August 26, 2014: Tuesday, 21st week, Ordinary Time
Readings
From the garden and mall (none of my clothes today; I'm traveling)
- 2 Thes 2:1-3a, 14-17 Don't be shaken about Christ's coming and our assembling with him; don't be deceived if you hear the day of the Lord is at hand. Christ has called you to possess his glory. Stand firm and hold fast to what we taught you. May God encourage and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
- Ps 96:10-13 "The Lord comes to judge the earth." Say: The Lord is king; he made the world firm. Let heaven, earth, sea, and forest exult before the Lord who shall rule with justice.
- Mt 23:23-26 “Woe to you, you hypocrites. You pay tithes but have neglected judgment, mercy, and fidelity. You strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they're full of self-indulgence. Clean the inside first so the outside may also be clean.”
- Angelus re Sunday gospel: Simon professes faith in Jesus as “Christ, Son of the living God”; Jesus calls him blessed for his faith and tells him, “You're Peter, and on this rock I'll build my Church.” The new name is Kepha ('Rock') in Jesus’ language, a word that in the Bible referred to God. Jesus sees God gave Simon faith Jesus to build his Church/community/us on. Jesus gives life to his Church, founded on faith, a relationship of love and trust with him. Our relationship with Jesus builds the Church. Jesus needs to find in us a solid faith.
What happened in Peter also happens in every Christian who develops sincere faith. How is your faith? Firm, like a rock, or with doubt, mistrust, and unbelief, like sand? If the Lord finds genuine faith in us, he can build the community with us, founded on Christ the cornerstone. Peter is the rock, but each of us baptized is called to offer Jesus our faith, poor but sincere, so he can continue to build his Church.
Many think Jesus is a great prophet, teacher, model of justice… Today, he asks us, “Who do you say I am?” How will we answer? May we respond with sincere hearts, “You're the Christ, Son of the Living God.”Music
- Let the heavens be glad/ Feiten (psalm)
- Alas for you/ Schwartz, from Godspell (from movie) (2011 revival) (gospel)
Reflections
- Creighton: Don't be ruled by the external.
- One Bread One Body: "I'd walk a mile for a camel." People still "walk miles to swallow a camel" as the Pharisees did, e.g. working hard but ignoring family. Let go and let God...
- Passionist: "Beware the wolf in sheep's clothing. Don't judge a book by its cover. All that glitters is not gold." We can be led astray or scammed. People betrayed trust in the early Church and now, but Christ the rock, truth, way, and light is trustworthy and faithful. Hope.
- DailyScripture.net: Where are my blind spots? Scribes excelled at outward observance but ignored the needy. God's law of love reveals what's really important. Allow God's love to shape and transform your daily life...
- Universalis: Bl. Dominic Barberi, Passionist priest, missionary, zealous preacher. St. David Lewis, convert, Jesuit priest, martyr: “Discover the [Gunpowder] plot I could not, as I knew of none; and conform [=recant] I would not, for it was against my conscience.” Our Lady of Czestochowa ("Black Madonna") icon of the Virgin Mary in Poland: Ballade to Our Lady of Czestochowa/ Belloc
- "You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin but have neglected mercy and fidelity." (gospel)
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| Mint |
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| Dill |
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| Cup tie tack |
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| Cumin |
- Cup tie tack (vs. Aug. 19 "cups tie"): “You hypocrites cleanse the outside of cup and dish but not the inside; clean the inside first..." (gospel)
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