Monday, February 13, 2012 (Weekday)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
If you want God to hear your prayers, hear the voice of the poor. If you wish God to anticipate your wants, provide those of the needy without waiting for them to ask you. Especially anticipate the needs of those who are ashamed to beg. To make them ask for alms is to make them buy it.
-- St. Thomas of Villanova

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: James 1:1-11
(Faith and Wisdom/ Poverty and Riches)
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers , when you fall into various temptations,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 
4 Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.
7 For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.
8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position;
10 and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.
11 For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in his pursuits.
Psalms: Psalm 119:67-68, 71-72, 75-76
67 Before I was afflicted, I went astray; But now I observe your word.
68 You are good, and do good. Teach me your statutes.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
75 Yahweh, I know that your judgments are righteous, That in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Please let your loving kindness be for my comfort, According to your word to your servant.
Gospel: Mark 8:11-13
(The Pharisees Ask for a Miracle)
11 The Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, and testing him.
12 He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Most assuredly I tell you, no sign will be
given to this generation.”
13 He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side.