Feb 5 2021

Jean-Baptiste Marie Pierre, The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, 1761 (Public Domain)

First reading Hebrews 13:1-8

Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and will be for ever

Continue to love each other like brothers, and remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Keep in mind those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; and those who are being badly treated, since you too are in the one body. Marriage is to be honoured by all, and marriages are to be kept undefiled, because fornicators and adulterers will come under God’s judgement. Put greed out of your lives and be content with whatever you have; God himself has said: I will not fail you or desert you, and so we can say with confidence: With the Lord to help me, I fear nothing: what can man do to me?

Remember your leaders, who preached the word of God to you, and as you reflect on the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and as he will be for ever.

Responsorial Psalm 26(27):1,3,5,8-9

The Lord is my light and my help.

The Lord is my light and my help;

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

before whom shall I shrink?

Though an army encamp against me

my heart would not fear.

Though war break out against me

even then would I trust.

For there he keeps me safe in his tent

in the day of evil.

He hides me in the shelter of his tent,

on a rock he sets me safe.

It is your face, O Lord, that I seek;

hide not your face.

Dismiss not your servant in anger;

you have been my help.

Gospel Mark 6:14-29

The beheading of John the Baptist

King Herod had heard about Jesus, since by now his name was well known. Some were saying, ‘John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ Others said, ‘He is Elijah’; others again, ‘He is a prophet, like the prophets we used to have.’ But when Herod heard this he said, ‘It is John whose head I cut off; he has risen from the dead.’

Now it was this same Herod who had sent to have John arrested, and had him chained up in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife whom he had married. For John had told Herod, ‘It is against the law for you to have your brother’s wife.’ As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill him; but she was not able to, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.

An opportunity came on Herod’s birthday when he gave a banquet for the nobles of his court, for his army officers and for the leading figures in Galilee. When the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.’ And he swore her an oath, ‘I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the Baptist.’ The girl hurried straight back to the king and made her request, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, here and now, on a dish.’ The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. So the king at once sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John’s head. The man went off and beheaded him in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

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5th February 2021 Friday 4th Week of Ordinary Time – St. Agatha.

Reflection
Hebrews 13:1-8, Mark 6:14-29

“To dare to be the voice of Truth”
John the Baptist was beheaded because he courageously gave his life to be the voice of Truth. This passage is not for us to admire the courage of John the Baptist. Rather, it is for us to have his same courage to be the voice of Truth today, even if it implies creating tension and conflict. Often, we choose to keep quiet and “mind our own business”, or we choose to go against what we believe and lie in order to go with the flow, or to speak words that harm the reputation of others. As Christians, we are called to speak the truth in love so that our words would benefit and help those who hear us, even if doing this leads us to pay a price for doing so.

Courage is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and without it, we will remain silent. Let us ask for a courageous faith that helps us to live for Jesus and the gospel values.

Question for reflection:
How can I be the voice of Truth for Jesus today?

5 Februari 2021
Hari Jumaat Minggu Biasa Ke-4 – St. Agatha.

Renungan
Ibrani 13:1-8,
Markus 6:14-29

“Berani menjadi suara Kebenaran”
Kepala Yohanes Pembaptis telah dipenggal kerana keberaniannya mengorbankan diri menjadi suara kepada Kebenaran. Petikan ini bukanlah untuk kita merasa kagum dengan keberanian Yohanes Pembaptis. Sebaliknya agar kita memiliki keberanian yang sama iaitu menjadi suara kepada Kebenaran walaupun ia akan mewujudkan ketegangan dan konflik. Seringkali kita memilih untuk berdiam dan “memikirkan hal sendiri”, atau kita memilih perkara yang bertentangan dengan apa yang kita percaya dan berbohong demi mengikuti arus, atau berbicara tentang hal yang merosakkan reputasi orang lain. Sebagai orang Kristian, kita dipanggil untuk berbicara tentang kebenaran dalam kasih agar perkataan kita dapat membawa kebaikan dan membantu mereka yang akan mendengarnya walaupun kita harus menanggung kesan daripada tindakan kita.

Keberanian adalah buah Roh Kudus dan tanpa Roh Kudus kita akan tetap berdiam. Marilah mohon iman keberanian yang dapat membantu kita untuk hidup demi Yesus dan demi nilai-nilai injil.

Soalan renungan:
Bagaimana saya dapat menjadi suara Kebenaran bagi Yesus hari ini?

5 Februari 2021, Orou Kalimo Minggu’ Kaindalaman Kaapat, St. Agatha

Ibrani 13:1-8, Markus 6:14-29

Baani masauk ra bolos ru Katapatan
I Juanis Mampariu’ iningguluan sabap ra baani’ tojojo io nampataak ra kaayagan nano koson masauk ra bolos ru Katapatan. Pambasaan ragitio sala’ ka ritakau koson mangimuag ra baani ri Juanis Mampariu’. Kaa’, ginio koson ritakau mokoondo’ ra baaani’ mogondo’ ri Juanis koson masauk ra bolos ru Katapatan ra orou raiti’, amun ru ginio papakitanan ra mampasalula’ ra pagalabaan am pansangaran. Masalok, mampili’ takau koson mongkoror am “mampalio ra baal galama’ “, kapoam mampili’ takau koson manggal ra atan ondo’ intopoton takau am maya’ ra ati ulian ru aug, kapoam mindagu ra ragu ondo’ makajajou ra ulun bokon. Koson ra ulun Kristian, itakau piawon koson mindagu ra katapatan ralalom togom maa’ raginio ragu-ragu takau mokoonong am mangindangan risilo ondo’ mokorongog ritakau, kaa’ niayuk mambaal ragitio maningganai ritakau makaapu ra ampos sabap ra baalon ginio.
Baani iono ampos ru Ambiluo Matulai, am kolondo’ ginio, layun takau luminos. Ibok pangitaak takau ra baani ru kaintapatan ondo’ mangindangan ritakau maayag sabap ri Jisus am logo ru Injil.

Pangkuatan ra paguangin:
Ati kulaan maalap aku kasauk ra bolos ru Katapatan ri Jisus ra orou raiti’?

05-02-2021 Hari Lima Minggu Selama Ka-4 – St. Agatha

Renungan
Hebrew 13:1-8
Mark 6:14-29

“Berani nyadi nyawa Pemendar.”
John Pembaptisa dipumpong pala laban iya berani meri nyawa diri nyadi nyawa Pemendar. Bacha tu ukai ngasoh kitai temegah ati ka pemerani iya tang ngansak kitai awak sama bela ngembuan pemerani nyadi nyawa Pemendar saritu, taja nya mai pencharut tauka enda sepenemu. Suah kitai milih agi enggai bejako lalu ngati diri empu, tauka kitai milih ngereja utai ti belaban enggau ka diarap lalu nusi pemula, tauka bejako jai ka orang. Kitai orang Kristen dikangau awak bejako pemendar enggau pengerindu ngambi jako kitai mai pemadas sereta nyaup sida ti mendingka kitai, taja kitai deka dibeduan ketegal nya.

Pemerani tu meh buah Roh Kudus, enti nadai buah tu, kitai enda ulih bejako. Aram kitai minta pemerani pengarap ngambi idup ketegal Jesus enggau ajar Injil.

Kati aku ulih nyadi nyawa Pemendar Jesus saritu?

2021年2月5日
常年期第四周单数年星期五
圣亚加大

省思
《希十三：1-8》
《谷六：14-29》

“勇于成为诉说真理的声音”

洗者若翰被斩首，是因为他勇敢地为了真理发声，而献出了自己的生命。这篇章不是为了使我们崇敬洗者若翰的勇气。然而，是为了使我们拥有像他那样的勇气，成为诉说真理的声音，就算意味着造就紧绷和争端。很多时候，我们选择沉默及“自扫门前雪”，或者我们为了同声和气而选择违背自己信实的理念并且撒起谎来，或者我们选择说些有损他人声誉的言语等等。身为基督徒，我们接受的召唤是，以仁爱为真理发声，好使得我们的言辞让听见的众人能够获益及得到援助；就算是如果我们这么做，会引领我们付出代价的话，也应该这么做。

果敢是圣神赐予我们的果实，倘若没了它，我们将继续保持敛默。让我们寻求果敢的信德，让它帮助我们为耶稣及福音的价值观而活。

省思题：
今天的我怎样能够成为耶稣的真理之声呢？

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr. Sandra Seow FMVD.