May 27

May 27, 2015:  Wednesday, 8th week, Ordinary Time

• 'Lights' tie:  Show us the light of your mercies!  (1st reading, psalm)

• '[Kentucky] sign' pin:  Give new signs and work new wonders.  (1st reading)

• 'Sheep' tie bar:  We, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you  (psalm)

• 'Crucifix' pin:  "The Son will be handed over, be condemned to death, mocked, and killed, and will rise" (gospel)

• Green shirt:  Ordinary Time (season)

Listen

• "Are ye able?" said the Master/ Marlatt:  lyrics+ (gospel)
• Lord, help us walk your servant way/ Stuempfle:  lyrics+ (gospel)

• For the glory (Psalm 79)/ Monaghan
• Psalm 79 in Hebrew

Pope Francis

To engaged couples:  Engagement is about trust and reliability.  It's beautiful you're undertaking a path where you learn from each other, sharing in this profound commitment.  Love demands deep reflection and an approach fully aware of what it means to enter into marriage, an alliance of love for life.  God’s alliance with his People is like an engagement, and the Church is identified as the bride betrothed to Christ.  Read Manzoni’s “The Betrothed,” a masterpiece on engagement about a couple called to trust in each other deeply as they overcome difficulties and obstacles. 

Society and culture are increasingly indifferent to marriage and don't help couples in this delicate moment; take a marriage prep course, a precious aid to help reflect on your love, your future, and on the importance of faith and prayer in your shared life.  Pray for people looking forward to marriage, that they may prepare with the wisdom, hope and joy born of their faith.

To Franciscans:  The world is your cloister...

Read

• Sir 36:1, 4-5a, 10-17  God, help us, look on us, show us your mercies, give signs, work wonders, fulfill prophecies, reward those who hope in you, hear our prayer, and lead us in the way of justice, so all will know you're God.

• Ps 79:8, 9, 11, 13  "Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindness."  Help us, deliver us, and pardon our sins; then all will thank and praise you.

• Mk 10:32-45  Jesus to Twelve:  “The Son of Man will be handed over, condemned, mocked, spat on, scourged, and killed, but after three days he'll rise.”  James and John / Jesus:  "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” /  “Can you drink the chalice I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I'm baptized?” / "We can." / “Then you will, but the seats aren't mine to give.”  The other ten became indignant at James and John.  “Rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority felt, but if you wish to be great, serve.  The Son of Man didn't come to be served but to serve and to give his life as ransom for many.”

Reflect

St. Augustine of Canterbury

• Creighton:  Jesus warned his disciples he'll suffer and die, then James and John audaciously tell him to grant whatever they ask. Jesus is so patient and forgiving with his apostles, and his loving patience is there for us too....

• One Bread One Body:  "Cross-words":  The first time Jesus spoke of the cross, Peter reprimanded him, and Jesus rebuked Peter.  After the Transfiguration, he tried again, but they didn't understand and were afraid to question him.  This time they also miss the point.  Do I take the cross to heart and serve others?

• Passionist:  Mark framed the three Passion predictions with stories of the healing of blind men is to remind us the disciples were blind, unable to see Jesus’ destiny and their own.  How am I reluctant to hear or see what God tries to tell me?  Holiness is sensitivity to God’s presence in my life, "getting on God's wavelength."  Re Moses’ call, Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote:  “Earth’s crammed with heaven, / and every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes; / The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.” (Aurora Leigh)  How patient the Lord was with his Twelve in their “blindness”! How patient with me when I don’t pay attention.

• DailyScripture.net:  Jesus called himself “Son of Man,” a common Jewish title for the Messiah.  Isaiah foretold God willed the “Suffering Servant” make atonement for sin.  Jesus set us free from the tyranny of sin and death. He wedded authority with service and sacrifice. What kind of "cup" does the Lord have for me? Physical suffering, or the sacrifices and struggles of daily Christian life?

• Universalis:   St. Augustine of Canterbury, bishop, led 30-monk England evangelization mission; see Wikipedia, Catholic Encyclopedia.

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