Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress": April 9

Readings

"King Neb" sees the youths,
from One Year Bible Blog

Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 King Nebuchadnezzar: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, serve my god, and worship the statue I made, or you'll be cast into the furnace; and who can deliver you?” / “We won't serve your god or worship your statue.” Nebuchadnezzar, livid, had the furnace heated seven times more and had the youths bound and cast into the furnace.... “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver them.”

Dn 3:52-56 "Glory and praise for ever!" “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

Jn 8:31-42 Jesus: “If you remain in my word, you'll be my disciples, know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Everyone who sins is a slave, but if the Son frees you, you'll be free. If you were Abraham’s children, you'd be doing his works, but you're trying to kill me. If God were your Father, you'd love me, for I came from God and tell you what I've seen in the Father's presence.”

Pope Francis

Word cloud of today's readings;
you too can do Wordles

Audience starting a new cycle on gifts of the Holy Spirit: The Spirit, the soul of the Church and of Christians, is God’s Love, who makes our hearts his home, enters into communion with us, and is always with and in us. The Spirit, God's gift, in turn gives spiritual gifts; the Church identifies wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude , knowledge, piety, and fear of God. Wisdom is an understanding heart to distinguish good from evil, to see with God's eyes, not as we want to see; it comes from intimacy with God, our Father-child relationship. When we're in communion with God, the Spirit transfigures our heart and gives us this gift. The Spirit makes the Christian 'wise' in the sense of 'knowing' what's of God; the hearts of the wise have this taste of God. It's God's wisdom when a mother gently rebukes her child, or when an arguing married couple makes peace. Ask the Lord, and Mary Seat of Wisdom, to give us the Spirit and wisdom to see with God’s eyes, feel with God’s heart, speak with God’s words, and move forward, build the family and Church, and be sanctified.

Reflections

Creighton: Have we like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood firm when challenged to do right, or otherwise lived our faith, say by helping the less fortunate?

One Bread One Body: Jesus, as Son of the Father, sets us free. If we do the Father's will, we'll have true freedom.

Passionist: Our Gospel setting is the Feast of Tabernacles with its symbols of water, light, and the temple. Jesus offers us the water of life; he is the light of the world. In the Feast, priests take their place outside the temple, face east, and at sunrise turn to face the temple, recalling that people turned their back on the temple and worshipped the sun, but now their eyes are fixed on the Temple.

DailyScripture.net: God showed his presence to the three youths by walking with them in the fiery furnace. / The Jewish authorities were blinded by their misguided ideas about the Messiah; they questioned his authority to speak and act in God's name, refusing to accept his Father gave it to him. Jesus met their hostility with courage and determination to do his Father's will. Jesus offers us freedom from the power of sin, Satan, and worldly opposition.

Moved to greater love Jesuit reflection on union with Jesus on the journey to the Cross: God doesn't abandon the youths or me but rather consoles and frees. How does my suffering allow me to enter into the mystery of Christ's? Where have I been prophetic? What should I take up as the cause of the crucified world? +From Death to Life by St. Peter Faber. Santa Clara Univ. Commencement 1982/ Ellacuría

Music for 1st reading

Apparel

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Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress"