February 28

February 28, 2014:  Friday, 7th week, Ordinary Time

Readings

• Jas 5:9-12  Don't complain about one another.  Take the prophets as examples of hardship and patience.  Those who have persevered are blessed.  Don't swear; let your “Yes” mean “Yes” and your “No” “No.” 

• Ps 103:1-4, 8-12  "The Lord is kind and merciful."  Bless the Lord who pardons, heals, redeems, and crowns you.  He shows surpassing kindness and has put our transgressions far from us.

• Mk 10:1-12  Pharisees / Jesus:  “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?  Moses permitted it.”  “A man shall leave his parents and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one.  What God has joined, no one must separate.”

Pope Francis

• Homily:  Jesus explained why Moses framed the Law as he did but didn't stop there; he went to the masterpiece of Creation:  ‘God made them male and female, so a man shall... be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’  God didn't want the man to be alone but to be with his companion; God blessed Creation with love in Christian marriage.  How beautiful are love, marriage, the family, and the journey, and how much love must we have, how close must we be to those who've had a failure in love.  When love fails, don't condemn; feel the pain and walk with the people.

The Lord chose marriage to explain his love:  when the people is unfaithful, God speaks to them with love.  Paul explains the mystery of Christ as a relationship:  as the Father married the People of Israel, Christ married His people, the Church.  This is the love story.

Reflections

• Creighton:  The sacrament of marriage bestows grace throughout married life.  Sacramental married love is characterized by loyalty, fidelity, and commitment.  Marriage reflects, represents, and realizes God’s constant, faithful, unconditional, everlasting love.  By living out the sacrament, the couple gives witness to God's love. 

• One Bread One Body:  Jesus hates divorce but loves the divorced.

• Passionist:  Stop grumbling and show more tolerance.  We can forget God is kind and merciful and Giver of all good gifts.

• Universalis:   St. Oswald, monk, bishop, lover of the poor

• Sacred Space

Music

• The Lord is kind and merciful/El Senor es compasivo/ Haugen (psalm)
• Bless the Lord (psalm)
• More Psalm 103 settings:  Feb. 23
• Patience, People/ Foley (1st reading, including "grumbling" verse, though usually for Advent)
• Patience/ Guns 'n' Roses (1st reading)
• When love is found/ Cotter (gospel) (to O Waly Waly tune)

Apparel

• "Grandfather clock" tie bar:  prophets' example of patience (1st reading)

• Black and white (in suspenders, shirt, slacks):  let your "Yes" mean yes and "No" no (1st reading)

• "Crowns" tie:  The Lord crowns you with kindness and compassion (psalm)

• "Two linked jewels" tie bar:  "the two shall become one" (gospel)

Dress your life!

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