January 30

January 30, 2014:  Thursday, 3rd Week, Ordinary Time

Readings

• 2 Sm 7:18-19, 24-29  King David prayed:  “Who are we that you have brought me to this point?  You've established your people and have become their God.  Confirm the prophecy you made concerning your servant and his house, and do as you have promised.  Bless the house of your servant, and it shall be blessed forever.”

• Ps 132:1-5, 11-14  "The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father." Remember David and his anxious care; God swore to set his offspring on the throne.

• Mk 4:21-25  Is a lamp to be placed under a basket?  All that is hidden will come to light.  The measure you measure will be measured out to you. Those who have will be given more; the others will lose the little they have.

Pope Francis

• Homily:  Think and feel with the Church, which we joined at Baptism; we find holiness through the Church that brought us the Gospel.  The three pillars of belonging to the Church are humility (so I can understand I'm a small part of the people of God and can feel with the Church, not just what I want), fidelity/obedience (to the creed, the Church and her teaching, in safeguarding/transmitting the gift of the Gospel message, and service including prayer with and for the whole Church (as David prayed for his house). [This reminds me of the Rules for thinking with the Church of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola]

• Gospel Joy (Evangelii Gaudium drill-down), continuing Chapter 4 (a series):

The common good and peace in society:  Peace isn’t just the absence of violence or structures that appease the poor; don’t overlook redistribution of wealth, concern for the poor, and human rights.  Human dignity and the common good rank higher than the comfort of the privileged.  Peace isn’t true unless it’s from efforts to establish the just world God wills. 

People enhance their lives by acting as committed citizens; responsible citizenship is a virtue and moral obligation.  Becoming a people calls for integration and for a peaceful culture of encounter.  Building peace, justice, and fraternity depends on four principles of Church social teaching; applying them can lead to true world peace:  time is greater than space, unity prevails over conflict, realities are more important than ideas, and the whole is greater than the part. (4.III, 217-21, pp. 168-70)

Reflections

• Creighton:  David recognized God's hand and grace.  Seeing that success is from our choices and from circumstances can make us humble, committed to help further, and more aware of Go'd's guidance.  Our engagement with God and others is like the lamp of today's gospel.

• RC.net:  Lamps help people avoid stumbling.  "Light" was also understood as God's beauty, truth, and goodness.  God's grace fills us with light, joy, and peace.  How do I live in and share the light of God's truth and love? 

• Universalis:  St. Aedan of Ferns, bishop

• Sacred Space

Music

• We are/ Jobe (gospel)
• Light of the world, from Godspell/ Schwartz (gospel); see Sept. 23 for more about this recording and another version.
• All that is hidden/ Farrell (gospel)
• We are the light of the world/ Grief (gospel)

Apparel

• "Kneeling person" tie bar:  King David's prayer (1st reading)

• "Suns" [with sun-glasses] tie:  All that is hidden will come to light (gospel)

• Ruler tie bar:  Your measure will be measured to you... (gospel)

Dress your life!

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