Zita's Neophyte

Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church

2008-10-15T06:22:00.005-04:00

On the day of 14 October

St. Teresa (1515-1582) was born in Avila and died in Alba, Spain. When only a child of seven, she ran away from home in the hope of being martyred by the Moors; in this way, she said she could come to see God. At the age of eighteen she joined the Carmelite Order and chose Christ as her heavenly Spouse. With the help of St. John of the Cross she reformed most of the Carmelite convents and founded new ones. She reached the highest degree of prayer and through prayer obtained such knowledge of divine things that in 1970 Pope Paul VI named her the first woman Doctor of the Church.

**Saint/Feast of the day copied from the Catholic Culture page today.

Reading 1: Galatians 5:18-25

Why are we still in Galatians? I feel like I'm getting punished for something.

Okay, that was written before I actually read today's passage.

These are the times that I really like Paul. When he stops talking like a lawyer, he makes so much sense. Today's reading is about self-control. All throughout the bible, God asks us to conduct ourselves with dignity and self-control. Paul really spells out what he thinks God wants us to do in exacting measures, and lets us know that this is the new law. If we follow the spirit, our actions will follow, and we won't be breaking God's law. Okay.

Gospel: Luke 11:42-46

So, this is the same thing. I suspect these two readings were picked to go together because Paul is just backing up Jesus here, who keeps saying it over and over and over and over. He gets really mad at the Pharisees and the scholars and the scribes, because they have built their lives around God's law and biblical law, but they don't bother to move beyond the technicalities of the law and try to actually worship and love God. It keeps coming back to honoring the spirit of the law vs the letter of the law.

Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

2008-10-14T08:30:00.005-04:00

On the day of 14 October
Today is the feast day of Saint Callistus I, who was born a slave and grew to become a Pope. He is most renowned for the reconciliation of sinners, who following a period of penance, were re-admitted to communion with the Church. He was a martyr for the faith.

Saint/Feast of the day copied from the USCCB web page.

Reading 1: Galatians 5:1-6

Now I know that when I am confused, I just need to read ahead. Today's reading makes a lot more sense to me than yesterday's, even though Paul is talking about the same thing, isn't he? He wants new Christians to not worry about the old Jewish law. Paul feels that since Christ leveled the playing field to let gentiles in , they don't have to be bound by cultural laws that bound the Jews. Am I getting any closer? Is this why modern Christians can choose to circumcise or not, and don't have to stick to eating kosher foods? Anyone... Anyone?

Gospel: Luke 11:37-41

So, this passage really reinforces Paul's little speech, doesn't it? A lot of the prophets in the Old Testament talk about the observance of the law in action but with no sense of worship behind it. I wonder if this is one of the issues that Jesus, and later Paul, was trying to reform?

Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time - Not of Sound Mind

2008-10-13T08:40:00.009-04:00

On the day of 13 October

St. Edward (1003-1066), called the Confessor, was the grandson of St. Edward, king and martyr, and became king of England at the age of forty-seven. As king he was noted for his gentleness, humility, detachment and angelic purity. He preserved perfect chastity in his wedded life. So little was his heart set on riches that he freely dispensed his goods at the palace gate to the sick and poor. His reign was one of almost continuous peace. The people were prosperous and ruined churches were rebuilt. All spoke affectionately of the wise measures of the "good King Edward." Before the reform of the General Roman Calendar today was his feast.

Also today in Fatima in 1917, the marvelous miracle of the sun took place in the sky before 70,000 witnesses.

**Feast/Saint of the day segment copied from the Catholic Culture website today.

Reading 1: Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31–5:1

This is because I claimed that the letters were getting easier. I don't know. I've read this 5 times. Somebody else can help me. I'm just reprinting both readings, and adding links today.

Brothers and sisters:
It is written that Abraham had two sons,
one by the slave woman and the other by the freeborn woman.
The son of the slave woman was born naturally,
the son of the freeborn through a promise.
Now this is an allegory.
These women represent two covenants.
One was from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery;
this is Hagar.
But the Jerusalem above is freeborn, and she is our mother.
For it is written:
Rejoice, you barren one who bore no children;
break forth and shout, you who were not in labor;
for more numerous are the children of the deserted one
than of her who has a husband.
Therefore, brothers and sisters,
we are children not of the slave woman
but of the freeborn woman.
For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm
and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

Gospel: Luke 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
“This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here."

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Easy Like Sunday Morning

2008-10-11T09:01:00.010-04:00

On the Day of 12 October

St. Seraphin of Montegranaro
(1540-1604)

Born into a poor Italian family, young Seraphin lived the life of a shepherd and spent much of his time in prayer. Mistreated for a time by his older brother after the two of them had been orphaned, Seraphin became a Capuchin Franciscan at age 16 and impressed everyone with his humility and generosity.
Serving as a lay brother, Seraphin imitated St. Francis in fasting, clothing and courtesy to all. He even mirrored Francis' missionary zeal, but Seraphin's superiors did not judge him to be a candidate for the missions.
Faithful to the core, Seraphin spent three hours in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament daily. The poor who begged at the friary door came to hold a special love for him. Despite his uneventful life, he reached impressive spiritual heights and has had miracles attributed to him.
Seraphin died on October 12, 1604, and was canonized in 1767.

**Saint/Feast of the Day copied from the AmericanCatholic.org saint of the day feature.

Reading 1: Isaiah 25:6-10a

On this mountain the LORD of hosts

will provide for all peoples

a feast of rich food and choice wines,

juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.

On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,

the web that is woven over all nations;

he will destroy death forever.

The Lord GOD will wipe away

the tears from every face;

the reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
On that day it will be said:"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!

This is the LORD for whom we looked;

let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"

For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.

Reading II: Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20

Brothers and sisters:

I know how to live in humble circumstances;

I know also how to live with abundance.

In every circumstance and in all things

I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,

of living in abundance and of being in need. I can do all things in him who strengthens me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

My God will fully supply whatever you need,

in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen

Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14 or 22:1-10

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables,

saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king

who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants

to summon the invited guests to the feast,

but they refused to come.

A second time he sent other servants, saying,

‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet,

my calves and fattened cattle are killed,

and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’

Some ignored the invitation and went away,

one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops,

destroyed those murderers,

and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready,

but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roadsand invite to the feast whomever you find.’

The servants went out into the streets

and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests,he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it

that you came in here without a wedding garment?

'But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet,

and cast him into the darkness outside,

where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’

Many are invited, but few are chosen."

Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time - One Big Happy Family

2008-10-11T08:10:00.004-04:00

On the day of 11 October
Today the Roman Martyrology commemorates Saint Alexander Sauli, a bishop of the Clerics Regular of Saint Paul. He was of noble birth and renowned for virtues, learning, and miracles. Pope Pius X placed him in the canon of the saints.

**Saint/Feast of the day feature copied from the USCCB web page.

Reading 1: Galatians 3:22-29

This just looks like more of the same from yesterday. No matter what race or culture that we come from, when we are Christians, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, heirs to Abraham, and children of God. Got it.

I guess the letters are getting easier.

Gospel: Luke 11:27-28

This one is very interesting. On one hand, part of this reading is used in a common catholic prayer to Jesus' mother, Mary. On the other hand, Jesus is emphasizing "that attentiveness to God's word is more important than biological relationship to Jesus.". I got that from the USCCB footnotes page. It seems to tie in well to the first reading, in that, we are all a family, once we decide to follow Christ. One of the reasons Mary is special is because she, as his mother, decided to follow him as well, not just because she gave birth to him. Giving birth to the Lord is a huge thing, don't get me wrong, but she also raised him with God, and accepted him as the Christ once he took on his appointed role. There are a lot of reasons why Catholics consider her the most important of all of the saints.

Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

2008-10-10T08:10:00.007-04:00

On the day of 10 October

Daniel Comboni: the son of poor gardeners who became the first Catholic Bishop of Central Africa, and one of the great missionaries in the Church's history.

**Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the Vatican's website today.

Reading 1: Galatians 3:7-14

Let me just reiterate how difficult the letters are for me. I don't know why, but I resist reading them as much as I can, and the words just dance around in front of me. So, if I get this wrong, I'm not surprised.

So, I think that Paul is talking about two things here. First, he is reminding everyone that the spirit of God's law is much more important than any nit-picky interpretation of the law. Jesus liked to talk about how much more important the spirit of the law was than the letter, as well. Second, Paul wants all of the gentile Galatians to know that Christ died so that they could be saved, even as gentiles, even without becoming Jewish. The footnotes indicate that the Jewish Christians wanted the gentiles to become circumcised and observe Jewish law. Paul is telling them that they just need to follow the spirit of the law, and save themselves the knife. Right? Maybe?

Gospel: Luke 11:15-26

So, I looked in the footnotes, and they saint NOTHING about the end of this passage. It leaves this whole "the demon will come back with his pals and inhabit the same person and throw a big nasty party in the cleaned out body" issue alone. This is the most interesting part of the reading for me. Yes, I recognize that in this reading, Jesus is revealing who he is, and also telling people that the other real Jewish exorcists are gonna get them. (The footnotes read: Your own people: the Greek reads "your sons." Other Jewish exorcists (see Acts 19:13-20), who recognize that the power of God is active in the exorcism, would themselves convict the accusers of Jesus. See also the note on Matthew 12:27.) I also understand that I frequently miss the point. So, If anyone has a better understanding of this passage than me, please let me know.

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

2008-10-07T05:50:00.005-04:00

On the day of 7 October

Today is the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary, of whom Pope John Paul II wrote eloquently in his Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae: “The Rosary is also a path of proclamation and increasing knowledge, in which the mystery of Christ is presented again and again at different levels of the Christian experience. Its form is that of a prayerful and contemplative presentation, capable of forming Christians according to the heart of Christ. When the recitation of the Rosary combines all the elements needed for an effective meditation, especially in its communal celebration in parishes and shrines, it can present a significant catechetical opportunity which pastors should use to advantage. In this way too Our Lady of the Rosary continues her work of proclaiming Christ.”

**Saint/Feast of the day copied from the USCCB page.

I'm in a crazy hurry today, and have to leave for work in two seconds, so I'm just reprinting everything here for you.

Reading 1: Gal 1:13-24

Brothers and sisters:

You heard of my former way of life in Judaism,

how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure

and tried to destroy it, and progressed in Judaism

beyond many of my contemporaries among my race,

since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions.

But when he, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart

and called me through his grace,was pleased to reveal his Son to me,

so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles,

I did not immediately consult flesh and blood,

nor did I go up to Jerusalem

to those who were Apostles before me;

rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus.

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas

and remained with him for fifteen days.

But I did not see any other of the Apostles,

only James the brother of the Lord.

(As to what I am writing to you, behold,before God, I am not lying.)

Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

And I was unknown personally to the churches of Judea

that are in Christ;

they only kept hearing that “the one who once was persecuting us

is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”

So they glorified God because of me.

Gospel: Lk 10:38-42

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.

She had a sister named Mary

who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,“Lord, do you not care

that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply,“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part

and it will not be taken from her.”

Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

2008-10-05T20:39:00.009-04:00

On the day of 6 October

Today is the feast day of Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher. She was born in 1811 at Quebec, Canada. She established the first Canadian parish sodality for young women. In 1843 she founded the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, a congregation of women dedicated to Christian education, which flourished in spite of great poverty and misunderstandings. Marie Rose is especially known for her concern for the poor.

**Feast/Saint of the day segment copied from the USCCB webpage.

Reading 1: Galatians 1:6-12

This is like walking in on the very ending of a great argument. What had the Galatians done to tick off Paul so much? Okay, obviously they were reading an unauthorized gospel, but does anyone know which one? Can anyone give me the full background? Amy? Mom? Bill?

Gospel: Luke 10:25-37

This is another example of Jesus' constant reminding that we need to love and help one another. In this example, he uses cultural enemies. Here in the US, it is hard for us to emotionally grasp cultural enemies because we're such a melting pot. Sure, we have our pockets of prejudice against certain races, but those are the minority. We don't have the phenomenon of one group completely hating the other. The only modern example I can think of is the Palestinians and the Israelis. This may be a little off the subject, but we hear a lot about how modern society is going down the tubes and that we have degenerated morally, blah blah blah. Just the pure fact that I had a lot of trouble coming up with a modern equivalent of people that hate each other, says to me that "We've come a long way, baby..." So, I guess it all just comes down to one thing that we've heard since we were kids: Love your enemies.

Friday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time

2008-10-03T11:09:00.008-04:00

On the day of 3 October

Saint Mother Theodore Guérin

Daughter of Laurent and Isabelle Guérin. Joined the Sisters of Providence at Ruillé-sur-Loir, France on 18 August 1823, taking the name Sister Saint Theodore, and making her final vows on 5 September 1831. Taught in Rennes and Soulaines, France. Sent with five other sisters (Sister Olympiade Boyer, Sister Saint Vincent Ferrer Gagé, Sister Basilide Sénéschal, Sister Mary Xavier Lerée and Sister Mary Liguori Tiercin) to the diocese of Vincennes, Indiana, USA on 22 October 1840. They established the Academy of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods on 4 July 1841 at Terre Haute, Indiana, the first Catholic women's liberal-arts college in the United States. She established schools at Jasper, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Village, Vincennes, Montgomery, Madison, Terre Haute, Fort Wayne, Evansville, North Madison, Lanesville and Columbus, all in Indiana, and Saint Francisville in Illinois. Founded an orphanage for girls and one for boys in Vincennes, Indiana. Opened pharmacies where medicines were dispensed free to the poor at Vincennes and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. Oversaw construction of a motherhouse for the Sisters of Providence and several additions to the Academy.

**Saint/Feast of the day today copied from the Patron Saints Index.

So, today I am having trouble focusing, so I will treat this like a Sunday and just reprint the readings with some links:

Reading 1: Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5

The LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said: Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning and shown the dawn its place For taking hold of the ends of the earth, till the wicked are shaken from its surface? The earth is changed as is clay by the seal, and dyed as though it were a garment; But from the wicked the light is withheld, and the arm of pride is shattered. Have you entered into the sources of the sea, or walked about in the depths of the abyss? Have the gates of death been shown to you, or have you seen the gates of darkness? Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell me, if you know all: Which is the way to the dwelling place of light, and where is the abode of darkness, That you may take them to their boundaries and set them on their homeward paths? You know, because you were born before them, and the number of your years is great! Then Job answered the LORD and said: Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you? I put my hand over my mouth. Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again; though twice, I will do so no more.

Gospel: Luke 10:13-16

Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

Memorial of the Guardian Angels

2008-10-02T07:44:00.006-04:00

On the day of 2 October

Every person on earth has a guardian angel who watches over him and helps him to attain his salvation. Angelical guardianship begins at the moment of birth; prior to this, the child is protected by the mother's guardian angel. It continues throughout our whole life and ceases only when our probation on earth ends, namely, at the moment of death. Our guardian angel accompanies the soul to purgatory or heaven, and becomes our coheir in the heavenly kingdom.

***Saint/Feast of the day copied from today's Catholic Culture posting.

Reading 1: Job 19:21-27

Well, I still don't get a lot of Job. I get the full meaning of the story, which is that sometimes bad things happen to good people, and we can never understand God's plan. But, for this reading, I needed to check the footnotes, and this is what they said: (links are mine)

The meaning of this passage is obscure because the original text has been poorly preserved and the ancient versions do not agree among themselves. It is certain that Job expresses his belief in a future vindication by God (called here in the Hebrew "Goel"), but the time and manner of this vindication are undefined. In the Vulgate Job is made to indicate a belief in physical resurrection after death, but the Hebrew and the other ancient versions are less specific.

Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10

I wish that we had this reading yesterday. It seems to go so well with Saint Theresa of the little flower. Her entire philosophy towards salvation and a relationship with Jesus had to do with becoming more child-like in your dealings with God. This is what the footnotes have to say about it as well: (only a few of the links are mine)

This discourse of the fourth book of the gospel is often called the "church order" discourse, but it lacks most of the considerations usually connected with church order, such as various offices in the church and the duties of each, and deals principally with the relations that must obtain among the members of the church. Beginning with the warning that greatness in the kingdom of heaven is measured not by rank or power but by child likeness (Matthew 18:1-5), it deals with the care that the disciples must take not to cause the little ones to sin or to neglect them if they stray from the community (Matthew 18:6-14), the correction of members who sin (Matthew 18:15-18), the efficacy of the prayer of the disciples because of the presence of Jesus (Matthew 18:19-20), and the forgiveness that must be repeatedly extended to sinful members who repent (Matthew 18:21-35).

Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church

2008-10-01T07:07:00.010-04:00

On the day of 1 October

The Feast of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church. She was a Roman Catholic Carmelite nun who was canonized as a saint, and is recognized as a Doctor of the Church, one of only three women to receive that honor. She is also known by many as The Little Flower , and millions emulate her "little way" to follow Jesus.

Reading 1: Job 9:1-12, 14-16

Yes, it has been a while. Lets see if I can get back on the horse after this long, eh?

My mother once told me that she had learned or believed or had read that Job was originally written as a morality play. I always think about this whenever I scan over Job. I say "scan" because I have a hard time reading it. You always think that it is going to be a good read, being such a well known story, but it is really just people talking, talking, talking. All of the speech making also feed the "play theory". Anyway, it seems to me that what Job is trying to say (extensively), is that you don't argue with God. Plain and simple. You shouldn't even conceive of it. He is so much more powerful and smart that there is no point to it.

Gospel: Luke 9:57-62

Today is hard. This is also a reading that I struggle with. I don't get it. Is this about having such a trust in God that we drop all of our obligations and concentrate on worship? Is it just about how those men should act when Jesus was physically there? I don't know. I guess I just need to think about it some more.

Memorial of Saint Augustine, bishop and doctor of the Church

2008-08-28T07:41:00.006-04:00

On the day of 28 August

The commemoration of Saint Augustine, bishop and distinguished doctor of the Church, who, after a youth unquiet in both doctrine and morals, was converted to catholic faith, baptized by Ambrose of Milan and, having returned to his own country, led an ascetical life dedicated to God and the study of the Scriptures with some friends; later chosen bishop of Hippo in Africa, for thirty-four years he was an example to his flock, instructing it with a great many sermons and writings, in which also he vigorously fought against the errors of his day or learnedly shed light on right faith.

**Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

Reading 1: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

I'm starting to get the hang of these letters. At least the salutations. Paul says "hi", tells the church that they are doing well, thanks to God. He tells them (and us) that if we keep our faith in God, and keep him in our sight, we will be able to stay strong through anything that could affect us or our faith.

Gospel: Matthew 24:42-51

I love it when Jesus snaps at the disciples. It reminds us that even the men who were closest to God when he was here needed to be nudged on to the right path all the time. After the crucifixion and then the Ascension, Christians were literally looking over their shoulders all day long. They expected Jesus to be there. He was, and still is, just not in the way anybody thought. The second coming was further away than they could have imaged, but it was always expected to be tomorrow. Jesus is telling us to act as if he is coming to our homes tomorrow. In the old testament, they used to say "get your house in order". I think this means to stop putting off the spiritual things and charitable acts that we don't think we have time for. Maybe we should go further. We should act as if He's a guest in our homes, not just coming tomorrow.

Memorial of Saint Monica

2008-08-27T06:55:00.009-04:00

On the day of 27 August

The commemoration of Saint Monica, who, given in marriage to Patricius when still a young girl, bore children among whom was Augustine for the sake of whose conversion she shed many tears and besought God with many prayers, and, having set out for Africa, departed this life from Ostia on the Tiber with an exceedingly great desire for the things of heaven

**Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

Reading 1: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18

Wow. I really needed to read this. Paul has a great way of just making sense. His problem, though, was that he wanted everyone to work as hard as he did, physically and spiritually. But he was a saint, and most of us are not. That doesn't necessarily mean that God doesn't want us all to try.

Gospel: Matthew 23:27-32

Wait, I'm starting to get it. The scribes and the Pharisees were hypocrites, right? This is drummed into us all this week, well, throughout the entire set of gospels, I guess. Why this same theme over and over and over? Is it so that we recognize that hypocrisy is something that all Christians will have to fight for our entire time on earth? Are we to be ever watchful of this in our own leaders? Or is it just that the authors of the gospels were so overwhelmed by the obviousness of the Pharisees, and their blatant phony sanctimoniousness that they can't help talking and writing about it over and over?

Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time - False Prophets and the Letter of the Law

2008-08-26T07:20:00.008-04:00

On the day of 26 August

The commemoration of Saint Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, who greeted Abraham upon his return from victory, blessing him, offering a holy sacrifice, a spotless victim to the Lord; and, although without offspring, is recognized as king of peace and justice, and as priest forever in prefiguration of Christ.

**Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

Reading 1: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17

As sometimes happens, the footnotes say it, and with more history, better than I could:

The Thessalonians have been shaken by a message purporting to come from Paul himself that the day of the Lord is already present. He warns against this deception in eschatology by citing a scenario of events that must first occur (2 Thes 2:3-12) before the end will come. The overall point Paul makes is the need to reject such lies as Satan sends; he also reaffirms the Thessalonians in their calling (2 Thes 2:13-14). They are to uphold what Paul himself has taught (2 Thes 2:15). There is a concluding prayer for their strengthening (2 Thes 2:16-17). As in 2 Thes 1:8-10, the Old Testament provides a good deal of coloring; cf especially Isaiah 14:13-14; 66:15, 18-21; Ezekiel 28:2-9; Daniel 11:36-37. The contents of 2 Thes 2:3b-8 may come from a previously existing apocalypse. The details have been variously interpreted. An alternative to the possibilities noted below understands that an oracular utterance, supposedly coming from a prophetic spirit (2 Thes 2:2-3a), has so disrupted the community's thinking that its effects may be compared to those of the mania connected with the worship of the Greek god Dionysus. On this view, the writer seems to allude in 2 Thes 2:6-8 to Dionysiac "seizure," although, of course, ironically, somewhat as Paul alludes to witchcraft ("an evil eye") in Gal 3:1 in speaking of the threat to faith posed by those disturbing the Galatians (Gal 1:6-7; 5:10b). On this view of 2 Thes 2:2, the Greek participles katechon (rendered above as what is restraining) and katechon (the one who restrains) are to be translated "the seizing power" in 2 Thes 2:6 and "the seizer" in 2 Thes 2:7. They then allude to a pseudocharismatic force or spirit of Dionysiac character that has suddenly taken hold of the Thessalonian community (see 2 Thes 2:2). The addressees know (2 Thes 2:6) this force or spirit because of the problem it is causing. This pseudocharismatic force or spirit is a kind of anticipation and advance proof of the ultimate, climactic figure (the lawless one or the rebel, 2 Thes 2:3), of which the community has been warned (see the note on 1 Thes 3:3). It is, however, only the beginning of the end that the latter's manifestation entails; the end is not yet. For in the course of the mystery of lawlessness (2 Thes 2:7), false prophetism, after it ceases in the Thessalonian community, will be manifested in the world at large (2 Thes 2:8-12), where it will also be eliminated in turn by the Lord Jesus.

Gospel: Matthew 23:23-26

First of all, I love this: Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! What a visual. I think there have been times for everyone when we have been so concerned with appearances that we neglect our real duty to God. Jesus was pointing out some huge examples in the religious leaders of the day, but maybe we should all take this as a lesson for us, as well. It all comes down to a subject that Jesus went back to again and again: Don't get all caught up in the letter of the law, worry about following the spirit of the law.

Monday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

2008-08-25T07:48:00.008-04:00

On the day of 25 August

Of Saint Joseph of Calasanz, priest, who established schools for the people in order to educate boys and adolescents in the love and wisdom of the Gospel, and founded the Order of the Poor Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools at Rome.

**Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

Reading 1: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12

I have such a hard time with the letters. I resist actually looking at them at all. So, it looks like what is going on here is that the Thessalonian Church was being persecuted, maybe worse than some other early churches. So, Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy are writing to let them know that they are spoken well of and being prayed for. Also, the missionary trio is pretty sure that God likes the Thessalonians, too.

Gospel: Matthew 23:13-22

This is a scary reading to me. Jesus is chastising the religious leaders of the day who have it wrong. They are emphasizing the wrong things for their congregations and, according to Jesus, sending themselves and everyone who listens to them to hell. Great. First we are told to listen to our leaders, and now, I take this as a message to further research and double check the things my religious leaders tell me. Oh well. I do that anyway. I hope everyone does. Nice to see that God continues to push us towards making the right choices

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time - Doing the Sunday Thing

2008-08-23T23:23:00.011-04:00

I am trying something new for Sundays. I don't want to talk about what I think that the readings mean, because our priests and pastors and preachers are taking care of that today, so I'm just posting the readings and the footnotes with some links

On the day of 24 August

The feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle, who, believed by many to be the same as Nathaniel, sprang from Cana in Galilee, was led to Christ Jesus by Philip near the Jordan, after which the Lord called him to follow him and reckoned him among the Twelve; according to tradition, after the Ascension of the Lord he preached the Gospel in India where he was crowned with martyrdom.

**Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

Reading 1: Isaiah 22:19-23

Thus says the LORD to Shebna, master of the palace:“I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station. On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah; I will clothe him with your robe,and gird him with your sash,and give over to him your authority. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim’s shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut when he shuts, no one shall open. I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot,to be a place of honor for his family.”

Footnotes:

[20] Eliakim: also referred to in Isaiah 36:3; he is described as loyal to God.
[22] Key: symbol of authority; cf Matthew 16:19; Rev 3:7.
[24-25] If Eliakim should anger God, he and his family (compared here to dishes, bowls and jugs) will suffer disaster

Reading II: Romans 11:33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor? Or who has given the Lord any thing that he may be repaid? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Footnotes:

[33-36] This final reflection celebrates the wisdom of God's plan of salvation. As Paul has indicated throughout these chapters, both Jew and Gentile, despite the religious recalcitrance of each, have received the gift of faith. The methods used by God in making this outreach to the world stagger human comprehension but are at the same time a dazzling invitation to abiding faith.
[34] The citation is from the Greek text of Isaiah 40:13. Paul does not explicitly mention Isaiah in this verse, nor Job in 11:35.
[35] Paul quotes from an old Greek version of Jb 41, 3a, which differs from the Hebrew text (Job 41:11a).

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples,“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply,“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply,“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Footnotes:

[13-20] The Marcan confession of Jesus as Messiah, made by Peter as spokesman for the other disciples (Mark 8:27-29; cf also Luke 9:18-20), is modified significantly here. The confession is of Jesus both as Messiah and as Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). Jesus' response, drawn principally from material peculiar to Matthew, attributes the confession to a divine revelation granted to Peter alone (Matthew 16:17) and makes him the rock on which Jesus will build his church (Matthew 16:18) and the disciple whose authority in the church on earth will be confirmed in heaven, i.e., by God (Matthew 16:19).
[13] Caesarea Philippi: situated about twenty miles north of the Sea of Galilee in the territory ruled by Philip, a son of Herod the Great, tetrarch from 4 B.C. until his death in A.D. 34 (see the note on Matthew 14:1). He rebuilt the town of Paneas, naming it Caesarea in honor of the emperor, and Philippi ("of Philip") to distinguish it from the seaport in Samaria that was also called Caesarea. Who do people say that the Son of Man is?: although the question differs from the Marcan parallel (Mark 8:27: "Who . . . that I am?"), the meaning is the same, for Jesus here refers to himself as the Son of Man (cf Matthew 16:15).
[14] John the Baptist: see Matthew 14:2. Elijah: cf Malachi 3:23-24; Sirach 48:10; and see the note on Matthew 3:4. Jeremiah: an addition of Matthew to the Marcan source.
[16] The Son of the living God: see Matthew 2:15; 3:17. The addition of this exalted title to the Marcan confession eliminates whatever ambiguity was attached to the title Messiah. This, among other things, supports the view proposed by many scholars that Matthew has here combined his source's confession with a post-resurrectional confession of faith in Jesus as Son of the living God that belonged to the appearance of the risen Jesus to Peter; cf 1 Cor 15:5; Luke 24:34.
[17] Flesh and blood: a Semitic expression for human beings, especially in their weakness. Has not revealed this . . . but my heavenly Father: that Peter's faith is spoken of as coming not through human means but through a revelation from God is similar to Paul's description of his recognition of who Jesus was; see Gal 1:15-16, ". . . when he [God] . . . was pleased to reveal his Son to me. . . ."
[18] You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church: the Aramaic word kepa - meaning rock and transliterated into Greek as Kephas is the name by which Peter is called in the Pauline letters (1 Cor 1:12; 3:22; 9:5; 15:4; Gal 1:18; 2:9, 11, 14) except in Gal 2:7-8 ("Peter"). It is translated as Petros ("Peter") in John 1:42. The presumed original Aramaic of Jesus' statement would have been, in English, "You are the Rock (Kepa) and upon this rock (kepa) I will build my church." The Greek text probably means the same, for the difference in gender between the masculine noun petros, the disciple's new name, and the feminine noun petra (rock) may be due simply to the unsuitability of using a feminine noun as the proper name of a male. Although the two words were generally used with slightly different nuances, they were also used interchangeably with the same meaning, "rock." Church: this word (Greek ekklesia) occurs in the gospels only here and in Matthew 18:17 (twice). There are several possibilities for an Aramaic original. Jesus' church means the community that he will gather and that, like a building, will have Peter as its solid foundation. That function of Peter consists in his being witness to Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God. The gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it: the netherworld (Greek Hades, the abode of the dead) is conceived of as a walled city whose gates will not close in upon the church of Jesus, i.e., it will not be overcome by the power of death.
[19] The keys to the kingdom of heaven: the image of the keys is probably drawn from Isaiah 22:15-25 where Eliakim, who succeeds Shebnah as master of the palace, is given "the key of the house of David," which he authoritatively "opens" and "shuts" (Isaiah 22:22). Whatever you bind . . . loosed in heaven: there are many instances in rabbinic literature of the binding-loosing imagery. Of the several meanings given there to the metaphor, two are of special importance here: the giving of authoritative teaching, and the lifting or imposing of the ban of excommunication. It is disputed whether the image of the keys and that of binding and loosing are different metaphors meaning the same thing. In any case, the promise of the keys is given to Peter alone. In Matthew 18:18 all the disciples are given the power of binding and loosing, but the context of that verse suggests that there the power of excommunication alone is intended. That the keys are those to the kingdom of heaven and that Peter's exercise of authority in the church on earth will be confirmed in heaven show an intimate connection between, but not an identification of, the church and the kingdom of heaven.
[20] Cf Mark 8:30. Matthew makes explicit that the prohibition has to do with speaking of Jesus as the Messiah; see the note on Mark 8:27-30.

Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time - A Spirit of Servitude in God's Home

2008-08-22T21:59:00.012-04:00

On the day of 23 August
Of Saint Rose, virgin, who, already given to uncommon austerities in girlhood, received the habit of the Sisters of the Third Order of Preachers regular at Lima in Peru, gave herself over to penance and prayer; and ardent in zeal for the salvation of sinners and of the Indian people for whom she desired to give her life, she subjected herself to all manner of torments that they might become rich in Christ. Her death occurred on the twenty-fourth day of August.

This is considered a true likeness of St. Rose painted after her death.

**Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

Reading 1: Ezekiel 43:1-7ab

When God says, "Son of man, this is where my throne shall be,this is where I will set the soles of my feet;here I will dwell among the children of Israel forever." , is he talking about the temple in Israel, or is he talking about any building that we choose for him, like every time we build a church? In other words, is this why we call every church "God's House"?

I do love these prophetic visions, though, with God swooping in from the east and angels and Ezekiel falling down on his face with the glory of it all. I almost don't even care what it means, the description is so lovely.

Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

There are a couple of themes in this one that I'd like to talk about:

First, Matthew 23: 1-7 covers that our religious leaders may sometimes be less than perfect. I don't know how many people I know who have been driven away from God by a preacher, priest, or youth minister who said one thing and did another. Basically, Jesus tells us to shore up against this. It's kinda par for the course when you are dealing with humans. Just listen to the words, and follow those, he says.

Second, these particular set of verses, Matthew 23:8-10: As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. I have heard this set of verses used a lot against the Catholic Church. So I checked the footnotes, and even though it doesn't answer any questions for me, I'll bring them on over for you: These verses, warning against the use of various titles, are addressed to the disciples alone. While only the title "Rabbi' has been said to be used in addressing the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:7), the implication is that Father and "Master' also were. The prohibition of these titles to the disciples suggests that their use was present in Matthew's church. The Matthean Jesus forbids not only the titles but the spirit of superiority and pride that is shown by their acceptance. Whoever exalts . . . will be exalted: cf Luke 14:11. So, I remain confused.

Last, this passage again directs us to a spirit of servitude. Maybe this is all that we are supposed to be taking from this: As Christians, we should embrace a spirit of servitude.

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2008-08-22T07:12:00.010-04:00

On the day of 22 August
The commemoration of the Virgin Mary as Queen, who bore the Son of God, the prince of peace whose reign will have no end, and is hailed as Queen of heaven and Mother of mercy by the Christian people.

**Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

"The Blessed Virgin Mary should be called Queen...because God has willed her to have an exceptional role in the work of our eternal salvation." --Pope Pius XII

Reading 1: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Reading this now and hearing it in the time that Ezekiel was prophesying are hugely different things. At the time, people were just thinking about the restoration of their homeland. Maybe they were thinking a little bit about the resurrection of the body, but I don't know if that idea had entered into the Jewish religion yet. My footnotes assure me that "This vision is a prediction of the restoration of Israel under the figure of a resurrection from the dead; it is not concerned with the doctrine of resurrection itself. " Even so, even if it is not concerned with the doctrine of resurrection, it certainly brings it to mind for the modern reader. I'm convinced that it intends to makes me think about the resurrection and restoration of spirit and mind that God can make occur in anyone who prays and asks for it.

Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40

I read a story once about my patron saint, Zita. When she was a little girl, apparently the only discipline and direction that she needed from her mother was the reminder of what God would want her to do. For example if she was bad, her mother would tell her "this would make God unhappy." If she was good, "This will make God happy." This reading always makes me think about this. Jesus is asking us to consider God before anything else. Zita makes it look easy.

Memorial of Saint Pius X, pope

2008-08-21T08:21:00.006-04:00

On the day of 21 August
The commemoration of Saint Pope Pius X, a priest with care of a parish, bishop of Mantua, then Patriarch of Venice, finally elected Roman Pontiff, who took as his motto of governance "to re-establish all things in Christ," which he fulfilled with simplicity, poverty and strength of spirit, building up Christian faith among the faithful through participation in the Eucharist, the grandeur of sacred Liturgy, and integrity of doctrine.

**Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

Reading 1: Ezekiel 36:23-28

This seems pretty straightforward to me. God is telling his people that everything will be alright. He will deliver them from bondage. It seems kind of implied to me that he did it before, he'll do it again. There is only one part that bothers me, so I would love some explanation, or for this to be put into context. Verse 27 says: I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees. Since when does God make anybody do anything? This guy is all about free will, and making correct choices on our own. So, is this reading about heaven, or deliverance from Babylon, or about the coming Messiah? Somebody help me here!

Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14

I love the imagery in this. You grasp right away that Jesus is talking about his/his father's rocky relationship with his chosen people. This does make me want to get a little more dressed up for church on Sunday, though.

Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time - You're so Vain, I Bet You Think this Story's About You

2008-08-19T00:03:00.007-04:00

On the day of 19 August
Of Saint John Eudes, priest, who for many years devoted himself to preaching in parishes, then founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary for the education of priests in seminaries, and also the monastery of Our Lady of Charity to support penitent women in Christian life, and nourished devotion especially to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, until he piously fell asleep in the Lord at Caen in Normandy, France.
**Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

Reading 1: Ezekiel 28:1-10
I cringed before I read this, because I was afraid more bad stuff was going to happen to Ezekiel. I mean, the guy lost his wife yesterday! I was relieved then, 'cause it's only warnings of bad stuff for someone else. I do enjoy how upset God is, though. I can relate. He's basically saying: "Because you are so vain, and you think that you are as good as me, I will get someone to impale you and throw your body in the desert. Savvy?" Sooo, let's not fall into the vanity, trap, eh?

Gospel: Matthew 19:23-30

This is what the footnotes said about But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first:

Different interpretations have been given to this saying, which comes from Mark 10:31. In view of Matthew's associating it with the following parable (Matthew 20:1-15) and substantially repeating it (in reverse order) at the end of that parable (Matthew 20:16), it may be that his meaning is that all who respond to the call of Jesus, at whatever time (first or last), will be the same in respect to inheriting the benefits of the kingdom, which is the gift of God.

But what I take it to mean is this: We are here to serve. We are meant to serve each other and serve God. This doesn't mean that we can't be successful. A CEO of a Fortune 500 company is still serving his employees by providing them a means to pay their bills. As long as we remember that we are servants, and not first, we are doing okay in the eyes of God.

Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time - God Calls us to Trust and Endure

2008-08-18T08:57:00.006-04:00

On the day of 18 August
Of Utica in Africa, of the sainted martyrs of the White Mass, believers more numerous than the fish hauled up in the net by the apostles, who went to death with their bishop courageously confessing together that Christ is the Son of God.

**Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

Reading 1: Ezekiel 24:15-23

Wow. Someone with a little more knowledge needs to tell me. Did God really take Ezekiel's wife? Seems like a harsh lesson. Why do it to him? Do you think that this was a test of Ezekiel's loyalty to God, as well as an example for the rest of the Israelites? I get the symbolism that whatever happens to Ezekiel in his personal life is gonna happen to everybody in their shared, or political life, but what a terrible path for him to agree to let God lead him down.

Gospel: Matthew 19:16-22

The commandments that Jesus lays out in this passage are hard to keep. Why is the toughest one getting rid of our stuff? It is, though. I totally feel for the guy in this passage. He's been trying sooooo hard to be a good guy, to love God, to be good to his neighbors. He probably even gives to the poor pretty often. Jesus calls us to more, though. He calls us to perfection. He calls us to be saints.

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

2008-08-17T10:24:00.006-04:00

On the day of 17 August
Of Samur, near Anjou in France, of Saint Jeanne Delanoue, virgin, who, inwardly trusting in divine Providence for assistance, first made a home for orphaned girls and aged, ailing and ruined women, and then, with associates, laid the foundations of the Sisters of Saint Ann of Providence.

**Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

Reading 1: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7

Thus says the LORD: Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come,

my justice, about to be revealed. The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, ministering to him, loving the name of the LORD, and becoming his servants—all who keep the sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.

Reading II: Romans 11:13-15, 29-32

Brothers and sisters: I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous and thus save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.

Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28

At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ disciples came and asked him,“Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply,“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply,“It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply,“O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.

Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time - Everyone Pays but the Children

2008-08-16T08:37:00.005-04:00

On the day of 16 August
Of Saint Stephen, king of the Hungarians, who, reborn in baptism, received the crown of the kingdom from Pope Silvester II, attended to the spread of faith in Christ among the Hungarians, established the Church in his kingdom and provided for the poor and for monasteries until his soul migrated to heaven from Alba Regalis* on the day of the Assumption.
*Royal White Castle, present day Székesfehérvár **Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

Reading 1: Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32

Finally! One I understand! See, back in the day - Abraham, Moses, etc., God was punishing the children for the sins of the parents. (Hence the footnotes: Fathers . . . on edge: a proverb by which the people claimed that they were being punished for their ancestors' sins rather than for their own; cf Jeremiah 31:29. ) Ezekiel comes around, and God declares a change. Everyone has to start paying for their own sins. Then he lays it out for us. He gives us a list of actions to take if we want to be virtuous, and live. Then he gives us the list of what-not-to do, or we'll die. Okay, easy enough to follow. I'm thinking about printing it out and carrying it around with me. There are some that seem weird and outdated, like the whole menstrual period thing, but I'm game. Whatever.

Gospel: Matthew 19:13-15

This is a nice story that we have been hearing since Sunday school. This is the story that we are told to let us, as children, know that even we have a place in the church. I think that it is sweet and a nice light reading after the kind of heavy lecture we just got from the Old Testament. It also goes with the themes from this week, about how children have the proper state of mind to commune God, because of their innocence. The footnotes also brought up a new point that I never got from this reading before, that I thought was faintly interesting:

This account is understood by some as intended to justify the practice of infant baptism. That interpretation is based principally on the command not to prevent the children from coming, since that word sometimes has a baptismal connotation in the New Testament; see Acts 8:36.

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2008-08-15T07:30:00.009-04:00

On the day of 15 August
The solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Lord Jesus Christ, who, when the course of her earthly life was complete, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory. Pope Pius XII solemnly defined this belief received through the tradition of the Church. **Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

Reading 1: Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab

I really need to take a class on Revelation. I've learned that this reading is supposed to pertain to Mary, but I'm not sure if she's the woman in the desert. Also, I may be very, very wrong, because the footnotes say little to back this up:

The woman adorned with the sun, the moon, and the stars (images taken from Genesis 37:9-10) symbolizes God's people in the Old and the New Testament. The Israel of old gave birth to the Messiah (Rev 12:5) and then became the new Israel, the church, which suffers persecution by the dragon (Rev 12:6, 13-17); cf Isaiah 50:1; 66:7; Jeremiah 50:12. This corresponds to a widespread myth throughout the ancient world that a goddess pregnant with a savior was pursued by a horrible monster; by miraculous intervention, she bore a son who then killed the monster.

Still confused. I'm going to church today, 'cause for us Catholics, it's a day of obligation. Maybe the priest will explain it in his homily.

Reading 2: 1 Corinthians 15:20-27

Today is hard. The resurrection of humans has always been the most difficult christian concept for me to grasp, and Paul is facing it head-on in this letter. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. Isn't this one of the most common childhood questions about God and Jesus? If God is good, why do people have to die? I've gotta stop using the footnotes as a crutch sometime, but not today. This is what they have to say:

The last enemy . . . is death: a parenthesis that specifies the final fulfillment of the two Old Testament texts just referred to, Psalm 110:1 and Psalm 8:7. Death is not just one cosmic power among many, but the ultimate effect of sin in the universe (cf 1 Cor 15:56; Romans 5:12). Christ defeats death where it prevails, in our bodies. The destruction of the last enemy is concretely the "coming to life" (1 Cor 15:22) of "those who belong to Christ" (1 Cor 15:23).

Gospel: Luke 1:39-56

This is my favorite Mary story. I imagine a lot of affection between these two cousins. Mary is coming to help Elizabeth while she is pregnant, too old to have a baby, and probably feeling pretty sick. Mary, on the other hand, is displaying a lot of courage to travel in her own pregnant state, being a teenage unwed mother and all. They are both pregnant with children that are definitely going to change the world, and have both had major religious discoveries about it. They must have each felt so alone in the world, with the knowledge that they were carrying along with their children. It's nice that they had each other to talk to. No wonder that Mary stayed for three months.

Memorial of Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, priest and martyr

2008-08-14T08:50:00.009-04:00

On the day of 14 August
In commemoration of Maximilian Mary (Raymond) Kolbe, priest of the Order of the Friars Minor Conventual and martyr, founder of the Militia of Mary Immaculate,* who, deported to different places of captivity, at length delivered himself up to the executioners for the sake of a fellow prisoner in the death camp of Oswiecim or Auschwitz near Cracow in Poland, offering his own ministry as a holocaust of charity and an example of faithfulness toward God and men.
*Known in the United States as the Knights of the Immaculata. **Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

Reading 1: Ezekiel 12:1-12

My first thought on this is: Wow what an elaborate piece of performance art! The footnotes don't exactly argue with me on this point:

1 [5] Dig a hole in the wall: the exiles are to leave Jerusalem through the broken walls of the ruined city.
2 [13] But he shall not see it: Zedekiah was blinded by Nebuchadnezzar before being deported to Babylonia; cf 2 Kings 25:7.

God was so anxious for his people to understand what was in store for them that he actually had his prophet act this scene out. God talks to us all the time, in so many ways. We should actually listen sometime.

Gospel: Matthew 18:21–19:1

This is a familiar theme. Forgive other people what you expect, want, need to be forgiven. The forgiveness will be returned to you by God. It seems so simple, except for me, this is the most difficult concept. I don't have a hard time grasping the idea, just doing it. I should have it written on the back of my hand so that I can see it all the time, because when I'm mad, or feel slighted, this is the easiest one to forget.

Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time - “Thau” marks the Spot & New Testament Law

2008-08-13T06:30:00.011-04:00

On the day of 13 August
At Rome, of Saint John Berchmans, religious of the Society of Jesus, most loving to all by reason of a sincere piety, unfeigned charity, and unfailing cheerfulness, who came to his last day joyfully after a brief illness.

**Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

First Reading: Ezekiel 9:1-7; 10:18-22

I'm making an assumption that this is a prophetic vision, and not something that was actually happening as Ezekiel was describing it. I'm also assuming that the meaning of this is that the Israelites are about to have some really bad stuff happen to them, and the only ones that will be spared among them are the merciful. That little piece of information I stole from the footnotes: Ezekiel is pre-eminently the prophet of personal retribution; the innocent inhabitants of Jerusalem are to be spared when the idolatrous are punished. An X: literally, the Hebrew letter taw, which had the form of a cross. My question is: Which disaster was he prophesying about?

Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

I'm just going to copy and paste two of the footnotes for this one. It reads to me like direct New Testament (are those words supposed to be capitalized?) law, so I don't want to mess it up with my uneducated opinion:

[15-20] Passing from the duty of Christian disciples toward those who have strayed from their number, the discourse now turns to how they are to deal with one who sins and yet remains within the community. First there is to be private correction (Matthew 18:15); if this is unsuccessful, further correction before two or three witnesses (Matthew 18:16); if this fails, the matter is to be brought before the assembled community (the church), and if the sinner refuses to attend to the correction of the church, he is to be expelled (Matthew 18:17). The church's judgment will be ratified in heaven, i.e., by God (Matthew 18:18). This three-step process of correction corresponds, though not exactly, to the procedure of the Qumran community; see 1QS 5:25-6:1; 6:24-7:25; CD 9:2-8. The section ends with a saying about the favorable response of God to prayer, even to that of a very small number, for Jesus is in the midst of any gathering of his disciples, however small (Matthew 18:19-20). Whether this prayer has anything to do with the preceding judgment is uncertain.

[17] The church: the second of the only two instances of this word in the gospels; see the note on Matthew 16:18. Here it refers not to the entire church of Jesus, as in Matthew 16:18, but to the local congregation. Treat him . . . a Gentile or a tax collector: just as the observant Jew avoided the company of Gentiles and tax collectors, so must the congregation of Christian disciples separate itself from the arrogantly sinful member who refuses to repent even when convicted of his sin by the whole church. Such a one is to be set outside the fellowship of the community. The harsh language about Gentile and tax collector probably reflects a stage of the Matthean church when it was principally composed of Jewish Christians. That time had long since passed, but the principle of exclusion for such a sinner remained. Paul makes a similar demand for excommunication in 1 Cor 5:1-13.

Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time - Sweet as Honey & the Depedence of Children

2008-08-12T08:10:00.008-04:00

On the day of 12 August
Of Saint Jane Frances Fremiot de Chantel, religious, who from Christian marriage had six children that she piously educated; after the death of her husband, she hastened eagerly along the way of perfection under the direction of Saint Frances de Sales and occupied herself in works of charity, especially on behalf of the poor and the sick. She founded the Order of the Visitation of Saint Mary, which she also directed wisely. Her death occurred at Molins on the banks of the Allier near Nivern in France on the thirteenth day of December.

**Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

First Reading: Ezekiel 2:8—3:4

I love all of this description of the meetings with God that we are having lately. I also like to take them literally. First of all, it's easier for me than trying to find imagery and symbolism, and also, it's frankly lovely to imagine it all happening just like the prophets say it did. Even with the lamentation and woe, the picture that my mind forms about being in the presence of God is beautiful. There were also not many footnotes except for the for this one: [3] As sweet as honey: though the prophet must foretell terrible things, the word of God is sweet to him who receives it. I love that!

Gospel Reading: Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

This is what the footnotes had to say about verse 3: Become like children: the child is held up as a model for the disciples not because of any supposed innocence of children but because of their complete dependence on, and trust in, their parents. So must the disciples be, in respect to God. I think this tells us not only how we should behave towards God, but also how to behave with children. If we try to be the parent that God is to us, even to other people's kids, we may go wrong a lot less often.

Memorial of Saint Clare, virgin

2008-08-11T08:56:00.011-04:00

On the day of 11 August

The commemoration of Saint Clare, virgin, who followed Saint Francis as the first sprout of the Poor Ladies of the Order of Minors leading a severe life, but one which was rich in works of charity and piety, at Assisi in Umbria; an extraordinary lover of the poor, from whom she never, whether by extreme need or infirmity, permitted herself to be separated.

**Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

Reading numero uno: Ezekiel 1:2-5, 24-28c

The footnotes in the online NAB tell me that the date on this occurrence is July 31, 593 B.C. So, on to "wow!". Ezekiel gets this view of heaven and the angels, and possibly God, though I'm not so clear on that. The footnotes identify the angels as: [5] Four living creatures: identified as cherubim in Ezekiel 10:1-2(20-21). This is truly receiving a call from God. This passage doesn't even tell us what God wanted, he's showing off his glory and his kingdom. I guess he's showing Ezekiel why he should obey God's will. Good enough.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 17:22-27

To me, there are two separate little stories going on here. First, they open with Jesus telling his disciples that he is going to be killed and rise from the dead. They are overwhelmed with grief, and the story moves on to the group traveling to Capernaum. No more mention of death. Just taxes. I love this, because Jesus says "I don't really have to pay taxes for my father's house, because I live here too. By the way Peter, you are special and chosen by God, so neither do you, but let's go miracle up some money and give it to the tax collectors so that we don't have to hear them nag on about it." I don't know. For all we know, Jesus did speak in run-on sentences. In case you want a little more authority, this is what the footnotes from the New American Bible online say about it:

[24-27] Like Matthew 14:28-31 and Matthew 16:16b-19, this episode comes from Matthew's special material on Peter. Although the question of the collectors concerns Jesus' payment of the temple tax, it is put to Peter. It is he who receives instruction from Jesus about freedom from the obligation of payment and yet why it should be made. The means of doing so is provided miraculously. The pericope deals with a problem of Matthew's church, whether its members should pay the temple tax, and the answer is given through a word of Jesus conveyed to Peter. Some scholars see here an example of the teaching authority of Peter exercised in the name of Jesus (see Matthew 16:19). The specific problem was a Jewish Christian one and may have arisen when the Matthean church was composed largely of that group.

[24] The temple tax: before the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in A.D. 70 every male Jew above nineteen years of age was obliged to make an annual contribution to its upkeep (cf Exodus 30:11-16; Nehemiah 10:33). After the destruction the Romans imposed upon Jews the obligation of paying that tax for the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. There is disagreement about which period the story deals with.

[25] From their subjects or from foreigners?: the Greek word here translated subjects literally means "sons."

[26] Then the subjects are exempt: just as subjects are not bound by laws applying to foreigners, neither are Jesus and his disciples, who belong to the kingdom of heaven, bound by the duty of paying the temple tax imposed on those who are not of the kingdom. If the Greek is translated "sons," the freedom of Jesus, the Son of God, and of his disciples, children ("sons") of the kingdom (cf Matthew 13:38), is even more clear.

[27] That we may not offend them: though they are exempt (Matthew 17:26), Jesus and his disciples are to avoid giving offense; therefore the tax is to be paid. A coin worth twice the temple tax: literally, "a stater," a Greek coin worth two double drachmas. Two double drachmas were equal to the Jewish shekel and the tax was a half-shekel. For me and for you: not only Jesus but Peter pays the tax, and this example serves as a standard for the conduct of all the disciples.

Thursday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time - The New Covenant, Written in our Hearts

2008-08-07T08:00:00.007-04:00

On the day of 7 August

At Augusta of the Vindelici* in Raetia, of Saint Afra, martyr, who, a sinner converted to Christ but not yet baptized, is said to have been delivered up to fire on account of her profession of Christ.

*Augsburg
**Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

Reading 1: Jeremiah 31:31-34

According to the footnotes in the New American Bible, prophets since Hosea were talking about this "new covenant". You know, God tried to tell us over and over that he had a whole new kind of arrangement coming for the whole world. It seems like he kept trying to figure out how to save humanity from our own crapulence. Well, apparently, he had a plan all along and gave us plenty of foreshadowing. For your reading pleasure, I give you the rest of the footnote: " [31-34] The new covenant to be made with Israel is a common theme of the prophets, beginning with Hosea. According to Jeremiah, the qualities of the new covenant that make it different from the old are: (a) It will not be broken, but will last forever; (b) Its law will be written in the heart, not merely on tablets of stone; (c) The knowledge of God will be so generally shown forth in the life of the people that it will no longer be necessary to put it into words of instruction. In the fullest sense, this prophecy was fulfilled only through the work of Jesus Christ; cf Luke 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25."

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:13-23

This confused me a little so I went and looked back at yesterday's reading. All of this happened before the transfiguration. So Peter already knew, in his heart, just like Jeremiah had prophesied, who Jesus was. This was something that Saint Afra (Ah, the tie-in with the saint!) spoke about in her confession, prior to being burned at the stake.

But the reading goes on to show that Peter got scared when Jesus told him that bad times were ahead. Peter wanted to protect Jesus from persecution. Understandable. Jesus was Peter's friend, and it must have been hard not to view him as flesh and blood. Jesus should have laughed at him instead of getting mad. Protect the living God made incarnate? It's pretty silly when you think about it. Poor Peter must have lived in confusion most of the time he was around Jesus. I think that all of us who have invited Jesus to be a part of our own lives has to live with that confusion a bit as well. I think that maybe these readings today have been about opening our hearts to hear the true words and direction of the Holy Spirit.

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

2008-08-06T06:49:00.017-04:00

On the day of 6 August

The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, in which Christ Jesus, beloved only-begotten Son of the eternal Father, revealed his glory in the presence of the holy Apostles Peter, James and John, with the law and prophets as witnesses, so that he might make the regeneration of grace visible in the lowliness of our servile form which he had united himself, and the image of God in which man was created, although corrupted in Adam, might be proclaimed restored in Christ unto the ends of the earth.
**Saint/Feast of the day segment copied from the USCCB page.

First Reading: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

This is what the footnotes from the NAB say on this: "Just as our Lord applied the figure of the stone hewn from the mountain to himself (Daniel 2:36-45), he also made the title "Son of Man" his most characteristic way of referring to himself, as the One in whom and through whom the salvation of God's people came to be realized."

This passage is pure prophecy, in my mind. It'd hard to see how Daniel could be talking about anything else than the coming messiah.

Second Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-19

Peter is telling people over and over that the things that he says about Jesus are true. He knows that they are true because he saw them with his own eyes. It's very easy to disregard, or to distance ourselves from ancient biblical times, but truth be told, Peter got himself killed in Rome because he couldn't shut up about what he'd seen with his own eyes. What better testament to the truth? Who would get himself crucified over a lie or a bid for power as a false prophet? Maybe one crazy man, but 11 of the 12 apostles died proclaiming the same things about Jesus.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 17:1-9

This is what the NAB footnotes have to say: "[1-8] The account of the transfiguration confirms that Jesus is the Son of God (Matthew 17:5) and points to fulfillment of the prediction that he will come in his Father's glory at the end of the age (Matthew 16:27). It has been explained by some as a resurrection appearance retrojected into the time of Jesus' ministry, but that is not probable since the account lacks many of the usual elements of the resurrection-appearance narratives. It draws upon motifs from the Old Testament and non canonical Jewish apocalyptic literature that express the presence of the heavenly and the divine, e.g., brilliant light, white garments, and the overshadowing cloud."

This is what most of the apostles died to tell everyone. For them, I'm sure, the beginning of the truth started with this event, and ended with Jesus' Ascension.

Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

2008-08-05T05:50:00.019-04:00

On the day of 5 August

The dedication of the basilica of Santa Maria* in Rome, erected on the Esquiline, that Pope Sixtus III presented to the people of God in commemoration of the Council of Ephesus at which the Virgin Mary was acclaimed the Mother of God.

*Saint Mary Major
**Saint of the day segment copied from the USSCB NAB website

Prayer for the Basilica:
I couldn't find a specific prayer for the Basilica, so I thought that this might be appropriate:

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death.
Amen.

Reading 1: Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22

I was having a lot of trouble with this one, and then a light bulb just went off in my head. It seems pretty simple now, actually. God is saying that he punished his people in a big way. He seriously beat them down for their sins, but not to worry, he will make it all better. And by the way, he wants it all recorded in a book so that future generations can learn from the mistakes that his early people made. If that's not it, I still don't got it.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 15: 1-2, 10-14

Well, there is no link to the reading because the USCCB website went down the the middle of me writing this. I hope it comes back up soon.

This reading seems pretty simple to me today, also. Jesus is trying to show the Pharisees and scribes that they place too much importance on empty traditions, and not enough on actions and words. It reminds me of the Isaiah readings last month, when God was angry that people were having festivals in his name, and making sacrifices, but weren't feeling the worship. It was all empty, just going through the motions. Going to church and taking communion and following all the right motions are great, but it doesn't mean anything if I spend the whole time thinking about what I'm gonna do later, then fuss out the family behind me for making too much noise. It's our actions and words that count, all of the ceremony and tradition is there to help us remember that, not excuse us from that.

Memorial of Saint John Mary Vianney, priest

2008-08-04T06:05:00.007-04:00

I cut and paste this from the USCCB website:

The commemoration of Saint Jean Marie Vianney, priest, who, for more than forty years served the parish entrusted to him in the town of Ars near Belley in France wondrously by energetic preaching, prayer and the example of penance; daily catechizing children and adults, reconciling penitents, aglow with ardent charity drawn from the holy Eucharist as from a font, he made such great progress that his counsels spread far and wide and many were brought to God through his wisdom.

This is a new segment I'm gonna try. A saint-prayer for every saint of the day: Today's is copied from SAINTS.SQPN.COM

Prayer to Saint John Vianney
Saintly Pastor of Ars and splendid model of all servants of souls, you were considered not very bright, but you possessed the wisdom of the Saints. You were a true pontifex, a bridge-builder, between God and his people as countless penitents streamed to your confessional. Inspire all priests to be dedicated mediators between God and his people in our day.

First Reading: Jeremiah 28:1-17

First of all, everybody must have thought that Jeremiah was nuts. When Hananiah was speaking in the temple, Jeremiah shows up with a YOKE around his neck. I'm sure everybody wanted to hear what Hananiah had to say, because he was all happy endings and butterflies. Apparently, the reason for the yoke was that Jeremiah was illustrating a point he had been making about submitting voluntarily to the Babylonian power. Jeremiah's point was that only God could free the Israelite people.

Anyway, this passage is really about Jeremiah proving that Hananiah was a false prophet. Hananiah was telling everyone what they wanted to hear, and encouraging people to act against God's will. Jeremiah was mocked by his own people, and Hananiah was loved. This seems to be the life of the prophet and the saint. The bible tells us over and over that one of our tests is the misunderstanding of our faith by the people around us.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 14:22-36

To me, this reading is almost more about Peter than Jesus. Of course Jesus can walk on water. He's God. But with a little faith, Peter was walking on water for a second also. Then the wind scared him, and he sank. Both readings today tell me that thinks will look bleak often, and we will feel bad even when we are doing God's will, but we are supposed to have faith and stay on the right path no matter what.

I have added a news section to this page, so instead of my news for the day being here at the bottom, they are at the top right. I tried a Google news gadget for a minute, but it was coming up with stories I didn't like. So, every day I will hand pick a few. If you see any you like, send me the link, and I will put it up.

Feast of Saint James, Apostle

2008-07-25T08:10:00.007-04:00

On the day of 25 July
The feast of Saint James, Apostle, the son of Zebedee and brother of blessed John the Evangelist, who, with Peter and John, was a witness to the transfiguration and agony of his Lord. And beheaded by Herod Agrippa as the feast of the Pasch drew near, he was also the first of the apostles to receive the crown of martyrdom.

As always, I cut and paste that from the USCCB website.

Reading 1: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15

Well, this is Paul's letter. Let me tell you, the footnotes were no help at all on this one, so I just have to muddle through. So, is he saying, "Life is tough, but God gets us through, and makes everything okay."? It seems too simple, and I'm sure there is more, but that's all I got.

Gospel: Matthew 20:20-28

So, this is interesting. James' mom goes to Jesus and asks for a place of honor in heaven for her two sons, James and John. Jesus says "Whoa, lady! You're talking crazy! Are they willing to go through what I am gonna do?"After James and John assure him that they are ready for anything, Jesus goes on to tell them that where they sit in heaven is not his call, and that they shouldn't be asking anyway. It looks like he kinda calls them out in front of the rest of the apostles and berates them for having spiritual ambition. Jesus reminds us that we are here to serve, nothing more. Too simple again?

News for today:

Iraqi Christians begin church restoration campaign

Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time - Having the Courage to Explore how to Make God Happy

2008-07-24T09:05:00.009-04:00

Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

On the day of 24 July
Of Saint Charbel (Joseph) Makhlouf, priest of the Lebanese Maronite Order, who, zealous for strict solitude and greater perfection, withdrew from the monastery of Annaya in Lebanon to a hermitage in which he served God with the greatest severity of life, fasting and praying night and day. On the twenty-fourth day of December he found rest in the Lord.

Yes, I did cut and paste that from the USCCB website.

Reading 1: Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13

Well, Jeremiah is pretty new to me. Yes, I know, everything is. But reading all of these old testament passages makes me think that if I don't do what God wants, it will really hurt his feelings. I know that it is not that simple, and God doesn't have emotions that we can fathom, but this is the way that his prophet is presenting it to us. Maybe this is what God is trying to convey. There is an old story about my patron saint, Zita. Apparently when she was a little kid, her mother taught her how to be good by explaining that certain of her actions would "be pleasing to God", while other things she did "would be displeasing to God". Maybe if I broke it down for myself like that daily, this whole Christianity thing would be simpler. Not easier, but much more simple.

Gospel: Matthew 13:10-17

After reading the footnotes for this whole passage, I think this is about "being prepared to explore" the true meaning of parables and biblical passages. Jesus is telling us that all of our instructions and everything that we need to understand is all laid out before us, but we have to "see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted". That is Jesus quoting Isaiah, which we read pretty recently. I wonder why that wasn't our first reading today? Anyway, I think that today we are being told to have the courage to explore the meaning of all of these passages so that we can make God happy. Well, now I think I have my title.

I've got a few news items today, because I couldn't choose between them:

Cardinal accuses Anglican Communion of 'spiritual Alzheimer's'

Colombia bishop: guerillas should pay attention to massive protests

Muslim ‘warriors’ threaten harm if Catholic bishop does not convert to Islam

Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time - Jeremiah's Calling and a Repeat Performance

2008-07-23T06:20:00.006-04:00

This is our saint of the day today. I get these from the USCCB website and I just cut and paste this little blurb right from them:

Of Saint Bridget of Sweden, religious, who, having been given in marriage to Ulf, a lawgiver, with the greatest devotion educated the eight children whom she bore and by word and example roused her husband to godliness. Upon his death, she travelled through many sacred places and, having bequeathed writings mystically concerned with head and members of the Church being reformed and having completed the foundations of the Order of the Most Holy Savior, departed for heaven from Rome.

Well, I know that I haven't been too regular, but I will get better now.

Reading 1: Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10

I am just getting back into the swing of things, so I'm gonna let the NAB footnotes speak for me:

Jeremiah was destined to the office of prophet before his birth; cf Isaiah 49:1, 5; Luke 1:15; Gal 1:15, 16. I knew you: I loved you and chose you. I dedicated you: I set you apart to be a prophet. Some Fathers and later theologians understand this to mean that Jeremiah was freed from original sin before his birth. The context does not justify this conclusion. The nations: the pagan neighbors of Judah, besides the great world powers-Assyria, Babylonia, Egypt-intimately associated with Judah's destiny.

On to the Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9

Well this felt familiar to me, and sure enough, I went back and looked, and we did this reading on Sunday the 13th of this month. Now, I'm sure that this probably means that I should look at this reading a little closer, but instead I will cut and paste what I wrote back then, because I just stole from NAB footnotes anyway. They still say it better than any insight I may have:

Since in Palestine sowing often preceded ploughing, much of the seed is scattered on ground that is unsuitable. Yet while much is wasted, the seed that falls on good ground bears fruit in extraordinarily large measure. The point of the parable is that, in spite of some failure because of opposition and indifference, the message of Jesus about the coming of the kingdom will have enormous success.

Also

See Mark 4:14-20; Luke 8:11-15. In this explanation of the parable the emphasis is on the various types of soil on which the seed falls, i.e., on the dispositions with which the preaching of Jesus is received. The second and third types particularly are explained in such a way as to support the view held by many scholars that the explanation derives not from Jesus but from early Christian reflection upon apostasy from the faith that was the consequence of persecution and worldliness respectively. Others, however, hold that the explanation may come basically from Jesus even though it was developed in the light of later Christian experience. The four types of persons envisaged are (1) those who never accept the word of the kingdom (Matthew 13:19); (2) those who believe for a while but fall away because of persecution (Matthew 13:20-21); (3) those who believe, but in whom the word is choked by worldly anxiety and the seduction of riches (Matthew 13:22); (4) those who respond to the word and produce fruit abundantly (Matthew 13:23).

Well, I just skated through my come-back, didn't I? Anyway, here is some news. I took the running headlines off of the blog because I didn't like the stories that the news gadget was coming up with. They were salacious and made fun of the church and christianity, not just stories that I didn't agree with or wasn't interested in. If I can figure out how to filter them better, I'll put them back, because I really like the idea. Here's a story to tide me over until then:

Pope's tree flourishes while others wither

Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time - Hillbilly Wisdom in the Plot to Kill Jesus

2008-07-19T07:01:00.007-04:00

There is always a choice for saint of the day. There are so many saints out there that several are being celebrated every day. I usually just go by whoever is the saint of the day on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops page. But today they had Saint Aura, virgin, sister of the sainted martyrs Adolphus and John. I couldn't find her picture or any other information about her, so I went with the saint that is on my handy-dandy little church calender. Today, we have the Blessed Virgin Mary listed as an optional memorial, which is on a lot of the Saturdays through spring and summer. I've included my favorite picture of all time of Mary, and you can check the link for more info about her.

First reading today: Micah 2:1-5

It seems that we are entering a new book that I still don't know anything about. This is from the NAB: Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah. Of his personal life and call we know nothing except that he came from the obscure village of Moresheth in the foothills. His were the broad vistas of the Judean lowland and the distant sea on the western horizon. With burning eloquence he attacked the rich exploiters of the poor, fraudulent merchants, venal judges, corrupt priests and prophets. To the man of the countryside the vices of the nation seemed centered in its capitals, for both Samaria and Jerusalem are singled out for judgment. An interesting notice in Jeremiah 26:17, 18 informs us that the reform of Hezekiah was influenced by the preaching of Micah.

I just read the passage. This is definitely a warning. God is always warning the Israelites in the old testament, and they are never listening. I guess hindsight is 20/20. If there were some crazy hillbilly running around the streets of Atlanta screaming this at all of the Christians, we'd ignore him too. We just need to listen with our hearts and minds to what God is saying to us through the world.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 12:14-21

My footnotes tell me that only in Matthew does Jesus know about the Pharisee plot to kill him. He went away, but he didn't escape. I'm pretty sure that a guy healing crowds of people was pretty easy to find, no matter how much he warned them to not talk about him.

Also, if there was all of this talk about gentiles in the prophecies about Jesus, why was it such a big debate among early Christians?

Well, news of the day: Repentant sinners are best Christian witnesses, Pope tells troubled youths

Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time - Hezekiah's Boil and the Spirit of the Law

2008-07-18T07:58:00.005-04:00

Our saint today is Saint Theodosia of Constantinople.
This info is from the USCCB site:

Of Constantinople, of Saint Theodosia, nun, who, for the sake of protecting the ancient icon of Christ which Emperor Leo the Isaurian had commanded be taken down from the Bronze Gate of the palace [in order that it might be destroyed], suffered martyrdom.

On to the readings. First reading today: Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8

So, Hezekiah is ill, and Isaiah goes to him and tells him to get his affairs and his spiritual house in order, because he's going to die. When he cries out to the lord and prays, it seems like God softens up a little, and tells Isaiah the cure for this guy's illness, and tells him that he will live for another 15 years. He seems to be sick from a boil. This is some major boil that has gotten so big that it could kill him. Then Isaiah does this really cool miracle to prove to Hezekiah that the Lord is telling the truth about extending his life. This passage is telling me to open up your communication with God, because he will listen. BillP made a fantastic comment to yesterday's posting, and I think that it applies to this as well: "when do we listen? How do we know we have heard? And the answer is: now."

On to the Gospel: Matthew 12:1-8

I have two theories on this one. First, I think that Jesus may be talking about the spirit of the law versus the letter of the law. He wants everyone to follow the spirit of God's laws, and not let the letter of the law starve the most scrupulous followers. Second, he may only be saying that the priests need to mind their own business because he, Jesus, seeing as how he's God, can do whatever he wants and his followers are in the right because they are following him.

Now for some news: All faiths must defend freedom, reject hatred

Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time - Learn Wisdom and Submit to It's Yoke

2008-07-16T06:26:00.007-04:00

Today is the feast day for Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. I have to admit, I really just like putting the pictures up here.

So, the first reading is a doozy: Isaiah 10:5-7, 13b-16

The footnotes say that the "impious nation" is Israel, and that "It was God's intention to use Assyria merely to punish, not to destroy, his people". So, I think that it is Assyria that is doing all of the bragging ("By my own power I have done it...") And in the last part of the reading, God is setting the record straight. Like the footnotes say, Assyria is merely a tool to punish, and it makes no sense for the tool to swagger. So are the last few lines a threat against Assyria or Israel? Is continuing to punish Israel for their sins, or Assyria for it's braggadocio?

On to the Gospel: Matthew 11:25-27

As I was reading the footnotes on the Gospel, I happened on a phrase that I think sums up both readings. I liked it so much that I made it the title of today. It refers to verses 28-29, which we didn't cover today, but it still applies: "These verses are peculiar to Matthew and are similar to Ben Sirach's invitation to learn wisdom and submit to her yoke (Sirach 51:23, 26)." Jesus is saying that only those willing to listen, to submit to the wisdom of God's will, are going to know and understand all of the hidden things that God wants us to see. Shot in the dark, but I think that I have it. Let me know if I am wrong.

News story of the day is just freaky: Minnesota professor repeats threat of Eucharistic desecration

Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the Church

2008-07-14T22:58:00.005-04:00

Today is the Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the Church.

So, reading #1: Isaiah 7:1-9

I read this 3 times. I think I have it now. It's more political intrigue, right? Actually, I was tempted to just cut and past this thing, and put a link on every word that I didn't understand. So, Rezin, king of Aram, and Pekah, king of Israel, go and lay siege to the king of Judah, Ahaz. God asks Isaiah to go and meet with Ahaz and his son and give him a message. The New Living Bible translates the message as this: "Tell him to stop worrying. Tell him he doesn't need to fear the fierce anger of those two burned-out embers". Then God promises to crush the embers within 65 years. The message ends with an admonition to stand strong in the face of adversity. "Unless your faith is firm you shall not be firm!"

Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:20-24

I love it when Jesus gets irate. He's just drawing from his roots as the angry old testament God. It's understandable, too. He goes out of his way, gets born as a human, performs miracles in front of these people, and they still can't find the time to repent and start following God's laws. So, he gets mad and starts yelling, and telling them where they can go. Or where they are gonna go. Whichever. I think today's readings tell us, in the words of my father: "Straighten up and fly right!"

Well today is the opening day for World Youth day in Australia. Read all about it: Cardinal Pell celebrates World Youth Day Opening Mass with over 140, 000 people

Memorial of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin

2008-07-14T08:28:00.005-04:00

I love these special saint days. So, today is the Memorial of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin. I really advise scanning the link, because she's an neat saint I've never heard of.

Well, I've been having a lot of trouble, for some reason, with formatting. I'm working on it.

First reading is Isaiah 1:10-17

Wow. God is so ticked off that he is comparing the Israelites to the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. It's a real threat. He's saying "Look what I did to them. I can do it to you, too." He's ticked because they are just going through the motions with their worship and sacrifice. At this point, he would rather them abandon what has become empty traditions, and actually go do some good among the needy: Those that have suffered injustice, orphans, and widows. It's a good start.

The gospel for today: Matthew 10:34-11:1

This reading always makes me want to go back and re-read The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis.

Jesus is telling us to put him first and ignore persecution even when it comes from our families. He's telling us that it will happen, and to be prepared.

More news on my favorite story: Bishop to lead flock to Rome after synod vote

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

2008-07-13T08:00:00.002-04:00

Well, I'm breaking my own rules today, and posting before I go to church, but I'll never even get home today until late...so here we go:

Reading 1: Isaiah 55:10-11

This one seems pretty simple to me. God is explaining to his prophet that his (God's) words are there to work good in the world. Maybe this is to help the prophet know that his work doesn't go completely unheeded. It seems like a reiteration that the bible is here for a purpose, it's not just that people accidentally got together and gathered the random stories from their wacky religion.

Reading 2: Romans 8:18-23

When I went and checked the footnotes from the NAB, and they cover this way better than I could, so here's a little cut and paste:

The glory that believers are destined to share with Christ far exceeds the sufferings of the present life. Paul considers the destiny of the created world to be linked with the future that belongs to the believers. As it shares in the penalty of corruption brought about by sin, so also will it share in the benefits of redemption and future glory that comprise the ultimate liberation of God's people (Romans 8:19-22). After patient endurance in steadfast expectation, the full harvest of the Spirit's presence will be realized. On earth believers enjoy the first fruits, i.e., the Spirit, as a guarantee of the total liberation of their bodies from the influence of the rebellious old self (Romans 8:23).

Gospel for today is: Matthew 13:1-23 or 13:1-9

Once again, the footnotes seem to cover this better than I can. Maybe I'm lazy today, but I have to admit, I am a little resistant to talk about these readings before I hear a sermon. Anyway, this is what the good folks at NAB have to say:

Since in Palestine sowing often preceded ploughing, much of the seed is scattered on ground that is unsuitable. Yet while much is wasted, the seed that falls on good ground bears fruit in extraordinarily large measure. The point of the parable is that, in spite of some failure because of opposition and indifference, the message of Jesus about the coming of the kingdom will have enormous success.

Also

See Mark 4:14-20; Luke 8:11-15. In this explanation of the parable the emphasis is on the various types of soil on which the seed falls, i.e., on the dispositions with which the preaching of Jesus is received. The second and third types particularly are explained in such a way as to support the view held by many scholars that the explanation derives not from Jesus but from early Christian reflection upon apostasy from the faith that was the consequence of persecution and worldliness respectively. Others, however, hold that the explanation may come basically from Jesus even though it was developed in the light of later Christian experience. The four types of persons envisaged are (1) those who never accept the word of the kingdom (Matthew 13:19); (2) those who believe for a while but fall away because of persecution (Matthew 13:20-21); (3) those who believe, but in whom the word is choked by worldly anxiety and the seduction of riches (Matthew 13:22); (4) those who respond to the word and produce fruit abundantly (Matthew 13:23).

Well, my new favorite news story goes on: Anglican Traditionalist Bishop Argues against Hasty Reactions

Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time - Isaiah's Answer Starts Jesus' Blueprint

2008-07-11T18:59:00.005-04:00

Sorry that the posting has been sparse this week, but I have lived in headache city all week long.

Today, the first reading is: Isaiah 6:1-8

I have a feeling that I'm going to like Isaiah. I found a little picture at the thrift store that says: See! I will not forget you...I have you carved in the palm of my hand. (Isaiah 49:15) I love the poetics and the violence. Also, this reading is about seraphim. I'm not sure it can get any better than that for old testament mysticism. Well, I read the intro, and it seems like this is not a dream sequence, like I thought when I first read it. Well, maybe, kinda. It is his vision, his "call"

So, the year that King Uzziah died is about 742 B.C., and Isaiah has a vision in the temple. This is the footnote from the NAB : Seraphim: literally "the burning ones," are celestial beings who surround the throne of God. Each has six wings. Reverence for the divine majesty causes them to veil their faces with two wings; modesty, to veil their extremities in similar fashion; alacrity in God's service, to extend two wings in preparation for flight. Holy, holy, holy: God's perfect interior holiness whose exterior manifestation is his glory.

It's a very dramatic vision, with angels and singing and smoke and God. So, he thinks he's about to die. Instead, the angel touches his mouth with an ember from the alter to purge him of his sins and wickedness. God calls out "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?”. And Isaiah just pipes right up and says "Here I am...send me!"

I'm used to biblical characters arguing with God about their call, and avoiding it. (Moses and Jonah to name just two.) But Isaiah still pipes right up. After reading about all of the regular Joes who didn't feel worthy when God called them, Isaiah comes out even more of a hero by responding positively to God, and making himself available to God's will.

The gospel today is: Matthew 10:24-33

I think I see the tie-in right away. Jesus is telling us that we are all servants of the Lord and we should aspire to be like Him, not better than Him. He says not to worry, that one day we will know the answers to everything. And he says: "What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops", which immediately makes me think that Isaiah is the perfect role model for this. He tells us not to be afraid, which he tells us a lot, and makes a veiled threat about Gehenna.

But I think it all comes down to the ending of the passage: "Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others,I will deny before my heavenly Father.” To me, this is reassuring. I know what the rules are. Jesus makes it pretty clear what we should and shouldn't do in this passage. Actually doing it may be hard, but the blueprint is right in front of us.

To catch up on the news, I think this one story is the most interesting thing going on in the church right now. Yes, I know that World Youth Day is coming up, but this really has my attention: Anglican bishop seeks union with Rome

Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time - Punishment of Idolatry and God's Chosen Come First

2008-07-09T07:24:00.007-04:00

Our first reading today is Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12

Maybe I just can't focus today, but I am completely lost. I'm gonna give it a shot, though. Hosea calls Israel a " luxuriant vine whose fruit matches its growth." I suspect that this is spoken with a little sarcasm. It seems like he goes on to insinuate that the more successful they become, the more idolatrous they become. They are building a bunch of altars and pillars, which we know from yesterday were, at the very least, encouraging idol worship along side worship of the God of Abraham. He accuses their worship and sacrifices of being empty, and reminds them that when they deny God, he can't do much for them.

Hosea then goes on to describe a cataclysmic disaster that he feels the Israelites are bringing on themselves. The king of Samaria is gonna disappear, "The high places of Aven shall be destroyed", "thorns and thistles shall overgrow their altars", and apparently they will be so downcast that they will beg the mountains and the hills to fall on them.

So he tells them to go and spiritually clean house. They should "Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety". He tells them that they should seek the Lord, possibly before the Lord seeks them out. The title for this chapter in my bible is "Punishment of Idolatry". I think we are gonna see a lot of this in the old testament. Over and over, God needs to remind us of the first two commandments. He wants to be first, before everything. Even when Jesus is asked which is the most important commandment, he says "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment".

Wow! For someone with no focus, I sure can ramble on. Time for the Gospel: Matthew 10:1-7

Jesus calls together his disciples and gives them the power to heal and drive out demons. Just so that everyone is clear on who gets to go on this faith-healing journey, Matthew names all of the twelve apostles: 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 Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.

I do have to admit I only quoted that verse so that I could put all of those links in there.

What is actually interesting about this is that he instructs his disciples to stay among the"house of Israel". I feel like the Jews were God's chosen for so long that he wanted to give them the chance for salvation first. He probably felt like they were also the most qualified to later go and preach salvation to the hordes of ignorant pagan gentiles.

That's all I got. Here's some news: Scholars divided on interpretation of ‘Gabriel’s Revelation’ tablet

And if you are following this story, like me: Dissident Anglican Bishops May Seek Refuge in Rome

a few different takes on this story (I'm eating up everything I can find) Vatican "regret" at Church of England vote

England church backs women bishops, risks division

'We ARE navel-gazing': Mail was right about Church's self-obsession, says Archbishop of York as ordination row simmers

Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time - Baal is Still Bad and Getting Demons out of the Harvest

2008-07-08T06:48:00.003-04:00

Well, I slept late, had a great vacation, and here is your first reading of the day:
Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13
First, I want to share a little of what I just read in the NAB introduction to Hosea about this new book that I don't know much about:
"Hosea belonged to the northern kingdom and began his prophetic career in the last years of Jeroboam II (786-746 B.C.)...The prophecy pivots around his own unfortunate marriage to Gomer, a personal tragedy which profoundly influenced his teaching. In fact, his own prophetic vocation and message were immeasurably deepened by the painful experience he underwent in his married life.

Gomer, the adulteress, symbolized faithless Israel. And just as Hosea could not give up his wife forever even when she played the harlot, so Yahweh could not renounce Israel, who had been betrothed to him. God would chastise, but it would be the chastisement of the jealous lover, longing to bring back the beloved to the fresh and pure joy of their first love.

Israel's infidelity took the form of idolatry and ruthless oppression of the poor. No amount of mechanically offered sacrifices could atone for her serious sins. Chastisement alone remained; God would have to strip her of the rich ornaments bestowed by her false lovers and thus bring her back to the true lover. A humiliated Israel would again seek Yahweh. The eleventh chapter of Hosea is one of the summits of Old Testament theology; God's love for his people has never been expressed more tenderly. Hosea began the tradition of describing the relation between Yahweh and Israel in terms of marriage."

I know that was long, but I think it may be important to understanding the Hosea readings. Now I've forgotten the whole reading, and I've gotta go back and read again...

So, they made kings, but not by God's authority. Apparently, the Israelites had a rebellion against the Davidic line, and put their own ruler in place, who then put up idols in several temples. Hosea goes on to describe that idols are stupid and empty, and that people who believe in them are stupid and empty. (Yes, my words, not Hosea's)

Hosea goes on to talk about Ephraim, who built a whole bunch of altars, thinking that it would help to fight sin, but it had the opposite effect. This is the footnote about that in the NAB: "The very multiplicity of sanctuaries throughout the land was a danger to the purity of worship. The local shrines were speedily assimilated to the cult places used by the Canaanites, and the Lord was identified with the god Baal worshiped there. Thus the Deuteronomic writers, influenced by prophetic ideas, ended by restricting sacrificial worship to the one temple in Jerusalem."

Hosea also goes on to talk about how his words are not heeded, which I'm sure he felt all over, from his home life to the general population that he was trying to get to listen to his prophecy. But he was wrong. His words have lived thousands of years, and influenced biblical law and writings forever. He ends with a threat. Because Israel has been so sinful, they will go back to Egypt. I assume that to mean that they will go back to slavery. God is so tired of their empty promises and mechanical gestures that he wants to strip everything from Israel so that they will be happy to come back to him again. I guess the analogy of the nation fallen away from God to the wife fallen from her husband seems pretty apt. The lesson that I take from this reading is what I get over and over and over from the old testament: God should be the most important thing in your life, don't worship anything or put anything in front of him. Sounds simple. What does God want from us? Love. More love than we give anything or anybody else.

On to the Gospel:
Matthew 9:32-38

It seems like in Jesus' day, there were a lot of people who were possessed by demons. I know that popular interpretation of this tends to lean towards the idea that ancient people attributed unknown illnesses and mental illnesses to demon possession. I like to think that there were actual demons. The world had gotten so rotten, so unlivable, so filled with real hardship and supernatural hardship that it was the best time in history for Jesus to come and save it.

Anyway, he's going around, exorcising demons, and the Pharisees started laying the groundwork for future persecution by claiming that Jesus only had the power to drive out demons by the power of the prince of demons, not God.

But Jesus just goes on with his work. He travels, heals, preaches, and exorcises. He becomes so saddened by the lost state of mind of the people that he encounters that he asks the disciples to pray to God for more "laborers for his harvest". The NAB footnotes to say that "It presupposes that only God (the master of the harvest) can take the initiative in sending out preachers of the gospel" I'm okay with that interpretation. That is why before someone becomes a priest or a preacher that they get "the call", right?

Anyway, that's all I got for today.

Here's your news story: Dissident Anglican bishops may seek refuge in Rome

4th of July

2008-07-03T18:38:00.003-04:00

I'll be traveling for the holiday weekend, so I won't be posting again until Tuesday the 8th. Until then, you can get the readings here:

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Here's a news story for good measure: Fr. Damien, parents of St. Therese advance toward sainthood, Vatican announces

Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle

2008-07-03T07:11:00.003-04:00

It looks like today is the Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle. Which I'm very excited about, because I don't have to come up with a title for the blog today.

Our first reading is Ephesians 2:19-22

Today's reading is kind of gentle and soothing. Not the kind of thing that I expect to get from Paul. I imagine him always worked up about something or another. I like the imagery of the Church as the Household of God. He somehow manages to work together the congregation into being a part of the family and household of God, and also being a part of the foundation and building that houses God. But Paul's reading also should infuse us with a sense of responsibility. If we are a family and a household and a dwelling place, then we should be more aware of our actions and words, and how they affect people around us. Could ugly words between two people who disagree cause cracks in a wall? Maybe. Could it cause a bad history between family members? Absolutely.

Off the soap box and on to the next reading: John 20:24-29

Since it is the feast of Saint Thomas, we have the "doubting Thomas" story today. We have all heard this one since childhood, it has been the standard you-gotta-have-faith story, and it is always presented to us in a "Isn't Thomas so silly?" kind of way. But frankly, Thomas must have thought that his friends had lost either their ever-loving minds, become drunks, or had decided to become liars. Which ever one that he went with, he just shut down completely, because really, just talking about Jesus too loud in mixed company could get you arrested. In the least. When Jesus showed up and asked Thomas to touch all of his wounds, (and, I imagine, with a touch of sarcasm in his voice), it must have been like scales falling from his eyes. He must have understood everything about Jesus all at once. Unfortunate that he had to be used as the example of tested faith for the next few thousand years, but we should thank him for going through all of that so that we don't have to.

Today's news story isn't really news, it is an article I found while googling Thomas, and I really like it: Doubting Doubting Thomas

Also, Deacon Bill was kind enough to answer some of my questions from yesterday. He asked me to be sure to "qualify them as reflections." I think that they are great, and feel like my questions are answered. Here they are:

1) Why did the demons want to go into the pigs ---- evil is a desire to control (only God controls, and even God normally chooses not to) -- so if the demons will not be allowed to control humans, they will want to control something, so they settle for the pigs, the closest thing handy

2) Why did Jesus do what they asked --- God loves all of creation, and in not choosing to control too much, God allows the demons to make their own decision about their next step in their lives, just as God allows us to make our own choices. Jesus did not do what they asked, he allowed them to do as they wished - in my reading he said "Go then"

3) Why did the demons kill the pigs --- they didn't, the pigs were trying to rid themselves of this evil, as they (the pigs) were not evil, in fact, they can only be pigs, just as God made them -- which is what we are to do - be as God made us (not in control, not evil, just being, living the moment, seeking the God within, not the evil)

4) why did the townspeople ask Jesus to leave ---- they didn't want to lose anymore pigs :-) ----- they wanted to control, he who showed his power and who they feared, as he spoke to demons and was not afraid ----we too are called to not be afraid, we are called to have faith and hope and trust --- so that we might love all of creation, so that we might not control, so that we would ask God to rid us of evil, so that we might be Love

Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time - True Worship and the Bay of Pigs

2008-07-02T05:29:00.003-04:00

First Reading: Amos 5:14-15, 21-24

God asks us to seek good and not evil. This seems like a really basic thing that he shouldn't even have to ask, so no wonder that the tone of this reading suggests that he's a little annoyed. He goes on to break it down in one of the more basic set of instructions for pleasing him that I've seen, outside of the ten commandments. Then it gets confusing. He tells his people that almost everything that they do to worship him will not be welcome. No feasts, solemnities, cereal offerings, stall-fed peace offerings, and no music. But he will take burnt offerings. Why? Well, this is what the footnotes from the NAB say: "The Lord condemns, not ritual worship in itself, but the cult whose exterior rites and solemnity have no relation to interior morality and justice. The Israelites falsely worshipped him as neighboring nations adored Baal or Chamos, deities which were thought to protect their respective people against their enemies in return for ritual observances, without any relation to right conduct." Okay, so God wants us to act right, pursue justice, maintain an inner morality, and really mean it when we go to worship services. I think that may be a fair assessment of that reading.

On to the next!

Second Reading: Matthew 8:28-34

So Jesus was traveling with his guys, and two demoniacs come out to meet him. Apparently, they were such a common nuisance that nobody traveled that road anymore. They immediately recognize Jesus for who he is, and accuse him of trying to drive them out "before their time". My handy dandy footnotes tell me "that the notion that evil spirits were allowed by God to afflict human beings until the time of the final judgment is found in Enoch 16:1 and Jubilees 10:7-10." But then the demons ask to be put into swine instead of just expelled, and it seems like Jesus takes pity on them. He drives the spirits into the swine, they drive the swine off of a cliff, and the swineherds run to town and tell everybody what happened. (My guess is that they went straight to the bar.) Then everybody from the town comes out to meet Jesus and to ask him to go away. You think they'd be happy to get rid of those two crazy guys that were terrorizing people off of the road. These are my questions:

Why did the demons want to go into the pigs?
Why did Jesus do what they asked?
Why did the demons kill the pigs?
Why did the townspeople ask Jesus to leave after that?

News Story of the Day: Laws for pope visit rankle critics in Australia

Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time - The Wrath of God Calms the Sea

2008-06-30T19:34:00.004-04:00

Good Morning. It's early. Today's first reading is Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12

The wrath of God continues in today's reading. Thing is, it's kind of understandable. I know, I know, it's not popular to sympathize with the Angry-God stuff. We are supposed to act like that behavior is either not there in the old testament or that it doesn't mean anything, but come on! It's all over the place! The way I see it, God kinda has his feelings hurt that the people that he has chosen to reveal himself to are, well, human. Maybe I'm projecting, because God probably doesn't really have the kind of emotions that we do, but I see him really fostering, indulging, and loving this whole tribe, in a very parent-favorite son kind of way. But it seems to him that every time he turns his back for a second, they are sniffing around foreign temples and worshipping those other gods. Not even those other Gods, but poles of wood and altars of stone. They are wasting all of their adoration on objects. Even though it's easy to see this in a jealously context, God is mad because his people are doing stupid things that are only harming themselves. Kind of like when you get mad at your new puppy for eating rocks. You don't want him to keep hurting himself.

The gospel for today is Matthew 8:23-27

This reading is a nice, soothing balm after the Amos passage. Jesus is on a boat with his disciples, crossing the Sea of Galilee I guess, and a "violent storm" breaks out. I've been on a boat in a violent storm, and it can be terrifying and nauseating, and make you feel completely helpless. To make matters worse, the footnotes say that the word actually translates to earthquake. Really? Earthquake in a boat? Doesn't that cause tidal waves and stuff?

Anyway, the disciples are freaking out, and wake Jesus, begging him to save them. I imagine the scene a little like this: Jesus slowly wakes up, rubs his eyes, and says "What's wrong with you? Can't I go to sleep for a minute without you jerks thinking you're gonna die? Do I have to do everything around here?" He gets up, calmly prays and does some storm-directing with his hands, and the weather clears instantly. He goes back to his original spot, lays down, and goes right back to sleep, completely unconcerned.

This is seriously one of my favorite gospel stories because it kind of cracks me up every time that I read it.

The news story of the day is old, but it was a slow news day this morning: Don’t abandon drug addicts, says president of Chilean Bishops’ Conference

Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time - Threats of Destruction while the Dead Bury the Dead

2008-06-30T07:16:00.004-04:00

Good Morning. I slept in a little, so this is running late.

Today we start off with Amos 2:6-10, 13-16

I scanned around Amos a little, because I've never read it before. It spent all of Chapter one outlining other crimes against other tribes or nations. It looks like they were all pretty bad, (murder, treason, slavery), but God was the most angry at Israel because they disregarded his laws, took advantage of the weak and poor, sold their own people into slavery, heedlessly worshipped other idols, and something weird about father and son visiting the same prostitute. There are probably multiple laws broken on that prostitute thing. My study bible says that the crimes are "infidelity and idolatry". And we thought we lived in a corrupt society today.

At the end of verse six, where God, through Amos, says "I will not revoke my word," I thought that meant that God was going to stand by Israel, but apparently not. According to everything that came up with when I googled it, it means that he "will not withdraw his threat of punishment." Ouch. He goes on to tell Israel the great things that he's done for them, with the destruction of the Amorites, the being led out of slavery, and giving them the promised land. And then, tells them that they are really in for it because they have ticked him off. "Really in for it" doesn't exactly cover it, right? He's about to crush them. It is basically a very scary "I brought you into this world, I can take you out" kind of dad-speech. I don't know any more to say. Let's see what the next reading is:

Matthew 8:18-22

I don't understand how these tie together at all. I also think that Jesus is really tired in this passage, and maybe a little cranky. First of all, he sees that he's drawing a crowd, and he just wants to get in a boat and go across the lake, away from them. When a scribe tells him that he wants to follow him anywhere and everywhere, Jesus just basically tells him that he's got nowhere to go, and nowhere to rest. Then, when one of his disciples asks permission to go and bury his father, Jesus denies him in what even today sounds shocking and uncaring. “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.” Maybe the tie in for these two passages is that God gets real ornery sometimes. The New American Bible says this: "Let the dead bury their dead: the demand of Jesus overrides what both the Jewish and the Hellenistic world regarded as a filial obligation of the highest importance. See the note on Luke 9:60." Still very harsh.

So I googled around again, and I found this article: Holy Spirit Interactive: Fr. Francis Jamieson: The Hard Sayings of Jesus: Let the Dead Bury the Dead. This article basically says that Jesus is trying to demonstrate that following him and seeking the kingdom of God overcomes every earthy obligation, no matter how pious or important.

Now for the news of the day, in case you were interested in what the pope said about the new Pauline year: Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul links missionary and unitive dimensions

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

2008-06-28T11:03:00.009-04:00

Sorry that this posting might have seemed late to you, but on Sundays I want to wait until I've gone to church, and hear what the priest or deacon has to say about the liturgy for the day.

It's the second day of this Solemnity, and it looks like it is to kick off a "Pauline Year". See this article about it, if you are interested: Opening Pauline Year, Pope calls faithful to listen to and follow St. Paul in today's world

Well, lets get straight to the readings. We've got a lot today.

First Reading: Acts 12:1-11

Bad King Herod starts arresting Christians, kills James, and finds that this sort of persecution is politically advantageous to him. So he goes and gets himself the known leader, Peter, and places him under heavy guard, with the intention of presenting him to the people after Passover. Here's the cool part of the story: The Church starts praying "fervently" for him, and he gets literally rescued by angels. They wake him up, as he's sleeping between two guards. They remove the chains from his hands, get him his clothes, and walk him out a door that was secured with two chains. Peter just goes along and doesn't question anything, because he assumes that he is having a vision. He's just amiably going along, as if he's in an especially good dream. Once he's in the alley, the angel leaves him, and Peter finally has his "Holy Cow" moment. He exclaims that yes, God really did just send him some rescue angels, and what he thought of as inevitable was not going to happen. It just seems to me that this story is demonstrating just how important God's plan for Peter was. If Peter were to be executed before his time, no one else was as uniquely qualified to take the young Christian Church were it needed to start. So, God kept Peter safe. Nice.

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18

This reading has always made me have a special affection for Paul. This was a guy who was confidant beyond belief. He made these kind of crazy statements, because he knew that it was true. You can see in this reading why he got into fights with everybody, including Peter. In the homily today, that was the thing that really jumped out at me. Paul fought with EVERYBODY, yet he, along with Peter, formed Christianity. I love that the Church was built by these two guys that couldn't agree on much, and really may not have liked each other much either. But they had a common goal, and a common love for God, and they managed to work out the methods. I know that this wasn't that much about the reading, but it's what I've been thinking about since church this morning, and it had to come out some where.

And the gospel: Matthew 16:13-19

In this reading, Jesus and the disciples are in Caesarea Philippi. Jesus is trying to point out that not only does Peter know who he is, but that he has that knowledge only revelation through god. The rest of this reading seems to deal with Peter's place and authority in the Church that will form. This is what the guys from the New American Bible have to say about that: (Once more, WAY better than I could put it)

You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church: the Aramaic word kepa - meaning rock and transliterated into Greek as Kephas is the name by which Peter is called in the Pauline letters (1 Cor 1:12; 3:22; 9:5; 15:4; Gal 1:18; 2:9, 11, 14) except in Gal 2:7-8 ("Peter"). It is translated as Petros ("Peter") in John 1:42. The presumed original Aramaic of Jesus' statement would have been, in English, "You are the Rock (Kepa) and upon this rock (kepa) I will build my church." The Greek text probably means the same, for the difference in gender between the masculine noun petros, the disciple's new name, and the feminine noun petra (rock) may be due simply to the unsuitability of using a feminine noun as the proper name of a male. Although the two words were generally used with slightly different nuances, they were also used interchangeably with the same meaning, "rock." Church: this word (Greek ekklesia) occurs in the gospels only here and in Matthew 18:17 (twice). There are several possibilities for an Aramaic original. Jesus' church means the community that he will gather and that, like a building, will have Peter as its solid foundation. That function of Peter consists in his being witness to Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God. The gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it: the netherworld (Greek Hades, the abode of the dead) is conceived of as a walled city whose gates will not close in upon the church of Jesus, i.e., it will not be overcome by the power of death.

The keys to the kingdom of heaven: the image of the keys is probably drawn from Isaiah 22:15-25 where Eliakim, who succeeds Shebnah as master of the palace, is given "the key of the house of David," which he authoritatively "opens" and "shuts" (Isaiah 22:22). Whatever you bind . . . loosed in heaven: there are many instances in rabbinic literature of the binding-loosing imagery. Of the several meanings given there to the metaphor, two are of special importance here: the giving of authoritative teaching, and the lifting or imposing of the ban of excommunication. It is disputed whether the image of the keys and that of binding and loosing are different metaphors meaning the same thing. In any case, the promise of the keys is given to Peter alone. In Matthew 18:18 all the disciples are given the power of binding and loosing, but the context of that verse suggests that there the power of excommunication alone is intended. That the keys are those to the kingdom of heaven and that Peter's exercise of authority in the church on earth will be confirmed in heaven show an intimate connection between, but not an identification of, the church and the kingdom of heaven.

News story number one is a continuation of a story from Thursday, the 26: The Forum: What next for the Vatican-SSPX talks?

News story number two is also a continuation from Thursday, I wonder how this will develop all over the world? Priests barred from candidate donations

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

2008-06-27T16:41:00.006-04:00

I was given two choices for readings today, the one we are gonna use, which is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles, or Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, bishop and martyr. Frankly, I only chose this one because I like the book of Acts so much.

Because it is a special day, we have three readings.

So, first reading: Acts 3:1-10

What a great story. First of all, like I said before, I love the Book of Acts. I love the movement, ministries, and mysticism of the first Christians. I love that the miracles didn't end with Jesus or the old testament.

So the beggar hangs out by the temple, and asks people for money, and Peter doesn't have any money, so he gives him something much better. He heals this guy's disability. (I suspect that he would have healed him even if he did have some cash one him.) He gives him the ability to walk, in the name of Jesus Christ. Technically, I suppose a priest or a theologian would answer me that Jesus healed this guy through Peter. But the narrative goes on, after the beggar's celebration and thanks giving, to describe how it affected the people at the temple, who knew this crippled man and witnessed a true miracle. What a gift from God that was for everybody there, to be able to see something so undeniable. It still must have been pretty confusing.

On to the next one! Galatians 1:11-20

So, I haven't read a lot of Galatians, the letters are hard for me to get through, but I do like what a hard case Paul could be. It seems here though, Paul is establishing his legitimacy to preach. It's almost like the lineage of his knowledge. I imagine him speaking this clearly and firmly, showing you that there can be no real argument to what he is about to say. I love the emphasis that he didn't need to consult man. He listened to God, and immediately went to go and preach in Arabia. I wonder if he was actually avoiding Damascus and Jerusalem, until he could get his reputation and his relationship with God settled as a true Christian, before he went to go and face the people that he had previously persecuted and confer with Cephas. It turns out that Cephas was one of the names of Peter. Who decides or decided what bible readings go with each day or occasion? Whoever you are, good job bringing this one home, guys. I know, I know, I haven't provided any insight on this one, but it seems to be pretty straightforward to me.

Last reading. It's kinda like a Sunday, huh? John 21:15-19

After reading the footnotes (New American Bible) attached to this, I realized that I could only parrot them, so I'll just reproduce them for you here. Yes, it may very well be lazy, but its also much better than anything I'm gonna say on my own.

For the whole reading, it says this: "This section constitutes Peter's rehabilitation and emphasizes his role in the church."

For verses 15-17, where Jesus is asking Peter if he loves him, and wants him to take care of his sheep: "In these three verses there is a remarkable variety of synonyms: two different Greek verbs for love (see the note on John 15:13); two verbs for feed/tend; two nouns for sheep; two verbs for know. But apparently there is no difference of meaning. The threefold confession of Peter is meant to counteract his earlier threefold denial (John 18:17, 25, 27). The First Vatican Council cited these verses in defining that Jesus after his resurrection gave Peter the jurisdiction of supreme shepherd and ruler over the whole flock."

For just verse 15, where Jesus asks "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" , the footnotes read: "More than these: probably "more than these disciples do" rather than "more than you love them" or "more than you love these things [fishing, etc.]."

Last, the story at verse 18 about growing old: "Originally probably a proverb about old age, now used as a figurative reference to the crucifixion of Peter."

I gotta tell you, I love a lot of of footnotes.

So, news of the day, Huh? I like this one: Mendel called model for balancing science, faith

Friday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time - Nebuchadnezzar's Revenge and Leper Purification

2008-06-26T22:09:00.007-04:00

The first reading is 2 Kings 25:1-12. Be prepared. It's a long one.

Today we got more political intrigue with Zedekiah. The few lines that were not included in yesterday's reading said that he was doing evil, decided to rebel against Babylon, and was about to get his comeuppance. (I can't believe that word passed the spell check.) So, today he gets it.

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, marches on Jerusalem and lays siege for two years. When they finally breach the city walls, Zedekiah sneaks out the back door with a personal army to protect him. The army then deserts him. My study bible indicates that theologians believe that the desertion was prompted by Jeremiah, who is gonna tell his own version of this story in Jeremiah 38:2-3. Nebuchadnezzar is so enraged that when he catches up to Zedekiah, he kills his kids in front of him and then blinds him. (Possibly so that it would be the last thing Zedekiah ever sees? Nasty.) Then he sends in his captain of the bodyguard, Nebuzaradan,
to raze the city, the temple, the palace, and to capture the rest of the citizens and drag them off to Babylon. I'm still assuming that they are being put into slavery. But he leaves some of the poor farmers and "vinedressers" behind to just live their lives. Why did he do that? Were they just not worth the effort, because they weren't powerful or influential, or were they just more useful cultivating the fields? Or is this an early example of "Blessed are the Poor"?

The second reading is Matthew 8:1-4.

I don't understand how these tie together at all. Jesus heals a leper, then tells him to go to the priest, "offer the gift that Moses prescribed", and not to tell anyone that he, Jesus, healed him, and somehow this is gonna be proof for something. So, what did Moses prescribe? It is Lev 14:2-9. Well, it's a purification and sacrifice ritual that is only for when a leper is healed. Is this about following the biblical law? He's healed, so Jesus tells him to go do the purification ritual with a priest so that it will prove that it comes from God? This is the time when comments are welcome, guys, cause I am lost.

Our news story of the day is: Cardinal Urosa warns Venezuelans not to use Mass for political aims

I just found this one too. I love reading about any kind of weird little Catholic splinter group: Bishop Fellay rejects Vatican conditions for reconciling split

Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time - Political Intrigue in the House Built on Sand

2008-06-25T21:34:00.010-04:00

First Reading is 2 Kings 24:8-17

So, we got a new king in Jerusalem, Jehoiachin. He only gets to be king for three months, but he does enough bad things in those three months, that he deserves a mention of "He did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his forebears had done." I wonder what kind of stuff you can do in three months to get a mention as evil for the next few thousand years?

Anyway, Babylon lays siege, conquers the city, and the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, considers it important enough to come himself and make sure that Jerusalem is brought to it's knees. Apparently, Jehoiachin, was already a Babylonian vessel, and was rebelling against Nebuchadnezzar, which explains why this guy was so ticked off that he looted the temple and deported most the the wealthy and powerful back to Babylon, presumably as slaves.

Then he places Jehoiachin's uncle in charge, who immediately changes his name to Zedekiah, which means “Jehovah is righteous” or the “Justice of Jehovah”, which he may have thought sounded more kingly than Mattaniah, which just means "gift of Jehovah". I don't know what we are supposed to learn from this. The old testament seems to have a lot of "bad things happen to bad people" stories like this, and while I do enjoy a gory tale of political intrigue as much as the next guy, I don't get the relevance. Maybe it will tie in for me with the next reading. That happens sometimes.

Second Reading is Matthew 7:21-29

I haven't had my first cup of coffee yet, so I may be currently insane, but I think I do have the tie-in. Jesus is continuing his sermon from yesterday, about false prophets. He's saying that it doesn't matter if you do all of this great stuff, (prophecy, good deeds, driving out demons, all the fun things), if you don't do God's will. Well, maybe the story in the first reading is actually a "bad things happen to bad people" kind of story. As far as I know, the early Jews didn't have a concept of heaven or hell, and people (sometimes) got rewarded or punished on earth for their deeds. If there were ever a time in the Old Testament where it looks like God got fed up and turned his back on his people, it was during the Babylonian occupation, right? Is it because their leaders were talking smack about loving God (remember the Mattaniah/Zedekiah name change?), but they were actually worshipping idols? There was all kinds of other behavior that God seems to find repugnant, that accompanied this idol worship. That behavior is probably what drew the kings to the idol worshipping in the first place. Kings of all ages have enjoyed the benefits that come with temple prostitutes, sacred orgies, and child sacrifice.

So, back to Jesus, he explains that if we just follow God's will, (easier said than done), we will have a strong foundation for this life and the next. I believe that small sins make it easier to commit bigger sins. So, I could also argue that exercising virtuous behavior (the real kind, not the annoying kind) makes us stronger and more likely to resist temptation in the future.

Interesting news article for today, I wonder if it will affect the US: Pope prefers Communion on the tongue, Msgr. Marini says

Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time - Hidden Fruit of the Prophets

2008-06-25T06:42:00.005-04:00

First reading of the day is 2 Kings 22:8-13, 23:1-3

Maybe I'm supposed to get something else out of this, but I really think that this is about the priests neglecting their duty to tell the people the word of God. King Josiah, it seems to me, is doing what he thinks is best, renovating the temple, and they uncover this book of the law, which I assume is the Torah. Why was this book hidden? Had it been untended for so long that the group pf priests, scribes, etc., that live in the temple complex had forgotten it? Well, I just scanned the last bits of the chapter before, and this may be somewhat the fault of lots of evil kings. Apparently, at least the two kings before Josiah worshiped idols, practiced magic, and shed innocent blood. Maybe the priests hid the book to save it, and then it just got forgotten after so many years. This is why guys like Elijiah and his son Elisha were so special. They were brave enough to stand up to blood thirsty kings, when the priests and scribes of the temple were not.

Next reading is Matthew 7:15-20

Before I begin, I want you to see what the footnote from the New American Bible for this reading is: "Christian disciples who claimed to speak in the name of God are called prophets (Matthew 7:15) in Matthew 10:41; Matthew 23:34. They were presumably an important group within the church of Matthew. As in the case of the Old Testament prophets, there were both true and false ones, and for Matthew the difference could be recognized by the quality of their deeds, the fruits (Matthew 7:16). The mention of fruits leads to the comparison with trees, some producing good fruit, others bad." I want to balance this with another story. Mark 9:38-40 Ever since I read this verse back in May, it has been playing around my mind. Jesus said, "whoever is not against us is for us". Now, in this new verse, he is talking about false prophets. So, I think this is telling us to be careful in our judgements. He doesn't want us to just watch the actions and intentions of our religious leaders and peers, he wants us to gauge the results. The fruit, the results of their actions tell us if someone is against God or for God in their hearts, not the differences in sect or denomination. Or at least that's what I read from this. Let's see if that gets good results.

Wow! I was just looking around for a news story for the day, and this one seems to tie right in: Italian Businessman Who Claimed To Be Vatican Insider to Face Fraud Charges

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

2008-06-23T10:58:00.004-04:00

Today, we have three readings, because it seems to be a special day. It is the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. Now, there is another set of readings if you didn't want to celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist , but we aren't doing them here today.

So, our first reading is Isaiah 49:1-6. I think I'm getting these links the way I want them now.

I love the imagery of Isaiah as a weapon so cherished that the owner (master?) hides him and keeps him safe. But ultimately, this is about the last few lines, isn't it? It's too small a thing, basically, to save the Israelites, because they are only one nation. God wants Isaiah to be the light for everyone. Does this mean that Isaiah was the first step towards letting the world know about the coming messiah, or that the messiah had a little bit of Isaiah in him? I'm not very insightful this morning. I'm only on my fifth cup of coffee so far.

Reading numero two is Acts 13:22-26

I had a lot of trouble with this one, because it seemed tacked on to me. My first thought was "Is this just the first non-gospel mention of John?" So as usual, I read the stuff around it and looked at what the smart little editors of my study bible had to say. It turns out that this is a part of a speech (sermon?) that Paul is giving in the temple in Jerusalem. He's trying to explain the order that God gave certain prophets to us, to lead us to Jesus. He starts out with the Exodus from Egypt, and shows how that led to the inheritance of lands in Canaan. Once the Israelites were settled down, God gave them judges until they asked for a king. Out of the line of their favorite king, David, he gave Jesus to the world, and right before Jesus, he gave us John to get every body ready for it. Right? Right. By the way, this sermon also ticked a bunch of guys off. It looks like this is the sermon that led to the sermon that got Paul kicked out of Jerusalem the first time.

Last one, kids. Luke 1:57-66, 80

See now, I've been waiting for this one. Luke is one of my favorite authors in the bible, and I really love this reading. From my understanding, John's daddy, Zechariah, had been told the whole plan about John and Jesus and the whole world getting the chance to be saved and all, and understandably, he found it a little hard to believe. So he got struck dumb. I think it was a little like giving a toddler some quiet time. Maybe God thought he needed to stop talking and think it over for a few months. When Zechariah confirmed what Elizabeth said about the kid's name, then he was allowed to speak again, so everybody knew that there was some miraculous things going on around the birth of this child. Just in case Elizabeth's advanced age and previous barren state weren't enough. The only part that I don't get is "The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel." Did Zechariah and Elizabeth live way out in the desert or something? Is this describing his spiritual state? Anyone?

News of the day goes back to our "fear not" theme on Sunday: (Hey, it's a slow news day.)

Fear of God banishes fear of man, Pope notes

Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time - Just Judah and Lightening the Scales

2008-06-23T07:35:00.008-04:00

So, I'm trying a few new things this week. First, I'm going all catholic all over the dates in the title, cause I'm tired of looking at the dates just repeat themselves at the top of the page. Second, I'm providing the readings as links, at the request of my husband. I prefer to read them all together on one page, but he has encouraged me to try links to save space. I am linking you to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops page, just so you know that is where I've been cutting and pasting all of the readings from. By the way, you can always click on the title for every day's blog for all of the readings on one page.

So, here goes:

2 Kings 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18

I have to warn you, if you clicked on the link, you read above and beyond. You read all of the little in between verses that are not in the normal reading, which means that I have to read them. My hub is looking more and more wrong. But what about the reading?

I wonder if this is the story where they tell about how all of the tribes of Israel were whittled down to just the tribe of Judah. (I assume this is how they got the name "Jews", right?)

Now if you were reading between the verses like I was, you saw a mention of "sacred poles". Again with the poles! We saw them last week, and I wondered what they were, I was imaging European may poles. I looked them up on our handy dandy United States Conference of Catholic Bishops page, and it says "Sacred poles: "Ashera" was the name of a Canaanite goddess. In her honor wooden poles (asherot) were erected, just as stone pillars (massebot) were erected in honor of the god Baal. " So, they were still worshipping old gods from back in their beating-up-Canaan days, huh? No wonder God is ticked. He asked them to do a simple thing, and they just ignore him, and keep on partying with their idols and poles and pillars. So he wiped them out. Ouch.

The gospel reading for the day:

Mt 7:1-5

I have to come right out and say it: Christianity is hard. I am SO doomed if the way that I judge others is how I'm gonna be judged. I know that this is a downer, but it's my first response. It's probably the first response for a lot of people, so maybe we should just think of this as something to work on and shoot for. How great would the world be if everyone did this? I know that I sound all sunshine and butterflies right now, but seriously. Come on. If everybody judged our mistakes at work and home as lightly as they want to be judged by God, we could sail through this life, and stop arguing with each other.

Okay. Enough of the lovey hippie talk. Everyone be good, have a nice day, and go easy on your family and friends. See? Maybe God wants you to.

I'm trying to include a bit of a news link in every post, so here is today: Catholic Radio receives boost from Pope Benedict

An addition to Sunday

2008-06-22T10:23:00.002-04:00

I think that I've learned something today. I think on Sundays I will post the readings early, but wait until I get home from church to post any comments. I have the resource of a priest telling me his thoughts on the readings, and I feel the need to listen to what he has to say in the homily before I voice my opinion. Years of his study and contemplation kind of trump my neophyte status.

By the way, if you didn't click on it before, I love this news story: Holocaust survivors announce symposium on Pius XII’s work to save Jews during WWII

Sunday June 21, 2008 - Fear Not

2008-06-22T00:14:00.005-04:00

Jer 20:10-13

Jeremiah said:“I hear the whisperings of many:
‘Terror on every side!
Denounce! let us denounce him!’
All those who were my friends
are on the watch for any misstep of mine.
‘Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,
and take our vengeance on him.’
But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion:
my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.
In their failure they will be put to utter shame,
to lasting, unforgettable confusion.
O LORD of hosts, you who test the just,
who probe mind and heart,
let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause.
Sing to the LORD,
praise the LORD,
for he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!”

Rom 5:12-15

Brothers and sisters: Through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned—for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world, though sin is not accounted when there is no law. But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin after the pattern of the trespass of Adam, who is the type of the one who was to come. But the gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many.

Mt 10:26-33

Jesus said to the Twelve:“Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.”

I'm combining all three readings today, because it's Sunday, I didn't do this last night, and I'm trying to make it to church early. In a nutshell, I think God wants us to be as big and strong as possible. So, he gives us lots of emotional work-outs. When we feel weak, Paul (Romans) tells us to look at the example of Jesus on the cross. It is a good point. Our suffering may be legitimate, may even be pretty bad, but we haven't been physically tortured and then nailed to a cross to die for a bunch of people who hate us anyway. God doesn't want us to be afraid. Things are tough now, he says, and will continue to be tough as long as you follow him. We have an entire lifetime of stumbling, hurting, and maybe a little persecution here and there. But it's made pretty clear all through the bible that we don't have to worry about fear as long as we follow God.

Saturday June 21, 2008 - Jehoiada's Revenge and the hunt for Mammon

2008-06-21T06:28:00.006-04:00

I'm either starting to catch up a little bit, or these are getting easier.

2 Chronicles 24:17-25

After the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and paid homage to King Joash, and the king then listened to them. They forsook the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and began to serve the sacred poles and the idols; and because of this crime of theirs, wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem. Although prophets were sent to them to convert them to the LORD, the people would not listen to their warnings. Then the Spirit of God possessed Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. He took his stand above the people and said to them: “God says, ‘Why are you transgressing the LORD’s commands, so that you cannot prosper?Because you have abandoned the LORD, he has abandoned you.’” But they conspired against him, and at the king’s order they stoned him to death in the court of the LORD’s temple. Thus King Joash was unmindful of the devotion shown him by Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, and slew his son. And as Zechariah was dying, he said, “May the LORD see and avenge.”

At the turn of the year a force of Arameans came up against Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem, did away with all the princes of the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. Though the Aramean force came with few men, the LORD surrendered a very large force into their power, because Judah had abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers. So punishment was meted out to Joash. After the Arameans had departed from him, leaving him in grievous suffering, his servants conspired against him because of the murder of the son of Jehoiada the priest. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

So, young King Joash, who we read about yesterday, was made king at seven years old, and was always watched over by Jehoiada. A little before our reading, it describes how Joash was always good when Jehoiada was around, and even built the Lord and his people a new fancy temple. Then Jehoiada goes and dies, and Joash has to stand on his own two feet and make his own moral judgments. Life was rockin' easy when the old mentor was alive to tell him what to do, but the second he's gone, it seems like he falls prey to peer pressure when the princes come around, just like a rebellious teenager, out having wild parties and setting up altars to other gods. Why couldn't anybody in the Old Testament figure out that this is the thing that God hates the most? He was always coming down HARD on guys for this. So he sends in a small invading force to conquer and humiliate, and Joash's servants kill him and bury his body with the common folk. I can hear God talking about it now: "I don't know how many times I need to repeat this, people: NO OTHER GODS."

Matthew 6:24-34

Jesus said to his disciples:“No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”

What is mammon? I know that this is something that every kid in Sunday school probably asks, but I can't remember. My study bible says this: "Mammon: An Aramaic word meaning wealth or property.", and wikipedia says Webster defines 'mammon' as: 1) the false god of riches and avarice. I wonder if Jesus is using an extreme example to just tell people to stop worrying so much about money, or if we are really supposed to live in the fields, and hunt and gather? The bible says a lot about money, and I don't really understand how to mesh it all together, so I feel a little pulled back and forth. My real opinion is our modern day other god really is Mammon, and has been since most of the other gods were banished by the combination of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam taking over the world. God doesn't seem to like us thinking about anything more than we think about him, and probably most of us (certainly me) think about money and security and nicer things WAY more than we think about God. Except of course when we pray "Please God, help me get more money and security and nicer things."

I wanted to end today with a link to a very interesting story that I've been following from the Vatican. Holocaust survivors announce symposium on Pius XII’s work to save Jews during WWII

Friday, June 20, 2008 - High Hollywood Drama and the Simple Life

2008-06-20T07:15:00.004-04:00

Yippee! Today we have another one that I've NEVER heard of! Have I even read the bible?

2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20
When When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she began to kill off the whole royal family. But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash, his son, and spirited him away, along with his nurse, from the bedroom where the princes were about to be slain. She concealed him from Athaliah, and so he did not die. For six years he remained hidden in the temple of the LORD, while Athaliah ruled the land.

But in the seventh year, Jehoiada summoned the captains of the Carians and of the guards. He had them come to him in the temple of the LORD, exacted from them a sworn commitment,and then showed them the king’s son.

The captains did just as Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each one with his men, both those going on duty for the sabbath and those going off duty that week, came to Jehoiada the priest. He gave the captains King David’s spears and shields, which were in the temple of the LORD. And the guards, with drawn weapons, lined up from the southern to the northern limit of the enclosure, surrounding the altar and the temple on the king’s behalf. Then Jehoiada led out the king’s son and put the crown and the insignia upon him. They proclaimed him king and anointed him, clapping their hands and shouting, “Long live the king!”

Athaliah heard the noise made by the people, and appeared before them in the temple of the LORD.When she saw the king standing by the pillar, as was the custom, and the captains and trumpeters near him, with all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, she tore her garments and cried out,“Treason, treason!” Then Jehoiada the priest instructed the captains in command of the force:“Bring her outside through the ranks. If anyone follows her,” he added, “let him die by the sword.” He had given orders that she should not be slain in the temple of the LORD. She was led out forcibly to the horse gate of the royal palace, where she was put to death.

Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD as one party and the king and the people as the other, by which they would be the LORD’s people; and another covenant, between the king and the people. Thereupon all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and demolished it. They shattered its altars and images completely, and slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars. Jehoiada appointed a detachment for the temple of the LORD. All the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet, now that Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the royal palace.

Okay, what?

I can't stop thinking about the stories that my friend Amy always tells me about sitting around in church as a little girl, looking up the sex and violence parts in the bible. I bet she knows all about this one. I'm seriously going to have to open this blog to comments soon, so that someone can tell me what is what. Now I know why my little devotional book only picks one reading per day to comment on. But of course, I love it, it's high drama, it is Old Testament at it's most bloody, and I did a little reading before it, and I think I may have a tiny inking what the story is trying to tell us. The study bible was silent on this one too, so here I am, going out on a limb. The story in the chapter before tells all about Jehu, kicking butt. He even gets rid of the entire rival royal family by sending their servants threatening letters. He does a lot of this to get rid of the idol worship, especially of Baal, but he quietly keeps his own idols, because they were politically advantageous to him. (He told people that they were of the Lord, so that they wouldn't leave his area and go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Neat.) So, this story that we are reading picks up in a weird place, but basically, when this Athaliah finds out that Jehu killed her son, she goes and tries to kill all of Jehu's royal family, but in Old Testament full revenge-of-the-Lord style, the high priest's daughter (Jehosheba) hides the child heir so that they can raise him in the temple until he is old enough to overthrow, then has a big bloody showdown (Where would Hollywood be without the bible?), then finally gets rid of all of the Baal stuff. So, is the entire reading a warning against idol worship? That is all I got.

As a side note, I did read somewhere once (maybe I made it up, who knows?) that one of the reasons that the Jews were so anti-Baal, was that his followers sacrificed babies to him. Makes sense to me. Anyway, you are tired of this, on to the next:

Matthew 6:19-23
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be."

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”

Yes, I love my material goods way too much. This morning I was contemplating hiding some of my favorite coffee cups so that no more of them will break and I can have them forever and forever. I knew that this would come up in the reading as soon as I started stroking them and calling them "my precious". I have heard a lot of sermons equating the love of material goods with idol worship, and maybe it is true. Maybe that is the tie-in with both readings. Loving something more than God is damaging to the soul on this life as well as the next.

And I think that we have heard quite enough from me for now...goodbye.

Thursday, June 19 - Warrior Poetry and the Lord's Prayer

2008-06-19T07:16:00.004-04:00

Today's first reading is from Sirach. This book is a part of what Catholics call The "Deutero-canonical" books, and the Protestants call "Apocrypha". In other words, it's in the Catholic bible, but not the Protestant one. So once more (ooh, two days in a row!) we are at a reading that I know NOTHING about. It's a long one, too. Here goes: Sirach 48:1-14
Like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah
whose words were as a flaming furnace.
Their staff of bread he shattered,
in his zeal he reduced them to straits;
By the Lord’s word he shut up the heavens
and three times brought down fire.
How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!
Whose glory is equal to yours?
You brought a dead man back to life
from the nether world, by the will of the LORD.
You sent kings down to destruction,
and easily broke their power into pieces.
You brought down nobles, from their beds of sickness.
You heard threats at Sinai,
at Horeb avenging judgments.
You anointed kings who should inflict vengeance,
and a prophet as your successor.
You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire,
in a chariot with fiery horses.
You were destined, it is written, in time to come
to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD,
To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons,
and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob.
Blessed is he who shall have seen you
And who falls asleep in your friendship.
For we live only in our life,
but after death our name will not be such.
O Elijah, enveloped in the whirlwind!

Then Elisha, filled with the twofold portion of his spirit,
wrought many marvels by his mere word.
During his lifetime he feared no one,
nor was any man able to intimidate his will.
Nothing was beyond his power;
beneath him flesh was brought back into life.
In life he performed wonders,
and after death, marvelous deeds

This seems to me to be a kind of eulogy-poetry-appreciation for Elijah and Elisha. This is all just about what we read yesterday, which I guess is the tie-in (Good thing I started yesterday and not today!). What I'm hoping is that it is a foreshadow of the old testament readings to come, and a recap of what we just read. It's important to remember the ancient heroes of the bible, and I'm just not so familiar with Elijah and Elisha. This is definitely going to make me go and peruse through Kings later. Although, I did just peek to tomorrow's reading, which is from Kings, and there was no Elijah or Elisha. I think what we are reading here is a re-cap. To me, it feels like the ancient Jewish version of a viking death song. Yes, I did just make that term up, but you know what I mean. I still think it's a marvelous piece of writing, though. Sirach, not me.

On to the next: Matthew 6:7-15
Jesus said to his disciples:“In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This is how you are to pray:
‘Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.’
“If you forgive others their transgressions,your heavenly Father will forgive you.But if you do not forgive others,neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

There is a lot of good stuff here.

First of all, this is a part of the whole "don't play it up for the crowds when you are doing right" sermon. So, he's asking us not to "babble like the pagans". My study bible says that this is probably a reference to the pagans listing a long list of divine names, "hoping that one of them will force a response from the deity." I'm using a lot of quotations here. That makes me feel a little better, because more often than not, my prayer is a long babbling conversation on my end, kinda like the main character from Fiddler on the Roof. So, the point here is to not make a big fat deal. Prayer is called for, but nice private time, thank you very much.

Second, this prayer is the most perfectly composed thing I've ever seen in my life. Even in my darkest agnostic days, I always had to admit that (to me) this prayer is proof of some kind of divinity, because never has such a piece of literature or poetry hit the mark as perfectly as this one. For me, there has never been anything that I wanted to say or ask of God that wasn't covered in this one.

The last part of this reading is the scariest part of the whole bible to me. I can only be forgiven if I forgive others? I'd really prefer it if one of the things that I could be forgiven is my personal lack of charity towards others when they tick me off. But no, I'm expected to go and put my big girl pants on and forgive others. I think this is Jesus asking us to strive towards divinity. I don't think we'll ever reach it in this life, but we should try.

Wednesday, June 18 - Elijah and the hidden Jesus

2008-06-18T12:36:00.003-04:00

This is the first reading of the day, 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14: (Yes, I did cut and past this from the provided link) When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind,he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here;the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.”“As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you,” Elisha replied. And so the two went on together. Fifty of the guild prophets followed and when the two stopped at the Jordan, they stood facing them at a distance. Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up and struck the water, which divided, and both crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha,“Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.” “You have asked something that is not easy,” Elijah replied. “Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not.” As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. When Elisha saw it happen he cried out, “My father! my father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!” But when he could no longer see him, Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two. Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle that had fallen from him, and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan. Wielding the mantle that had fallen from Elijah, Elisha struck the water in his turn and said,“Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?”When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over.

So, I had to go and and read a little around this one. My study bible says that the two books of Kings intend to show "the consecutive history of Israel from the birth of Samuel to the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 b.c."

That didn't explain much about this reading.

I was first confused about this whole "double portion" of Elijah's spirit that Elisha wants. Doesn't our spirit go to God? Then I thought, well, maybe this is early enough in history that the Israelites where just figuring it out. Wrong again. My handy-dandy little study bible told me that what he was asking for was a double portion of the spirit of prophecy, following Jewish law that a first born son inherit a double portion of his father's property (Dt 21, 17). Well, claptrap. I've noticed in the old testament, that God seems to really dig those guys that ask for A LOT. And ask A LOT of questions. So, Elijah tells him "maybe so, kid, maybe not." Then is whisked away bodily by what I assume is some kind of tornado-looking thing. What Elisha gets is the big "maybe so, kid" because he takes up Elijah's mantle (robe?), after tearing his own in grief, and parts the Jordan, like Abraham. I'm not sure what we are learning from this, although I like the story, and I'm gonna give it a shot. I think what we are talking about here is God rewarding us on earth for listening to him. It seems to me that Elisha has tried very hard to follow in his own father's footsteps and preach the word of God and worship accordingly. God rewards him by giving him what he asks for, therefore giving him more power to worship and lead others to worship in the correct ways.

So, here is the gospel for today, and I think I'm getting the tie-in.

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
"Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your alms giving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

Even though this seems to be an opposite example of how to act than what we just read in Kings, I think that it's an expansion on the idea, kind of a modernization for the Jews of the time. Kings tells us that we get an earthly reward for following the laws of God in our hearts, and Matthew tells us that Jesus said "not anymore, gringos". Okay that may not be an EXACT quote. More of a paraphrase. Maybe Jesus saw people talking out of both sides of their mouths just like they have done in every era since the beginning of time. People see other Christians making a really big deal about their "works" and "ministries", and they look for hypocrisies in those other people automatically. And face it, if you look hard enough at anyone, you'll see at least a little hypocrite living in their head. It seems to me that God just wants us to concentrate on what HE wants, ignore other people, and not make such a big deal convincing everyone around us what a good person/christian we are. That is one of the toughest calls in the bible.