This Week's Gospel .......scroll down for next week's
5th February 2012: 5th Sunday of the Year (Cycle B) Education Sunday
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Cecilia Skudder (Cjs.)
Mark 1: 29-39
They left the Synagogue, Jesus James and John.
The day had been so tiring and seemed so very long.
Simon and Andrew’s house was where they did then go.
But sickness in the household had laid the hostess low.
Suffering from a fever, Simon’s mother-in-law was ill.
Jesus took her hand, banishing sickness at His will!
At sunset they brought them, those whom illness had endured.
And Jesus saw each person, telling them they were cured!
He also cast out devils who knew this Son of Man.
Their tongues He stilled from speaking, for this was not His plan.
Long before the dawn came He left the house to pray.
All were looking for Him, but He said they should not stay.
He must reach all the people, for this was why He came!
So through Galilee He travelled, healing in His name.
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All of us are seeking, a cure for our own ills,
whether physical or mental or accidental spills.
He may cure our bodies if that is His will,
But whatever does befall us He is always with us still.
He’ll support us in our trauma, for He loves us one and all.
He’s there to give us succour, should heartache ever call. Cjs.
No one who sought Jesus’ help was ever denied it.
Jesus cares about everyone and will help us through anything and everything, but we cannot ask for His help unless we believe in Him, worship Him and obey His word.
We have to trust Him, knowing that He will do what is best for us, though this may differ from what we want.
Lord, thy will be done. Amen
Next week: 12th February 2012: 6th Sunday of the Year (Cycle B)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Bill Smith
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Mark 1: 40-45
In today’s reading we hear how the leper came to Jesus, getting down on his knees and begging to be made clean, and we are told that Jesus was moved with pity.
The leper was afflicted with a dreadful disease of the body for which at that time there was little relief or likelihood of cure. Lepers were segregated from the rest of society to prevent contagion. But Jesus does not turn him away.
A simple word would have been enough to cure the leper but Jesus goes further showing his compassion by actually stretching out his hand to touch him.
The instruction to the leper to tell no-one how he has been made clean is somewhat puzzling. Commentators suggest this might have been because Jesus’ mission was much more than merely curing physical ailments and he did not want to be inundated with many more coming to him for physical cures. When word did get around people flocked to Jesus.
In our sinfulness our souls are diseased but if we turn to Jesus and, like the leper, get down on our knees and beg to be rid of our affliction we can be sure that Jesus will stretch out his hand and touch us too so that we will once again be made clean.
If we then go on and spread the news of how we have been made clean maybe others will flock to him too.