Cesar Fernandez-Stoll

Gospel text ( Mt 9,35—10,1.6-8): Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and he cured every sickness and disease. When he saw the crowds he was moved with pity, for they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, «The harvest is abundant but the workers are only few. Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest». Then he called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority over the unclean spirits to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness. «Go instead to the lost sheep of the people of Israel. Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. You received this as a gift, so give it as a gift».

Gospel text ( Mathew 9,27-31): As Jesus moved on from Capernaum, two blind men followed him, shouting, «Son of David, help us!». When he was about to enter the house, the blind men caught up with him, and Jesus said to them, «Do you believe that I am able to do what you want?». They answered, «Yes, sir!». Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, «As you have believed, so let it be». And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus gave them a stern warning, «Be careful and let no one know about this». But as soon as they went away, they spread the news about him through the whole area.

Gospel text ( Mathew 7,21.24-27): Jesus said to his disciples, «Not everyone who says to me: Lord! Lord! will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my heavenly Father. »So, then, anyone who hears these words of mine and acts accordingly is like a wise man, who built his house on rock. The rain poured, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house, but it did not collapse because it was built on rock. But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not act accordingly, is like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain poured, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house; it collapsed, and what a terrible fall that was!».

I’ve just watched “The Song of Bernadette   [1943], Based on the novel by Franz Werfel, Directed by Henry King. With Jennifer Jones, Charles Bickford, William Eythe, Vincent Price. In 1858 France”. I do own the DVD and so many times over I have seen this movie and every time I find it fascinating and feel emotionally invaded each as a new experience of peace, faith, hope and love.

Gospel text ( Mathew 4,18-22): As Jesus walked by the lake of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. He said to them, «Come, follow me, and I will make you fish for people». At once they left their nets and followed him. He went on from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them. At once they left the boat and their father and followed him

Gospel text ( Luke 10,21-24): Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, «I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and made them known to the little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. I have been given all things by my Father, so that no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and he to whom the Son chooses to reveal him». Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said to them privately, «Fortunate are you to see what you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings would have liked to see what you see but did not, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it»

Gospel text ( Mt 8,5-11): When Jesus entered Capernaum, an army captain approached him to ask his help, «Sir, my servant lies sick at home. He is paralyzed and suffers terribly». Jesus said to him, «I will come and heal him». The captain answered, «I am not worthy to have you under my roof. Just give an order and my boy will be healed. For I myself, a junior officer, give orders to my soldiers. And if I say to one: ‘Go’, he goes, and if I say to another: ‘Come’, he comes, and to my servant: ‘Do this’, he does it». When Jesus heard this he was astonished and said to those who were following him, «I tell you, I have not found such faith in Israel. I say to you, many will come from east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven».

Gospel text ( Mc 13,33-37): Jesus said to his disciples: «Be alert and watch, for you don't know when the time will come. When a man goes abroad and leaves his home, he puts his servants in charge, giving to each one some responsibility; and he orders the doorkeeper to stay awake. So stay awake, for you don't know when the Lord of the house will come, in the evening or at midnight, when the cock crows or before dawn. If He comes suddenly, do not let him catch you asleep. And what I say to you, I say to all: watch».