Reading I Responsorial Psalm GospelPosted on 07/11/2002 4:58:13 PM PDT by Salvation
Reading I Responsorial Psalm GospelReading I
Hos 11:1-4, 8e-9
Thus says the Lord:
When Israel was a child I loved him,
out of Egypt I called my son.
The more I called them,
the farther they went from me,
Sacrificing to the Baals
and burning incense to idols.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
who took them in my arms;
I drew them with human cords,
with bands of love;
I fostered them like one
who raises an infant to his cheeks;
Yet, though I stooped to feed my child,
they did not know that I was their healer.
My heart is overwhelmed,
my pity is stirred.
I will not give vent to my blazing anger,
I will not destroy Ephraim again;
For I am God and not man,
the Holy One present among you;
I will not let the flames consume you.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16
R. (4b) Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken.
From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power.
R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
Once again, O Lord of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see:
Take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted,
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
Gospel
Mt 10:7-15
Jesus said to his Apostles:
"As you go, make this proclamation:
‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse the lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts;
no sack for the journey, or a second tunic,
or sandals, or walking stick.
The laborer deserves his keep.
Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it,
and stay there until you leave.
As you enter a house, wish it peace.
If the house is worthy,
let your peace come upon it;
if not, let your peace return to you.
Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—
go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.
Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment
than for that town."
For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments and discussion.
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Our priest also talked about praying for vocations to the priesthood, priestly dedication with a righteous heart and even talked about celibacy. I was impressed.
| Feastday: July 11 |
St. Benedict, the Father of Western monasticism and brother of Scholastica, is considered the patron of speliologists (cave explorers). He was born in Nursia, Italy and educated in Rome. He was repelled by the vices of the city and in about the year 500, fled to Enfide, thirty miles away. He decided to live the life of a hermit and settled at the mountainous Subiaco, where he lived in a cave for three years, fed by a monk named Romanus. Despite Benedict's desire for solitude, his holiness and austerities became known and he was asked to be their abbot by a community of monks at Vicovaro. He accepted, but when the monks resisted his strict rule and tried to poison him, he returned to Subiaco and became a center of spirituality and learning.
He left suddenly, reportedly because of the efforts of a neighboring priest, Florentius, to undermine his work, and in about 525, settled at Monte Cassino. He destroyed a pagan temple to Apollo on its crest, brought the people of the neighboring area back to Christianity, and in about 530 began to build the monastery that was to be the birthplace of Western monasticism. Soon disciples again flocked to him as his reputation for holiness, wisdom, and miracles spread far and wide. He organized the monks into a single monastic community and wrote his famous Rule prescribing common sense, a life of moderate asceticism, prayer, study, and work, and community life under one superior. It stressed obedience, stability, zeal, and had the Divine Office as the center of monastic life; it was to affect spiritual and monastic life in the West for centuries to come. While ruling his monks (most of whom, including Benedict, were not ordained), he counseled rulers and Popes, ministered to the poor and destitute about him, and tried to repair the ravages of the Lombard Totila's invasion. He died at Monte Cassino on March 21 and was named patron protector of Europe by Pope Paul VI in 1964. His feast day is July 11.
Likewise, I was not so noble as Hosea, for I did get angry and out of control, not always listening to the Word of God with even common good sense, let alone, wisdom.
Any other thoughts here?
Sounds like going about life as usual, but with a little bit more intensity and passion for proclaiming the Gospel and being Jesus' hands and feet here on earth. Any other thoughts?
This is the essence of a true spiritual person. One who doesn't charge for healing abilities and insights which are Fruits of the Spirit. Of course there is a difference between those of us who make our livings working in the physical healing disciplines. I'm thinking of those individuals out there who may or may not be Christian, are blessed with supernatural gifts, yet give them to only those who can afford to pay. In my eyes, that's an affront to God.
I am getting so I really miss the noon Mass when we don't have it because of just that -- a breath of fresh air. Monday our priest is off (because of working the weekend) and Wednesday he goes up for the Tribunal hearings in Portland (and I am not motivated to get up and go to a 7:30 AM Mass at the Nursing Home across the street from my church!) LOL!
I met a lady at my church this last year during the discernment process for the Pastoral Council who is a massage therapist. She as much as told all of us that if we needed her, she would be there with her healing hands (after she got the cast off, since she had recently undergone carpul tunnel surgery.) What a gift from a true giver!
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