Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time (January17, 2018): Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot

Today’s Readings:

1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51
Ps 144:1-2, 9-10
Mark 3:1-6
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011718.cfm

USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/18_01_17.mp3

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

Jesus entered the synagogue.
There was a man there who had a withered hand.
They watched Jesus closely
to see if he would cure him on the sabbath
so that they might accuse him.
He said to the man with the withered hand,
“Come up here before us.”
Then he said to the Pharisees,
“Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?”
But they remained silent.
Looking around at them with anger
and grieved at their hardness of heart,
Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”
He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel
with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

Are you aware of God’s touch? In today’s Gospel story, the Pharisees missed an opportunity to experience God, because they were focused on their own agenda. Meanwhile, the man with the shriveled hand was open to whatever God had in mind.

Usually, God’s touch comes in unexpected ways, at unexpected times. We miss it, however, if we’re distracted by our own ideas of how he should answer our prayers. If we have tunnel vision, seeking only what we think should happen, we see only dark walls instead of the light that is definitely at the end of the tunnel.

When my son was a tot, he didn’t want to miss out on anything. So, why did he fail to notice the breakfast cereal that was stuck to his face? When he drank, he didn’t get a milk mustache; he got a clown face. Why didn’t he clean it off with his sleeve like all the other kids?

All of us are unobservant like this at times. I suspect my son’s problem was due to the way his mind worked. Food on his face was less important to him than the events of life around him. He failed to feel his milk-mouth because he was preoccupied with feeling his reactions to life.

We should all be that aware of the happenings and people around us, but at the same time, we need to keep our focus on Jesus and view everyone and everything else through his eyes. We need to always be dialoging with the Holy Spirit, listening for the holy interpretation of everything. We must be careful not to be distracted by our own inner voice, our own expectations and our own desires unless they’ve been purified and inspired and confirmed by God.

God touches us every day in big and small ways. He gives us hugs and congratulatory pats on the back. He comforts us when we feel depressed. He lifts us up when we stumble. He holds our hands when we stroll down the street admiring the clouds and trees and flowers. And when we get hurt, he wipes our tears and he kisses our aches.

But do we notice? Maybe we don’t believe God cares that much about us. Maybe we have to remind ourselves that God proved how much he cares when Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross. But that’s only a starting point. He proves it again and again, every moment, all the time.

My little son would often say, “Miracles happen every day!” Stretch out your hand and notice what Jesus is doing for you. Don’t miss unexpected opportunities to experience God. Be open to whatever God has in mind. Pray: “Lord Jesus, help me to receive everything that you want to give to me today. Amen!”

Thank You, Lord, because nobody and nothing can take away Your love, which looks for me, heals me, delivers me, comforts me and sanctifies me. Amen.