The Unclean Spirit

Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!" (He had been saying to him, "Unclean spirit, come out of the man!") He asked him, "What is you name?" He replied, "Legion is my name. There are many of us." And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from the territory. 
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Consideration: The unclean spirit was very strong and could not be contained. The moment it caught sight of Jesus, it ran up and prostrated himself and identified Jesus as the Son of the Most High God. His name was Legion, the mouthpiece of a multitude of demons within him. He understood the power was Jesus, not the evil demon spirit he served...the devil.

The Word 0f Life

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven will be great."

Lord Jesus, you have the words of everlasting life. You feed us with your Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity to nourish us to be strong. You feed us with your words so that they reside in our hearts and the depth of our souls to lead us on the Way the Truth, and the Life. Amen.

A Mustard Seed

Jesus said to the crowds: "This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come." He said, "To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of the seeds on earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade." With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

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Lord Jesus, again you use a parable to explain the Kingdom of God. The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, yet, when it is grown it is the largest of plants. 

When we sow a seed of faith, we may never see the fruit that it will produce over time. Bless us with the grace of courage to be witnesses of faith and truth to others. One day, we shall see the fruit manifested abundantly from the seeds we have sown on earth, in the Kingdom of God. Amen.

A Child of God

Jesus said to his disciples, "Is a lamp brought in to be placed a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear." He also told them, "Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."

Consideration: Jesus tells us that everything that appears to be concealed will be revealed. Also, the way we conduct our everyday lives and how we treat our fellowman is being measured. 

Lord Jesus, grant us the grace to do your will so we may be found worthy to be called a child of God. Amen.

The Mystery of the Kingdom of God

And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. He answered them, "The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that they may look and see and not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and forgiven." Jesus said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the seeds are sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word that was sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. But they have no roots; they last for only a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold."

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Lord Jesus, the Mystery of the Kingdom of God has been simply explained by your words in this parable. May we receive the graces necessary to go out into the world where we live and boldly proclaim the Kingdom of God to our fellow man. We pray for strength and courage to do your Holy Will. Amen.

Food for the Life of the World

One another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. and the whole crowed was beside the sea on land. And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them, "Hear this! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. And when the sun rose, it was scorched and withered for the lack of roots. Some seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain. And seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold." He added, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear."

Lord Jesus, help us to understand your words, they are food for the life of the world. Grant us the grace to meditate and contemplate with deep sincerity and love the mystery that you wish to unfold to us. Amen.

The Right Hand of God

Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying: "This is the covenant I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord: "I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them upon their minds," he also says: "Their sins and their evildoing I will remember no more." Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.

Lord Jesus, you are seated at the right hand of God the Father. Most loving Savior, you made the ultimate sacrifice by willingly giving your life to ransom all of God's children from their sinfulness. You promised to put your laws in our hearts and write them upon our minds. We need only to repent and seek your Divine Mercy. For your covenant says: "Their sins and evildoing I will remember no more." Amen.