Immaculate Conception Church

Whose faith saved the paralytic man?

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:33:08 +0000

The central message of today’s scripture readings is that God acts in newer ways in different times and situations. That is why He heals in newer ways and forgives sins in newer ways. Isaiah advises the exiles in Babylon to believe that their God will forgive their sins, liberate them from the paralysis of despair caused by the Babylonian exile and return to their homeland in new ways that will be different from those their ancestors experienced under Moses and commemorated yearly at Passover. The prophet also assures them that God is preparing them for “new” things they’ve never have seen or heard before.

The gospel shares the same message of novelty in the reaction of the crowd to the newness they were finding in the preaching and healing ministry of Jesus: “They were astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this”. Beyond showing his authority over temptation, over the lives of men, over nature, over demons and over sickness, our gospel shows Jesus demonstrating a new form of authority—his authority to forgive sins. This healing episode presents Jesus as the Incarnation of a merciful and forgiving God, come to save us, restore us and make us new. The healing of the paralytic demonstrates the power of faith and in this particular case we learn what others can do for us if they are persons of faith. This is the story of a man who was healed through the faith-filled actions of his eager and confident friends. We, therefore, need to intercede for others and bring them to Christ.

Will your faith assist someone in being healed, this week?

Bulletin for February 19, 2012

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:28:24 +0000

February 19, 2012

Take down the walls and start building bridges!

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:06:04 +0000

All three of today’s readings contain the Christian teaching on the need for social acceptance even when people are different from us. They also tell us that it is purity or holiness of soul coming from God that cleanses our lives. In the Hebrew Scriptures (that’s the Old Testament to most of us), the Book of Leviticus is known by its first word, Vayikra meaning “and he called”. The word Vayikra means that God called Moses and His chosen people to holiness and purity. That is why our first reading teaches the theme of freedom from bodily and ritual impurity as a sign of internal holiness. This freedom is symbolized by the precautions against contracting leprosy given in the first reading and the healing of the leper described in the gospel. The first reading shows the ancient Jewish attitude toward leprosy and the rules for quarantining lepers (does this sound anything like Molokai ?). This provides a background for Jesus’ healing of a leper. By this healing (not a miracle…since my sermon last Sunday cautioned against using this word)…it liberates this man both from the disease of leprosy and the unjust and inhuman social isolation and ostracism to which lepers are subjected.

The Life Messages contained in our scriptures are: We need to trust in the mercy of a forgiving God who assures us that our sins are forgiven and that we are clean. We are forgiven and made spiritually clean from the spiritual leprosy of sins when we repent of our sins, because God is a God of love who waits patiently for us. The only condition required of us is that we ask for forgiveness with a repentant heart. We are sure to hear his words of absolution, “Very well—your sins are forgiven and you are clean”…echoed in the sacrament of reconciliation. We also need to tear down the walls that separate us from others and build bridges of loving relationship. Jesus calls every one of us to demolish the walls that separate us from each other and to welcome the outcasts and the untouchables of our society. Gods loving hands must reach out to them through us. Jesus wants us to touch their lives. Let us reexamine the barriers we have created and approach God with a heart that is ready to welcome the outcasts in our society.

Seeking His healing touch,

Bulletin for February 12, 2012

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:03:21 +0000

February 12, 2012

Do, great..things for the Lord!

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:36:35 +0000

The challenge offered of today’s scripture readings is to go courageously beyond people’s expectations by going good as Jesus did. The readings also invite us to explore the importance of the work in our lives and to learn a lesson in work ethics from Job, Paul and Jesus. While the gospel presents Jesus enthusiastically preparing for his second day’s preaching and healing ministry, the first reading details Job’s attitude in striking contrast to Jesus’. Job complains of the tedium and futility of life and the miseries of human existence. But eventually Job surrenders himself, his suffering, his work and everything he had lost to the greater wisdom of God(Job 42:1-6). The Psalmist, in today’s Responsorial Psalm, sings praises to God because He is busy full-time in gathering Israel from their captivity, in healing the broken hearted and bandaging their wounds, in controlling the universe, in assisting the lowly and punishing the wicked. St. Paul, the true and dynamic follower of Jesus, is ready to do something extra for his Lord by preaching the gospel without pay. Pointing out the spontaneous response of Peter’s mother-in-law after she had been healed by Jesus, today’s gospel teaches us that true discipleship means getting involved in giving selfless service to others. During the Sabbath Day, Jesus took part in the synagogue worship, taught with authority, exorcised a demon, healed Simon’s mother-in-law, and, in the evening, “cured many who were sick with various diseases, and drove out many demons.” Talk about having a full day!!!! I’ll never complain about my workload here in our parish. Therefore, Jesus spent himself and most of his time ministering to the needs of others, giving healings, forgiveness and a new beginning to many. Yet, Jesus rose early the next morning and went off to a deserted place to pray, in order to assess his work before God…His Father, and to recharge His spiritual batteries.

So…what can we learn from our beautiful scriptures that will help us to be faithful followers of Jesus? First, we need to be instruments for Jesus’ healings. Our own healing process is completed only when we are ready to help others in their needs and to focus on things outside ourselves. Secondly, we need to live as Jesus did. He was a man for others..shared what he had with anyone in need, and always included others needs in His prayers. It’s a simple plan…it’s Jesus’ plan..and there is no Plan-B.

Carrying others to Jesus…with your help,

Bulletin for February 5, 2012

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:26:30 +0000

February 5, 2012

Says who? Jesus, that’s who!

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:18:02 +0000

The common theme of today’s readings is divine authority—reflected by the Prophets of the Old Testament and their messages, by the Apostles, including St. Paul, in the New Testament in their writings and teaching, and by Jesus in His teaching and healing ministry. Today’s First Reading tells us that a true prophet speaks with authority because it is God who speaks through him. After the Babylonian exile, the Jewish priests began to interpret the words of Moses given in the first reading, namely, “a prophet like me”, as referring to one individual, the expected Messiah. This passage is chosen for today’s first reading because it refers to Jesus, the “preacher with authority”, mentioned in today’s Gospel. In this Gospel, Mark describes one sample Sabbath day of Jesus’ public life. He joined in public worship in the synagogue as a practicing Jew, he healed the sick, he drove out evil spirits and he prayed privately. People immediately noticed that Jesus spoke with authority and healed with divine power. Jesus explained the Scriptures with complete confidence, and, when questioned by people, He answered with authority. He used his real, or authentic authority, to teach, empower, liberate, and heal others. The evil spirit mentioned in today’s gospel recognized Jesus as the Messiah and acknowledged him as such. Jesus commanded the evil spirit harshly, using strong words and tone: “Be quiet! Come out of him!” This was another reason why Jesus developed a reputation for speaking with authority.

Jesus did not use his authority and divine power to rule and control people. He came to set people free…that’s us! Therefore, let us approach Jesus with trusting faith so that he may free us from the evil spirits that keep us from praying and prevent us from loving and sharing our blessings with others. Jesus also frees us from all the “evil spirits” of fear, jealousy, envy, addictions, compulsions, selfishness, anger, resentment, and hostility. May he free us from all those spirits which make us deaf, dumb, blind, lame and paralyzed…physically and spiritually.

He said it…and I believe it,

Bulletin for January 29, 2012

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:16:00 +0000

January 29, 2012

Bulletin for January 22, 2012

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:58:03 +0000

January 22, 2012

“Repent and believe..right now!

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:56:14 +0000

This weekend’s three readings underline the absolute necessity for us of repentance and a prompt response to God’s call. Our First Reading…tells us how God had to punish the disobedient prophet, Jonah, to get him to preach repentance in Nineveh. The wicked people of Nineveh, however, could accept Jonah as God’s prophet, and, hence, they promptly responded to God’s call for repentance as Jonah preached it. In the Second reading…Paul urges the Christian community in Corinth to lose no time in accepting the message of the gospel and renewing their lives with repentance because Jesus’ second coming might occur at any moment. Today’s gospel…describes how Jesus came to Galilee and began preaching, challenging people to “repent and believe in the gospel”.

Just as John the Baptist did, Jesus also called for repentance, meaning a change in one’s mind or in the direction of one’s life, setting new priorities. It also meant hating sin and feeling sorry for the consequences of one’s sins. Believing in the gospel demanded, from the hearers, a resolution to take Jesus’ words seriously…to translate them into action…and, to put trust in Jesus’ authority. Jesus preached the good news, that God is a loving, forgiving, caring and merciful Father who wants to liberate us and save us from our sins through His Son Jesus. By describing the call of Jesus’ first disciples (Andrew, Peter, James & John), today’s gospel also emphasizes how we, sinners, are to respond to God’s call with total commitment by abandoning our accustomed style of sinful life.

An epitaph to God’s grace: In a small cemetery of a parish churchyard in Olney, England stands a granite tombstone with this inscription: “John Newton, pastor, once an infidel…a servant of slavers in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ…preserved…restored…pardoned, and appointed to preach the Faith he had long labored to destroy.” You may not remember his name…but all of us know the song that he wrote as a testimony of his life (after he repented)…..he was the author of——Amazing Grace!

Attend church…read your Bible…be nice to one another,