Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 7-12-02

Reading I
Hos 14:2-10

Thus says the Lord:
Return, O Israel, to the Lord, your God;
you have collapsed through your guilt.
Take with you words,
and return to the Lord;
Say to him, "Forgive all iniquity,
and receive what is good, that we may render
as offerings the bullocks from our stalls.
Assyria will not save us,
nor shall we have horses to mount;
We shall say no more, ‘Our god,'
to the work of our hands;
for in you the orphan finds compassion."
I will heal their defection, says the Lord,
I will love them freely;
for my wrath is turned away from them.
I will be like the dew for Israel:
he shall blossom like the lily;
He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,
and put forth his shoots.
His splendor shall be like the olive tree
and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.
Again they shall dwell in his shade
and raise grain;
They shall blossom like the vine,
and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols?
I have humbled him, but I will prosper him.
"I am like a verdant cypress tree"—
because of me you bear fruit!

Let him who is wise understand these things;
let him who is prudent know them.
Straight are the paths of the Lord,
in them the just walk,
but sinners stumble in them.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-13, 14 and 17

R. (17b) My mouth will declare your praise.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
Behold, you are pleased with sincerity of heart,
and in my inmost being you teach me wisdom.
Cleanse me of sin with hyssop, that I may be purified;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.

Gospel
Mt 10:16-23

Jesus said to his Apostles:
"Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves;
so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
But beware of men,
for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.
Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel
before the Son of Man comes."

Let him who is wise understand these things;
let him who is prudent know them.
Straight are the paths of the Lord,
in them the just walk,
but sinners stumble in them.

These words reminded me of how many times I have been told in my own life to "shape up", "get with the program", desist from a path of resentment and depression, and just plain offer up my daily cross to Jesus in honor of His death and resurrection. Hopefully some of it (these admonitions) is starting to take root and bear fruit.

Lord, may I be moved to offer only praise and kind words today on the FRIDAY!

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-13, 14 and 17

R. (17b) My mouth will declare your praise.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
Behold, you are pleased with sincerity of heart,
and in my inmost being you teach me wisdom.
Cleanse me of sin with hyssop, that I may be purified;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.

When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

This part of this reading has always comforted me, that the words would be there when I am called to the ultimate test, and that Jesus would be there right beside me.

Any other thoughts or feelings here?

You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.

Is this happening in the United States right now? Not a total hatred is apparent to me just yet......................Catholics still seem to be accepted in the mainstream of society. But I wonder...............................................................................Will Catholics in America endure to the end?

Beyond the Word today at Mass was Father's homily wherein -- citing Hosea's faithfulness to his unfaithful wife, the prostitute Gomer -- he related it to God's unwavering love for us despite our wayward selves and noted that anyone who'd experience unrequited love in their lives probably has a deeper insight than most into the incomprehensible steadfastness of divine unconditional love as illustrated to a certain extent by Hosea.

In other words ... I was getting nailed again today at Mass. It's almost as if the "on point" nature of the readings and the homily are in direct relationship to my trying to get out of going sometimes.

Today, particularly. Had to make a stop by the rectory beforehand but could tell they'd gotten a late start, I was in time for the response as well as the Gospel so didn't rationalize today's trip over to St. Pat's as a "working" one.

Who am I kidding ... they're all "working ones" ... mostly ON me. =)

A partial commentary on today's Gospel from me.

16. Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.

16 ecce ego mitto vos sicut oves in medio luporum estote ergo prudentes sicut serpentes et simplices sicut columbae

The word "prudentes" is translated as "shrewd" in the New American Bible. The alternate definitions of "prudentes" add light to the meaning, i.e., foreseeing, aware, wise, prudent, circumspect, skilled, and versed.

The word "simplices" is translated as "simple" in the NAB. Likewise, the alternate meanings of the word shed additional light, i.e., natural, straightforward, frank, and sincere.

Doesn't that add a little something ?

Who am I kidding ... they're all "working ones" ... mostly ON me.

The same for me.

Today Father talked about perseverance, both in the Old Testament reading -- that God did not give up on His people and that we, likewise, should not give up on God. (I know, just rephrasing your steadfast statement.) LOL!

And then in the Gospel reading he cited the trials that the apostles endured and that many of us would endure or have endured in our lives. Perseverance, what a gift.

Personally I also think the Gospel speaks to the wise judgment we must exercise in our daily lives. People will try to influence us, but we still need to live by our righteous morals and beliefs.

Media, be alerted..............We do not believe everything you say or print. LOL!

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