01 July by marlon rante

01 July

wednesday

13th Week in Ordinary Time Bl. Junipero Serra Psalter: Week 1

Ps 34:7–8, 10–11, 12–13 The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

1st Reading: Gen 21:5, 8–20a* … Sarah saw the child that Hagar, the Egyptian had borne to Abraham, mocking her son and she said to Abraham, “Send this slave girl and her son away; the child of this slave must not share the inheritance with my son, Isaac.” This matter distressed Abraham, but God … said to him, “Don’t be worried about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to Sarah, because the race which is called by your name will spring from Isaac. But from the son of your servant I will also form a nation.” … Abraham rose early next morning and gave bread and a skin bag of water to Hagar. He put the child on her back and sent her away. … When there was no more water in the skin, she pushed the boy under one of the bushes, and then went and sat down about a hundred yards away, for she thought, “I cannot bear to see my son die.” But as she sat there, the child began to wail. God heard him and the Angel of God called to Hagar from heaven … Don’t be afraid. God has heard the boy crying. Get up, pick the boy up and hold him safely, for I will make him into a great nation.” God then opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin and gave the boy a drink. … Gospel: Mt 8:28–34 When Jesus reached Gadara on the other side, he was met by two demoniacs who came out from the tombs. They were so fierce that no one dared to pass that way. Suddenly they shouted, “What do you want with us, you, Son of God? Have you come to torture us before the time?” At some distance away there was a large herd of pigs feeding. So the demons begged him, “If you drive us out, send us into that herd of pigs.” Jesus ordered them, “Go.” So they left and went into the pigs. The whole herd rushed down the cliff into the lake and drowned. The men in charge of them ran off to the town, where they told the whole story, also what had happened to the men possessed with the demons. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their area.

oday’s Genesis story describes a lonely wilderness place, where Hagar and her son were sent. In wilderness, one experiences both the presence and the absence of God. When we find ourselves in the wilderness, we quickly learn that we are not alone. No matter what makes our life a wilderness, it can be lonely. But, in the wilderness, God does hear. When everything about us looks like wilderness and threat of death, God opens our eyes, and we see new life. Then again, we know that all of life’s stories don’t have happy endings. Some end in the deathly wilderness, without a sign of the life-giving water of new life. We can also recognize all the ways we alienate ourselves and retreat into places of isolation. But, in our despair, we must not shut God out of our lives or close our hearts to love. We must be comforted by God, who hears our weeping. In our prayer, we can sense God’s unconditional love. When we harden our spirits to avoid pain, we must pray to God for help to allow His penetrating love to break through our shell of self-protection.

1st Reading: Gen 22:1b–19* Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, … “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering.” … Abraham rose early next morning … and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He chopped wood for the burnt offering and set out for the place to which God had directed him. … Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. …As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke to Abraham, his father, “Father!” … “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?” Abraham replied, “God himself will provide the lamb for the sacrifice.” … When Abraham had built the altar and set the wood on it, he bound his son Isaac and laid him on the wood placed on the altar. He then stretched out his hand to seize the knife and slay his son. But the Angel of Yahweh called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” … “Do not lay your hand on the boy; do not harm him, for now I know that you fear God, and you have not held back from me your only son.” … “By myself I have sworn, … I will surely bless you and … All the nations of the earth will be blessed through your descendants because you have obeyed me.” …

thursday

July

13th Week in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 1

Ps 115:1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 8–9 I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.

Gospel: Mt 9:1–8 Jesus got back into the boat, crossed the lake again, and came to his hometown. Here they brought a paralyzed man to him, lying on a bed. Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralytic, “Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven.” Then some teachers of the Law said to themselves, “This man insults God.” Jesus was aware of what they were thinking, and said, “Why have you such evil thoughts? Which is easier to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? You must know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” He then said to the paralyzed man, “Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home.” The man got up, and went home. When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and praised God for giving such power to human beings.

ome believe that God wanted to test Abraham, which indicated that He did not intend him to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham’s faith in God was of such magnitude that he knew, if God told him to sacrifice his son, then God would be able to resurrect the slain Isaac. Such faith in God’s word and promise is regarded by many Christians as an incredibly significant and exemplary one. This episode shows how God works: both stories portray the participants carrying the wood for their own sacrifice up a mountain. And, just as Abraham shared his vision of sacrifice with his son, God the Father allowed people to go ahead and carry out the death of Jesus. Abraham’s willingness to his own son is seen as foreshadowing the willingness of the Father to sacrifice his Son. Also, since no struggle is mentioned in Genesis, a contrast is made between Isaac’s submission with that of Christ: the two of them choose to lay down their own lives to fulfill the will of God.

03 July friday

Thomas, apostle Psalter: Proper

Ps 117:1, 2 Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

1st Reading: Eph 2:19–22 Now you are no longer strangers or guests, but fellow citizens of the holy people: you are of the household of God. You are the house whose foundations are the apostles and prophets, and whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus. In him the whole structure is joined together and rises to be a holy temple in the Lord. In him you too are being built to become the spiritual sanctuary of God. Gospel: Jn 20:24–29 Thomas, the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he replied, “Until I have seen in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, the disciples were inside again and Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands; stretch out your hand and put it into my side. Resist no longer and be a believer.” Thomas then said, “You are my Lord and my God.” Jesus replied, “You believe because you see me, don’t you? Happy are those who have not seen and believe.”

aint Thomas was a pessimist. Some people rejoice to see a glass half-full, but Thomas saw it half-empty. He was full of courage; but he also possessed a streak of fatalism. On Good Friday, he had lost all hope as they hung his master on a cross on the Roman killing fields of Golgotha. Then again, Thomas…”Doubting Thomas”, as he is sometimes called…was the first disciple to put into words the truth that Jesus is both God and man. We Christians know that Jesus was divine; human, of course, but not only that: he was unique, the one human being in whom God was incarnate. Because of that, we must never lose hope! Forgiveness of our sins is found through our identification with Jesus’ self-sacrifice. We need to think of Christianity as more inclusive than any single doctrine. There have been many movements in human history, initiated by those simple but wonderful events in Palestine, centering around the person of Jesus. The older we become, the more we grow in wonder at the enormous and diverse effects in human history that can be traced to the teachings, the deeds, the death, and the resurrection of that one, single man…Jesus Christ!

1st Reading: Gen 27:1–5, 15–29* When Isaac was old…he called Esau, his older son, … “You see I am old and I don’t know when I shall die; … go out into the country and hunt some game for me. Then prepare some of the savory food I like and bring it to me so that I may eat and give you my blessing before I die.” Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. She took the best clothes of her elder son Esau … and put them on Jacob, her younger son. With the goatskin she covered his hands and handed to him the bread and food she had prepared. He went to his father and said, “Father!” … “It is Esau, your firstborn; I have done what you told me to do. Come, sit up and eat my game so that you may give me your blessing.” … “The smell of my son is like the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed. May God give you of the dew of heaven; and of the richness of the earth; and abundance of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you and nations bow down before you. Be lord over your brothers, and let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone that curses you and blessed be everyone that blesses you!”

saturday

July

13th Week in Ordinary Time Elizabeth of Portugal / Our Lady’s Saturday Psalter: Week 1

Ps 135:1–2, 3–4, 5–6 Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!

Gospel: Mt 9:14–17 The disciples of John came to him with the question, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast on many occasions, but not your disciples?” Jesus answered them, “How can you expect wedding guests to mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? Time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, then they will fast. “No one patches an old coat with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for the patch will shrink and tear an even bigger hole in the coat. Besides you don’t put new wine in old wineskins. If you do, the wineskins will burst and the wine be spilt. No, you put new wine in fresh skins; then both are preserved.”

e all operate on two levels of consciousness: the first consciousness, or the Esau personality, propels our physical life and focuses on the self. Its actions and desires are motivated by the quest for self-preservation and self-gratification. The second consciousness, or the Jacob personality, is drawn to its divine source, striving to become one with the all-pervading truth of God. When we have two distinct personalities living within the same body, it is hard to expect our inner workings to be an inviolable whole. Through prayer, reflection and meditation, an intense, divine energy can overcome our animal personality. The animal personality desperately needs the continuous guidance and discipline of its divine counterpart for cultivation and refinement. But, in this process, the animal personality grants the spiritual personality a boundless creativity and passion that it could never attain on its own. It is only through union that our twin personalities can reach their ultimate potential; and it is in our collaboration with God that we fulfill the objective for which we were created!

1st Reading: Ezk 2:2–5 A spirit came upon me as he spoke and kept me standing and then I heard him speak, “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a people who have rebelled against me; they and their fathers have sinned against me to this day. Now I am sending you to these defiant and stubborn people to tell them ‘this is the Lord Yahweh’s word.’ So, whether they listen or not this set of rebels will know there is a prophet among them. 2nd Reading: 2 Cor 12:7–10 However, I better give up lest somebody think more of me than what is seen in me or heard from me. Lest I become proud after so many and extraordinary revelations, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a true messenger of Satan, to slap me in the face. Three times I prayed to the Lord that it leave me, but he answered, “My grace is enough for you; my great strength is revealed in weakness.” Gladly, then, will I boast of my weakness that the strength of Christ may be mine. So I rejoice when I suffer infirmities, humiliations, want, persecutions: all for Christ! For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Ps 123:1–2, 2, 3–4 Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

sunday

Gospel: Mk 6:1–6 Jesus returned to his own country, and his disciples followed him. When the Sabbath came, he began teaching in the synagogue, and most of those who heard him were astonished. They commented, “How did this come to him? What kind of wisdom has been given to him that he also performs such miracles? Who is he but the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joset and Judas and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here among us?” So they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “Prophets are despised only in their own country, among their relatives and in their own family.” And he could work no miracles there, but only healed a few sick people by laying his hands on them. Jesus himself was astounded at their unbelief.

July

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 2

esus’ experience of rejection by his countrymen would foreshadow the events that would take place in Jerusalem at the end of His earthly ministry. Jesus would experience betrayal by one apostle and denial by another. He would be mocked by His own people who would cry out for His crucifixion. All this He would endure so that we might have life and have it to the full. We are never alone in our sufferings. Should we ever experience the anguish of being ridiculed or put down by family or friends, we are never alone. The Lord Jesus stands with us in our times of trial, giving us the grace we need to bear patiently with our suffering, never stooping to the same level as those who would cause us pain. Through the Holy Eucharist we participate in the saving death and glorious resurrection of the Lord. May the grace of the Holy Eucharist bring us forbearance and courage as we carry our crosses.

06 July

monday

14th Week in Ordinary Time Maria Goretti Psalter: Week 2

Ps 91:1–2, 3–4, 14–15ab In you, My God, I place my trust.

1st Reading: Gen 28:10–22a* … While Jacob was sleeping, he had a dream in which a ladder stood on the earth with its top reaching to heaven and on it were angels of God going up and coming down. And Yahweh was standing there near him and said, “I am Yahweh, the God of your father, Abraham, and the God of Isaac. The land on which you sleep, I give to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be numerous like the specks of dust of the earth and you will spread out to the west and the east, to the north and the south. Through you and your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. See, I am with you and I will keep you safe wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land and not leave you until I have done what I promised.” Jacob woke from his dream and said, “Truly Yahweh was in this place and I was not aware of it.” … Then Jacob rose early and took the stone he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. … This stone which I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me, I will give back a tenth.” Gospel: Mt 9:18–26* While Jesus was speaking, an official of the synagogue came up to him, bowed before him and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and place your hands on her, and she will live.” … Then a woman who had suffered from a severe bleeding for twelve years came up from behind and touched the edge of his cloak. For she thought, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned, saw her and said, “Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you.” And from that moment the woman was cured. When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the excited crowd, he said, “Get out of here! The girl is not dead. She is only sleeping!” And they laughed at him. But once the crowd had been turned out, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up. The news of this spread through the whole area.

oday’s reading from Genesis records what may be the world’s best-known dream: Jacob’s Ladder. It is the ladder to heaven, Jacob envisioned during his flight from his brother Esau. According to Jewish tradition, the ladder signified the exiles, which the Jewish people would have to suffer before the coming of the messiah. In the Christian interpretation, Christ is the ladder that bridges the gap between heaven and earth. The angels, going up and coming down, represent the providence of God, by which there is a constant intercourse kept up between heaven and earth. Christ is our ladder, the foot of the ladder on earth being His human nature, the top in heaven His divine nature. Christ is our ladder, the way by which we can climb to God, by which we can draw near to the throne of grace. We climb to heaven through Christ. By faith, we perceive Christ and in prayer we approach Him. And when our soul realizes these things, then every place becomes pleasant, every prospect joyful and filled with hope. All that we receive from God comes through Christ, Jacob’s Ladder, the great blessing of the world!

1st Reading: Gen 32:23–32 He took them and sent them across the stream and likewise everything he had. And Jacob was left alone. Then a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he could not get the better of Jacob, he struck him in the socket of his hip and dislocated it as he wrestled with him. The man said, “Let me go, for day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go until you have given me your blessing.” The man then said, “What is your name?” “Jacob” was the reply. He answered, “You will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have been strong-with-God as you have been with men and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “What is your name?” He answered, “Why do you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Penuel, saying, “I have seen God face to face and survived.” The sun rose as he passed through Penuel, limping because of his hip. That is why to this day the Israelites do not eat the sciatic nerve which is in the hip socket because the sciatic nerve in Jacob’s hip had been touched.

tuesday

July

14th Week in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 2

Ps 17:1b, 2–3, 6–7ab, 8b and 15 In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.

Gospel: Mt 9:32–38 Some people brought to Jesus a man who was dumb because he was possessed by a demon. When the demon was driven out, the dumb man began to speak. The crowds were astonished and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” (But the Pharisees said, “He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons.”) Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and he cured every sickness and disease. When he saw the crowds he was moved with pity, for they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the workers are only few. Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest.”

oday’s Genesis story is remarkably free of pretence. We see Jacob with his strengths as well as his flaws. There’s no attempt here to spin an idyllic story of the genesis of the nation of Israel. Jacob was flawed, yet nonetheless God chose him. God didn’t choose Jacob because he had an excellent character. At first, it is unclear who the man is who is wrestling with Jacob. It became apparent only through the course of the night that the man wrestling with Jacob was God, who has assumed human form. In fact, God probably initiated the wrestling match. When God chooses us, He often overturns customary ways of doing things. God doesn’t express concern about the flaws of people. God chooses to work in and through flawed people. Here, God stooped to encounter Jacob at his own level. He engaged Jacob with the kind of power that would not overpower. God chose to have a power that was in some sense comparable to the power that Jacob had brought to this moment. The implication is that, when God encounters us, He truly mixes it up with us. God gets involved in our lives in ways we cannot ignore!

08 July

wednesday

14th Week in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 2

Ps 33:2–3, 10–11, 18–19 Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

1st Reading: Gen 41:55–57; 42:5–7a, 17–24a* … So the sons of Israel were among those going to buy grain, for there was famine in Canaan. It was Joseph, as governor of the land, who sold the grain to all the people. When his brothers arrived they bowed before him, … Joseph recognized his brothers but did not make himself known and, instead, said harshly to them, “Where do you come from?” And they answered, “We come from the land of Canaan to buy grain for food.” And so he put them all in prison for three days. On the third day Joseph said to them, “I will help you to save yourselves, for I am a man who fears God. If you are sincere, let one of your brothers remain prisoner … and the rest of you take the grain to save your families from famine. Then you will bring back your youngest brother; so the truth of what you say will be proved and your lives spared.” They did as they were ordered and said among themselves, “Alas! We are guilty because of the way we treated our brother when he pleaded with us for mercy, but we didn’t listen. That is why this trouble has come upon us.” Reuben answered them, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy. But you did not listen and now we are brought to account for his blood.” Now they did not know that Joseph understood them as there was an interpreter between them. As for Joseph, he withdrew and wept. Gospel: Mt 10:1–7 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority over the unclean spirits to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew, the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon, the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, the man who would betray him. Jesus sent these twelve on mission with the instruction: “Do not visit pagan territory and do not enter a Samaritan town. Go instead to the lost sheep of the people of Israel. “Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near.”

oseph, son of Jacob, is famous for his coat of many colors and his ability to interpret dreams. Out of jealousy, his brothers had sold him into slavery, but was freed and became chief adviser to the Egyptian pharaoh. When his brothers came to Egypt to buy corn, it was Joseph, with whom they had to deal. He spoke harshly to them, so that they might repent of their misdeeds towards him. God sometimes seems harsh with those He loves, for whom He has yet great mercy in store. The role of our conscience is to bring to mind things long since said and done. Whenever we think we have had wrong done towards us, we should remember the wrongs we have done to others. When we share in others’ sufferings, it is essential that we have a clear conscience, so that we don’t compound the sins committed against our suffering fellows. With those who fear God, we may expect a fair deal!

thursday 1st Reading: Gen 44:18–21, 23b–29; 45:1–5* Judah then went forward and said, “My lord, allow your servant to speak. Do not be angry with your servant, although 14th Week in Ordinary Time you are equal to Pharaoh himself. … Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions You then told us that if our youngest brother did not come Psalter: Week 2 with us, we would not be admitted to your presence. All this we said to our father on returning there. So when he told us Ps 105:16–17, 18–19, 20–21 to come back and buy a little food, we said: ‘We cannot go Remember the marvels down again unless our youngest brother is with us.’ … Then the Lord has done. my father said: ‘You know that my wife had two children. One went away from me and has surely been torn to pieces … If you take this one from me and something happens to him you will bring my gray hair in sorrow to the grave.’ Now Joseph could no longer control his feelings in the presence of all those standing by and he called out, “Leave my presence, everyone!” And only his brothers were with him when Joseph made himself known to them. … “I am Joseph your brother, yes, it’s me, the one you sold to the Egyptians. Now don’t grieve and reproach yourselves for selling me, because God has sent me before you to save your lives.

July

Gospel: Mt 10:7–15 Jesus said to his disciples, “Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. You received this as a gift, so give it as a gift. Do not carry any gold, silver or copper in your purses. Do not carry a traveler’s bag, or an extra shirt, or sandals, or walking stick: workers deserve their living. “When you come to a town or a village, look for a worthy person and stay there until you leave. “As you enter the house, wish it peace. If the people in the house deserve it, your peace will be on them; if they do not deserve it, your blessing will come back to you. “And if you are not welcomed and your words are not listened to, leave that house or that town and shake the dust off your feet. I assure you, it will go easier for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than it will for the people of that town.”

oseph loved his brothers in spite of themselves. He let Judah go on and on and listened to all he had to say. He found his brothers humbled by their sins against himself. Now they were ripe for the comfort he offered, when he made himself known to them as their long lost brother. Joseph shed tears of tenderness and strong affection and, with these, threw off the anger, with which he had hitherto behaved toward his brothers. Christ is the great antitype of Joseph. He humbles us, even after we’ve had a taste of His loving kindness. He shows us our sins, so that we might repent and realize how much we owe to His mercy. Christ makes Himself known to us out of the sight and hearing of the world, and encourages us to draw near to Him with a true heart. Whereas we must be angry with ourselves for our sins, Christ is so armed against despair that we can rejoice in whatever God, through Christ, has brought about in our lives.

10 July friday

14th Week in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 2

Ps 37:3–4, 18–19, 27–28, 39–40 The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

1st Reading: Gen 46:1–7, 28–30* Israel left with all he owned and reached Beersheba where he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. God spoke to Israel in visions that he had during the night, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he said. “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I will go with you to Egypt and I will bring you back again and Joseph’s hand will close your eyes.”… And so it was that Jacob came to Egypt and with him all his family, his sons and his grandsons, his daughters and his granddaughters, in short all his children he took with him to Egypt. Jacob sent Judah ahead to let Joseph know he was coming and that he would soon arrive in the land of Goshen. Joseph got his chariot ready in order to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself, threw his arms around his father and wept on his shoulder for a long time. Israel said to Joseph, “Now I can die, for I have seen your face and know you are alive.” Gospel: Mt 10:16–23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Look, I send you out like sheep among wolves. You must be clever as snakes and innocent as doves. Be on your guard with respect to people, for they will hand you over to their courts and they will flog you in their synagogues. You will be brought to trial before rulers and kings because of me, and so you may witness to them and the pagans. “But when you are arrested, do not worry about what you are to say and how you are to say it; when the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say. For it is not you who will speak; but it will be the Spirit of your Father in you. “Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child; children will turn against parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever stands firm to the end will be saved. “When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. For sure, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

hen Jacob and his family moved to Egypt, Joseph met his father and his brothers after so many years of separation. He let the pharaoh know that his family has come to settle there. But Joseph was worried about how they would adapt. Time was when they contrived to be rid of him; now he was contriving to settle them, so that they could prosper as shepherds, the only way of life they understood. In this way, Joseph was rendering good for evil. An honest calling is no disgrace. There is only shame in being bone lazy, or not seeking to have something to do. The devil makes work for idle hands. Whatever we do, let’s do it well. Whatever employment God in his providence has allotted for us, let’s adapt ourselves to it and be satisfied with it. It is better to be the credit of a minor career, than the shame of a high one. If we wish to destroy our souls, or those of our children, then let us seek for ourselves, and for them, great things. But if we have sufficient food and shelter, let us thank God and be content with our lot in life.

1st Reading: Gen 49:29–32; 50:15–26a* … When Joseph’s brothers realized that their father was dead they said, “What if Joseph turns against us in hate because of the evil we did him?” So they sent word to Joseph saying, “Before he died your father told us to say this to you: Please forgive the crime and the sin of your brothers in doing evil to you. Forgive the crime of the servants of your father’s God.” When he was given the message, Joseph wept. His brothers went and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. But Joseph reassured them, “Don’t be afraid! … I will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he touched their hearts and consoled them. Joseph remained in Egypt together with all his father’s family. … Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am going to die, but God will surely remember you and take you from this country to the land he promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” … “When God comes to bring you out from here, carry my bones with you.” …

saturday

July

14th Week in Ordinary Time Benedict Psalter: Week 2

Ps 105:1–2, 3–4, 6–7 Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!

Gospel: Mt 10:24–33 Jesus said to his apostles, “A student is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master. A student should be glad to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If the head of the family has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of the family! So, do not be afraid of them. “There is nothing covered that will not be uncovered, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. What I am telling you in the dark, you must speak in the light. What you hear in private, proclaim from the housetops. “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but have no power to kill the soul. Rather be afraid of him who can destroy both body and soul in hell. … As for you, every hair of your head has been counted. So do not be afraid: you are worth much more than many sparrows. “Whoever acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. Whoever rejects me before others I will reject before my Father in heaven.”

t the end of his life, Jacob blessed his people according to the blessings God intended to bestow upon them. He spoke about the promise of God, that Canaan should be the inheritance of his seed. When he had finished his blessing, he freely gave up his spirit into the hand of God. Then, when Joseph saw his own death approaching, he also comforted his people with the assurance of their return to Canaan. The deaths of these two eminent patriarchs were truly excellent. Both furnish us with strong encouragement to persevere in the service of God. When death is upon us and we have trusted in God, we shall meet Him who is the strength of our heart. If God’s people are our people, death will gather us to them. Under the care of God, we shall lack nothing for body or soul. We shall remain unmoved until our work is finished; then, committing our souls into God’s hands, we shall depart in peace and leave a blessing for our children after us.

1st Reading: Amos 7:12–15 Amaziah then said to Amos, “Off with you, seer, go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there by prophesying. But never again prophesy at Bethel for it is a king’s sanctuary and a national shrine.” Amos replied to Amaziah, “I am not a prophet or one of the fellow-prophets. I am a breeder of sheep and a dresser of sycamore trees. But Yahweh took me from shepherding the flock and said to me: Go, prophesy to my people Israel.” 2nd Reading: Eph 1:3–14 Blessed be God, the Father of Christ Jesus our Lord, who in Christ has blessed us from heaven with every spiritual blessing. God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and without sin in his presence. From eternity he destined us in love to be his sons and daughters through Christ Jesus, thus fulfilling his free and generous will. This goal suited him: that his loving-kindness which he granted us Ps 85:9–10, 11–12, 13–14 in his Beloved Lord, let us see your kindness, might finally receive all glory and praise. and grant us your salvation. For in Christ we obtain freedom, sealed by his blood, and have the forgiveness of sins. In this appears the greatness of his grace, which he lavished on us. In all wisdom and understanding, God has made known to us his mysterious design, in accordance with his loving-kindness in Christ. In him and under him God wanted to unite, when the fullness of time had come, everything in heaven and on earth.

By a decree of Him who disposes all things according to his own plan and decision we, the Jews, have been chosen and called and we were awaiting the Messiah, for the praise of his glory. You, on hearing the word of truth, the Gospel that saves you, have believed in him. And, as promised, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit, the first pledge of what we shall receive, on the way to our deliverance as a people of God, for the praise of his glory.

sunday

July

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 3

Gospel: Mk 6:7–13 Jesus called the Twelve to him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over evil spirits. And he ordered them to take nothing for the journey except a staff; no food, no bag, no money in their belts. They were to wear sandals and were not to take an extra tunic. And he added, “In whatever house you are welcomed, stay there until you leave the place. If any place doesn’t receive you and the people refuse to listen to you, leave after shaking the dust off your feet. It will be a testimony against them.” So they set out to proclaim that this was the time to repent. They drove out many demons and healed many sick people by anointing them.

n sending The Twelve out into the world, Jesus instructed them to rely entirely upon the grace of God. They were not to bring items customary for a journey, not even money! Rather, they were to place their complete trust in God who would provide for all of their needs. This vivid image of the apostles going in pairs out into the world with firm reliance upon the help of God should be of consolation to us as we strive to put into practice the faith we profess, as we strive to accomplish the Lord’s will in our daily living. God does have a plan for our lives, a plan that He fully intends to accomplish through us. We can count upon Him to give us the means by which to live good and holy lives, bearing fruit in abundance through our words and deeds. As we are nourished this day at the sacrificial banquet of the Holy Eucharist, may we find reassurance that the Lord gives us all that we need when He gives us the precious gift of His Body and Blood.

13 July

monday

1st Reading: Ex 1:8–14, 22* Then a new king who had not known Joseph came to 15th Week in Ordinary Time power and said to his people, “The Israelites are more Henry numerous and stronger than we are. Let us deal warily with Psalter: Week 3 them lest they increase still more and, in case of war, side with our enemy, fight against us and escape from the land.” So Ps 124:1b–3, 4–6, 7–8 they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced Our help is in the name of the Lord. labor. … But the more they oppressed the Hebrews the more they increased and spread, until the Egyptians dreaded the Israelites and became ruthless in making them work. They made life bitter for them in hard labor with bricks and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields. In all their work the Egyptians treated them harshly. Pharaoh then gave this order to all the people: “Every infant boy born to the Hebrews must be thrown into the Nile, but every girl may live.” Gospel: Mt 10:34—11:1* Jesus said to his apostles, “Do not think that I have come to establish peace on earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father and daughter against her mother; a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. … “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 come after me is not worthy of me. One who wants to benefit from his life will lose it; one who loses his life for my sake will find it. “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes him who sent me. The one who welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive the reward of a prophet; the one who welcomes a just man because he is a just man will receive the reward of a just man. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones, because he is a disciple of mine, I assure you, he will not go unrewarded.” …

he land of Egypt had become for Israel a house of bondage, where the Egyptians tried to destroy Israel by murdering their children. The Egyptians feared that the children of Israel would join their enemies and drive them out of the land. God’s people had hard taskmasters set over them, to burden them and afflict them with every manner of hardship. They became slaves in the service of the pharaoh. But, despite the fact that their lives had become bitter, the Israelites increased wonderfully. The place where we have been happy, can become a place of affliction and can become the greatest cross for us to bear. The main offence of the Israelites was that they prospered. There is no sight more hateful to a wicked person than the prosperity of the righteous. Christianity has always spread most when it was persecuted. The enemies, who attempt to destroy the Church, are busy trying to stifle the rise of serious reflections in our hearts. Let those, who would escape hardship, nevertheless be afraid of sinning and cry fervently to God for assistance. Our great care must be to love God and to transform our life and work into labors of love.

1st Reading: Ex 2:1–15a* … Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe in the Nile; …When she saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maidservant to fetch it. She opened the basket and saw the child … She felt sorry for him, for she thought: “This is one of the Hebrew children.” Then the sister of the child said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” Pharaoh’s daughter agreed. … So the woman took the child and nursed him and, when the child had grown, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter who adopted him as her son. And she named him Moses to recall that she had drawn him out of the water. After a fairly long time, Moses, by now a grown man, wanted to meet his fellow Hebrews. He noticed how heavily they were burdened and he saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew … He looked around and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When he went out the next day he saw two Hebrews quarreling. Moses said to the man in the wrong, “Why are you striking a fellow countryman?” But he answered, “Who has set you prince and judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must be known.” When Pharaoh heard about it he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian.

tuesday

July

15th Week in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 3

Ps 69:3, 14, 30–31, 33–34 Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.

Gospel: Mt 11:20–24 Jesus began to denounce the cities in which he had performed most of his miracles, because the people there did not change their ways, “Alas for you Chorazin and Bethsaida! If the miracles worked in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I assure you, for Tyre and Sidon it will be more bearable on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? You will be thrown down to the place of the dead! For if the miracles which were performed in you had taken place in Sodom, it would still be there today! But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

rom an early age, Moses was bold in championing the cause of God’s people in exile, the Israelites. All his deeds pointed towards his readiness to leave behind the honors, wealth, and pleasures of his rank among the Egyptians. He was willing, to risk and to suffer persecution for the sake of Israel. Moses also tried to end a dispute between two of the Israelites. The rebuke that he gave to them can still be applied to those who, divide and weaken the Church. They tend to forget that they are members of the same community under God. It is often a sign of guilt to get angry at a rebuke. People don’t realize what enemies they are to themselves, when they resist rebuke. If disputation was the only spirit of the Israelites, Moses could have decided to go back to court and be the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. We must be careful that we aren’t setting ourselves against the people of God by our peevishness. It is always wise to accept life on God’s terms!

15 July

wednesday

15th Week in Ordinary Time Bonaventure Psalter: Week 3

Ps 103:1b–2, 3–4, 6–7 The Lord is kind and merciful.

1st Reading: Ex 3:1–6, 9–12 Moses pastured the sheep of Jethro, his father-in-law, priest of Midian. One day he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the Mountain of God. The Angel of Yahweh appeared to him by means of a flame of fire in the middle of a bush. Moses saw that although the bush was on fire it did not burn up. Moses thought, “I will go and see this amazing sight, why is the bush not burning up?” Yahweh saw that Moses was drawing near to look, and God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” He replied, “Here I am.” Yahweh said to him, “Do not come near; take off your sandals because the place where you are standing is holy ground.” And God continued, “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face lest his eyes look on God. The cry of the sons of Israel has reached me and I have seen how the Egyptians oppress them. Go now! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the people of Israel out of Egypt?” God replied, “I will be with you and this will be the sign that I have sent you. When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” Gospel: Mt 11:25–27 On one occasion Jesus said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I praise you, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to simple people. Yes, Father, this is what pleased you. “Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

ne day Moses saw something very unusual. He saw a bush that appeared to be on fire, but it wasn’t burning down. Moses was afraid because he realized it was God speaking to him. God was calling him to service. He wanted Moses to be the leader of the Israelites and take them away from slavery in Egypt to serve God in the Promised land. Moses made excuses but finally he realized he could not turn down God’s call to serve Him. As Christians, we are called to serve God. We can make excuses and disappoint God, or we can do all we can to serve Him. Some Christians are called into special areas of work for God and become pastors or missionaries. But, every Christian is called by God to serve him at home, at school, at work or play. We can serve God no matter where we are. When we approach God, we recognize His greatness, His holiness, His authority. When God gives us an assignment, He provides the resources and strength we need. It’s not just up to us. It is God who does the work, through us. Moses didn’t free Israel, God did!

1st Reading: Ex 3:13–20 Moses answered God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them: ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ they will ask me: ‘What is his name?’ What shall I answer them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO AM. This is what you will say to the sons of Israel: ‘I AM sent me to you.” God then said to Moses, “You will say to the Israelites: ‘YAHWEH, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me.’ That will be my name forever, and by this name they shall call upon me for all generations to come. Go! Call together the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob appeared to me and said: I have seen and taken account of how the Egyptians have treated you, and I mean to bring you out of all this oppression in Egypt and take you to the land of the Canaanites, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ The elders of Israel will listen to you and, with them, you shall go to the palace of the king of Egypt and say to him: ‘The God of the Hebrews, Yahweh, has met with us. Now let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to Yahweh our God.’ I well know that the king of the Egyptians will not allow you to go unless he is forced to do so. I will therefore stretch out my hand and strike Egypt in extraordinary ways, after which he will let you go.

thursday

July

15th Week in Ordinary Time Our Lady of Mount Carmel Psalter: Week 3

Ps 105:1 and 5, 8–9, 24–25, 26–27 The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Gospel: Mt 11:28–30 Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who work hard and who carry heavy burdens and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest. For my yoke is good and my burden is light.”

oses, thinking himself able to deliver Israel out of bondage, set himself to the work too hastily. His self-confidence was mingled with great zeal, before he came to his senses. All of his objections were answered by God, who promised to be with him at all times. After Moses, God would be known by the name: I AM WHO AM. This name still signifies that God is self-existent. He is eternal and unchangeable, always the same, yesterday, today and forever. Here was a name that denoted what God meant to his people. It was up to Moses to revive among them their faith in God, which had almost been lost by them. But, Moses was in a classic good news/ bad news situation: the good news was that God was going to do something about the Israelites; the bad news was that God wanted Moses to take charge. That’s how God is: when He confronts us, God isn’t going to bring up a lot of things that we’ve never thought about. We know what the subject is going to be: it will be a matter of just how well we have lived as Christians, hating the sin, but loving the sinner!

17 July friday

15th Week in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 3

Ps 116:12–13, 15 and 16bc, 17–18 I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

1st Reading: Ex 11:10—12:14* … Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt and said, … On the tenth day of this month let each family take a lamb, a lamb for each house. … You will select a perfect lamb without blemish, a male born during the present year, taken from the sheep or goats. Then you will keep it until the fourteenth day of the month. On that evening all the people will slaughter their lambs and take some of the blood to put on the doorposts and on top of the doorframes of the houses where you eat. … Do not eat the meat lightly cooked or boiled in water but roasted entirely over the fire—the head, the legs and the inner parts. Do not leave any of it until the morning. If any is left till morning, burn it in the fire. … On that night I shall go through Egypt and strike every firstborn in Egypt, men and animals; and I will even bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt, I, Yahweh! The blood on your houses will be the sign that you are there. I will see the blood and pass over you; and you will escape the mortal plague when I strike Egypt. … Gospel: Mt 12:1–8 It happened that Jesus walked through the wheat fields on a sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and began to pick some heads of wheat and crush them to eat the grain. When the Pharisees noticed this, they said to Jesus, “Look at your disciples; they are doing what is prohibited on the sabbath!” Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and his men were hungry? He went into the house of God, and they ate the bread offered to God, although neither he nor his men had the right to eat it, but only the priests. And have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the Temple break the Sabbath rest, yet they are not guilty? “I tell you, there is greater than the Temple here. If you really knew the meaning of the words: It is mercy I want, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. “Besides the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

assover is one of the most important festivals in the Jewish year. At this time Jews remember how the children of Israel left slavery behind them when they left Egypt. God told Moses that they should mark their doorposts with lamb’s blood, so that God could ‘pass over’ their houses. This is why the festival is called Passover. They left Egypt in such a rush that their bread didn’t have time to rise. This is why, during Passover, Jews eat unleavened bread called Matzah. On the evening before Passover, a special service called a Seder (‘Order’) takes place over a meal around a table at home. Wine, symbolizing joy, freedom and happiness is drunk. An extra goblet is provided for Elijah, the forerunner of the Messiah, and, at one point, the front door is opened to greet him. The story of the Israelites fleeing from Egypt is retold from a book called the Haggadah (‘Narration’). Everyone at the Seder each has a cushion to lean on, to remind them that they are now free people no longer enslaved in Egypt. Passover is a feast of charity, without the leaven of malice; and of sincerity, without the leaven of hypocrisy!

saturday 1st Reading: Ex 12:37–42 The Israelites left Rameses for Succoth, about six hundred thousand of them on the march, counting the men only, and 15th Week in Ordinary Time not the children. Camillus de Lellis A great number of other people of all descriptions went Psalter: Week 3 with them, as well as sheep and cattle in droves. With the dough they had brought with them from Egypt, Ps 136:1 and 23–24, 10–12, 13–15 they made cakes of unleavened bread. It had not risen, for His mercy endures forever. when they were driven from Egypt they could not delay and had not even provided themselves with food. The Israelites had been in Egypt for four hundred and thirty years. It was at the end of these four hundred and thirty years to the very day that the armies of Yahweh left Egypt. This is the watch for Yahweh who brought Israel out of Egypt. This night is for Yahweh, and all the Israelites are also to keep vigil on this night, year after year, for all time.

July

Gospel: Mt 12:14–21 The Pharisees went out and made plans to get rid of Jesus. As he was aware of the plot, he went away from that place. Many people followed him and he cured all who were sick. Then he gave them strict orders not to make him known. In this way Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled: “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, and with whom I am pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him and he will announce my judgment to the nations. “He will not argue or shout, nor will his voice be heard in the streets. The bruised reed he will not crush, nor snuff out the smoldering wick. He will persist until justice is made victorious and in him all the nations will put their hope.”

ne of the most important events in the history of Israel occurred immediately following the Passover: the Exodus! The Israelites set forth without delay. A mixed crowd went with them. Some wanted to leave their country, laid waste by plagues; others went out of love for the Israelites and their God. But, it would be a long time before God’s promise of settlement was fulfilled. We should learn from this Exodus that, although God’s promises are not performed quickly, they will be, in God’s own time. The great things God does for his people are not to be only a few days’ wonder, but are to be remembered throughout the ages; especially the work of our redemption by Christ. This first Passover night was a night to be observed. But now, the last Passover night, in which Christ was betrayed, is a night when much more should be observed. A yoke, heavier than that of Egypt, is taken off our shoulders, and a land, better than that of Canaan, is set before us. It is a redemption to be celebrated in heaven, forever and ever. All of us, who share in God’s mercies, should be ever thankful for them!

1st Reading: Jer 23:1–6 “Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” This is the message of Yahweh, God of Israel, to the shepherds in charge of my people, “You have scattered my sheep and driven them away instead of caring for them. Now I will deal with you because of your evil deeds. “I will gather the remnant of my sheep from every land to which I have driven them and I will bring them back to the grasslands. They will be fruitful and increase in number. I will appoint shepherds who will take care of them. No longer will they fear or be terrified. No one will be lost.” Yahweh further says, “The day is coming when I will raise up a king who is David’s righteous successor. He will rule wisely and govern with jus tice and righteousness. That will be a grandiose era when Judah will enjoy peace and Israel will live in safety. He will be called Yahweh-ourjustice!” 2nd Reading: Eph 2:13–18 In Christ Jesus and by his blood, you who were once far off have come near. For Christ is our peace, he who has made the two peoples one, destroying in his own flesh the wall—the hatred—which separated us. He abolished the Law with its commands and precepts. He made peace in uniting the two Ps 23:1–3, 3–4, 5, 6 peoples in him, creating out of the two one New The Lord is my shepherd, Man. He destroyed hatred and reconciled us there is nothing I shall want. both to God through the cross, making the two one body. He came to proclaim peace; peace to you who were far off, peace to the Jews who were near. Through him we—the two peoples—approach the Father in one Spirit.

sunday

Gospel: Mk 6:30–34 The apostles returned and reported to Jesus all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, “Go off by yourselves to a remote place and have some rest.” For there were so many people coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a secluded area by themselves. But people saw them leaving and many could guess where they were going. So, from all the towns they hurried there on foot, arriving ahead of them. As Jesus went ashore he saw a large crowd, and he had compassion on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began a long teaching session with them.

July

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 4

he Good Shepherd is ever attentive to the needs of His flock. He gathers them to Himself and keeps them safe from predators who seek to scatter and steal and slaughter. He seeks them out when they are lost and rejoices when they are found. He leads them through the valley of the shadow of death to the restful waters and verdant pastures where they might find rest. The Good Shepherd is not to be outdone in taking care of His sheep. How can we not be moved by this account of the vast crowds hanging on Jesus’ every word as He preaches at length about the Kingdom of God? His words speak to the heart of every person, for they truly give life to the soul. How blessed we are to have access not only to the words of Jesus as they are presented to us in the Bible, but also to have access to the Word of God, living and breathing in the heart of the Church. Like the members of the large crowd that gathered that day so many years ago, we are privileged to experience in every celebration of the Holy Eucharist the Word of God who becomes flesh and dwells among us.

20 July

monday

16th Week in Ordinary Time Apollinarus Psalter: Week 4

Ex 15:1bc–2, 3–4, 5–6 Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

1st Reading: Ex 14:5–18* … Yahweh had hardened the mind of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who set out in pursuit of the Israelites as they marched forth triumphantly. The Egyptians—all the chariots and horses of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army—gave chase and caught up with them when they had encamped by the sea near Pihahiroth, facing Baalzephon. The Israelites saw the Egyptians marching after them: Pharaoh was drawing near. They were terrified and cried out to Yahweh. … Moses said to the people, “Have no fear! Stay where you are and see the work Yahweh will do to save you today. The Egyptians whom you see today, you will never see again! Yahweh will fight for you and all you have to do is to keep still.” Yahweh said to Moses, … Tell the people of Israel to go forward. You will raise your staff and stretch your hand over the sea and divide it to let the Israelites go dryfoot through the sea. I will so harden the minds of the Egyptians that they will follow you. And I will have glory at the expense of Pharaoh, his army, his chariots and horsemen. The Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh when I gain glory for myself at the cost of Pharaoh and his army!” Gospel: Mt 12:38–42 Some teachers of the Law and some Pharisees spoke up, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” Jesus answered them, “An evil and unfaithful people want a sign, but no sign will be given them except the sign of the prophet Jonah. In the same way that Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the monster fish, so will the Son of Man spend three days and three nights in the depths of the earth. “At the judgment, the people of Niniveh will rise with this generation and condemn it, because they reformed their lives at the preaching of Jonah, and here there is greater than Jonah. At the judgment, the Queen of the South will stand up and condemn you. She came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and here there is greater than Solomon.”

hile Pharaoh had the greatest reason to let the Israelites leave Egypt, now he was angry with himself for so relenting. But, there was no way open to Israel but to trust in God and Moses. Fear led some of them to pray, and that was good. Others cried out against Moses; fear set them murmuring as if God were not able to work miracles. They were angry with God for the greatest kindness ever done them. Such are the gross absurdities of unbelief. When times are tough for us, when we can’t get out of trouble, it is in our interest to get on top of our fear, never letting it silence our faith or hope. Sometimes, God allows us to stray into troubled waters, just so that He might see us brought to our knees in prayer. When we are intent on living life as Christians, we must expect to be set upon by temptations and terrors. It’s possible for us to be following Christ, yet be mightily troubled on every side. Still, we should compose ourselves, having confidence in the great salvation that God is about to work in us!

1st Reading: Ex 14:21—15:1* Moses stretched his hand over the sea and Yahweh made a strong east wind blow all night and dry up the sea. The waters divided and the sons of Israel went on dry ground through the middle of the sea, with the waters forming a wall to their right and to their left. The Egyptians followed them and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots and horsemen moved forward in the middle of the sea. It happened that in the morning watch, Yahweh in the pillar of cloud and fire, looked towards the Egyptian camp and threw it into confusion. He so clogged their chariot wheels that they could hardly move. Then the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the Israelites for Yahweh is fighting for them against Egypt.” Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch your hand over the sea and let the waters come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and horsemen.” Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. At daybreak the sea returned to its place. As the Egyptians tried to flee, Yahweh swept them into the sea. … On that day Yahweh delivered Israel from the power of the Egyptians and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore. They believed in Yahweh and in Moses, his servant. Then Moses and the people sang this song to Yahweh: I will sing to Yahweh, the glorious one, horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.

tuesday

July

16th Week in Ordinary Time Lawrence of Brindisi Psalter: Week 4

Ex 15:8–9, 10 and 12, 17 Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

Gospel: Mt 12:46–50 While Jesus was still talking to the people, his mother and his brothers wanted to speak to him and they waited outside. So someone said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are just outside; they want to speak with you.” Jesus answered, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look! Here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is for me brother, sister, or mother.”

oday’s reading recounts the parting of the Red Sea and the crossing over of the Israelites from Egypt. The episode prefigures our redemption: the Israelites escape from the clutches of the pharaoh when his troops are engulfed by the Red Sea; similarly, the Christian escapes from sin and the power of Satan by the waters of baptism. Here is an analogy of freedom from the pharaoh to freedom from sin. Thus, the waters of the sea, through which the Israelites passed, are symbolic of those waters through which we pass. Let us pass from the old to the new, from the events of the Book of Exodus to the symbolism in our faith. There Moses was sent by God to Egypt; here Christ was sent from God into the world. Moses’ mission was to lead a persecuted people out from Egypt; Christ’s mission is to rescue the people of the world from the tyranny of sin. That pharaoh was engulfed and drowned in the Red Sea; this devil is destroyed in the saving waters of baptism. A remembrance of these themes should increase in us the desire to continue in our new life in Christ, through the waters of baptism.

22 July

wednesday

Mary Magdalene Psalter: Week 4

Ps 63:2, 3–4, 5–6, 8–9 My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

1st Reading: Sg 3:1–4b (or Ex 16:1–5, 9–15) On my bed at night I looked for the one I love, I sought him without finding him; I called him and he did not answer. I will rise and go about the city, through the streets and the squares; I will seek the love of my heart… I sought him without finding him; the watchmen came upon me, those who patrol the city. “Have you seen the love of my heart?” As soon as I left them, I found the love of my heart. I held him and would not let him go till I had brought him to my mother’s house to the room of her who conceived me. Gospel: Jn 20:1–2, 11–18* (or Mt 13:1–9) … Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she bent down to look inside; she saw two angels in white. … They said, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She answered, “Because they have taken my Lord and I don’t know where they have put him.” As she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize him. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and answered him, “Lord, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni”—which means, Master. Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me; you see I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them: I am ascending to my Father, who is your Father, to my God, who is your God.” So Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord, and this is what he said to me.”

t. Mary Magdalene is called “the Penitent”. She was given the name ‘Magdalene’ because, although a Jewish girl, she lived in a gentile town called Magdale, in northern Galilee, and her culture and manners were those of a gentile. Was well known as a sinner when she first saw Jesus; but, after she met Jesus, she felt great sorrow for her evil life. From then on, with the other holy women, Mary humbly served Jesus and His Apostles. When Jesus was crucified, she was there at the foot of the cross, unafraid for herself, and thinking only of his sufferings. Early on Easter Sunday morning after Jesus’ body had been placed in the tomb, Mary went to anoint it with spices. Not finding his body, she began to weep, and seeing someone, whom she thought was the gardener, she asked him if he knew where Jesus’ body had been taken. But then the person spoke to her in a voice she knew so well: “Mary!” It was Jesus, risen from the dead. Because Jesus had chosen to show himself first to Mary Magdalene, the repentant sinner, she has been fittingly venerated as a saint throughout Church history.

1st Reading: Ex 19:1-2, 9–11, 16–20b* … Yahweh spoke to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud so that the people may hear me speaking with you and trust you always.” Then Moses related to Yahweh what the people had said. Again Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Go to the people and have them sanctified today and tomorrow; let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day. For on the third day Yahweh will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning and a dense cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast was heard. … Moses then made the people leave the camp. … Mount Sinai was completely covered in smoke because Yahweh had come down in fire, and the smoke rose as from a furnace. The whole mountain shook violently, while the blast of the trumpet became louder and louder. Moses spoke and God replied in thunder. …

thursday

July

16th Week in Ordinary Time Bridget of Sweden Psalter: Week 4

Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 Glory and praise for ever!

Gospel: Mt 13:10–17 Jesus’ disciples came to him with the question, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” Jesus answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but not to these people. For the one who has, will be given more and he will have in abundance. But the one who does not have will be deprived of even what he has. That is why I speak to them in parables, because they look and do not see; they hear, but they do not listen or understand. “In them the words of the prophet Isaiah are fulfilled: Much as you hear, you do not understand; much as you see, you do not perceive. “For the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears hardly hear and their eyes dare not see. If they were to see with their eyes, hear with their ears and understand with their heart, they would turn back and I would heal them. “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears, because they hear. “For I tell you that many prophets and upright people would have longed to see the things you see, but they did not, and to hear the things you hear, but they did not hear it.”

oses was called up to Mount Sinai, as the messenger of a covenant with God. This was a national covenant, by which the Israelites were to become a people under God’s government. And, as a nation, they broke this covenant. It wasn’t that they knew nothing of repentance, faith in a mediator, forgiveness of sins, or grace. They were all under God’s protection; they had outward privileges and advantages for salvation. But, like so many of us, they gave into their fears and stopped living in faith and love. Therefore, God declared that He would make a new covenant with the Israelites, writing His law, not upon tables of stone, but in their hearts. The covenant with the Israelites at Mount Sinai was an archetype of the new covenant made with us, as Christ’s believers. Christ, as mediator and prophet, reveals God’s will to us, His precepts and promises. And then, as priest, offers up to God our spiritual sacrifices, not only of prayer and praise, but of devout affection towards all of His creation, the work of His Holy Spirit in us.

24 July friday

16th Week in Ordinary Time Sharbel Makhluf Psalter: Week 4

Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 Lord, you have the words of everlasting life

1st Reading: Ex 20:1–17* God spoke all these words. He said, “I am Yahweh your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Do not have other gods before me. Do not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven, or on the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them. … Do not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain for Yahweh will not leave unpunished anyone who takes his name in vain. Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. For six days you will labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath for Yahweh your God. … Honor your father and your mother that you may have a long life in the land that Yahweh has given you. Do not kill. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not give false witness against your neighbor. Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, … or anything that is his.” Gospel: Mt 13:18–23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Now listen to the parable of the sower. When a person hears the message of the Kingdom but without taking it to himself, the devil comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed that fell along the footpath. The seed that fell on rocky ground stands for the one who hears the word and accepts it at once with joy. But this fickle and has no roots. No sooner is he harassed or persecuted because of the word, than he gives up. The seed that fell among the thistles is the one who hears the word, but then the worries of this life and the love of money choke the word, and it does not bear fruit. As for the seed that fell on good soil it is the one who hears the word and understands it; this bears fruit and produces a hundred, or sixty, or thirty times more.”

lthough God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, more than three thousand years ago, they are still relevant today. They have an abiding significance, since God’s character is unchangeable. Originating from God’s eternal character, the moral value of the Ten Commandments does not change. God never intended for them to be a set of regulations by which the people of Israel would earn salvation. God’s favor had already been freely granted, as overwhelmingly demonstrated by His deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Jesus actually placed the Ten Commandments on a higher plane, by demanding that the spirit as well as the legal aspects of the law be kept. The Ten Commandments are spiritual. Their grand demand is love, without which outward obedience is mere hypocrisy. They are still the best guidelines for practical daily living known to us. The world needs to see the name and character of God displayed in the lives of those of us, who take God’s word seriously. For this reason alone, applying the Ten Commandments to our lives is a desirable practice for us to observe!

1st Reading: 2 Cor 4:7–15 However, we carry this treasure in vessels of clay, so that this all surpassing power may not be seen as ours but as God’s. Trials of every sort come to us, but we are not discouraged. We are left without answer, but do not despair; persecuted but not abandoned, knocked down but not crushed. At any moment we carry in our person the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in us. For we, the living, are given up continually to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may appear in our mortal existence. And as death is at work in us, life comes to you. We have received the same spirit of faith referred to in Scripture that says: I believed and so I spoke. We also believe and so we speak. We know that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and bring us, with you, into his presence. Finally, everything is for your good, so that grace will come more abundantly upon you and great will be the thanksgiving for the glory of God.

saturday

July

James, apostle Psalter: Proper

Ps 126:1bc–2ab, 2cd–3, 4–5, 6 Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

Gospel: Mt 20:20–28 The mother of James and John came to Jesus with her sons, and she knelt down to ask a favor. Jesus said to her, “What do you want?” And she answered, “Here you have my two sons. Grant that they may sit, one at your right and one at your left, when you are in your kingdom.” Jesus said to the brothers, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They answered, “We can.” Jesus replied, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right or at my left is not for me to grant. That will be for those for whom the Father has prepared it.” The other ten heard all this and were angry with the two brothers. Then Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations act as tyrants, and the powerful oppress them. It shall not be so among you; whoever wants to be more important in your group shall make himself your servant. And if you want to be first, make yourself the servant of all. “Be like the Son of Man who has come, not to be served but to serve and to give his life to redeem many.”

t is evident that James held a special place in Jesus’ life. To be named one of the twelve, James must have had great faith; but even among the apostles he held a special place. When Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, he wanted James, John, and Peter to go with him. And there on the mountain, they were privileged to witness what no one else had seen: Jesus transfigured in all his glory! To be so singled out, James must have been a close friend of Jesus. Jesus chose James, Peter, and John to join him in prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane. It must have hurt Jesus that the three fell asleep on this agonizing evening. James, however, did drink of the cup Jesus drank of because he was one of the first Christian martyrs, killed by a sword in an early persecution of the Church. Today, we pray to Saint James that we may be willing to leave everything to follow Jesus, and for help that we may become special friends of Jesus!

1st Reading: 2 K 4:42–44 A man came from Baal-shalishad bringing bread and wheat to the man of God. These were from the first part of the harvest, twenty loaves of barley and wheat. Elisha told him, “Give the loaves to these men that they may eat.” His servant said to him, “How am I to divide these loaves among one hundred men?” Elisha insisted, “Give them to the men that they may eat, for Yahweh says: They shall eat and have some left over.” So the man set it before them; and they ate and had some left, as Yahweh had said. 2nd Reading: Eph 4:1–6 I, the prisoner of Christ, invite you to live the vocation you have received. Be humble, kind, patient, and bear with one another in love. Make every effort to keep among you the unity of Spirit through bonds of peace. Let there be one body and one spirit, for God, in calling you, gave the same Spirit to all. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God, the Father of all, who is above all and works through all and is in all.

Ps 145:10–11, 15–16, 17–18 The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

Gospel: Jn 6:1–15 Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, near Tiberias, and large crowds followed him because of the miraculous signs they saw when he healed the sick. So he went up into the hills and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Then lifting up his eyes, Jesus saw the crowds that were coming to him and said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread so that these people may eat?” He said this to test Philip, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred silver coins would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a piece.” Then one of Jesus’ disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass there so the people, about five thousand men, sat down to rest. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks and distributed them to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish and gave them as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten enough, he told his disciples, “Gather up the pieces left over, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with bread, that is with pieces of the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw this sign that Jesus had just given, they said, “This is really the Prophet, he who is to come into the world.” Jesus realized that they would come and take him by force to make him king; so he fled to the hills by himself.

sunday

July

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 1

his Sunday begins five weeks of consecutive readings from Chapter Six of the Gospel of St. John. This chapter is known for its Eucharistic emphasis, for it begins with this account of the multiplication of loaves and fish and continues with our Lord’s famous “Bread of Life” discourse. From the five loaves and two fish brought by a young boy Jesus provides a banquet requiring twelve baskets for all of the leftovers. In a manner foreshadowing His institution of the Holy Eucharist, Jesus takes bread, blesses and breaks it and distributes it to the crowd. Just as Jesus nourished the crowd with His powerful, heartfelt teaching, so too would He feed them with the bread that satisfied their bodily hunger. What Jesus did for the large crowd at the Sea of Galilee He continues to do for you and me. Every time we participate in the Holy Eucharist we are nourished from the Lord’s two-fold table. We experience the Lord’s teaching through the table of the Word. We experience the substantial presence of the Lord through the table and altar of His sacrificial banquet. How blessed we are to participate in so great a feast!

27 July

monday

17thWeek in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 1

Ps 106:19–20, 21–22, 23 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

1st Reading: Ex 32:15–24, 30–34* Moses then returned and came down from the mountain carrying in his hand the two slabs of the Statement. … When he drew near to the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burst forth and he threw the slabs from his hands and shattered them against the base of the mountain. … Moses said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you that you brought such a great sin on them?” And Aaron said, … They said to me: ‘Make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’ I then said to them that whoever had gold was to give it over to me. I threw it in the fire and out came this calf!” The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a very grave sin, but now I am going up to Yahweh; perhaps I will obtain pardon for your sin.” … Yahweh said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot him out from my book. Go now! Lead the people where I told you. My Angel will walk before you and on the day of punishment I will punish them for their sin.” Gospel: Mt 13:31–35 Jesus put another parable before the people, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, that a man took and sowed in his field. “It is smaller than all other seeds, but once it has fully grown, it is bigger than any garden plant; like a tree, the birds come and rest in its branches.” He told them another parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like the yeast that a woman took and buried in three measures of flour until the whole mass of dough began to rise.” Jesus taught all this to the crowds by means of parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So what the Prophet had said was fulfilled: I will speak in parables. I will proclaim things kept secret since the beginning of the world.

he Israelites reasoned: If Moses isn’t coming back, we must craft ourselves a replacement. And so the Golden Calf was born. Not as an idol; but as a figurehead. A mere shrine to replace the missing Moses. And before long, they became full-blown idolaters. Idolatry is not a single step; rather it’s a process. In olden days, people might carve a piece of stone and call it the “sun god.” They wanted to pay tribute to God as creator of the sun. But before long, they were worshipping the sun itself. Today, some people start off focused and clear on the priorities of life, but then get sidetracked. It’s not uncommon to believe that money, fame, stock options, a fast computer, or good looks is the source of fulfillment and happiness. Treating something of relative importance as though it were of ultimate significance: that’s idolatry! How often do we see someone continuing a destructive relationship simply because they’re deeply invested and stuck in it. The lesson of the golden calf is to think about what we’re doing. Have we lost sight of our true priorities? Idolatry is alive and well in the 21st century. Let’s try and eradicate the disease!

1st Reading: Ex 33:7–11; 34:5b–9, 28* Moses then took the Tent and pitched it for himself outside the camp, at a distance from it, and called it the Tent of Meeting. … And Yahweh came down in a cloud and stood there with him, and Moses called on the name of Yahweh. Then Yahweh passed in front of him and cried out, “Yahweh, Yahweh is a God full of pity and mercy, slow to anger and abounding in truth and loving-kindness. He shows loving-kindness to the thousandth generation and forgives wickedness, rebellion and sin; yet he does not leave the guilty without punishment, even punishing the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” Moses hastened to bow down to the ground and worshiped. He then said, “If you really look kindly on me, my Lord, please come and walk in our midst and even though we are a stiff-necked people, pardon our wickedness and our sin and make us yours.”

tuesday

July

17th Week in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 1

Ps 103:6–7, 8–9, 10–11, 12–13 The Lord is kind and merciful.

Gospel: Mt 13:36–43 Jesus sent the crowds away and went into the house. And his disciples came to him saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He answered them, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed are the people of the Kingdom; the weeds are those who follow the evil one. The enemy who sows them is the devil; the harvest is the end of time and the workers are the angels. “Just as the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom all that is scandalous and all who do evil. And these will be thrown in the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the just will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. If you have ears, then hear.”

n today’s passage from Exodus, we find that proximity is very important if we’re going to develop a deep relationship with God. Moses erected a tent for the purpose of meeting with God and to develop deep intimacy with God, away from other people. It is no different for us: unless we are willing to spend quality time alone with God, we will never develop a deep relationship with Him. Moses simply wanted a place where he could meet and fellowship with his friend and creator. To him, God was more than a source of strength or an unlimited pool of resources: He was a friend. We must never forget God is not a distant cosmic power in the heavens; He loves time and fellowship with us, whom He has created. When we understand God’s ardent desire to bring us into a relationship with Him, it changes, for the rest of our lives, how we look at our time with Him. Although the components of our relationship with God may vary from day to day, things like worship, prayer, and reflection upon the word of God are at the heart of getting to know our creator on an intimate basis.

29 July

wednesday

17thWeek in Ordinary Time Martha Psalter: Week 1

Ps 99:5, 6, 7, 9 Holy is the Lord our God.

1st Reading: Ex 34:29–35 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two slabs of the Statement in his hands, he was not aware that the skin of his face was radiant after speaking with Yahweh. Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw that Moses’ face was radiant and they were afraid to go near him. But Moses called them, and Aaron with all the leaders of the community drew near, and Moses spoke to them. Afterwards all the Israelites came near and he told them all that Yahweh had commanded him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. Whenever Moses went before Yahweh to speak with him, he took off the veil until he came out again. And when he came out and told them what he had been commanded, the Israelites saw that his face was radiant. Moses would then replace the veil over his face until he went again to speak with Yahweh. Gospel: Mt 13:44–46 Jesus said to the crowds, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. The one who finds it buries it again; and so happy is he, that he goes and sells everything he has, in order to buy that field. “Again the kingdom of heaven is like a trader who is looking for fine pearls. Once he has found a pearl of exceptional quality, he goes away, sells everything he has and buys it.”

he glory on Moses’ face was a reminder that Moses had been with God. Israel in the wilderness saw the glory of God as a searing and unapproachable light. The glory on Moses’ face spoke to all the people of the fact that Moses, alone among them, had the privilege of speaking directly to God for the people. So Moses put a veil over his face, only removing it when he went into the tent of meeting to talk to God. Moses could talk to God face-to-face; but the glory on his face was too much for the people. The glory on Moses’ face can be compared with the abiding glory of God, imparted through the gospels. As Christians, we have the same privilege as Moses: we go before God and lift the veil, confronting His glory directly. In Christ, the glory of God is not a barrier; in Christ, the glory of God is our great hope. Life is going to be glorious, we are going to be glorious, because the shame and dishonor of sin will be gone from us forever. In its place will be glory, the glory which belongs to anyone with a heart like Christ.

1st Reading: Ex 40:16–21, 34–38* Moses did this; he did exactly as Yahweh had commanded him. The Holy Tent was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year. … He fixed the bases for it, put up its frames, put its crossbars in position, set up its posts. He spread the tent over the Holy Tent and on top of this the covering for the tent, … He took the Statement and placed it inside the ark. He set the poles to the ark in place and put the mercy Seat on it. He brought the ark into the Holy Tent and put the screening veil in place. … Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and the Glory of Yahweh filled the Holy Tent. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because of the cloud that rested on it and because of the Glory of Yahweh that filled the Holy Tent. At every stage of their journey, whenever the cloud rose from the Holy Tent the people of Israel would continue their march. If the cloud did not rise, they waited and would not move their camp until it did. For the cloud rested on the Holy Tent by day, and a fire shone within the cloud by night for all the House of Israel to see. And so it was for every stage of their journey.

thursday

July

17th Week in Ordinary Time Peter Chrysologus Psalter: Week 1

Ps 84:3, 4, 5–6a and 8a, 11 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!

Gospel: Mt 13:47–53* Jesus said to the crowds, “The kingdom of heaven is like a big fishing net let down into the sea, in which every kind of fish has been caught. When the net is full, it is dragged ashore. Then they sit down and gather the good fish in buckets, but throw the worthless ones away. That is how it will be at the end of time; the angels will go out to separate the wicked from the just and throw them into the blazing furnace, where they will weep and gnash their teeth.” Jesus asked, “Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered. So he said to them, “You will see that every teacher of the Law who becomes a disciple of the Kingdom is like a householder who can produce from his store things both new and old.” …

nce the holy tent, or tabernacle, was prepared, the Israelites set it up in the midst of their camp, even after they had arrived in Canaan. The cloud of God covered the tabernacle on the clearest day; it wasn’t a cloud, which the sun could scatter. This cloud was a token of God’s presence, to be seen day and night by all the Israelites, so that they might never again question whether or not God was among them. It guided their camp through the wilderness. When the cloud rested on the tabernacle, they rested; when it moved, they followed it. Those of us, who are unsettled in the world, should know that uncertainty about the future is answered by faith. It doesn’t help to have hope in God, only when we are settled in the world. The thought that so few Israelites entered Canaan should be a warning for us not to put off the care of our souls. God’s glory filled the tabernacle; but what Moses could not do, Christ does: He invites us to draw near. By following the example of Christ, we are kept from losing our way, especially when all around us is unmapped wilderness!

31 July friday

17thWeek in Ordinary Time Ignatius of Loyola Psalter: Week 1

Ps 81:3–4, 5–6, 10–11ab Sing with joy to God our help.

1st Reading: Lev 23:1, 4–11, 15–16, 27, 34b–37* Yahweh spoke to Moses, … At twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month is Yahweh’s Passover. And on the fifteenth day of this month it is Yahweh’s feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days you shall eat bread without leaven. On the first day there will be a sacred assembly and no work of a worker shall be done. For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to Yahweh and on the seventh day you shall hold a sacred assembly and do no work of a worker.” … The tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. You are to hold a sacred assembly. You must fast, and you must offer a burnt offering to Yahweh. … The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of Tents for Yahweh, lasting seven days. The first day you shall hold an assembly; you must do no work of a worker. For seven days you must offer a burnt offering to Yahweh. On the eighth day you are to hold a sacred assembly and you must offer a burnt offering to Yahweh. It is a day of solemn assembly in which you shall do no work of a worker. These are the appointed feasts of Yahweh in which you are to proclaim holy assemblies. … Gospel: Mt 13:54–58 Jesus went to his hometown and taught the people in their synagogue. They were amazed and said, “Where did he get this wisdom and these special powers? Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t Mary his mother and aren’t James, Joseph, Simon and Judas his brothers? Aren’t all his sisters living here? How did he get all this?” And so they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “The only place where prophets are not welcome is their hometown and in their own family.” And he did not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

he Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, is still the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar and in the life of Israel. The Day of Atonement addressed the need of cleansing from sin and how God may be approached. It included details on what animals to sacrifice, where blood was to be shed, for whom and why. Here was a rich exhibition of priest and people before their offended, yet forgiving God. Guilt was removed and blessing secured. The God who lived in their midst kept them away. They could not enter His presence; and yet He had their representative draw near to Him. In that way, God stayed among His people, and the place of His worship was cleansed from sins. In the Day of Atonement, we see God’s insistence that He be approached in the way He dictates. God is holy and requires the removal of sin as a condition of accepting us, the people He loves. We have an absolute need for a redeemer to go before God and intervene for us…the kind of priest, who will stand before God and take away all our offences. Christ is that priest, our redeemer!