5 th. of Year.

Prayerful thoughts from the Banks of the

Texas Trinidad

by Rev. Jack Vessels, SJ

"Read: Listen in Silence & Chew on His Word, then

share some simple thought with others."

Job 7.1-7; 1Cor 9.16-23; MK 1.29-39

THE NIGHT DRAGS ON; I AM FILLED WITH RESTLESSNESS UNTIL THE DAWN.

"Rising before dawn, Jesus went off to a deserted place to pray.

Simon found him & said, 'Everyone's looking for you!' He replied,

'Let us go on to nearby villages that I may preach there also.

For this purpose have I come.

During the day: Practice what you preach. Preach truth, practice goodness. The better you do both, the holier you'll become. Meaning what? That, designed to be a channel of absolute Truth & Goodness, the more you are, the more you'll partake of Their essence.

ABOUT PRAYER: Prayer provides the day's orientation. Sight unseen, God's perspective adopted with total trust. Dawn's prayer reimmerses one in the cleansing waters of baptism. Prayer reaffirms commitment: to take one step at a time in harmony with God's will. He does what he will, & we tag along.

Reading Old Testament: Job 7:1-4.6-7

Job spoke, saying: Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of hirelings? He is a slave who longs for the shade, a hireling who waits for his wages. So I have been assigned months of misery, and troubled nights have been allotted to me. If in bed I say, "When shall I arise?" then the night drags on; I am filled with restlessness until the dawn. My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope. Remember that my life is like the wind; I shall not see happiness again.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 147:1-6

Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted. Praise the LORD, for he is good; sing praise to our God, for he is gracious; it is fitting to praise him. The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; the dispersed of Israel he gathers. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He tells the number of the stars; he calls each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; to his wisdom there is no limit. The LORD sustains the lowly; the wicked he casts to the ground.

Reading New Testament: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23

Brothers and sisters: If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it! If I do so willingly, I have a recompense, but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my recompense? That, when I preach, I offer the gospel free of charge so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it.

Gospel: Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you." He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come." So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

The Old Testament prepares for the New and the New fulfills the Old; the two shed light on each other; both are the true Word of God. I like to put it this way, the New Testament lies hidden in the OLD and the Old Testament is unveiled in the new.

Answered Prayers: There have been many, but not verbally expressed to our list.

Prayer Request - LORD HEAR OUR PRAYERS:

The request from Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 7 UPs group

We reject poverty and accept Your abundance

We reject sin and accept Your forgiveness

Matt Dewhurst and his recovery

Stan Price and his recovery

Our families and loved ones

Our government and political leaders, our troops and those who serve to protect us

Our clergy and our businesses

Our members of 7 UPs and their families and loved ones.

Continued growth of the newly formed 7 UPs group in PA. (Shenango Valley 7Ups )