March 31

March 31, 2014:  Monday, 4th week of Lent

Readings

• Is 65:17-21  I will create new heavens and a new earth.  There shall be rejoicing and happiness; I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people a delight.  No longer shall there be weeping; they'll live in their houses and eat the fruit of their vineyards...

• Ps 30:2, 4-6, 11-12a, 13b  "I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me."  Sing praise and give thanks:  his anger lasts but a moment; a lifetime, his good will.

• Jn 4:43-54  When a royal official heard Jesus had arrived in Galilee, he went and asked him to come heal his son.  Jesus / official: “Unless you see signs, you won't believe.” / “Sir, come down before my child dies.” / “Go; he'll live.”  He believed and left.  The boy began to recover at that time; he and his household came to believe.

Pope Francis

• Homily:  Before God asks anything of us, He promises joy, so journey in hope and trust. What type of Christian am I?

• At spiritual standstill, weak in hope, or...
• ...Not taking God seriously, wandering aimlessly:  ask for grace to head off again on the journey towards the promises of our faith.
• Took wrong turn and lost way:  God gives grace to repent and return.
• True believer who follows the promises of faith, like official in gospel

Don't stop, lose your way, or wander through life.

Reflections

• Creighton:  The official who begged Jesus to save his son was granted the miracle because of his faith.  Loving parents worry about their children and wish for the best.  Parents (and others), believe, and ask God for what you need.

• One Bread One Body:  True joy depends on one thing: "Is it God's will?"  We can't always feel good but can always obey God and so rejoice.

• Passionist:  "Happiness is not having what you want.  It is wanting what you have." [Rabbi Hyman Judah Schachtel, The Real Enjoyment of Living, 1954]  God wants us to be happy, joyous, and free.

• DailyScripture.net:  The official had to swallow his pride to go twenty miles to reach Jesus the carpenter, and to return to his family with only Jesus' word.   Jesus' healings show his extravagant love.  Where do I need healing, pardon, or change?  

• Sacred Space

Music

• Amazing grace/ Newton (Sunday gospel); see Feb. 19 for more
• I am the light of the world/ Hayakawa:  lyrics/buy (Sunday gospel)
• Be thou my vision/ Forgaill tr. Byrne/Hull: Irish, traditional/Slane, Rutter setting 

• Awake, O sleeper/ Ndolo (Sun. 2nd reading)
• Out of darkness/ Walker (Sun. 2nd reading)
• Wake, awake, for night is flying (Wachet auf...)/ Nicolai tr. Winkworth:  other arrangements (Sun. 2nd reading theme) 
• Cantata 140/ Bach (Sun. 2nd reading theme); note Nicolai's tune at 16:25.

• Psalm 23:  The Lord is my Shepherd/ Crandal (psalm)

Apparel

• "Grapes" pin:  ...and eat the fruit of the vineyards they plant (1st reading)
• "Castle" pin:  They'll live in the houses they build... (1st reading); I'll dwell in God's house (Sun. psalm)
• "Vote" sign:  "Unless you see signs... you won't believe" (gospel)

• Tie with crowns:  David anointed king (Sun. 1st reading)
• "Hearts" suspenders:  the Lord looks into the heart (Sun. 1st reading)
• "Eyeball" tie pin:  blind man's sight restored (Sun. gospel)
• "Question mark" tie pin:  Pharisees' questioning of man born blind and his parents (Sun. gospel)
• Rose shirt:  color of Laetare Sunday

Dress your life!

Laetare Sunday

March 30, 2014:  4th Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday

Readings

• 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a  Lord to Samuel:  “I'm sending you to Jesse; I've chosen my king from his sons.”  Samuel thought he was among the seven presented to him, but the Lord said no:  “Man sees appearance, but God looks in the heart.”  Jesse brought David; God told Samuel to anoint him.

• Ps 23:1-6  "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want."  You lead and guide me and give me rest and courage.  You're at my side; I'm unafraid.  You spread the table before me and anoint me.  Goodness and kindness follow me, and I'll dwell with God.

• Eph 5:8-14  You were once darkness but are now light in the Lord.  Live as children of light; learn what pleases God and expose works of darkness.  “Awake, sleeper; Christ will give you light.”

• Jn 9:1-41  Jesus restored sight to man born blind who told those who first asked, then the Pharisees, who were divided about how Jesus who didn't keep sabbath could heal him.  The Jews summoned his parents who confirmed he was born blind, then called the man again, heard him speak of Jesus, and expelled him.  Jesus found the man:  "Do you believe in the Son of Man, the one speaking with you?" / “I do, Lord.”...  Pharisees / Jesus:  "You think we're blind?" / "You say, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains."

Pope Francis

• Angelus:  The man blind from birth whose sight is restored is like those who supposedly have sight but continue to remain blind in their soul.  The blind man approaches the Light, but the Pharisees slip deeper into blindness, believing they already have the light, denying the evidence, and not accepting the truth of Jesus.  We can be like the blind man but unfortunately also like the Pharisees who judged him; we're invited to open ourselves to the light of Christ to bear fruit, to eliminate unchristian behavior, to walk on the path of holiness.  Is my heart open to God and others? 

• To blind and deaf missions on “Witnesses of the Gospel for a culture of encounter”: “Encounter” presupposes encounter with Christ; one who knows him becomes his witness.  When the Samaritan woman met and spoke with Jesus, her life changed:   ‘Come, see this man....  Could he be the Messiah?’”  Jesus made disciples of the marginalized, excluded, and despised like her, think of the sick and disabled Jesus met and restored to full dignity.  Become witnesses to a new attitude, a culture of encounter, vs. the culture of exclusion of the Pharisees who called Jesus and those he healed sinners and believed disability to be God’s will.  The sick or disabled, starting from fragility and limitations, can witness to encounter with Jesus, which opens to life and faith, and encounter with community.

Reflections

• Creighton:  Today falls in the middle of the Scrutinies; Jesus is water, light, and life.  The gospel is a chiasm, trials sandwiched between Jesus-and-the-man episodes.  The man didn't ask to be healed but responds faithfully.  Truth is spoken (or at least not denied) in 'trials' with:

• Neighbors, where he's not believed
• Pharisees, who know nobody from God heals on the sabbath
• Parents who confirm he was born blind
• Pharisees who insist he's a sinner and expel him

The man teaches us:  don't deny healing, speak truth under pressure, and believe and affirm experience of Jesus.  Where was Jesus in the middle?  In the man, who said "I am" (as only Jesus did in John's gospel) and underwent trials like Jesus would.  When we accept Jesus, we'll have trials like Jesus did.  In the Scrutinies we invite candidates to be faithful under 'trial,' in our community, and to support us doing so.  Am I faithful when "alone" and "on trial"?  Give Christ—water, light, and life—to a world needing him.

Jesus Opens the Eyes of a Man Born Blind/ Duccio

• One Bread One Body:  People can know they're blind and turn to Jesus for sight, or be blind to their blindness.  We're born blind in original sin, receive sight in baptism, and lose sight through sin, and can turn to Jesus again for sight.

• Passionist:  We may be blinded by prejudice, a sense of self-importance, unforgiveness, fear, or self-pity; we may not see God in creation, the poor, or ourselves.  Lord, remove our blindness; give us eyes of wonder, courage, compassion, hope, and wisdom.

• Sacred Space

Music (5/9: for today's St. Bede 5:30pm/9am Mass)

• Amazing grace⁵/ Newton (gospel); see Feb. 19 for more
• I am the light of the world⁵/ Hayakawa:  lyrics/buy (gospel)
• Be thou my vision⁹/ Forgaill tr. Byrne/Hull:  Irish, traditional/Slane, Rutter setting (gospel)

• Awake, O sleeper⁵/ Ndolo (2nd reading)
• Out of darkness/ Walker (2nd reading)
• Wake, awake, for night is flying (Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme)/ Nicolai tr. Winkworth (2nd reading theme though really about the virgins parable) [this karaoke link is unembellished; check out other arrangements]
• Cantata 140/ Bach (2nd reading theme though about same parable); in 2nd movement note Nicolai's tune at 16:25.

• Psalm 23:  The Lord is my Shepherd⁵/ Crandal (psalm)
• The Lord is my Shepherd/ Rutter (psalm)

Apparel

• Angel with horn:  "fill your horn with oil" (1st reading)
• Tie with crowns:  David anointed king (1st reading)
• "Hearts" suspenders:  the Lord looks into the heart (1st reading)

• "Sheep" tie bar:  David was tending sheep (1st reading); the Lord is my Shepherd (psalm)
• "Castle" pin:  I'll dwell in God's house (psalm)

• "Eyeball" tie pin:  blind man's sight restored (gospel)

• "Question mark" tie pin:  Pharisees' questioning of man born blind and his parents (gospel)

• "Roses" pin, rose shirt:  color of Laetare Sunday

Dress your life!

March 29

March 29, 2014:  Saturday, 3rd week of Lent

Dedicated to Katy Clark

Readings

• Hos 6:1-6  “Come, let us return to the Lord; he will heal and revive us to live with him.  Let us strive to know the Lord; he's surely coming!”  What can I do with you?  Your piety is like dew that passes away.  I desire love, not sacrifice; knowledge of God, not burnt offerings.

• Ps 51:3-4, 18-21ab  "It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice."  Have mercy on me.  My sacrifice is a contrite spirit; you won't spurn a humbled heart.  Rebuild Jerusalem's walls....

• Lk 18:9-14  Parable to those convinced of their righteousness who despised others:  “Two went to pray.  The Pharisee spoke to himself, ‘God, I thank you I'm not like this tax collector or the rest.  I fast and tithe...’  The tax collector, beating his breast, prayed, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’  Only the latter went home justified; everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

Pope Francis

• Reconciliation service:  During Lent, the Church renews the call to conversion, to change our lives.  Conversion is a lifetime commitment.  We're all sinners, but if we confess our sins, our faithful God forgives and cleanses us.  Essential to Christian life:

• Put on the new man, born in Baptism, source of new life, that incorporates us into Christ and his Church and allows us to look differently at reality.  Abandon sin; focus on the essential.  Behold the difference between sin-deformed and grace-illumined life; from the renewed come good behaviors:  truth, sharing with the needy, gentleness, magnanimity, forgiveness, positivity...

• Remain in my love.  Christ's everlasting love conquers sin and gives strength; with pardon comes rejuvenation.  Our Father never tires of loving.  Christ calls us to imitate his love; as we do, we become his credible disciples.  Love can't remain locked up; it's open and fruitful, generating new love.

Be missionaries to the experience of reconciliation, communicating the joy of forgiveness and friendship with God.  One who experiences God's mercy creates mercy among the poor and the least, in whom Jesus waits for us.  Meet them!

• For confessors:  The Holy Spirit is the protagonist of the ministry of reconciliation; be men of the Spirit, welcoming with God's charity, the love of a father who sees his son returning, a shepherd who finds his lost sheep; let your face and voice show it.  Encourage people to draw near to the Sacrament of mercy and forgiveness.  Be moved by the Lord's tender mercy, the heart of the Gospel:  God loves sinners, draws them to Himself, and invites them to conversion.  Draw near to mercy and forgiveness; transmit new life and grace generously.  Listen with God's heart and accompany on the path of reconciliation.

Reflections

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector/ Long

• Creighton:  We're sinners who depend on God's mercy.  If devotion puffs me up or keeps me from others' needs, it's false.  The "Jesus prayer" echoes the tax collector's. 

• One Bread One Body:  A Pharisee is lurking within me; I need to humble myself before God.

• RC.net:  Our prayers and sacrifices mean nothing unless they're from a heart of love for God and neighbor.  The Pharisee is more than disdainful in his 'prayer'; he assumes he's qualified to judge.  Humility helps us to see ourselves as we are in God's eyes and to seek God's help and mercy.  Do I seek and show God's mercy?

• Passionist:  God wants love, not empty sacrifice, empty 'prayers,' judgmental thinking, greed, violence, or hearts hardened by sin.

• Sacred Space

Music

• Come, let us to the Lord our God/ Morrison:  original tune, Smith tune (1st reading)
• Hosea/ Norbet (1st reading)

• Go in peace/ Hart, Liles, Hart-sung, in Katy's memory, sung at her funeral yesterday (sample leadsheet)
• Song of farewell/ Sands, also for Katy and from funeral
• Hosea 6:1-6:  Come, and let us return to the Lord/ Mui

Apparel

"Scales of justice" pin

• God's judgment shines forth (1st reading, gospel)

• Pharisee judges tax collector (gospel)

Dress your life!

Please comment below

March 28

March 28, 2014:  Friday, 3rd week of Lent

Readings

• Hos 14:2-10  Return to the Lord, your God; say, “Forgive all iniquity, and receive what's good.  We'll abandon our idolatry.  You save and show compassion.”  I'll heal and love them and turn away my wrath, says the Lord.  I've humbled but will prosper them; they'll bear fruit!  The Lord's paths are straight; the just walk in them, but sinners stumble.

• Ps 81:6c-11b, 14, 17  "I am the Lord your God: hear my voice."  “I freed, rescued, answered, tested, and admonished you.”  I am your God; hear me, worship me alone, and walk in my ways, and I'll feed and fill you.”

• Mk 12:28-34  Scribe/Jesus:  “What's the greatest commandment?” / “The Lord our God is Lord alone!  Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.  The second:  love your neighbor as yourself.  No commandment is greater.” / “Well said.  Loving God and neighbor is worth more than all offerings and sacrifices.” / “You're not far from the Kingdom.”

Pope Francis

• Homily:  God longs for us when we distance ourselves from him.  Even when God invites us to conversion and uses stern words, the words include loving longing and the Father's exhortation: “Come back; it's time to come home.”  Our Father doesn't tire of waiting.  God waited for centuries, with so much apostasy among the people, and always returns.  In the Prodigal Son parable, the father saw the son from afar because he was waiting for him.  When he saw him, he rushed out to embrace him.  If you want to know the Father's tenderness, go to him.  We tire in asking for forgiveness, but he doesn't tire of forgiving.  God loves and doesn't know how to do otherwise.  Jesus' miracles were a sign of the great miracle the Lord does with us whenever we go to him.  When people return to God, God holds a banquet, like the father of the prodigal son.  Everyone who approaches God will find the joy of the feast.

• Meeting with President Obama:  They hope that in areas of conflict there would be respect for humanitarian and international law and negotiated solutions.  They discussed questions of relevance for the Church in the US, such as immigration reform and exercise of rights to religious freedom, life, and conscientious objection.  They're committed to eradicate human trafficking. 

Reflections

• Creighton:  Do my thoughts, words, and actions line up, and point others to God?  Love of neighbor is a compelling embodiment of our love of God.

• One Bread One Body:  When we try to love ourselves and express love for others through forgiveness, service, and suffering, we see how authentic our love of God is.

• RC.net:  Hosea called his people, tempted to trust in possessions and political alliances, to return to God and receive pardon, healing, and restoration.  God wants us to love as he loves; trust and hope in God, and knowing God's love, will help us.

• Passionist:  God speaks to us at unpredictable times; we're not always tuned in.  It's hard to recognize God amid anxiety and disappointment.  Come away to the inner room where God speaks.

• Sacred Space

Music for 1st reading

• Return to God/ Fabing

• Hosea/ Norbet, composer-sung

• O my people, turn to me/ Post, Jonkman, instrumental with on-screen lyrics (karaoke?)

Apparel

• "Horse" tie pin:  "nor shall we have horses to mount" [not relying on military force] (1st reading)

• Wood tie pin:  "he shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar" (1st reading)

Guest dresser Tom Jenkins,
in purple for Lent,
at Archdiocese of Los Angeles Tech Fair

• Vine pin:  "they shall blossom like the vine, and his fame shall be like Lebanon wine" (1st reading)

• Grain pin:  "they shall raise grain" (1st reading) "feed them with the best of wheat" (psalm)

• Hearts suspenders:  love God with your whole heart (gospel)

• Crowns tie:  "you're not far from the Kingdom of God" (gospel)

• Purple shirt:  Lenten season

Dress your life!

Please comment below

March 27

March 27, 2014:  Thursday, 3rd week of Lent

Readings

• Jer 7:23-28  I commanded, "Listen; walk in my ways," but they walked in the hardness of their evil hearts.  This is the nation that does not listen to the voice of the Lord or take correction.  Faithfulness has disappeared...

• Ps 95:1-2, 6-9  "If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts."  Sing to the Lord our God, the Rock of our salvation.  Worship; kneel before our Maker.  He shepherds us.

• Lk 11:14-23  Some said, “Jesus drives out demons by Beelzebul's power”; others asked him for a sign.  He said, “If Satan is divided, how will his kingdom stand?... Whoever is not with me is against me.”

Pope Francis

• Homily:  The people's hearts became hardened so much, they couldn't hear God.  They became corrupt, resisting the Lord's love and salvation, sliding from a path of divine freedom to one of necessity, with no room for God.  God loves us all and that we must open up to him.  Think about the Lord's invitation to love and true freedom, and ask, am I on this path, or do I risk justifying myself on another path?

Reflections

• One Bread One Body:  Where am I hardened?  Jesus can soften.

• RC.net:  God offers grace, peace, and protection to all who trust and obey him.  Jesus overcame evil through his obedience to the Father.  Is the Lord my Master?

• Passionist:  If I'm not actively pursuing the Kingdom, I'm working against it.

• Universalis:  St. John of Egypt, monk

• Sacred Space

Music

• If today you hear God's voice/ Haas (psalm, 1st reading)

• Stand up, stand up for Jesus/ Duffield:  Davis, Choral, Promise Keepers (gospel)

• Trust and obey/ Sammis, Towner:  Moon, Davis

Apparel

• "Hearts" suspenders:  They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts (1st reading); If you hear God, don't harden your heart (psalm)

• "Rock" tie pin:  acclaim the Rock of our salvation (psalm)

• "Kneeling person" tie bar:  kneel before the one who made us (psalm)

• "Sheep" tie bar:  we're the flock he guides (psalm)

• "Signs" tie:  some asked Jesus for a sign from heaven (gospel)

• Purple shirt:  Lent (season)

It's not too late to catch the Annunciation and Sunday posts; don't miss 'em.

Dress your life!

Please comment below

March 26

March 26, 2014:  Wednesday, 3rd week of Lent

Readings

• Dt 4:1, 5-9  Moses:  “Observe these statutes, live, and take the land God is giving you.  All will say, ‘This nation is a wise and intelligent people, close to the Lord.’  Don't forget what you've seen; teach your children.”

• Ps 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20  "Praise the Lord, Jerusalem."  He's strengthened your gates, blessed your children, proclaimed his word and statutes to you like no other.

• Mt 5:17-19  “I came not to abolish the law and prophets but to fulfill them.  Whoever breaks the least commandment will be called least in the Kingdom, but whoever obeys and teaches the commandments will be called great.”

Reflections

• Creighton:  God’s laws are a source of joy; they point us to reconciliation, justice, and life that comes from God.

• One Bread One Body:  As Christ's followers, we obey his law carefully, in detail, exactly, joyfully, thankfully, and with delight—not scrupulously or begrudgingly—because we love him.  When we fail, God's forgiveness awaits us.

• RC.net:  Jesus loved God's law of love and taught reverence for it but condemned the scribes' accretions.

• Sacred Space

Pope Francis

• Audience:  Building on the vocation received in the sacraments of initiation–Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist–Holy Orders and Matrimony correspond to two specific vocations and two ways of following Christ and building up the Church.  Holy Orders (bishop, priest, deacon) is the sacrament of pastoral ministry.  Jesus entrusted his Apostles with care of his flock; the ordained make Christ the Shepherd present in the community, leading it as servants.  Theirs must be lives of passionate love for the Church for which the Lord gave himself, and they must constantly renew the grace and joy of their ordination through prayer, penance, and the Eucharist.  Pray for all the Church’s ministers, and ask God for holy, generous, and merciful pastors.

Apparel

• Owl tie pin:  observe law; give evidence of your wisdom (1st reading)

• Children with school bus tie:  teach your children (1st reading); teach the commandments (gospel)

• "Letter" tie bar:  not the smallest letter or part of a letter will pass from the law (gospel)

• Purple shirt:  Lenten season

Dress your life!

Please comment below

Annunciation

March 25, 2014:  Annunciation of the Lord

Readings

• Is 7:10-14; 8:10  Lord / Ahaz:  "Ask for a sign!" / “No; I won't test God.”  Isaiah:  "The Lord will give you this sign:  the virgin shall bear a son, Emmanuel, 'God with us!'"

• Ps 40:7-11  "Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will."  You wanted obedience, not sacrifice.  I delight in doing your will.  I announced your justice, faithfulness, kindness, and truth.

• Heb 10:4-10  Bull/goat blood doesn't take away sins.  He says, “You didn't want sacrifices,” then, “I come to do your will,” taking away the first to establish the second.  We've been consecrated through the offering of the Body of Jesus.

• Lk 1:26-38  God sent Gabriel to Mary betrothed to Joseph:  “Fear not; you'll bear a great son, Jesus, Son of the Most High, to rule forever.” / “How?” / “The Holy Spirit will come upon you....  'Barren' Elizabeth has also conceived; nothing will be impossible for God.” / “OK; I'm the Lord's handmaid.”

Pope Francis

Study for the Annunciation/ Tanner

• Homily:  Pride led Adam and Eve to disobey God, but Mary's obedience loosened the knot of disobedience.  The Lord walks alongside his people with so much tenderness to soften our hearts:  ‘I'll make your heart of stone a heart of flesh.’  The road to salvation will give us a more human heart, closer to God, not so proud or self-sufficient.  Salvation is a gift, but to receive it, we need a humble, obedient heart like Mary's.  The model for this road is Jesus, who didn’t cling to his equality with God.  Embrace the Father who became one of us to save us.  God waits for us today.

Reflections

• Creighton:   Mary said yes, convinced Gabriel’s message was what mattered; she's our model for acceptance and response to God, focusing not on self but the One who calls.  She was given strength to answer God's call.  As with Mary, my call is to recognize God is with me and to trust.

• One Bread One Body:  God loves us so much, he became one of us (God-Baby/God-Man); we meditate on the Incarnation whenever we pray the Angelus, Hail Mary, or first joyful mystery.  May we, like Mary, say yes to God and offer ourselves as living sacrifices, and, like Joseph, be willing to change our plans for God.

The Annunciation/ Tissot

• RC.net:  Mary believed God's promises even when they seemed impossible, trusted they'd be fulfilled, and was eager to cooperate.  Let's respond with the same trust, willingness, and obedience.

• Passionist:  Life often catches us by surprise!  We get unsettling news and have questions like Mary and Jesus did.  At Gethsemane Jesus would make an act of faith like Mary's:  Not my will, but yours be done.

• Universalis:  We celebrate Mary's yes; she could have said no.  When the Almighty wants something done, he asks one of his poor, weak creatures—and gives us strength.

• Moved to Greater Love:  Thanks to the US Jesuits for this Lent/Easter series of daily meditations with reflection questions, poetry, art, and music, only some of which I linked to from this post.

• Sacred Space

Music

• Here I am, Lord/ Ward (psalm)
• I say yes, Lord/Digo Sí, Señor/ Peña (gospel)
• Gabriel's Message (The Angel Gabriel)/ Basque carol (gospel)
• No wind at the window/ Bell (gospel)
• I am for you/ Cooney:  lyrics, sheet music (v.2 from gospel)
• Be it done unto me/ Hurd:  sample sheet music (gospel)
• O Mary of promise/ Warner
• Ave Maria/ Biebl
• To Zion/ Hill
• More and more

Apparel

• "No excuses" pin [it could have been any sign]:  "Ahaz, ask for a sign" (1st reading) [the blue+crowns tie trumped my 'signs' tie]

• "Hearts" suspenders:  Your law is in my heart (psalm)

• "Keyboard with dove" tie pin:  Holy Spirit conceived Jesus (gospel)

• Blue tie with crowns:  'Blessed Mother blue' (gospel); God will give Jesus the throne of David (gospel)

• "Angel" pin:  Gabriel (gospel)

• "Question mark" tie pin:  "How can this be?" (gospel)

• Special pin:  gospel is from Luke's infancy narrative; see Dec. 17 for meaning

• White shirt:  today's liturgical color

• Cell phone holster:  God's 'call' to Mary through Gabriel

(Thanks for your comments on yesterday's post, especially the 'letter' tie bar. :-)

Dress your life!

Please comment below

March 24

March 24, 2014:  Monday, 3rd week of Lent

Readings

• 2 Kgs 5:1-15ab  Leper Naaman set out with gifts and Aram's king's letter to Israel's king to be cured.  Elisha heard; Naaman went to him who asked him to wash in the Jordan, then left angry, but Naaman's servants urged him to wash, and he became clean.  To Elisha:  “Now I know there's no God except in Israel.”

• Ps 42:2-3; 43:3-4  "Athirst is my soul for the living God.  When shall I go and behold the face of God?" I long for you as the deer for water.  Your light and fidelity shall lead me to your dwelling place; I'll enter and thank you.

• Lk 4:24-30  Jesus:  "No prophet is accepted in his own place:  Elijah was sent to a widow outside Israel, and Elisha cleansed Syrian Naaman, not Israel's lepers."  In fury they led him to a hill to hurl him down, but he escaped.

Pope Francis

• Homily:  Lepers and widows were outcasts, but Naaman and the Zarephath widow welcomed the prophets and were saved, while the Nazarenes felt sure they kept the commandments and didn't need salvation; it's the tragedy of observance without faith.  If you don't put yourself on the margins or feel what it is to be an outcast, you won't be saved.  This is humility:  to feel so marginalized that we need the Salvation of the Lord.  God asked Naaman for humility, childlike obedience; Naaman, feeling Elisha's invitation to wash was humiliating, was angry but eventually humbled himself and was healed.  Choose humility.  Mary didn't say she's happy because God was looking to her virginity or kindness but rather her humility.  God looks for and finds us on the margins—in our sins, mistakes, and need—not the center of our certainties.  Humility isn't saying we're not important or hiding our pride but rather telling the truth:  ‘I'm a sinner.’

Reflections

• Creighton:  To be healed, Naaman had to listen to those beneath him and humble himself.  Like the Nazarenes, we're captive to the familiar, seeking signs but missing what's before us.  If we sink lower and see like a child, we'll find God.

• One Bread One Body:  The Lord heals through witnesses, encouragers, prophets, and people of faith, like:
• Naaman's wife's slave, witnessing to God's healing power;
• Naaman's servants, encouraging people to swallow their pride and follow God;
• Elisha, speaking God's word over what others want to hear;
• all who repent and follow God.

• RC.net:  Naaman's healing prefigures the healing Jesus grants to all through the waters of baptism.  God gives grace and healing to the humble and repentant.

• Passionist:  Jesus is as unwelcome to many now as to the Nazarenes then.  Christ is nearer to us than we to ourselves; welcome him with joy, be open to him, and desire his company.

• Universalis:  St. Macartan, bishop

• Sacred Space

Music

• As the deer longs/ Hurd (psalm) [Bern and Lori, note v3 ends with "Where, O where, are you?", not "Where the h*** are you?"]

• Sicut cervus/ Palestrina: about, including English text (psalm)

• Psalm 42:  As the deer longs/ Harkin (psalm)

• As the deer/ Maranatha Singers (psalm-inspired)

• Psalm 63:  My soul is thirsting/ Angrisano:  about, including lyrics (psalm theme)

• Could he be the Messiah?/ Smith (Sunday gospel theme)
• If today you hear God's voice/ Haas (Sunday psalm)

Apparel

• Blue shirt:  Naaman washed in the Jordan (1st reading)
• Silver and gold [-colored] accessories:  Naaman set out with silver and gold... (1st reading)
• "Letter" tie bar:  ...the king's 'letter',... (1st reading)
• "Horse" tie pin:  ...and his horses (1st reading)

• Deer tie pin:  As the deer longs... (psalm)

• "Kneeling person" tie bar:  gesture of humility (1st reading, gospel)

• "Hearts" suspenders:  harden not your hearts (Sunday psalm)
• Purple tie:  Lenten season

Dress your life!

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