This was Herod's experience. However, because of his misdeed and his guilty conscience it was not a pleasant one for him. John was his bad conscience. John rose up again before him like a ghost, not like a resurrected being. He cannot be beheaded again; it is impossible to behead a ghost. That phantom pain will be with Herod for the rest of his life. But wasn’t there forgiveness for him? Yes, but he was a tyrant and didn’t know that word.

What’s in this reading for people who are not tyrants? What could we possibly have in common with Herod? Read what St John Chrysostom said about that. “Do not make this cold reply: ‘What does it matter to me? I have nothing in common with him.’ With the devil alone we have nothing in common, but with all humanity we have many things in common. All partake of the same nature with us. They inhabit the same earth. They are nourished with the same food. They have the same God….. Let us not say then that we have nothing in common with them.” We have to stand in the shoes of every character mentioned in the New Testament.

http://www.presentationministries.com/

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

"An opportunity came on Herod's birthday." 뾏ark 6:21

John the Baptist publicly warned Herod: "It is not right for you to live with your brother's wife" (Mk 6:18). This angered Herodias. She had been waiting for a chance to arrange for John to be killed. One day, she had her opportunity and she took full advantage of her chance to have John killed (Mk 6:21ff).

Abortion is legal in the USA because those who oppose life waited for and seized the opportunity by filing Roe vs. Wade. Even Satan, when defeated by Jesus as he tempted Him in the desert, left Him only "to await another opportunity" (Lk 4:13). Jesus noted that "the worldly take more initiative," and wished the godly would have that much vigilance and initiative (Lk 16:8).

We who are disciples of Jesus are to be even more vigilant in awaiting opportunities to serve the Lord, and we are to seize these opportunities when they arise. Each day, opportunity knocks along with Jesus (see Rv 3:20). The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are constantly giving us specific and repeated opportunities to repent, to serve in ministry, grow in holiness, work for justice and peace, foster vocations, increase faith, overcome temptation, read the Bible, receive the Eucharist, evangelize, pray, worship the Lord, etc. The Herodiases of the world are not missing out on their opportunities. We who serve Jesus must far surpass them by capitalizing upon every opportunity to further the kingdom of God, for where sin abounds, the grace of opportunity abounds even more (see Rm 5:20).

What holy opportunity is knocking at the door of your life today? "Make the most of the present opportunity" (Eph 5:16).

Prayer: Father, give me the vigilance to wait and the courage to act.

Promise: "The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid." 뾊eb 13:6

Praise: St. Jerome offered pure worship to God by dedicating his life to caring for orphaned children (see Jas 1:27).

http://biblereflection.blogspot.com/

In today's gospel, Herodias blinded with hate and anger, turned her daughter into a murderer. Was she so filled with hate that she would use her daughter as an instrument of revenge? How did she live with this?

Let us step back and take stock. When in our lives have we been blinded with anger and hate? How have hate and senseless anger hindered us from becoming loving and compassionate individuals?

Mother Theresa of Calcutta once said, "Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression‎ of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile."

[출처] February 8, 2013 Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time|작성자 진주