July 7

July 7, 2014:  Monday, 14th week, Ordinary Time

Readings

• Hos 2:16, 17c-18, 21-22  Lord:  I'll allure her and speak to her heart.  She'll respond there as when she came up from Egypt:  she'll call me husband, not baal.  I will espouse you to me forever in justice, love, mercy, and fidelity, and you'll know the Lord.

• Ps 145:2-9  "The Lord is gracious and merciful."  I'll bless you forever.  All generations praise your works and speak of your splendor, power, justice, and compassion.

• Mt 9:18-26  An official knelt before Jesus:  “My daughter has just died.  Come and she'll live.”  He and his disciples followed him.  A woman suffering hemorrhages came up behind him and touched his cloak, thinking, “If I touch his cloak, I'll be cured.”  He turned and saw her:  “Your faith has saved you,” and she was cured.  When he arrived at the official's house, he sent the crowd away:  “She's asleep, not dead.”  They ridiculed him.  He took her by the hand, she arose, and the news spread.

Pope Francis

• Homily at today's Mass with sexual abuse survivors:  I ask for the grace to weep, the grace for the Church to weep and make reparation for her children who abused innocent persons.  It distresses me that some priests and bishops violated their innocence and their priestly vocation, sacrificing children to concupiscence and profaning the image of God.  The Church looks into the eyes of Jesus in these children and wants to weep; she asks the grace to weep before the abuse, which has left scars that cause such pain.  Jesus, coming from an unjust trial and torture, looked at Peter who denied him, and Peter wept; we implore this grace and that of making amends.

Sins of clerical sexual abuse have a toxic effect on faith and hope, but hope can prevail; it's a sign of God's mercy that we can encounter one another, adore God, and seek reconciliation.  I express my sorrow and humbly ask forgiveness for the sins and crimes of clerical sexual abuse.  I also beg your forgiveness for the sins of omission of Church leaders who didn't respond adequately to abuse reports, leading to greater suffering of the abused and endangering of other minors.  The courage you've shown by speaking the truth was a service of love; it shed light on darkness in the Church.  There's no place in the Church’s ministry for those who commit these abuses, and I won't tolerate harm done to a minor by anyone, cleric or not.  All bishops must foster the protection of minors and will be held accountable.  Children are little flowers upon whom God looks lovingly.  We need to do everything in our power to ensure these sins have no place in the Church. 

We're called to live lives shaped by mercy, following the example of Jesus who though innocent took our sins upon himself.  To be reconciled is the essence of our identity as disciples.  By turning to him, accompanied by our Mother, who wept at the foot of the cross, let us seek the grace of reconciliation.  The intercession of Our Lady of Tender Mercy won't fail us.  God loves you and all who were abused by clergy.  May the embrace of the Child Jesus heal you, and may the harm done to you give way to faith and joy.  Please pray I always see the path of mercy.  May we weep and be ashamed, so that like Peter we can reply, “I love you,” feed the sheep, and let no wolf enter the sheepfold.

• To youths:  The “culture of the temporary” doesn't help form a life built on the rock of love and responsibility vs. the sand of emotion; it lends itself to individualism that questions everything and superficial attitudes toward responsibility.  But the human heart aspires to great things, virtues, friendships, and relationships strengthened (vs. broken) by difficulties.  The human being aspires to love and to be loved.  The “culture of the temporary” deprives us of our destiny.  Go out of yourself toward a future with Jesus, who invites you to follow him and be free.

Music

• Please listen to Sunday's selections, both from the readings and from my "Roamin' Catholic" report.

Reflections

• Creighton:  The readings speak of faith and its contrast with doubt: “I will espouse you to me;” “The Lord is good and compassionate;” and both gospel miracles.  Jesus didn't condemn Thomas when he doubted.  The crowd ridiculed Jesus when he said the girl was just sleeping.  Do I expect miracles or am I cynical?  Strong faith comes from practice including prayer.

• One Bread One Body:  God pours out his overflowing love to all to allure us back; we block it.  Let the water of the Holy Spirit restore God's harmony.

• Passionist:  As the crowd saw the girl as dead while Jesus saw her as sleeping, we too can see the same things differently.  May I with eyes of faith and see life as Jesus did and Rogers and Hammerstein suggested in A Hundred Million Miracles (Flower Drum Song).

• DailyScripture.net:  Desperate people who sought Jesus' help weren't disappointed. Jesus, whose hope was in God, gave hope to the official and the woman.  Do I approach the Lord with confident expectation?

• Universalis:  Bl. Peter To Rot [how do you pronounce this?], catechist, martyr; see Pope John Paul II’s sermon at Peter's beatification.  St. Maelruain, monk.

• Sacred Space

Apparel

• "Golden calf" tie pin:  She'll call me “My husband,” never again “My baal.” (1st reading)
• "Connecting Rings": I'll espouse you to me, in justice, love, mercy, and fidelity (1st reading)

• "Accordion" pin:  Jesus saw the flute players... (gospel) [sorry, Kim; it's the pin whose instrument sounds most flute-like]
• "Hand" tie pin:  Jesus took her by the hand, and she arose (gospel)

• "Flag" tie:  bookend for Independence Day weekend
• Green in suspenders:  Ordinary Time (season)

Dress your life!