Dear Brothers and Sisters,
How Beautiful, once again are God’s Words to us in this Morning’s Mass Readings. The First Letter of John’s Gospel tells us so much, if we Listen with the ears of our hearts! As does also the Gospel of Mark on this Memorial of St. John Neumann, Bishop. (For more on St. John Neumann see: About St. John Neumann | The National Shrine of St. John Neumann)
Jesus we trust in You! Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us. St. Joseph Guardian of the Child Jesus, Husband and Protector of Mary, pray for us. St. John Neumann, pray for us.
Holy Spirit, bring us all into the Fullness of Truth! Amen.
How Beautiful, once again are God’s Words to us in this Morning’s Mass Readings. The First Letter of John’s Gospel tells us so much, if we Listen with the ears of our hearts! As does also the Gospel of Mark on this Memorial of St. John Neumann, Bishop. (For more on St. John Neumann see: About St. John Neumann | The National Shrine of St. John Neumann)
Reading I (1 Jn 4:11-18)
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is brought to perfection in us. This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us, that He has given us of His Spirit. Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world. Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God. We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.
Alleluia (See 1 Tm 3:16) - Glory to you, O Christ, proclaimed to the Gentiles. Glory to you, O Christ, believed in throughout the world.
Gospel - (Mk 6:45-52)
After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied, Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and precede Him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd. And when He had taken leave of them, He went off to the mountain to pray. When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and He was alone on shore. Then He saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, He came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them. But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. They had all seen Him and were terrified. But at once He spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.
Certainly St. John Neumann Listened to the Truth of God in John’s First Letter, for this Bishop was a holy man. His life is a testimony that this Holy Bishop did the Truth he heard from God. Unlike the first disciples who in the Gospel of Mark today “had not understood the incident of the loaves”. St. John Neumann understood well the Holy Eucharist and encouraged the flock he shepherded to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist with great reverence as he reverently consecrated the Bread and Wine at Mass and received Jesus himself. May God help His Church in our Day to renew our love and revernce for Jesus in the Eucharist at every Mass and every moment Jesus dwells in the Tabernacles of the Church and in the “tabernacles of our hearts”.
Jesus we trust in You! Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us. St. Joseph Guardian of the Child Jesus, Husband and Protector of Mary, pray for us. St. John Neumann, pray for us.
Holy Spirit, bring us all into the Fullness of Truth! Amen.
