SATURDAY 13 JANUARY
Saint Hilary, Bishop, Doctor
Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Gospel – Mark 2:13-17
Our attention to the first part of this gospel we see how God interact with us. “Jesus went out to the shore of the lake; and all the people came to him, and he taught them”. Jesus went out to the shore of the lake. Jesus goes out to the lake. Then all the people came to him. Then he taught them. Then the second part: Jesus seeing Levi sitting by the customs house. Jesus went to him and talked to him. “he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him”. Jesus said that and Levi got up and followed him. We see Jesus going out to the lake and Jesus going up to Levi. Jesus always comes to us and guides us. The people listened. Levi followed Him. We are also called to listen to Jesus and to follow Him. Let’s reflect: Jesus always takes the initiative to come to me.
SUNDAY 14 JANUARY
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel – John 1:35-42“As John stood with two of his disciples, Jesus passed, and John stared hard at him and said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God.’ Hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus”. In these verses we can see the real mission of John the Baptist. He was called to be the forerunner of the Messiah. And John is doing exactly that. He is indicating his disciples who is Messiah, who is the Lamb of God. And the disciples, as soon as they heard it, they immediately followed Jesus. They left their teacher. John the Baptist was ready to be an instrument of the plan of God. He was ready to cease to exist once his role is done. And the disciples were ready to follow Jesus immediately. This is discipleship. Being an instrument of the plan of God and not to search for its glory but to withdraw when the mission is done. The other characteristic which is evident in today’s gospel is the readiness to follow Jesus. Immediately when you know that who is Jesus, leave everything behind and follow him. Whatever project on which we are working, whatever ideas we have, the moment we recognize who is Jesus, we must renounce everything behind and follow Him. Let’s reflect: To follow Jesus, I must recognize Him by listening to the Word of the Church and then I must leave everything behind to follow Him.
To Father
Letter to the Father
Father John, about the heart that reflects God himself.
A heart that is pure in intention and simple in love.
Intercede for us.
Father John, pure heart – foundation of the temple of the Triune God ,
A heart shaped by good deeds and a clear imagination
Intercede for us.
Father John, son of Mary Immaculate,
About a believing and trusting heart.
Intercede for us.
Father John, enterprising and motivated,
About a heart open and full of mercy.
Intercede for us.
Father John, rich in talents and charisms,
About a heart that knows how to share and does not set boundaries.
Intercede for us.
Father John, full of hope and goodness,
With a stable heart, filled with the fullness of God.
Intercede for us.
S .M. M. Małgorzata Cur SMI
December 8, 2023
Dispenser of God's Mysteries
Night vigil in Częstochowa (Poland)
Every year, sisters from the Polish Province gather at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Częstochowa to watch and entrust all the intentions brought to her throughout the night. This year’s night vigil entitled “Love and Challenge” from 3 to 4 June on Jasna Góra, began with an Appeal, followed by the testimonies of the first encounter with the Living God (testimony of a lay person, a religious sister and a priest). During the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, songs of worship were sung. The most important point of the vigil was the Eucharist, followed by white roses, as a symbol of the purity of hearts and small loaves, a sign of sharing the good. After midnight in the rosary prayer, we asked for the care of our Congregation and all the works led by the sisters. Then we sang hymns in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The following day we finished the vigil. After thanks and sending out by the Provincial, we have moved to our communities.