![Tita Gori (1870-1941) Jésus-Christ entouré de disciples et d'une sainte femme Collection privée By Jean-Marc Pascolo (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tableau_de_Tita_Gori,_J%C3%A9sus-Christ_entour%C3%A9_de_disciples_et_d'une_sainte_femme.jpg)
Tita Gori (1870-1941)
Jésus-Christ entouré de disciples et d’une sainte femme
Collection privée
By Jean-Marc Pascolo (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Jesus is the unifying force of all those who believe in the holy power of his name.
[Jesus replied,] “There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me.”
James Tissot (1836-1902)
Jésus et le petit enfant
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum
Imagine the arms of Jesus around me.
Respectful. Comforting. Loving. Gentle. Protective. Reassuring. Encouraging. Peace-giving.
Am I willing to receive each of God’s children in the name of Jesus with respect, comfort, gentleness, protection, reassurance, encouragement, and peace?
Taking a child, [Jesus] placed it in the their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.” Mark 9:36-37
Ottheinrich-Bibel, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Blatt 55v: Heilung des Taubstummen, Mk 7,31-37
ca.1425-1430
Jesus touches my ears and I hear the cries of those who are grieving, discouraged, abused, abandoned, ignored, scorned, in need of shelter, love, and comfort.
Jesus touches my tongue and I speak out plainly in support of those who need hope, justice, faith, peace, encouragement, and compassion.
Jesus is not afraid to touch those in need.
Am I?
[Jesus] put his finger into the man’s ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
“Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” —
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly. Mark 7:33-35
Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6: 67-68
I’ve heard “love thy neighbor as thyself” and “forgive seventy times seven times” and “Peace be with you”—words of eternal life spoken by Jesus.
How can I turn away without betraying my birthright as a child of God made in the image and likeness of God’s love?
James Tissot (1836-1902)
La multiplicité des pains, between 1886 and 1894
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper
Brooklyn Museum
The Word of God teaches me to be bread for those who are hungry for kindness, encouragement, compassion, and love.
The Word of God teaches me to eat the bread of forgiveness, reconciliation, peace, and nonviolence.
The Word of God teaches me that the Lord is the bread that gives me the nourishment to love my neighbor as myself, welcome strangers, feed the hungry, and visit the sick.
[Jesus said:] “It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God.” John 6:45a
Jesus asleep in the boat
Rest easy.
The storm will pass.
God is with us.
The Lord is in charge.
All is well.
A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. Mark 4:37-38a
Capilla de Corpus Christi, Catedral de Burgos
© José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro via Wikimedia Commons
As a unique, significant member of the Body of Christ, each of us is privileged to share in the unconditional Love that is the New Covenant between God and the human family.
This covenant of Love teaches me to open my eyes, ears, hands, and heart to welcome each of my sisters and brothers in God’s human family; to let go of judgment, resentment, and fear; to give thanks for the grace to learn the way of peace and reconciliation from the Master of Compassion, who is Jesus, who has once and for always healed our brokenness into unity and harmony.
Then [Jesus] took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. Mark 14:23
Jacek Andrzej Rossakiewicz (b.1956)
Jesus Appears to Thomas (St John Passion – 13), 1990
oil on canvas
Do not be afraid when your heart has closed down. Do not worry when your mind races in panic. Do not resist the darkness of confusion. The Lord finds his way through every obstacle to bring you peace.
Be at peace. He is here with you now.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” John 20:26b
John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Mark 1:4
The gospel is our every day wake up call: a call to love, to help the poor, to show compassion to all people.
It’s a call to spend time in quiet prayer and meditation, to read holy scripture, to deepen our relationship with Jesus.
The gospel wakes us up to the reality of God’s presence in our world, in our lives, in our being.
Today I will trust the wake up call of the gospel and ask the Lord to bless me with knowledge of his will for me and the power to carry it out.
[Jesus said,] “What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!'” Mark 13:37
What am I watching for?
For an opportunity to be kind.
For an opportunity to help someone.
For an opportunity to encourage someone.
For an opportunity to feed the hungry.
For an opportunity to choose peace.
For an opportunity to speak out against violence.
For an opportunity to let go of arrogance.
For an opportunity to show respect to others.
For an opportunity to rejoice in another’s success.
For an opportunity to welcome a stranger.
For an opportunity share my gifts and talents.
For an opportunity to love my neighbor as myself.
Mary Ann McSweeny 
