DAILY DEVOTIONAL, (THURSDAY 26 JANUARY 2017)

Reading the Liturgy of Thursday, January 26, 2017

PW S. Timothy and Titus, Bishops

First Reading Heb 10: 19-25

Brothers and sisters, thanks to the blood of Jesus, we can now enter into the sanctuary with courage, because he has opened a new road and gives life to us, through the veil, which is none other than himself, and we have a priest as the head of the House of God. Therefore let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope, for He who promised is faithful. Besides, let us consider how we one another to love and good deeds. Let us not keep away from the worship of meetings, such as the manner of some people! Instead, let us encourage one another, and more as you see the Day approaching.

Thus saith the Lord.

Psalm Ps 24: 1-2.3-4ab.5-6

That is the generation of those who seek your face, O Lord.

* Belongs to the Lord of the earth and everything in it, the universe and all that dwell therein. For he is basing the earth upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

* Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Who can stand in his holy place? The person who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not surrender to fraud.

* He shall receive a blessing from God and the justice of God, his savior. That is the generation of those who seek God, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.

Introduction to the Gospel of Luke 4: 18-19

God sent me preach good news to the poor and proclaim liberty to the captives.

Gospel reading Mark 4: 21-25

One day Jesus said to his disciples, and his disciples, "The installed lamp is not to be put under a basket or under a bed, but to be placed on a lampstand. For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and no concealed that will not be revealed. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear! " Then he said, "Take care what you hear! The size of your measuring will also be imposed on you; and instead will be added again! For everyone who has will be given more, but whoever does not have, anything that belongs to him will be taken."

Thus the Gospel of the Lord.

Devotional.

Gospel reading today speaks of a lamp. Although petite, light can illuminate wide areas. Lamp life and good habits are sown within the children in the family would also be experiencing growth. The growing power that exists in children is also very impressive. Guidance by mothers and fathers, as well as brother and other family members, a child will grow up and experience the tangible progress as well. Even parents feel very disturbed when her baby who can already talk naturally or been able to walk, but it is hampered, when the whole family have poured love and attention. Things like that is certainly disturbing to the next life. Admire the growing power there is in life and witness the growing power experienced by young people is extremely admirable. How can this be lived amazement?

The growing power and with the flame that exists within children under five who are often invited to go to church weekly by parents turned out to be marred also by priests leader greetings greetings celebration. Testimony from several families, children feel happy and proud when the priest calls greeting greeting children in khusus.Misalnya greeting: "Mother, father, sisters, brothers, sisters and brothers, friends young and beloved children." Special Greetings like it turned out to give the feel homesick and felt tersapa inside children, so each week to invite the parents go to church joyfully forward to receive a blessing at the forehead of the priest that he missed. It's amazing ability to grow implanted God in children, from a simple greeting, makes the children aspires to go to church and attend mass. This is the kindness lamp was lit and the moving power of life of children.

Contemplation.

We live in the world of frenetic, a world filled with words, the views are the views and opinions of opinion, the world of television is relentless broadcast various things that happen in this world day and night, the world of the Internet and gaming, mobile world, BBM, Twitter , WhatsApp, facebook, skype and so on. All of this can be pelanturan and distraction in the process we listened as people of faith and love of God, why? Because we know that listening is an important factor which we loved, love and "walk together" Allah.

Jesus said in His word today to the disciples - His and also to us, "Listen, what you listen to" (Mark 4:24) In the middle of nature that is full of bustle and pelanturan this pelanturan, amid the noise of this world how do we hear God's voice that echoed softly in life and also our hearts? Jesus even asked, "He who has ears to hear, he should listen". (V 23) This means that sometimes we have to lean our hearts to His ears, or exiled to place silent to hear his voice.

However, we need to ask ourselves, do we believe that God is always talking to us? Or do we have a desire to hear the Word of God? If the answer is "Yes" then we need to ask again, when the moment of silence Where do we take the time to read the Bible and listening to His word? Only by leaving the world crowd, the noise of the world, we will be able to hear God's voice calmly. Deliver us, we are hearing and thinking of various noise of the world, Ask ourselves, if we are really focused on God and listen to His voice?

Let us open ourselves to hear God's voice echoing softly greet us.

As people of faith, it is good if we then share the experience of God's mercy is so great to others. Jesus said: "A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket or under a bed, but to be placed on a lampstand" (Mark 3:21)

Prayer.

Yes good God almighty, give us awareness to sharing faith experiences with others in accordance with your will. Amen.