MONDAY 12/15/2025— February 9, 2026
Papal Homily Excerpt
The Words of the Popes
All are permitted on the Lord’s path: no one should feel as an intruder, an interloper or one who has no right. To have access to His heart, to Jesus’ heart, there is only one requirement: to feel in need of healing and to entrust yourself to Him. I ask you: do each of you feel that you need to be healed? Of something, of some sin, of some problem? And, if you feel this, do you have faith in Jesus? These are the two requirements in order to be healed, in order to have access to his heart: to feel in need of healing and to entrust yourself to Him. Jesus goes to discover these people among the crowd and removes them from anonymity, frees them from the fear of living and of taking risks. He does so with a look and a word which sets them back on the path after much suffering and humiliation. We too are called to learn and to imitate these freeing words and this gaze which restores the will to live to those who lack it. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 1 July 2018)
SOURCE: Word of the Day (Vatican News)
Gospel Commentary
Today’s Gospel in Context
The context: Gennesaret was a tract of land four miles long on the western border of the Sea of Galilee, lying between current-day Tabgha and ancient Magdala. Known as the “Paradise of Galilee,” its land had rich soil in which farmers were able to grow walnuts, dates, olives, figs, and grapes. Since the strip of land bordered on the Sea of Galilee, it served as a fishing center as well. Today’s Gospel passage describes the reaction of the people of Gennesaret when the healing and preaching miracle-worker, Jesus, unexpectedly landed on their shore. They considered it a golden opportunity to hear his message and to get all their sick people healed by bringing them to Jesus with trusting Faith in his Divine power. They were confident that even touching Jesus’ garment would heal the sick. Actually, they may have been more interested in having the healer to heal their sick people than in taking in Jesus’ preaching which offered them spiritual healing. Our innate human tendency, as fallen selfish people in a fallen world, is to “USE” others to get something from them. We “make use of” God when we call Him only when we are in need or when we are sick, or when tragedy strikes us,and fail to thank Him when He helps us. Some of us “make use of” the Church only to be baptized, married and buried. Sometimes, we “make use of” our friends to get their company, help and support. Sometimes even grown-up children make use of their parents’ home for eating and sleeping without returning anything to their parents, who might rightly expect, but do not ask, a return, from them.
Life Message
1) A healing greater than physical healing is available to us especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Hence, we should have a much deeper desire to seek out Jesus in the confessional than the people of Jesus’ day had for physical healing.
2) Instead of making use of God, let us learn to live in His presence, and recognize His presence in others in the community.
2) When we present our needs before Him, let us do so with expectant Faith and gratitude, and promise Him with the help of His grace that we will do His will.
3) Let us also hasten (“scurry”) to Mass, hasten to bring people to Jesus, or hasten to say prayers with your children at night? Do we hasten to see the face of Jesus in our neighbors?
SOURCE: Fr. Tony’s Homilies
Together with God’s Word
Gospel Commentary
KEY VERSE: “They laid their sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak” (Mark 6:56).
READING: Jesus’ fame had spread throughout the land, so wherever he went, people flocked to him for healing. Picture the excitement when Jesus entered a town or village. Whether at the crossroads or in the marketplace, the people scurried about bringing their sick to him. When Jesus and his disciples arrived by boat at the shore of Gennesaret (Lake Galilee), the crowds gathered again, bringing their sick from far and wide. Their faith was so great that they were healed just by touching the tassel on his cloak (the tassels worn by observant Jews represented the 613 Laws of the Jewish Torah). Although the disciples had seen Jesus’ mighty deeds in the wilderness (vs 34-44), at sea (vs 45-51), and now in the villages, they still did not understand the full meaning of these events.
REFLECTING: Do I have more interest in seeing miracles than I have in knowing Jesus?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to have faith in your words and works.