Monday, January 30, 2012 {St. Hyacinth Marescotti, Virgin (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Charity is that with which no man is lost, and without which no man is saved.
-- St. Robert Bellarmine

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13
(David Flees from Jerusalem/ David and Shimei)
13 There came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
14 David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.
30 David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people who were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

5 When king David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out, and cursed still as he came.
6 He cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
7 Thus said Shimei when he cursed, Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and base fellow:
8 Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and Yahweh has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son; and, behold, you are taken in your own mischief, because you are a man of blood.
9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head.”
10 The king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because Yahweh has said to him, Curse David; who then shall say, Why have you done so?
11 David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life: how much more may this Benjamite now do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for Yahweh has invited him.
12 It may be that Yahweh will look on the wrong done to me, and that Yahweh will requite me good for his cursing of me this day.
13 So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hill-side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
Psalms: Psalm 3:2-7
2 Many there are who say of my soul,“There is no help for him in God.”
Selah.
3 But you, Yahweh, are a shield around me, My glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
4 I cry to Yahweh with my voice, And he answers me out of his holy hill.
Selah.
5 I laid myself down and slept. I awakened; for Yahweh sustains me.
6 I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people Who have set themselves against me on every side.
7 Arise, Yahweh! Save me, my God! For you have struck all of my enemies on the cheek bone. You have broken the teeth of the wicked.
Gospel: Mark 5:1-20
(Jesus Heals a Man with Evil Spirits)
1 They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
2 When he had come out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3 who had his dwelling in the tombs. Nobody could bind him any more, not even with chains,
4 because he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the fetters broken in pieces. Nobody had the strength to tame him.
5 Always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed down to him,
7 and crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, don’t torment me.”
8 For he said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
9 He asked him, “What is your name?”
He said to him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”
10 He begged him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
11 Now there was on the mountainside a great herd of pigs feeding.
12 All the demons begged him, saying, “Send us into the pigs, that we may enter into them.”
13 At once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowned in the sea.
14 Those who fed them fled, and told it in the city and in the country.
The people came to see what it was that had happened.
15 They came to Jesus, and saw him who had been possessed by demons sitting, clothed, and in his right mind, even him who had the legion; and they were afraid.
16 Those who saw it declared to them how it happened to him who was possessed by demons, and about the pigs.
17 They began to beg him to depart from their region.
18 As he was entering into the boat, he who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him.
19 He didn’t allow him, but said to him, “Go to your house, to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he had mercy on you.”
20 He went his way, and began to proclaim in Decapolis how Jesus had done great things for him, and everyone marveled.