Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 07-02-17, Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 07-02-17 | Revised New American Bible

[Salvation]

July 2, 2017

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16a

One day Elisha came to Shunem,
where there was a woman of influence, who urged him to dine with her.
Afterward, whenever he passed by, he used to stop there to dine.
So she said to her husband, "I know that Elisha is a holy man of God.
Since he visits us often, let us arrange a little room on the roof
and furnish it for him with a bed, table, chair, and lamp,
so that when he comes to us he can stay there."
Sometime later Elisha arrived and stayed in the room overnight.

Later Elisha asked, "Can something be done for her?"
His servant Gehazi answered, "Yes!
She has no son, and her husband is getting on in years."
Elisha said, "Call her."
When the woman had been called and stood at the door,
Elisha promised, "This time next year
you will be fondling a baby son."

Responsorial Psalm Ps 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19

R. (2a) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The promises of the LORD I will sing forever,
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever;"
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
You are the splendor of their strength,
and by your favor our horn is exalted.
For to the LORD belongs our shield,
and the Holy One of Israel, our king.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Reading 2 Rom 6:3-4, 8-11

Brothers and sisters:
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death?
We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,
so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
we too might live in newness of life.

If, then, we have died with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with him.
We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;
death no longer has power over him.
As to his death, he died to sin once and for all;
as to his life, he lives for God.
Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as dead to sin
and living for God in Christ Jesus.

Alleluia 1 Pt 2:9

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation;
announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 10:37-42

Jesus said to his apostles:
"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,
and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

"Whoever receives you receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet's reward,
and whoever receives a righteous man
because he is a righteous man
will receive a righteous man's reward.
And whoever gives only a cup of cold water
to one of these little ones to drink
because the little one is a disciple—
amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward."

[Salvation]

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:  And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.  Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.  Hail Mary . . .  And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.  Hail Mary . . .  Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.  Let us pray:  Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.  "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28)   "Blessed are you among women,  and blessed is the fruit of your womb" (Lk 1:42).

[Salvation]

Zenit.org

To Love God Is Not to Go Against Man

XIII Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A – July 2, 2017

June 30, 2017Archbishop Francesco FolloSpirituality and Prayer

Pixabay.com - Foto-Rabe

Roman Rite

XIII Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A – July 2, 2017

2 Kings 4, 8-11, 14-16a; Ps 89; Rm 6.3-4.8-11; Mt 10: 37-42

Ambrosian Rite

Gen 6: 1-22; Ps 13; Gal 5: 16-25; Lk 17. 26-30.33

1) The primacy of Christ’s love – To love the neighbor in God.

The beginning of today’s Gospel: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; who loves son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me “(Mt 10:37) sounds incomprehensible, not to say inhuman. Also the following two verses: “Whoever does not take his own cross and follow me, is not worthy of me. Whoever has kept his life for himself, will lose it, and who will lose his life for my cause, will find it “(Mt 10, 38-39) are not easily understandable. If we reason like the Jews and the Greeks of two thousand years ago, we would consider these phrases of Christ foolish and scandalous.

Therefore, let us understand their wise rationality, taking into account what Saint Paul states: ” For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Cor 1: 22-25).

First, to have this understanding we have to ask Christ to send His Spirit to help us read the Scripture with the same intelligence and with the same love with which he has read “it” for his disciples on the road to Emmaus. With the light of the Sacred Scripture, Christ helped the two disciples of Emmaus to see the presence of God in the upsetting events of his condemnation and of death. Thus, the cross, which seemed to be the end of every hope, has finally been understood by them as a source of life and resurrection.

Secondly, bear in mind that the Gospel of today tells us that:

• the love for Jesus must overcome the love for father, mother and children (Mt 10, 37);

– the cross forms part of the sequelae of Jesus (Mt 10:38);

– it is necessary to lose life to be able to possess it (Mt 10, 39):

– Jesus identifies himself with the missionary and the disciple (Mt 10, 40-41)

– the smallest gesture (for example, offering a glass of water) done for the littlest of the little ones gets the greatest reward: Christ himself.

In the light of this, we can understand that the love for Christ is not antagonistic to love for our dear ones. Jesus does not ask to love them but to love them in Him.

To put it briefly: Christ tells not to prefer to God what God gives. Let’s look, for example, to the testimony of Abraham, to whom it was commanded to kill his only son. Abraham, between his son and God, chose God. “Therefore, even what the Lord gives you as the greatest thing, you must give to the One who gave it to you. And when God wants to take it away from you, do not break down, for you should love God for free. What better prize can we obtain than God himself? “(St. Augustine, Speech no 2, 4). With his alliance God “gave back” to Abraham his son. In fact, only referring to Him our human ties and affections find foundation and protection.

The Redeemer, who heals and sanctifies human love, elevates it in his heart. Giving the first place to the love for Him, our relationships are converted, healed and made true.

In the Paschal Cross, of death and resurrection, everything is reborn sanctified, even love between father and son, husband and wife. The primacy required by the Lord is the guarantor of every relationship freed from any idolatrous deviation: only God is God.

2) The Primacy of Christ’s Love in the family.

When the Messiah says that He must be loved by us more than our father and our mother, does not mean to erase the fourth commandment, which is the first great commandment towards people. We must not even think that, after doing the miracle for the newlyweds of Cana, after having consecrated the conjugal relationship between man and woman, after having resurrected the son of a widow and the daughter of a centurion returning them to family life, the Lord asks us to eradicate us from our loved ones.

Indeed, when the Redeemer affirms the primacy of faith and love for God, he does not find a comparison more significant than family affections.

The command to put family ties in the obedience of faith and of the covenant with the Lord does not mortify them. On the contrary, it protects them, releases them from selfishness, guarding them from degradation, and saves them for the life that does not die.

“When family affairs are converted to the witness of the Gospel, they become capable of unthinkable things that make us aware of the works of God, the works that He does in history like those that Jesus did for the men, the women and the children whom he met. A single smile miraculously ripped from the desperation of an abandoned child who begins to live, explains God’s action in the world more than a thousand theological treatises. One man and one woman, capable of risking and sacrificing for the son of others and not only for their own, explain to us things of love that many scientists do not understand any more. And, where these family affections are, there arise these gestures from the heart that are more eloquent than words. The gesture of love….. This makes us think “(Pope Francis).

Finally, besides asking us to love our dear ones in God, that is to live love in Love, in the today’s Gospel Christ teaches us that in order to do a gesture of love little is enough: “Whoever will have given just a glass of fresh water to one of these little ones, because he is my disciple, in truth I say to you, he will not lose his reward.” Every gesture of love and welcome, even the simpler, the less demanding, the one that apparently does not count, is not rated along the parameters of modern economy, utility, and performance, in the same way as that of a glass of water given to those who ask for it, if done with love and for love, will not lose his reward in front of God

3) The Primacy of Love in the Consecrated Virgins.

The teaching of Christ that is presented in today’s Gospel, can be summarized as follows:

1) If we love giving primacy to God nothing can separate us;

2) Everything has meaning in love when God is in the first place, even a glass of water.

At this point, it is right to propose the consecrated virgins as special witnesses of this primacy to be given to God. Theirs is the privileged testimony of a constant search of God, of a unique and indivisible love for Christ, and of absolute dedication to the growth of his kingdom. Without this concrete sign of consecrated virginity, the fire of charity that animates the whole church would risk to cool down, and the paradox of the gospel of the cross would run the risk of softening. These women bear witness that virginity allows a happy and true life, made of simplicity and humility, spontaneity and tenaciousness, gentleness and fortitude in the certainty of a faith industrious in charity.

To a humanity lost because of no real points of reference, the consecrated virgins, united with the love of God, are witnesses that vital adherence to their aim, that is to the living God, has truly unified and open, by integrating all its faculties, the purification of their thoughts, the spiritualization of their senses, the depth and the perseverance of their life in God.

In short, they witness, in a luminous and singular form, that the world can be transfigured and offered to God in the spirit of the beatitudes.

[Salvation]

http://www.theworkofgod.org/Devotns/Euchrist/HolyMass/gospels.asp?key=128

Year A - 13th Sunday in ordinary time

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul
Matthew 10:37-42
37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
40 “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
41 Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous;
42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple — truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” (NRSV)

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus
It is written: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul and with all your strength.” This commandment has been given so that you can be perfect in your love for God.

It is not as if you know how to love; it is that if you love God who is love, the love of God will live and you, and whatever you do will be done for the love of God. When you love your neighbor as you love yourself, the love of God is in your heart. When that love reigns in you, you don’t do things anymore for yourself but for the love of God.

When I say that to love someone in your family more than me makes you unworthy, I mean that nothing in the world, not even your own life must receive the love and the importance that the Lord your God must receive. I am above all creation, I am above all the treasures of heaven and earth, therefore if you really love me above everything else, you will come to know me as I am, you will make yourself worthy of my love and I will be attracted by your love, so much that I will live in you and you will live in me, therefore we will become one.

When you live entirely for me and place me above everything else, I will make you a fountain of love. From your heart will flow divine love that will touch the hearts of all those around you. You will love your family as never before, because your merciful love will be truly genuine, not just the love of the flesh. You will learn to love with my heart and you will love everyone with compassion and tenderness. All this you will do because you will attain the perfection of my love.

This is why you must carry your cross, accept your sufferings and abandon yourself to my will, so that you may die to the world. You must lose your life for my sake so that you can find your real life, you must become another Christ, one who will give his life for the rest of the world through love.

True love will be rewarded, and even if you give a cup of water in my name your will have your reward. Love grows when love is given, I am love, so let me live in your heart and give my love to everyone.
Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

[Salvation]

Archdiocese of Washington

Four Disciplines for Worthy Disciples – A Homily for the 13th Sunday of the Year

Msgr. Charles Pope • July 1, 2017 •

In the Gospel this Sunday, the Lord gives three important principles for a disciple. He also teaches on the concept of being worthy of Him. We tend think of being worthy as acting in a way that meets a certain standard, but the Greek word for “worthy” involves more than merely external behavior, important though that is. To be worthy of the Lord is to ascribe worth and give proper weight to who He is and what He teaches. Let’s take a look.

I. The priority of a disciple – The text says that Jesus said to His apostles, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.”

The Lord could not be clearer: we are to love Him more than we love anyone or anything else. There is to be no person or thing in our life that has greater importance than the Lord. So fundamental is the priority of our love and obedience to Him that it eclipses even the most fundamental relationships in our family. Our love and honor for our parents is very important; it is mandated by the Fourth Commandment: Honor your Father and your Mother. And yet, even it cannot overrule the most fundamental of all the commandments, the First Commandment: I am the Lord your God, You shall have no other gods before me.

Therefore, even the love and respect owed to parents and the love that parents should have for their children cannot be preferred to the love and obedience we owe to God. If a son or daughter, even while still a minor, were to hear a parent instructing him or her to disregard a clear teaching or commandment of God, the child would have to respond, “Sorry, Mom, Dad, but I love God more. I cannot obey you in this matter.”

The same is true for any other relationship. If a spouse, a sibling, a boss, or a government official were to try to compel us to act contrary to God’s truth and commands, the answer must always be the same: “I’m sorry but I cannot comply; I love God more. Even if I suffer at your hands as a result, I cannot and will not comply.”

The love of Jesus, who is Lord, supersedes every other love, respect, or honor due to others, be they persons, philosophies, nations, or political parties.

Truth be told, many Christians manifest greater allegiance to political parties, careers, and the opinions of men in general than to the Lord and His Church. Many prefer worldly thinking to what the Lord teaches. Many cave in and compromise to what others demand of them in order to ingratiate themselves to others, to gain access, or simply to preserve a false peace. Silencing the Gospel is never a recipe for true or lasting peace.

II. The Profundity of a Disciple – Jesus speaks strongly and says that such people as this are not “worthy” of me. As noted above, we tend to measure worthiness externally, by whether we live up to expectations of us. While this is proper, it overshadows the more internal dimensions that are the deeper part of being worthy.

The Greek word translated here as “worthy” is axios, and which is related to weights and scales. Most literally the word means “drawing down the scale,” and thus implies weighing as much or more than something else.

Internally, the concept of being worthy of the Lord here is that we assign a greater weightiness in our life to Him than to the passing treasures and trinkets of the world. We are to ascribe greater “worth” or “worthiness” to Him than to anything or anyone else. We take the Lord seriously. His teaching is to weigh on us and to carry a weight in our life. This internal disposition of being worthy of God produces the external behaviors that are worthy of Him.

The Lord paints a kind of picture for us to show that if we love anyone or anything more than we love him, the scales are tipped wrongly; we are not ascribing enough weight or worth to Jesus and are thus living in an unworthy way.

As we “size things up” in life and weigh the true importance of things, remember this: No person, no political party, no boss, no person at all who seeks our money, time, loyalty, or acquiescence ever died for us. None of them can ever save us, for none of them is God. If we esteem anyone or anything more than we do Him, then we are weighting His Blood and His saving love too lightly.

III. The passion of a disciple – The text says, … and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Every disciple must be willing to take up his cross; if he does so, there is ample reward. The Lord originally offered us paradise, but Adam and Eve wanted a better deal. Welcome to that better deal: Paradise Lost. In Paradise Lost, suffering is a reality. But suffering, by God’s gracious mercy, is also redemptive. The Lord teaches us that we must join our cross to His. Taking up the cross is a way of “losing” our life in the sense that it often diminishes our enjoyment of this earthly existence. But in dying to self and to this world, we find our true life: God and the things He offers!

It is interesting to note that we are often willing to take up crosses for worldly gain. We work hard for a paycheck or to earn a college degree. Why not then for the Lord? An old song says, “No cross, no crown.” The Lord asks of us no less than what the world demands for its trinkets. The Lord teaches that rewards far greater than worldly trinkets come with the cross He instructs us to take up. The Lord’s insistence on the need for the cross is not unreasonable, yet many of us bristle. Although we will gladly spend several years and a lot of money in order to obtain a college diploma, going to Church on Sundays or giving up some of our favorite sins is viewed as unreasonable, or just too much trouble.

In effect, the Lord demands that we take him seriously, that we give weight to His words and to His promise. If we dismiss His words lightly then we are not worthy of Him, if we do not give proper weight to His words then we do not take Him seriously. This is a bad idea because He who mercifully summons us now to His truth will one day be our judge.

Be worthy of the Lord. Give sufficient weight to what He says. Respect and obedience are the proper virtues for a disciple who accords worth (weight) to the Lord’s teaching and acts in such a manner.

IV. The prize of a disciple – The text says, Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.

The Lord promises reward if we get our priorities and passions right, if we welcome His word and give weight to what He says and who He is!

Even now, we can enjoy the fruits of God’s Word as we listen to His prophets and see our life change. In welcoming the Word in my life, I have seen many positive changes. I am less anxious, more patient, and more loving than before. I have greater wisdom. I have seen sins and sinful attitudes reduced and graces come alive. Word and sacrament have had their effect; accepting the prophecy of the Church has given me a prophet’s reward. How about you?

Further, the Lord says that He will reward every work of mercy by us, which is in effect a small share in the cross. We pray that God will forget our sins, but it is said that God will never forget the good things we have done and will never be outdone in generosity.

The Lord does not demand the cross without pointing to its reward. The cross ushers in the crown. Do you believe this? Do you take the Lord seriously? Do you give weight to and count as worthy the Word that He speaks to you?

[annalex]

Matthew
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Matthew 10
37.	He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me.	Qui amat patrem aut matrem plus quam me, non est me dignus : et qui amat filium aut filiam super me, non est me dignus.	ο φιλων πατερα η μητερα υπερ εμε ουκ εστιν μου αξιος και ο φιλων υιον η θυγατερα υπερ εμε ουκ εστιν μου αξιος
38.	And he that taketh not up his cross, and followeth me, is not worthy of me.	Et qui non accipit crucem suam, et sequitur me, non est me dignus.	και ος ου λαμβανει τον σταυρον αυτου και ακολουθει οπισω μου ουκ εστιν μου αξιος
39.	He that findeth his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for me, shall find it.	Qui invenit animam suam, perdet illam : et qui perdiderit animan suam propter me, inveniet eam.	ο ευρων την ψυχην αυτου απολεσει αυτην και ο απολεσας την ψυχην αυτου ενεκεν εμου ευρησει αυτην
40.	He that receiveth you, receiveth me: and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me.	Qui recipit vos, me recipit : et qui me recipit, recipit eum qui me misit.	ο δεχομενος υμας εμε δεχεται και ο εμε δεχομενος δεχεται τον αποστειλαντα με
41.	He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive the reward of a prophet: and he that receiveth a just man in the name of a just man, shall receive the reward of a just man.	Qui recipit prophetam in nomine prophetæ, mercedem prophetæ accipiet : et qui recipit justum in nomine justi, mercedem justi accipiet.	ο δεχομενος προφητην εις ονομα προφητου μισθον προφητου ληψεται και ο δεχομενος δικαιον εις ονομα δικαιου μισθον δικαιου ληψεται
42.	And whosoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.	Et quicumque potum dederit uni ex minimis istis calicem aquæ frigidæ tantum in nomine discipuli : amen dico vobis, non perdet mercedem suam.	και ος εαν ποτιση ενα των μικρων τουτων ποτηριον ψυχρου μονον εις ονομα μαθητου αμην λεγω υμιν ου μη απολεση τον μισθον αυτου

[annalex]

37. He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38. And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of me.
39. He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.

JEROME; Because of what He had said, I am not come to send peace but a sword, &c. that none might suppose that family affection was banished from His religion, He now adds, He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. So in the Song of Songs we read, Order love in me. For this order is needed in every affection; after God love your father, your mother, and your children; but if a necessity should occur that the love of parents and children comes into competition with the love of God, and where both cannot be preserved, remember that hatred of our kindred becomes then love to God. He forbids not to love parent or child, but adds emphatically, more than me.

HILARY; For they who have esteemed domestic affection of relations higher than God, are unworthy to inherit good things to come.

CHRYS. Yet when Paul bids us obey our parents in all things, we are not to marvel; for we are only to obey in such things as are not hurtful to our piety to God. It is holy to render them every other honor, but when they demand more than is due, we ought not to yield. This is likewise agreeable to the Old Testament; in it the Lord commands that all who worshipped idols, should not only be held in abhorrence, but should be stoned. And in Deuteronomy it is said, He who said to his father and his mother, I know you not; and to his brethren, You are strangers; he has kept your saying.

GLOSS. It seems to happen in many cases that the parents love the children more than the children love the parents; therefore having taught that His love is to be preferred to the love of parents, as in an ascending scale, He next teaches that it is to be preferred to the love of children, saying, And whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

RABAN. He is unworthy of the divine communion who prefers the carnal affection of kindred to the spiritual love of God.

CHRYS. Then that those to whom the love of God is preferred should not be offended thereat, He leads them to a higher doctrine. Nothing is nearer to a man than his soul, and yet He enjoins that this should not only he hated, but that a man should be ready to deliver it up to death, and blood; not to death only, but to a violent and most disgraceful death, namely, the death of the cross; therefore it follows, And whoever takes not up his cross and follows me, is not worthy of me. He had as yet said nothing to them respecting his own sufferings, but instructs them in the meanwhile in these things, that they may the more readily receive His words concerning His passion.

HILARY; Or; They that are Christ's have crucified the body with its vices and lusts. And he is unworthy of Christ who does not take up His cross, in which we suffer with Him, die with Him, are buried and rise again with Him, and follow his Lord, purposing to live in newness of spirit in this sacrament of the faith.

GREG. The cross is so called from torment; and there are two ways in which we bear the Lord's cross; either when we afflict the flesh by abstinence; or when in compassion for our neighbor we make his afflictions our own. But it should be known that there are some who make a show of abstinence not for God, but for ostentation; and some there are who show compassion to their neighbor, not spiritually but carnally, not that they may encourage him in virtue, but rather countenancing him in faults. These indeed seem to bear their cross, but do not fellow the Lord; therefore He adds, And follows me.

CHRYS. Because these commands seemed burdensome, He proceeds to show their great use and benefit, saying, He that finds his life shall lose it. As much as to say, Not only do these things that I have inculcated do no harm, but they are of great advantage to a man; and the contrary thereof shall do him great hurt - and this is His manner every where. He uses those things which men's affections are set upon as a means of bringing them to their duty. Thus: Why are you loath to contemn your life? Because you love it? For that very reason contemn it, and you will do it the highest service.

REMIG. The life in this place is not to be understood as the substance, (the soul,) but as this present state of being; and the sense is, He who finds his life, i.e. this present life, he who so loves this light, its joys and pleasures, as to desire that he may always find them; he shall lose that which he wishes always to keep, and prepare his soul for eternal damnation.

RABAN. Otherwise; He who seeks an immortal life, does not hesitate to lose his life, that is, to offer it to death. But either sense suits equally well with that which follows, And whoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.

REMIG. That is, he who in confession of My name in time of persecution despises this temporal world, its joys, and pleasures, shall find eternal salvation for his soul.

HILARY; Thus the gain of life brings death, the loss of life brings salvation; for by the sacrifice of this short life we gain the reward of immortality.

40. He that receives you receives me, and he that receives me receives him that sent me.
41. He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
42. And whosoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say to you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

JEROME; The Lord when He sends forth His disciples to preach, teaches them that dangers are not to be feared, that natural affection is to be postponed to religion - gold He had above taken from them, brass He had shaken out of their purses - hard then surely the condition of the preachers! Whence their living? Whence their food and necessaries? Therefore He tempers the rigor of His precepts by the following promises, that in entertaining the Apostles each believer may consider that he entertains the Lord.

CHRYS. Enough had been said above to persuade those who should have to entertain the Apostles. For who would not with all willingness take in to his house men who were so courageous, that they despised all dangers that others might be saved? Above He had threatened punishment to those who should not receive them, He now promises reward to such as should receive them. And first He holds out to those who should entertain them the honor, that in so doing they were entertaining Christ, and even the Father; He who receives me, receives him that sent me. What honor to be compared to this of receiving the Father and the Son?

HILARY; These words show that He has a Mediator's office, and since He came from God, when He is received by us, through Him God is transfused into its; and by this disposition of grace to have received the Apostles is no other than to have received God; for Christ dwells in them, and God in Christ.

CHRYS. A further reward also He promises, saying, He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward. He said not merely, Whoever receives a prophet, or a righteous man, but in the name of a prophet, and in the name of a righteous man; that is, not for any greatness in this life, or other temporal account, but because he is a prophet, or a righteous man.

JEROME; Otherwise; To this His exhortation to the disciple to entertain his teacher, there might a secret objection arise among the faithful; then shall we have to support the false prophets, or Judas the traitor. To this end it is that the Lord instructs them in these words, that it is not the person but the office that they should look to; and that the entertainer loses not his reward, though he whom he entertains be unworthy.

CHRYS. A prophet's reward, and a righteous man's reward, are such rewards as it is fitting he should have who entertains a prophet, or a righteous man: or, such a reward as a prophet or righteous man should have.

GREG. He says not, a reward from a prophet, or righteous man, but the reward of a prophet or righteous man. For the prophet is perhaps a righteous man, and the less he possesses in this world, the greater confidence has he in speaking in behalf of righteousness. He who has of this world's goods, in supporting such a man, makes himself a free partaker in his righteousness, and shall receive the reward of righteousness together with him whom he has aided by supporting him. He is full of the spirit of prophecy, but he lacks bodily sustenance, and if the body is not supported, it is certain that the voice will fail. Whoever then gives a prophet food, gives him strength for speaking, therefore together with the prophet shall receive the prophet's reward, when He shows before the face of God what bounty he showed him.

JEROME; Mystically; he who receives a prophet as a prophet, and understands him speaking of things to come, he shall receive reward of that prophet. The Jews therefore, who understand the prophets carnally, do not receive the prophet's reward.

REMIG. Some understand by the prophet here, the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom Moses says, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you; and the same also by the righteous man, because he is beyond comparison righteous. He then who shall receive a prophet or righteous man in the name of the prophet or righteous man, i.e. of Christ, shall receive reward from Him for love of whom he received Him.

JEROME; That none should say, I am poor and therefore cannot be hospitable, He takes away even this plea by the instance of a cup of cold water, given with good will. He says cold water, because in hot, poverty and lack of fuel might be pleaded. And whosoever shall give to drink to one of the least of these a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.

REMIG. The least of these, that is, not a prophet, or a righteous man, hut one of these least.

GLOSS. Note, that God looks more to the pious mind of the giver, than to the abundance of the thing given.

GLOSS. Or, the least are they who have nothing at all in this world, and shall be judges with Christ.

HILARY; Or; Seeing beforehand that there would be many who would only glory in the name of Apostleship, but in their whole life and walk would be unworthy of it, He does not therefore deprive of its reward that service which might be rendered to them in belief of their religious life. For though they were the very least, that is, the greatest of sinners, yet even small offices of mercy shown them, such as are denoted by the cup of cold water, should not be shown in vain. For the honor is not done to a man that is a sinner, but to his title of disciple.

Catena Aurea Matthew 10

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Apostle Paul Preaching on the Ruins

Giovanni Paolo Pannini

1744
Oil on canvas, 64 x 84 cm
The Hermitage, St. Petersburg

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Saint Oliver Plunkett

Fr. Don Miller, OFM

Oliver Plunket | Edward Luttrell

Saint Oliver Plunkett

Saint of the Day for July 2

(November 1, 1629 – July 1, 1681)

 

Saint Oliver Plunkett’s Story

The name of today’s saint is especially familiar to the Irish and the English—and with good reason. The English martyred Oliver Plunkett for defending the faith in his native Ireland during a period of severe persecution.

Born in County Meath in 1629, Oliver studied for the priesthood in Rome and was ordained there in 1654. After some years of teaching and service to the poor of Rome he was appointed Archbishop of Armagh in Ireland. Four years later, in 1673, a new wave of anti-Catholic persecution began, forcing Archbishop Plunkett to do his pastoral work in secrecy and disguise and to live in hiding. Meanwhile, many of his priests were sent into exile, schools were closed, Church services had to be held in secret, and convents and seminaries were suppressed. As archbishop, Plunkett was viewed as ultimately responsible for any rebellion or political activity among his parishioners.

Archbishop Plunkett was arrested and imprisoned in Dublin Castle in 1679, but his trial was moved to London. After deliberating for 15 minutes, a jury found him guilty of fomenting revolt. He was hanged, drawn, and quartered in July 1681.

Pope Paul VI canonized Oliver Plunkett in 1975.

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Reflection

Stories like that of Oliver Plunkett seem to fit history. “Things like that don’t happen today” is often our thought. But they do. False accusations, prejudice, anti-Catholic sentiments, racism, sexism, etc. are still an active reality in our day. Maybe a prayer to Saint Oliver for peace and justice may be appropriate.

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Information: St. Bernardino Realino

Feast Day: July 2

Born: Modena, Italy, in 1530

Died: 1616

Canonized: 1947 by Pope Pius XII

Patron of: Lecce, Italy

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Holy Spirit Interactive Kids: A Saint a Day

St. Otto

Feast Day: July 02
Born: 1060 :: Died: 1139

Otto was born in Swabia, present-day Bavaria which is in southern Germany and came from a rich family. He became a priest and entered the service of Emperor Henry IV. About then years later, Father Otto became Henry's chancellor.

Otto tried to convince the emperor to act fairly and to be reasonable when faced with decisions. But Henry did many wrong things, causing trouble and tried to split the Church into two groups. He even appointed his own pope. Otto felt very bad and did his best to help Henry change.

Henry IV then appointed Otto as bishop but Otto refused saying that only the true pope in Rome, Pope Paschal II had the power to do this. Henry was forced to agree and Otto traveled to Rome where he was consecrated a Bishop.

Bishop Otto became a great help to the people of Swabia, especially under Emperor Henry V. This emperor followed his father, Henry IV's bad habits. But although he was unkind and very strict, he respected Otto and often listened to his advice.

When King Boleslaus III of Poland conquered part of Pomerania in Prussia, he asked Otto to go there. The people there were pagans and believed in false gods. Bishop Otto welcomed the chance to tell them about Jesus and God's great love for people. A couple of years later, the bishop led a group of priests and catechists into Pomerania.

More people were taught the faith and more than twenty thousand people were baptized. Bishop Otto appointed priests to minister to the new Christians. He returned to his own country and then a few years later the people of Pomerania began to return to their old pagan ways.

When he heard this, Bishop Otto went back to Pomerania helping the people become fervent Christians again. He started more than twenty monastries, built churches and worked hard to heal the problems between the king and the pope. He died on June 30, 1139.

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CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Sunday, July 2

Liturgical Color: White

Today the Church honors the
Guardian Angels. Each person is
assigned an angel to help protect
and guide them through life. Pope
Clement X extended this feast day to
the Church in the 17th century.

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Catholic Culture

Ordinary Time: July 2nd

Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

MASS READINGS

July 02, 2017 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

O God, who through the grace of adoption chose us to be children of light, grant, we pray, that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Recipes (1)

• Beef with Peppers

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Activities (1)

• Why Celebrate the Liturgical Year?

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Prayers (2)

• Book of Blessings: Blessing of Travelers
• Book of Blessings: Blessing Before and After Meals: Ordinary Time (2nd Plan)

Old Calendar: Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Jesus said to his apostles: "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" (Matt 10:37-39).

Click here for commentary on the readings in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

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Sunday Readings
The first reading is taken from the second Book of Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a. The account of Elisha and the woman was a minor incident in the life of this prophet, who worked greater miracles, but it is narrated to show that God rewards those who are charitable to his friends. — The Sunday Readings

The second reading is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans 6:3-4, 8-11. St. Paul stresses that we are buried with Christ in baptism. We die with him to sin. Then we rise with him to a new life.

The Gospel is from St. Matthew 10:37-42. In the first part, Christ tells his representatives, his delegates the Apostles, and those who succeed them, that they must be prepared to undergo great sacrifices, even death itself, if called on to do so for the sake of Christ. Even though they had only a very vague idea then of what he meant, when the time came, they remembered his words and gladly suffered imprisonment, hardships, and finally martyrdom for Christ. This shows how the resurrection of Christ, and the descent of the Holy Spirit on them, changed them from worldly weaklings into fearless heroes. They had become convinced that Christ was the Son of God who had come on earth to bring all men to heaven. They came to realize how transitory, and unimportant, the few years of the earthly life were when compared with the eternal life of bliss to follow.

It was not only the Apostles who gave their lives gladly for Christ. There are thousands of martyrs who, during the first three centuries of the Church, not only accepted but welcomed death for Christ's sake, because they were convinced that it was the door to eternal life, the only life that mattered. Nor did occasions for martyrdom cease when the Church was granted freedom by Constantine, the first convert Roman emperor. Here and there, down through the centuries, the followers of Christ have been persecuted because of their belief in him, and many of us can be proud that we have had among our ancestors men and women who died for the faith.

Today, too, there are still those who are suffering a lingering martyrdom, worse than quick death on the scaffold, because they obey God rather than man. We can help them to persevere, by our prayers. We ourselves, who are free from any overt persecution, must show our gratitude to God for being allowed to practice our religion openly and without fear, by doing just this. We must live according to the convictions of our Christian faith. We are here in this world for a few short years, our real and lasting home is in heaven. We must keep this thought uppermost in our minds, in all our doings and dealings.

As well as carrying out our own personal duties, we must remember the spiritual needs of our fellowmen. They, too, need to go to heaven and anything less will be eternal disaster for them. We may not be able to preach, or teach them the truth of the Christian faith, but we can and must help all those who are doing so.

Remember our Lord's words today. He who receives or gives hospitality and help to a prophet will have the reward of a prophet. He who helps those who are preaching and teaching the message of salvation, the good news of Christ, at home and abroad, will himself share in the reward of these preachers and teachers. When we get to heaven, one of the many pleasant surprises awaiting us will be the gratitude we will receive from saints we've helped to send to heaven, people we never knew or perhaps thought about. We helped those who thought about them and worked for their salvation, and we thus have a share in their reward.

Remember Christ's promise: even a cup of cold water will not go unrewarded, every little helping hand we give to bring our fellowmen to heaven will help us, too, toward the same goal. Heaven is our real goal in life—it alone will satisfy all our desires and it alone will last forever.

Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.

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The Word Among Us

Meditation: 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Can something be done for her? (2 Kings 4:14)

In a farewell speech at the end of his September 2015 trip to the United States, Pope Francis told the people gathered at the Philadelphia International Airport, “Your care for me and your generous welcome are a sign of your love for Jesus and your faithfulness to him.”

That sounds like something Elisha the prophet would have said to the woman we meet in today’s first reading. She and her husband extended to Elisha an open invitation to come and stay with them whenever he was in town. They even went so far as to offer him a furnished room free of charge whenever he needed a place to stay.

Generous giving without expecting a reward seemed to be this family’s motto. And yet, even if they didn’t expect it, this elderly couple did receive a reward. Grateful for their hospitality, Elisha prayed, and God gave them a child.

Now, Scripture is clear that we are saved by Jesus alone, not by our actions. But it’s also clear that God rejoices when we give our time, our treasure, and our talents in service to his people. Our acts of generosity move his heart, and he responds by pouring out his grace.

Does this mean that we should try to be generous so that God will reward us? Not exactly. Our generosity is a response, a reflection of the good he has done for us. We give generously so that we can show the world what God’s generosity looks like. We go out of our way for people because we want to bring his love to them. This is why Pope Francis keeps urging us to give, to reach out, and to show God’s love.

So sit down today, and try to come up with some ways you can give more to the poor, serve more in your parish or community, or be a more loving witness to the people around you. Know that the Lord rejoices in whatever you do for him.

“Lord, show me how to be a witness of generous love.”

Psalm 89:2-3, 16-19
Romans 6:3-4, 8-11
Matthew 10:37-42

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A Christian Pilgrim

TAKE UP OUR CROSSES AND FOLLOW HIM

01 Jul

TAKE UP OUR CROSSES AND FOLLOW HIM

(A biblical refection on THE 13th ORDINARY SUNDAY [YEAR A], 2 July 2017) 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:37-42 

First Reading: 2 Kings 4:8-11,14-16; Psalms: Psalm 89:2-3,16-19; Second Reading: Romans 6:3-4,8-11 

The Scripture Text

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who does not take the cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:37-42 RSV)

In today’s Gospel reading the Lord gives some clear guidelines about the quality of love which He asks us to give to Him. The norm, He says, must be greater than the love we have for parents and children – that is, two of the most intimate and tender types of love. So we view the highest and best we humanly have to offer others, and know that our love of God must be more, although we can’t see Him face to face or throw our arms around Him. It is a love indeed, one intimately bound up with a deep and lively faith. We know that He opened His arms on the cross as far as possible to show for all time His tremendous love for us.

A bit further in the Gospel, the Lord says that we are worthy of Him only if we take up our crosses and follow Him. A cross normally reminds us of pain and death, but the messages of love and life are even more deeply imbedded in the cross of Christ.

We do not truly love one another if we only consider our own selfish interests. The kind of sacred caring of which Jesus speaks is very costly. Kindness, patience and trust do not come easily for most people. Real love does not stop at words but hands a cup of cold water to another in need.

Unless we carry a cross and follow the Lord, we are no worthy of Him. Since we want to be worthy of His love and trust, we should clarify what it means “to carry a cross”.

When we welcome an insignificant person and treat him with honor and respect, we are carrying a cross. That’s not too difficult. When we do our work well and uncomplainingly even though we don’t feel like it, that’s carrying a cross. When we suffer a terrible tragedy and still believe in God’s eternal goodness, we are carrying a cross.

Jesus left heavenly Father and earthly mother for us, and we were His cross. Our crosses are to carry whatever life hands us and to walk through this world back to Him. The cross is basic to Christianity. It signifies the present cost of living, of loving and of following the Lord.

(Adapted from Rev. James McKarns, GO TELL EVERYONE, pages 62-63)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, by faith I want to die to myself and live in union with You today. By Your Holy Spirit, apply the power of the cross to all that is fallen within me and empower me to live to please Your heavenly Father. Amen.

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Gospel Slideshow

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Marriage = One Man and One Woman Until Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for July 2, 2017:

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Mt 10:39) Christian discipleship and Christian marriage involve laying down your life in love and service. How can you die to self today to better love your family?

[Salvation]

Everywhere We Meet the Cross!

Pastor’s Column

13^th Sunday Ordinary Time

July 2, 2017

“Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

                  ---from Matthew 10:37-42 (this Sunday’s gospel)

All of us have periods of our lives where things just don’t seem to go the way we hope they will. We have to struggle with God’s permissive or active will… things he allows in our lives or chooses for us that we would not necessarily prefer! How true it is that in seeking to escape one cross we have encountered, we often run into a heavier one. Life for a Christian carries deep meaning in precisely those events we have voluntarily shared with the Lord, crosses accepted, even while we try to mitigate the sufferings that are inevitable in our fragile and temporal existence. Nothing is more true than these words from The Imitation of Christ, a wonderful little spiritual book. St Therese of Lisieux had most of it memorized!

                                                                    Father Gary

 

“Everywhere We Meet the Cross”

from the Imitation of Christ, St Thomas à Kempis

Book 2, Chapter 12

“No matter how you plan things and arrange them to your liking, you still will find something to suffer, either willingly or unwillingly, and so you will always find the cross.”

“If you reject one cross, be sure that you will find another, perhaps a heavier one.”

“Christ’s whole life was a suffering and martyrdom: and do you expect pleasure and enjoyment for yourself? You make a grave mistake if you look for anything other than suffering; for this mortal life of ours is full of misery and surrounded with crosses.”

“If you trust in yourself, you will never accomplish this, but if you put your trust in God, you will be given strength from heaven.”

“Prepare yourself, then, to suffer all kinds of adversities and inconveniences in this wretched life, for you cannot avoid them no matter where you go, and they will find you no matter where you hide. So it is in this life, and there is no avenue of escape except to keep yourself in patience.”

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Reflections from Scott Hahn

To Find Our Lives: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 26, 2017

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Download Audio File

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2 Kgs 4:8–11, 14–16  

Ps 89:2–3,16–19

Rom 6:3–4,8–11  

Mt 10:37–42

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The Liturgy this week continues to instruct us in the elements of discipleship. We’re told that even the most humble among us have a share in the mission Christ gives to His Church.

We’re not all called to the ministry of the Apostles, or to be prophets like Elisha in today’s First Reading. But each of us is called to a holy life (see 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:3).

At Baptism our lives were joined forever to the cross of Christ, as Paul tells us in today’s Epistle. Baptized into His death, we’re to renounce sin and live for God in Christ Jesus.

We are to follow Him, each of us taking up our personal cross, as Jesus says in today’s Gospel. That doesn’t mean we will all be asked to suffer a martyr’s death. But each of us is called to self-denial, to the offering of our lives in service of God’s plan.

Jesus must be elevated to first place in our lives—above even our closest bonds of kinship and love. By Baptism, we’ve been made part of a new family—the kingdom of God, the Church. We are to proclaim that kingdom with our lives, bringing our fathers and mothers, and all men and women to live as “little ones” under the fatherhood of God and the kingship of the Holy One.

We do this by opening our hearts and homes to the service of the Lord, following the Shunnamite woman’s example in today’s First Reading. As Jesus tells us, we’re to receive others—not only prophets, but also little children, the poor and the imprisoned—as we receive Christ himself (see Matthew 18:5; 25:31–46).

As we sing in today’s Psalm, we are to testify to His favors and kindness in our lives.

We’re to hold fast to the promise—that if we have died with Christ, we shall also live, that if we lose our lives for His sake, we shall find our reward, and walk forever in His countenance.

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"Whoever receives you receives me . . . receives the one who sent me."

(James Tissot) 

The Word for Sunday: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070217.cfm

Likely most of you have noticed more and more advertising for various companies which promise to test your DNA and your ancestral code in order to discover things about your past family connections you may have never known.  One add has a young man stating that he was surprised to discover, according to his DNA, that his lineage was not majority Italian but rather also contained a significant percentage of Irish .  By another, you may discover you have more DNA from Eastern Europe rather than from the Scandinavian Countries.  You may even uncover the fact that you are connected to one of our founding Fathers or some royal lineage you were unaware of.  It all makes for some intriguing connections that tie us together as a human family.  Such information may be helpful to some extent by connecting to distant relatives or it just may help us to feel less isolated and expand the blood line of our family descendants.  Once we discover these things, we would rarely want to hide them, unless you discover one of your ancestors was involved in some sort of shady behavior perhaps. 

However, in our Gospel this Sunday, Jesus makes a statement that is somewhat harsh and may seem dismissive of such important family connections: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me . . .” What about the importance of family life? Then he adds to the demand: “. . . whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me . . .” The audience to whom Jesus spoke would have been more than mildly disturbed for family was everything in ancient times.  This is why the parable of the prodigal son was so shocking since no Jewish son would ever treat his living father in that manner. 

Yet, while blood lines and family relationships are important, after all Jesus himself was born to loving parents and grew up in a family, the demands of discipleship are essentially at play here;  likewise, the measure of our loyalty to Jesus.  Do we follow him only when things are easy and comfortable or can we remain loyal as we share in his cross and the personal sacrifices demanded by our Christian way of life? As he prepares his disciples for mission he asks they weigh the level of their commitment to him and his Gospel. 

What we hear from our Lord this Sunday is that to be a true Christian, we must think beyond the limits which life imposes.  We would never be asked to renounce our family ties but the demand of Christian love and sacrifice must go beyond the familiar and comfortable.  The mission of the Church may demand somewhat of a physical detachment from family members or a re-prioritizing of our own lives beyond what is easy.  The Gospel must be preached to all and not just to those who agree with us.  Called as missionary disciples we are challenged to become witnesses to Christ in this world and there may be times that even our own family members disagree with us.  Can we still be loyal to the truth which Christ has revealed to us? 

It's interesting that we often hear from those in the RCIA process for example, that family members of those who seek to be baptized and in full communion with the Catholic Church do not understand their choice and in some cases may outright strongly disagree with their embrace of “those Catholics.”  It may even be a spouse who is uncomfortable or a son or daughter who wants nothing to do with Catholics.  It’s tough, of course, and somewhat hurtful.   Yet called to loyalty we are invited to seek the grace to be faithful members and followers of Christ and his Church. 

  

For example, in the world of Church ministry, we hear of something called “agency.” One great example of this would be those who work as the parish staff or school staff.  In other words, as we work together for the common good of all, we have to recognize as a “team” that we cannot all represent ourselves and our own personal interests.  For things to go well a common goal is identified; a kind of purpose, what we hope to accomplish through our efforts.  So, we collaborate together, each according to his ability and experience, for the same common goal.  Likewise we decide whose “agent” we are – who do I speak for and who or what do I represent?

In the end we are essentially agents of Jesus Christ and his Church.  When we decide on programs, ministries, how we do things collaboratively, we all keep in mind the same common purpose: to be agents of Christ in the world and to bring others to his Church: to announce the Gospel in a way that is welcoming and attractive.  In order to do this, I hear Christ inviting all of us to check our loyalties today.

In addition, we all who were “baptized into Christ,” as St. Paul speaks today, live a new life in him. And the demands of that life mean that what he asks of his disciples today, he asks of us as well.  Will you be my agent in the world? Can you put all other loves and attachments as less than your focus on me? This is not a demand that we leave our families behind but rather a challenge to make our position as his agents in the world, the framework by which we measure what we do. This kind of commitment to Christ and the Gospel, and by that to his Church, is a very real thing for many. Sometimes, it is particularly difficult at first.

So the readings, particularly our Gospel this Sunday, are not to disturb us but to remind us that as a Christian I can’t be simply lukewarm or wishy washy.  Faith is more than a title only but a profound life changing choice to follow the Lord who should be the center of my spiritual life.

As true agents of Christ, our Lord promises that our loyalty will be returned generously.  “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me . . .”

Our first reading from Kings, shares the great blessing received by the woman who had consistently shown the prophet Elisha hospitality.  Elisha was the prophet of God, the agent of God for whom he spoke, the woman welcomed him, and received the blessing of a child in her future.   

So, I may ask myself about where I stand in the measure of importance with the things of God and my spiritual loyalties.  Do I treat my faith as if it was a hobby or a life time commitment? Am I hungry to learn more or simply satisfied with what I know?  Is “Catholic” the Church I attend or the way I see myself in the world? Do I find myself behaving very “Christian” in public or when I attend Mass yet during the week I fall back into old patterns that are more harmful or certainly not productive for my faith life?  Am I simply a Sunday Catholic or do I allow the Gospel to frame the kind of person I am?  When my faith is challenged do I really stand up and be counted or do I hide in the safety of the shadows? 

Our Lord asks a great deal of those who believe in him.  We may feel at times that Catholicism and the Christian faith need to “loosen up” a bit.  Yet, Jesus’ words in the Gospel are still timely for us: “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” 

Our gathering to share in the Body and Blood of Christ is to receive a great act of love from the One who calls us to join his winning side as it were.  To follow Christ is to make a conscious decision which means that other priorities have to be measured against the Gospel. Still, after receiving so much from him how can we offer any less? 

“Go, and announce the Gospel of the Lord.”  

Suscipe

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, 

my understanding, and my entire will, 

all I have and call my own. 

Whatever I have or hold you have given me. 

I return it all to you and surrender it wholly

to be governed by your will.

Give me only your love and your grace,

and I am rich enough and ask for nothing more. 

- St. Ignatius of Loyola (16th Century)

[Salvation]

Regnum Christi

July 2, 2017 – Being Worthy of Me

02 Jul 2017

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 10:37-42

Jesus said to his apostles: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple–truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

Introductory Prayer: Lord, I wish to put aside all distractions and to give you my total focus. I will do nothing more important today than to meditate prayerfully 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, grant me a heart that is truly worthy of your presence.

1. Those Lose Their Life for My Sake Will Find It: The choice Christ offers is clear and stark. There is no middle ground. It is life or death for us. Moses was just as clear to the Israelites: “I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice, and cleaving to him; for that means life to you and length of days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). Is my greatest concern to gain the kind of life Christ is talking about, eternal life, for myself and those I love? Can I truly say I’m choosing life by cleaving to him above all else?

2. Giving Without Setting Conditions: Life with Christ demands a total surrender that is not nuanced with conditions, human calculations or personal preferences. Many have determined that they are giving enough to God, but they are still empty of him. They give, but they are not given. They only cheat themselves of a living experience of Christ and a love for his kingdom that would fill their heart and strengthen their spirit. I must labor never to let my decision for Christ decay into self-serving postures.

3. “…Is Not Worthy of Me”: Just as the High Priest of the Old Covenant could enter the Holy of Holies in the Temple only with the blood of sacrifice sprinkled before him, we are worthy to enter the divine presence only with sacrifice: Christ’s. When the soldier withdrew his lance from Christ’s side, the unstoppable fire of Christ’s charity broke forth, and the deflated heart of Our Lord taught a lesson that the world had never seen: the heart of a Christian is preserved by giving itself away; it is expanded when it has been completely emptied. Christ wants to enter into our heart, yet nothing makes us more worthy of him than our conscious effort to accept pains and sufferings for love of him. Self-denial, detachment, taking the harder path… these will not destroy us; they will vivify us.

Conversation with Christ: Lord, I know that my disordered passions and weaknesses lead me away from you. Help me to re-order my life. With your Sacred Heart as my light, I know I need not fear the loss of anything on this earth as long as I have preserved you in my life and mission.

Resolution: I will offer a special sacrifice in an area where I am often too indulgent.