Posted on 06/30/2007 8:47:21 PM PDT by Salvation
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Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Reading 1
1 Kgs 19:16b, 19-21
The LORD said to Elijah:
“You shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah,
as prophet to succeed you.”
Elijah set out and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat,
as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen;
he was following the twelfth.
Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him.
Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said,
“Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,
and I will follow you.”
Elijah answered, “Go back!
Have I done anything to you?”
Elisha left him, and taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them;
he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh,
and gave it to his people to eat.
Then Elisha left and followed Elijah as his attendant.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
R. (cf. 5a) You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.”
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Reading II
Gal 5:1, 13-18
Brothers and sisters:
For freedom Christ set us free;
so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.
For you were called for freedom, brothers and sisters.
But do not use this freedom
as an opportunity for the flesh;
rather, serve one another through love.
For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement,
namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
But if you go on biting and devouring one another,
beware that you are not consumed by one another.
I say, then: live by the Spirit
and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.
For the flesh has desires against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh;
these are opposed to each other,
so that you may not do what you want.
But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Gospel
Lk 9:51-62
When the days for Jesus’ being taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?”
Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.
As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him,
“I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus answered him,
“Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”
And to another he said, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”
But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead.
But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
And another said, “I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home.”
To him Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”
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Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. Like the Sacred Wounds of Jesus, His Precious Blood deserves special honor because of its close relation to the Sacred Passion. That honor was given to it from the beginning by the Apostles who praised its redeeming power. (Rom. 5:9 "we are justified by His blood"; Heb. 13:12 "and so Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people by His blood, suffered outside the gate"; 1 John 1:7 "and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.")
In recent times the devotion has been encouraged by Blessed Gaspar Buffalo, founder of the Congregation of the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. When Pope Pius IX was in exile from Rome in 1849, he had as his companion Don Giovanni Merlini, the third general of that Congregation. This saintly priest suggested to the pope that he make a vow to give the feast of the Precious Blood to the entire church, if he should regain the papal territory. Without binding himself by the vow, the pope immediately extended the feast to the whole Church. On the old calendar it was celebrated on July 1, but Catholics may still continue this tradition by increasing their devotion to the most precious Blood throughout the entire month of July.
See this article from the Catholic Culture library, Apostle of Devotion to His Most Precious Blood: St. Gaspar del Bufalo.
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
Devotion to the Precious Blood
DOCTRINE OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,And More on the Precious Blood
Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ
NOTHING IS MORE POTENT AGAINST EVIL THAN PLEADING THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST
FORMER PENTECOSTAL RELATES MIRACLE THAT OCCURRED WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD
Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
St.Gaspar:Founder of the Society of the Precious Blood[AKA The Hammer of Freemasons]
| First reading | 1 Kings 19:16 - 21 © |
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| The Lord said to Elijah, ‘You are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king of Israel, and to anoint Elisha son of Shaphat, of Abel Meholah, as prophet to succeed you’. Leaving there, Elijah came on Elisha son of Shaphat as he was ploughing behind twelve yoke of oxen, he himself being with the twelfth. Elijah passed near to him and threw his cloak over him. Elisha left his oxen and ran after Elijah. ‘Let me kiss my father and mother, then I will follow you’ he said. Elijah answered, ‘Go, go back; for have I done anything to you?’ Elisha turned away, took the pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He used the plough for cooking the oxen, then gave to his men, who ate. He then rose, and followed Elijah and became his servant. |
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| Psalm or canticle: Psalm 15 |
| Second reading | Galatians 5:1 - 18 © |
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| When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. My brothers, you were called, as you know, to liberty; but be careful, or this liberty will provide an opening for self-indulgence. Serve one another, rather, in works of love, since the whole of the Law is summarised in a single command: Love your neighbour as yourself. If you go snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces, you had better watch or you will destroy the whole community. Let me put it like this: if you are guided by the Spirit you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence, since self-indulgence is the opposite of the Spirit, the Spirit is totally against such a thing, and it is precisely because the two are so opposed that you do not always carry out your good intentions. If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you. |
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| Gospel | Luke 9:51 - 62 © |
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| As the time drew near for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely took the road for Jerusalem and sent messengers ahead of him. These set out, and they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him, but the people would not receive him because he was making for Jerusalem. Seeing this, the disciples James and John said, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?’ But he turned and rebuked them, and they went off to another village. As they travelled along they met a man on the road who said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go’. Jesus answered, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head’. Another to whom he said, ‘Follow me’, replied, ‘Let me go and bury my father first’. But he answered, ‘Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God’. Another said, ‘I will follow you, sir, but first let me go and say good-bye to my people at home’. Jesus said to him, ‘Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God’. |
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| Sunday, July 1, 2007 Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time |
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| Other Articles by Fr. Jerome Magat Printer Friendly Version |
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| The Deep Demands of Discipleship | ||
After rebuking James and John for their vengeful designs to obliterate a Samaritan village for its unwillingness to welcome Him, our blessed Lord encounters three men who seek to become His disciples. Their interactions with Christ give us insights into the nature and mission of authentic discipleship. Jesus' words are antithetical to the spirit of sensuality and comfort in which contemporary society is steeped. He reminds us that authentic discipleship is neither easy nor comfortable. It is not for the faint of heart or for the person who wants to love Jesus and the spirit of the world simultaneously. Discipleship is demanding and decisive. It requires a radical commitment.
The first potential disciple desires to follow Jesus wherever He goes. Jesus' reply that, "the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head," suggests that discipleship demands tireless work, self-sacrifice, and the proper disposition of belonging to no earthly home and yet possessing all that is necessary to accomplish one's apostolate. The true disciple is always on the move for Jesus -- willing to forego material and natural pleasures for the pearl of great price that awaits those who love God above all persons and things.
The second person desiring discipleship, upon receiving Christ's call to follow Him, makes the excuse that he must first go and bury his father. Jewish law required one to bury the dead. If a deceased relative was left unburied, the entire family would be rendered ceremonially unclean. Jesus' reply, "let the dead bury their dead," suggests that the "dead" -- those who will not share in the glory of heaven -- ought to bury the physically dead. In other words, a disciple of Christ must be willing to transcend earthly realities and leave all behind in order to serve God wholeheartedly. This vivid description is intended to stress a point, not to establish a new law of abandoning the dead and family duties. Here, Jesus shows us that nothing should be more important than following Him, no matter the cost.
The third potential disciple wants to follow Jesus but desires to say farewell to family and home first. Jesus replies starkly, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God." Here, Jesus warns us that any potential disciple must not rely on the safe and familiar in order to accomplish His work. A true disciple must be willing to put all of his trust in the Lord and depend solely on His grace and His mercy. Moreover, authentic conversion, which accompanies discipleship, requires that the penitent not look back on his past sins with a desire to return to his former way of life.
It is evident that discipleship requires a total commitment from the human person. He must be willing to sacrifice all of his possessions and his very life for the sake of the kingdom. While this may not require us to make the ultimate sacrifice of shedding our blood in martyrdom, it does require us to die to ourselves daily, becoming less attached to our opinions, possessions and our very earthly existence. Jesus makes the aforementioned remarks having set His face upon Jerusalem, determined to accomplish His divine mission. He asks us to follow Him unreservedly knowing that glory can only be ours through the experience of the Cross.
Year C- Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
No man putting his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God Luke 9:51-6251 And it came to pass that when the days were approaching for him to be taken up to heaven, he steadfastly took the road for Jerusalem. |
Great is the power of God and greatly blessed are those who have received it. Moses commanded the sea to open and it obeyed, the prophet Elijah commanded the heavens to pour down rain and they obeyed. Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 1 |
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| The two paths |
| Blessed the one who does not follow the counsels of the wicked, or stand in the paths that sinners use, or sit in the gatherings of those who mock: his delight is the law of the Lord, he ponders his law day and night. He is like a tree planted by flowing waters, that will give its fruit in due time, whose leaves will not fade. All that he does will prosper. Not thus are the wicked, not thus. They are like the dust blown by the wind. At the time of judgement the wicked will not stand, nor sinners in the council of the just. For the Lord knows the path of the just; but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 2 |
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| The Messiah, king and victor |
| Why are the nations in a ferment? Why do the people make their vain plans? The kings of the earth have risen up; the leaders have united against the Lord, against his anointed. “Let us break their chains, that bind us; let us throw off their yoke from our shoulders!” The Lord laughs at them, he who lives in the heavens derides them. Then he speaks to them in his anger; in his fury he throws them into confusion: “But I – I have set up my king on Sion, my holy mountain”. I will proclaim the Lord’s decrees. The Lord has said to me: “You are my son: today I have begotten you. Ask me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, the ends of the earth for you to possess. You will rule them with a rod of iron, break them in pieces like an earthen pot”. So now, kings, listen: understand, you who rule the land. Serve the Lord in fear, tremble even as you praise him. Learn his teaching, lest he take anger, lest you perish when his anger bursts into flame. Blessed are all who put their trust in the Lord. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 3 |
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| The Lord is my protector |
| Lord, how many they are, my attackers! So many rise up against me, so many of them say: “He can hope for no help from the Lord”. But you, Lord, are my protector, my glory: you raise up my head. I called to the Lord, and from his holy mountain he heard my voice. I fell asleep, and slept; but I rose, for the Lord raised me up. I will not fear when the people surround me in their thousands. Rise up, Lord; bring me to safety, my God. Those who attacked me – you struck them on the jaw, you shattered their teeth. Salvation comes from the Lord: Lord, your blessing is upon your people. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Reading | 1 Samuel 28:3 - 25 © |
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| Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned him and buried him at Ramah, his own town. Saul had expelled the necromancers and wizards from the country. Meanwhile the Philistines had mustered and pitched camp at Shunem. Saul mustered all Israel and they encamped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine camp he was afraid and there was a great trembling in his heart. Saul consulted the Lord, but the Lord gave him no answer, either by dream or oracle or prophet. ‘Then Saul said to his servants, ‘Find a woman who is a necromancer for me to go and consult her’. His servants replied, There is a necromancer at En-dor’. And so Saul, disguising himself and changing his clothes, set out accompanied by two men; their visit to the woman took place at night. ‘Disclose the future to me’ he said ‘by means of a ghost. Conjure up the one I shall name to you.’ The woman answered, ‘Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has swept the necromancers and wizards out of the country; why are you setting a trap for my life, then, to have me killed?’ But Saul swore to her by the Lord, ‘As the Lord lives,’ he said ‘no blame shall attach to you for this business.’ Then the woman asked, ‘Whom shall I conjure up for you?’ He replied, ‘Conjure up Samuel’. Then the woman saw Samuel and, giving a great cry, she said to Saul, ‘Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.’ The king said, ‘Do not be afraid! What do you see?’ The woman answered Saul, ‘I see a ghost rising up from the earth’. ‘What is he like?’ he asked. She answered, ‘It is an old man coming up; he is wrapped in a cloak’. Then Saul knew it was Samuel and he bowed down his face to the ground and did homage. Then Samuel said to Saul, ‘Why have you disturbed my rest, conjuring me up?’ Saul replied, ‘I am in great distress; the Philistines are waging war against me, and God has abandoned me and no longer answers me either by prophet or dream; and so I have summoned you to tell me what I must do’. Samuel said, ‘And why do you consult me, when the Lord has abandoned you and is with your neighbour?” the Lord has done to you as he foretold through me; he has snatched the sovereignty from your hand and given it to your neighbour, David, because you disobeyed the voice of the Lord and did not execute his fierce anger against Amalek. That is why the Lord treats you like this now. What is more, the Lord will deliver Israel and you, too, into the power of the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me; and Israel’s army, too, for the Lord will deliver it into the power of the Philistines.’ Saul was overcome and fell full-length on the ground. He was terrified by what Samuel had said and, besides this, he was weakened by having eaten nothing at all that day and all that night. The woman then came to Saul, and seeing his terror said, ‘Look, your servant has obeyed your voice; I have taken my life in my hands, and have obeyed the command you gave me. So now you in your turn listen to what your servant says. Let me set a little food before you for you to eat and get some strength for your journey.’ But he refused. ‘I will not eat’ he said. His servants however pressed him, and so did the woman. Allowing himself to be persuaded by them, he rose from the ground and sat on the divan. The woman owned a fattened calf which she quickly slaughtered, and she took some flour and kneaded it and with it baked cakes of unleavened bread; she put these before Saul and his servants; and after they had eaten they set off and left the same night. |
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| Reading | From a homily by Pope Paul VI |
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| We proclaim Christ to the whole world | |
| Not to preach the Gospel would be my undoing, for Christ himself sent me as his apostle and witness. The more remote, the more difficult the assignment, the more my love of God spurs me on. I am bound to proclaim that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the living God. Because of him we come to know the God we cannot see. He is the firstborn of all creation; in him all things find their being. Man’s teacher and redeemer, he was born for us, died for us, and for us he rose from the dead. All things, all history converges in Christ. A man of sorrow and hope, he knows us and loves us. As our friend he stays by us throughout our lives; at the end of time he will come to be our judge; but we also know that he will be the complete fulfilment of our lives and our great happiness for all eternity. I can never cease to speak of Christ for he is our truth and our light; he is the way, the truth and the life. He is our bread, our source of living water who allays our hunger and satisfies our thirst. He is our shepherd, our leader, our ideal, our comforter and our brother. He is like us but more perfectly human, simple, poor, humble, and yet, while burdened with work, he is more patient. He spoke on our behalf; he worked miracles; and he founded a new kingdom: in it the poor are happy; peace is the foundation of a life in common; where the pure of heart and those who mourn are uplifted and comforted; the hungry find justice; sinners are forgiven; and all discover that they are brothers. The image I present to you is the image of Jesus Christ. As Christians you share his name; he has already made most of you his own. So once again I repeat his name to you Christians and I proclaim to all men: Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega, Lord of the new universe, the great hidden key to human history and the part we play in it. He is the mediator – the bridge, if you will – between heaven and earth. Above all he is the Son of man, more perfect than any man, being also the Son of God, eternal and infinite. He is the son of Mary his mother on earth, more blessed than any woman. She is also our mother in the spiritual communion of the mystical body. Remember: [it] is Jesus Christ I preach day in and day out. His name I would see echo and re-echo for all time even to the ends of the earth. |
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| Hymn | Te Deum |
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| God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you! You, the Father, the eternal – all the earth venerates you. All the angels, all the heavens, every power – The cherubim, the seraphim – unceasingly, they cry: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts: heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!” The glorious choir of Apostles – The noble ranks of prophets – The shining army of martyrs – all praise you. Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you. – Father of immeasurable majesty, – True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship, – Holy Spirit, our Advocate. You, Christ: – You are the king of glory. – You are the Father’s eternal Son. – You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb. – You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you. – You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father. – You will come, so we believe, as our Judge. And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood. Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory. Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance. Rule them and lift them high for ever. Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever. Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us. Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you. In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Concluding Prayer |
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| O God, by your grace you adopted us and chose us to be children of light. Grant that we may not become entangled in error and shadow but always shine with the glory of truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
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Choosing Between Two Goods
Luke 9: 51-62
Introductory Prayer: Lord, help me to put aside all distractions and to give you my total focus. I will do nothing more important today than to prayerfully meditate on your goodness and your active role in my life. Though I am unworthy to be in your presence, I trust in your mercy and love. Through this moment of prayer I want to draw closer to you and learn to live more like you. Petition: Lord, may the attractive options that the world presents to me always pale in comparison with you. 1. Only One Thing Is Necessary Temptation is a choice between good and evil. But sometimes what is harder than making the choice between these two opposites is choosing between two goods. Such is the situation in which the would-be disciples in today’s Gospel passage find themselves. In such cases, we could say that a good occasionally becomes the enemy of what is best. One must then be prepared to say no to a good option in order to embrace the one thing necessary. In today’s Gospel, as well as in tomorrow’s, we encounter people who might have become Christ’s close followers, who might have even been chosen to be one of his Apostles, but they were held back by other concerns or motives. Each encounter highlights a different concern. 2. Patriotism Must Come Second The first incident is the encounter between the messengers of Jesus and the Samaritan villagers. It is likely that the Samaritan villagers had heard of Jesus the miracle worker and were anxious to see a sign or to hear him preach. But the concern that holds them back and keeps them from following Jesus is their patriotism. The Samaritans and the Jews had been bitter enemies for centuries and systematically avoided all unnecessary contact with one another. When they learned that Jesus and his disciples were Jews and were headed for Jerusalem, their interest became opposition. We would have to agree that patriotism and devotion to the national cause are both good things in themselves. But when nationalism or ethnic sentiments become the eyes through which one sees all reality, including spiritual and eternal reality, one is in danger of losing the proper perspective. 3. Once You Have Set Your Course, Don’t Look Back Let us consider the man who wants to follow Jesus, but wants to go and say farewell to his family first. We cannot help but feel that we would have done the exact same thing as this would-be disciple. Didn’t our parents teach all of us when we were young to keep them informed as to when we were leaving the house and when we would be back, and where we were going, and with whom? This man has high social and family values. One could only hope that all men could be this sensitive to let their families know their whereabouts at all times. Yet, before the urgent call of the Kingdom of God, social and family concerns take a back seat. “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). Conversation with Christ: Lord, I am distracted by so many things in life. Even though many of the distractions I encounter are legitimate, I must learn to keep my eyes focused on you and trust in you to take care of the concerns that arise in my life. Half-way surrenders do not interest you. You want all of my heart. Help me to overcome my weakness and trust in you, and never look back to the comfortable ways of yesterday. I want to follow you with everything that I am. Resolution: I will recommit to living wholeheartedly for God today, even though certain members of my family are likely to call me a “fanatic” or tell me that I’m “getting carried away.” |
Collect: Father, you call your children to walk in the light of Christ. Free us from darkness and keep us in the radiance of your truth. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
"Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." (Lk 9:58)
If we would truly follow Him, then we must embrace His humility, expressed outwardly in His humble earthly circumstances.
"The kingdom belongs to the poor and lowly, which means those who have accepted it with humble hearts. Jesus is sent to preach good news to the poor; (Lk 4:18; cf. 7:22.) he declares them blessed, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 5:3.) To them—the little ones—the Father is pleased to reveal what remains hidden from the wise and the learned. (Cf. Mt. 11:25) Jesus shares the life of the poor, from the cradle to the cross; he experiences hunger, thirst, and privation. (Cf. Mt 21:18; Mk 2: 23-26; Jn 4:6-7; 19:28; Lk 9:58.) Jesus identifies himself with the poor of every kind and makes active love toward them the condition for entering his kingdom. (Cf. Mt 25:31-46.)" (CCC 544)
The kingdom is ours through humility because we learn through this virtue to shun the desire for what is not ours and is thus not Gods will for us. "The baptized person combats envy through good-will, humility, and abandonment to the providence of God." (CCC 2554) As the Son loved and accomplished the Fathers will, so we seek as our mission in this life to do the same. Some will answer the call to poverty and some will not. But all are called to humility that the riches of Gods grace might be theirs.
The poor are blessed when with childlike simplicity they are content with what they have and the humility of their circumstances is simply the outward expression of the spiritual truth that all of us are most needy before God, from whom every blessing flows. We are all equal before God and all humbled before Him. All of us are sinners and therefore all in need of salvation. The way in which we use the good things of this life should walys be ordered toward salvation. My neighbors blessings can be mine as well if I will but allow myself to share in the rejoicing.
"Envy represents a form of sadness and therefore a refusal of charity; the baptized person should struggle against it by exercising good will. Envy often comes from pride; the baptized person should train himself to live in humility:
Would you like to see God glorified by you? Then rejoice in your brother's progress and you will immediately give glory to God. Because his servant could conquer envy by rejoicing in the merits of others, God will be praised. " (CCC 2540)Shunning envy opens the path of simplicity, a constant receptiveness to the presence of God within despite ones earthly circumstances. Though a vow of poverty is the easiest and surest way to simplicity in this life, all are called to the virtue of humility no matter their rank or station.
Our life of prayer, and in particular the prayer Christ Himself taught us, is offered in a pleasing way through the humility of childlike simplicity before God, "Our Father".
"Before we make our own this first exclamation of the Lord's Prayer, we must humbly cleanse our hearts of certain false images drawn "from this world." Humility makes us recognize that "no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him," that is, "to little children." The purification of our hearts has to do with paternal or maternal images, stemming from our personal and cultural history, and influencing our relationship with God. God our Father transcends the categories of the created world. To impose our own ideas in this area "upon him" would be to fabricate idols to adore or pull down. To pray to the Father is to enter into his mystery as he is and as the Son has revealed him to us.
The expression God the Father had never been revealed to anyone. When Moses himself asked God who he was, he heard another name. The Father's name has been revealed to us in the Son, for the name "Son" implies the new name "Father." (CCC 2779) (See also nos. 543, 545, 546, 557 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.)
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 62 (63) |
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| Thirsting for God |
| O God, you are my God, I wait for you from the dawn. My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you. I came to your sanctuary, as one in a parched and waterless land, so that I could see your might and your glory. My lips will praise you, for your mercy is better than life itself. Thus I will bless you throughout my life, and raise my hands in prayer to your name; my soul will be filled as if by rich food, and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice. I will remember you as I lie in bed, I will think of you in the morning, for you have been my helper, and I will take joy in the protection of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand raises me up. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Canticle | Daniel 3 |
|---|---|
| All creatures, bless the Lord | |
| Bless the Lord, all his works, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, you heavens; all his angels, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, you waters above the heavens; all his powers, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, sun and moon; all stars of the sky, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, rain and dew; all you winds, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, fire and heat; cold and warmth, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, dew and frost; ice and cold, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, ice and snow; day and night, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, light and darkness; lightning and storm-clouds, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, all the earth, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, mountains and hills; all growing things, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, seas and rivers; springs and fountains, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, whales and fish; birds of the air, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, wild beasts and tame; sons of men, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, O Israel, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, his priests; all his servants, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, spirits of the just; all who are holy and humble, bless the Lord. Ananias, Azarias, Mishael, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him for ever. Let us bless Father, Son and Holy Spirit, praise and exalt them for ever. Bless the Lord in the firmament of heaven, praise and glorify him for ever. |
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| Psalm 149 |
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| The saints rejoice |
| Sing a new song to the Lord, his praise in the assembly of the faithful. Let Israel rejoice in its maker, and the sons of Sion delight in their king. Let them praise his name with dancing, sing to him with timbrel and lyre, for the Lord’s favour is upon his people, and he will honour the humble with victory. Let the faithful celebrate his glory, rejoice even in their beds, the praise of God in their throats; and swords ready in their hands, to exact vengeance upon the nations, impose punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings in fetters and their nobles in manacles of iron, to carry out the sentence that has been passed: this is the glory prepared for all his faithful. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Short reading | Apocalypse 7:10 - 12 © |
|---|---|
| Victory to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ Praise and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and strength to our God for ever and ever. Amen. | |
| Canticle | Benedictus |
|---|---|
| The Messiah and his forerunner | |
| Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption. He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David, as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages: to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers, to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies – in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path, to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven. Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death; to lead our feet in the path of peace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. |
| O God, by your grace you adopted us and chose us to be children of light. Grant that we may not become entangled in error and shadow but always shine with the glory of truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
| May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life. |
| A M E N |
| Lk 9:51-62 | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Douay-Rheims | Vulgate |
| 51 | And it came to pass, when the days of his assumption were accomplishing, that he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem. | factum est autem dum conplerentur dies adsumptionis eius et ipse faciem suam firmavit ut iret Hierusalem |
| 52 | And he sent messengers before his face: and going, they entered into a city of the Samaritans, to prepare for him. | et misit nuntios ante conspectum suum et euntes intraverunt in civitatem Samaritanorum ut pararent illi |
| 53 | And they received him not, because his face was of one going to Jerusalem. | et non receperunt eum quia facies eius erat euntis Hierusalem |
| 54 | And when his disciples, James and John, had seen this, they said: Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them? | cum vidissent autem discipuli eius Iacobus et Iohannes dixerunt Domine vis dicimus ut ignis descendat de caelo et consumat illos |
| 55 | And turning, he rebuked them, saying: you know not of what spirit you are. | et conversus increpavit illos, dicens: Nescitis cujus spiritus estis. |
| 56 | The Son of man came not to destroy souls, but to save. And they went into another town. | Filius hominis non venit animas perdere, sed salvare et abierunt in aliud castellum |
| 57 | And it came to pass, as they walked in the way, that a certain man said to him: I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. | factum est autem ambulantibus illis in via dixit quidam ad illum sequar te quocumque ieris |
| 58 | Jesus said to him: The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests: but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. | et ait illi Iesus vulpes foveas habent et volucres caeli nidos Filius autem hominis non habet ubi caput reclinet |
| 59 | But he said to another: Follow me. And he said: Lord, suffer me first to go and to bury my father. | ait autem ad alterum sequere me ille autem dixit Domine permitte mihi primum ire sepelire patrem meum |
| 60 | And Jesus said to him: Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. | dixitque ei Iesus sine ut mortui sepeliant mortuos suos tu autem vade adnuntia regnum Dei |
| 61 | And another said: I will follow thee, Lord; but let me first take my leave of them that are at my house. | et ait alter sequar te Domine sed primum permitte mihi renuntiare his qui domi sunt |
| 62 | Jesus said to him: No man putting his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God. | ait ad illum Iesus nemo mittens manum suam in aratrum et aspiciens retro aptus est regno Dei |
(*) vv 55-56 "saying ... but to save" is not in the New Vulgate, taken from Clementine Vulgate
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| Other Articles by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph. D. Printer Friendly Version |
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| Put Your Hand to the Plough and Don't Look Back! | ||
1 Kgs 19:16b, 19-21 / Gal 5:1, 13-18 / Luke 9:51-62
A high-powered executive was waiting to board an airplane when suddenly, without warning, his flight was cancelled. He was furious, so he shoved his way to the head of the ticket line and demanded a first-class seat on the very next flight. The agent explained courteously that they'd be happy to help, but he'd just have to stand in line and wait his turn.
"Young man, do you have any idea who I am?" shouted the man.
The agent looked him up and down carefully, then picked up his microphone and said, "Attention, please. There's a gentleman at the ticket counter who doesn't know who he is. If anyone can identify him, please step forward."
+ + +
It's so easy to forget who we are, and where we're going. At certain points in our lives, it's all very clear. The young couple standing at the altar, the priest about to be ordained, the bright young man walking into his first class at law school: They know where they're going; they know there'll be a price to pay and they're ready to pay it. It's all very clear and very simple.
Then time passes, and the price begins to be paid — and paid, and paid! And the pay-off isn't as perfect and as consistent at they'd expected. The beautiful baby turns into a difficult teenager; the handsome groom loses his hair and his waistline; and after 10,000 sermons, the spirited preacher ponders the delights of taking the vow of silence!
Doubts and painful questions force their way to the surface: I didn't know it was going to be like this. Did I make the wrong choice back there? Is this going to go on forever? How do I get out of here?
Jesus understood this part of our human experience very well, this mid-course weariness that tempts us to look backward instead of forward, that blinds us to the new and deeper joys and possibilities that are within our reach here and now, this mid-course weariness that tempts us to give up, abandon our "plough," and walk away.
To hold to course and go forward without looking back involves letting go of many things — some of them very fine — but things we no longer need. That letting go can hurt, but it can make room for something more, something better. It can allow us the space to grow into entirely new ways of living and loving, and to do that right here inside our vocations as spouses, parents, friends, and pastors, to which we committed ourselves so long ago.
Like any good parent, God our Father wants to see us grow big and strong, especially on the inside. And He wants to see us happy. That will happen if we remember where we're headed and why we made our central commitments in the first place. It will happen if we let the Lord take our hand as we march forward with Him and don't look back.
Don't look back. It will only freeze you in place and embitter your soul. Instead, look forward, and look deep. You'll be amazed at what's waiting there for you!
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 109 (110) |
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| The Messiah, king and priest |
| The Lord has said to my lord: “Sit at my right hand while I make your enemies into your footstool”. From Sion the Lord will give you a sceptre, and you will rule in the midst of your foes. Royal power is yours in the day of your strength, glorious and holy; from the time of your birth, before the dawn. The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: “You are a priest for ever, a priest of the priesthood of Melchisedech”. The Lord is at your right hand, and on the day of his anger he will shatter kings. He will judge the nations, he will pile high their skulls; he will drink from the stream as he goes – he will hold his head high. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 113A (114) |
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| Israel set free from Egypt |
| When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob’s people from a land of strangers, Judah became his sanctuary and Israel his domain. The sea saw it, and fled; the Jordan flowed backwards at the sight; the mountains leapt like rams; the hills, like yearling sheep. Sea, what was it, what made you flee? And you, Jordan, why did you flow uphill? Mountains, why did you leap like rams? Hills, like yearling sheep? Tremble, Earth, at the presence of the Lord, the presence of the Lord of Jacob, who has turned the rock into a pool of water and made a fountain out of the flint. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Canticle | (Apocalypse 19) |
|---|---|
| The wedding of the Lamb | |
| Alleluia. Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, because his judgements are true and just. Alleluia. Alleluia. Praise our God, all his servants, and you who fear him, small and great. Alleluia. Alleluia. For the Lord reigns, our God, the Almighty: let us rejoice and exult and give him glory. Alleluia. Alleluia. The marriage of the Lamb has come, and his spouse has made herself ready. Alleluia. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Short reading | 2 Corinthians 1:3 - 4 © |
|---|---|
| Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, a gentle Father and the God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our sorrows, so that we can offer others, in their sorrows, the consolation that we have received from God ourselves. | |
| Canticle | Magnificat |
|---|---|
| My soul rejoices in the Lord | |
| My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour – me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from their thrones; but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. |
| O God, by your grace you adopted us and chose us to be children of light. Grant that we may not become entangled in error and shadow but always shine with the glory of truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
| May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life. |
| A M E N |
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Sunday, July 01, 2007 Meditation Luke 9:51-62 "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?" (Luke 9:54) We all know people who can rile us up and make us want to lash out in retaliation. But we all know that the best response is to try our best to forgive and move on—just as Jesus did. Whether we have suffered a small offense or a more serious insult, it is vital that we remember the One who is truly good. That’s the best way to help heal the pain and neutralize any desire for revenge. God loves us, and he is committed to making all of us good. God loves each of us, both those who hurt people and those who get hurt. It may be hard to accept this when we are the ones hurting, but no one ever said that mercy and forgiveness were easy. Just remember what it cost Jesus to win our forgiveness, and you’ll get a sense of how difficult it can be—and how highly God values it. The next time someone offends you in any way, remember that you too have been forgiven a great debt—and by Someone who is himself the Lord our Justice. None of us deserves mercy, yet we have been granted it freely and with no strings attached. In awe of the astounding love he has for us, we realize we are not worthy of it. He lavishes it not only on us, but also on those who want to harm us. This is not to say that we should automatically respond to mistreatment with a vague wave of the hand, as if it doesn’t matter. We will get hurt, and we will have to deal with our own pain. But we will save a lot of energy if we turn to our Father and let his mercy fill us and empower us to forgive just as freely as we have been forgiven. “Lord, in your mercy you have given me something I do not deserve. Teach me to show the same mercy to those who have hurt me.” 1 Kings 19:16,19-21; Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-11; Galatians 5:1,13-18 |
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Most people refuse to admit that they give "free rein to the flesh." However, most people in our contemporary American culture do indulge the flesh, contrary to God's command. The fact that the Spirit is stifled (Gal 5:17) and our souls are embattled (1 Pt 2:11) proves this conclusively. The Lord is aware that we're not concerned about our compromise with worldly desires. Therefore, He commands us to "make no provision for the desires of the flesh" (Rm 13:14). We are not only to control our flesh but crucify it (Gal 5:24). Jesus calls for uncompromised Christianity. We cannot serve both God and mammon (Mt 6:24). We must burn the bridges behind us as Elisha burned the things of his past when he followed the prophetic call (1 Kgs 19:21). When we make our move for God, there's no turning back. "Whoever puts his hand to the plow but keeps looking back is unfit for the reign of God" (Lk 9:62). If we give Sodom and Gomorrah even a backward glance, we risk turning into a pillar of salt, as Lot's wife did (Gn 19:26). Through the cross we have been crucified to the world and it to us (Gal 6:14). We do not play games with the flesh. Instead, by the power of the Spirit we strongly oppose it (Gal 5:17).One Bread, One Body
<< Sunday, July 1, 2007 >>
13th Sunday Ordinary Time
1 Kings 19:16, 19-21
Galatians 5:1, 13-18Psalm 16
Luke 9:51-62
View Readings
BURNT FLESH
"Remember that you have been called to live in freedom — but not a freedom that gives free rein to the flesh." —Galatians 5:13
Prayer: Jesus, may I be all Yours, totally sold out to Your kingdom.
Promise: "As the time approached when He was to be taken from this world, He firmly resolved to proceed toward Jerusalem, and sent messengers on ahead of Him." —Lk 9:51
Praise: Praise Jesus, Who totally trusted His Father through His death and resurrection.
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
| This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited. |
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 90 (91) |
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| The protection of the Most High |
| He will shade you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night. |
| He who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells under the shade of the Almighty. He will say to the Lord: “You are my shelter and my strength, my God, in whom I trust”. For he will free you from the hunter’s snare, from the voice of the slanderer. He will shade you with his wings, you will hide underneath his wings. His faithfulness will be your armour and your shield. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day; nor the plague that walks in the shadows, nor the death that lays waste at noon. A thousand will fall at your side, at your right hand ten thousand will fall, but you it will never come near. You will look with your eyes and see the reward of sinners. For the Lord is your shelter and refuge; you have made the Most High your dwelling-place. Evil will not reach you, harm cannot approach your tent; for he has set his angels to guard you and keep you safe in all your ways. They will carry you in their arms in case you hurt your foot on a stone. You walk on the viper and cobra, you will tread on the lion and the serpent. Because he clung to me, I shall free him: I shall lift him up because he knows my name. He will call upon me and for my part, I will hear him: I am with him in his time of trouble. I shall rescue him and lead him to glory. I shall fill him with length of days and show him my salvation. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| He will shade you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night. |
| Reading | Apocalypse 22:4-5 |
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| They will see the face of the Lord, and his name will be marked on their foreheads. There will be no more night: they will not need sunlight or lamp-light, because the Lord God himself will shine upon them. And they will reign for ever and ever. | |
| Short Responsory | ? |
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| Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. |
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| Canticle | Nunc Dimittis |
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| Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. | |
| Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace. You have fulfilled your promise. My own eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples. A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness; the glory of your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. | |
| Prayer | |
|---|---|
| Let us pray. Today we have celebrated the mystery of the Christ’s resurrection, and so now we humbly ask you, Lord, that we may rest in your peace, far from all harm, and rise rejoicing and giving praise to you. Through Christ our Lord, Amen. |
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| May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. |
| A M E N |
Prayers offered up for our country’s safety.
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