February 24

February 24, 2014:  Monday, 7th week, Ordinary Time

Readings

• Jas 3:13-18  If you're wise, show your works by a good life, but if you're jealous and ambitious, don't boast.  True wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, compliant, sincere, and full of mercy and good fruits.  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who sow peace.

• Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15  "The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart."  God's law is perfect, just, true, refreshing, giving wisdom, enlightening, enduring.

• Mk 9:14-29  “Teacher, here's my son, foaming at the mouth, possessed by a spirit your disciples couldn't drive out.” / “Everything is possible to one with faith.” / “I believe; help my unbelief!”  He drove the spirit out and raised the boy.  To disciples:  “This kind can only come out through prayer.”

Pope Francis

• Homily:  Jesus lowered himself and took up the boy.  When Jesus heals, he never leaves you alone; he makes sure you get home safely.  Jesus is the Son of a People; every healing, every pardon, helps us return to our People, the Church.  We can't understand Jesus without the People of God; we can't love, feel, or follow Christ without the Church.  Christ and the Church are united; when he calls, he brings to the Church.  Jesus’ tenderness make us realize our discipleship is constant abiding at home, and though we leave home for sin, we return home with Jesus in the Church.

Reflections

• Creighton:  Make time for what matters; building and keeping important relationships takes time and trust. 

• One Bread One Body:  We need to have faith for ourselves, and often for our families and others.

• Passionist:  Life's problems can only be dealt with in prayer.  'Prayer' (προσευχή) and 'pray' (προσεύχομαι) are used 129 times in the New Testament; their origin is 'desire'.  To pray, I must desire God and God me.  God made the first move; I must respond.  Prayer is the embrace of two desires.

• Sacred Space

Music

• The harvest of justice/ Marchionda (includes audio sample) (1st reading)

Apparel

• "Owl" tie pin:  wisdom (1st reading)

• "Fruit" pin:  wisdom is full of good fruits (1st reading)

Oops; forgot to put this on

• "Scales of justice" tie, "peace sign" tie bar:  the fruit of justice is sown in peace (1st reading)

• "Kneeling person" tie bar:  this kind can only be driven out through prayer (gospel)

Dress your life!

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