Aug. 7

August 7, 2015:  Friday, 18th week, Ordinary Time

• 'Hand' pin:  Did any god take a nation...  with strong hand and outstretched arm...  (1st reading)

• 'Eyeball' pin:  ...as the Lord did for you before your eyes? (1st reading)

• 'Girl with heart' pin:  Fix in your heart that the Lord is God....  (1st reading)

• 'Sheep' tie bar:  You led your people like a flock...  (psalm)

• 'Cross' pin:  To come after me, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me  (gospel)

• 'Angel' pin:  The Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory  (gospel)

• 'Clothes' tie:  'Put on' the new self (Sunday 2nd reading; we're still in the 18th week of Ordinary Time, and it's quintessential "liturgical dress")

• Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season

Hear music for today's gospel

• Come and follow me/ Franzak

• The Summons/ Bell

• Unless a grain of wheat/ Farrell

• I surrender all/ Van De Venter:  lyrics+

• Suscipe/ Eleria

• More Suscipe settings

Read

• Dt 4:32-40  Moses:  “Ask:  Did anything so great ever happen before?  Did anyone hear God's voice and live?  Did any god take a nation from another nation as the Lord did for you in Egypt?  You were allowed to see this so you'd know the Lord is God alone.  He let you see his fire and hear him speak from it.  Out of love he chose and led you and gave you land.  So know the Lord is God.  Keep his commandments, that you and your children may prosper, and you may have long life on the land the Lord is giving you.”

• Ps 77:12-16, 21  "I remember the deeds of the Lord."  I ponder your works.  Your way is holy; you've made your power known.  You redeemed your people and led them under the care of Moses and Aaron.

• Mt 16:24-28  “To come after me, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.  To save your life, lose it for my sake.  Why gain the world but forfeit your life?  The Son of Man will repay each according to his conduct.  Some here won't taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

Reflect

• Creighton:  Moses invites the Israelites to remember God's activity in their past.  They are a chosen people. It can make a difference in the present to recall how blessed we've been, to see how God was present before, especially when the present looks bleak.  [See the Rules for Discernment of Spirits (Puhl translation) in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola about taking advantage of this.]

• One Bread One Body:  "The privilege of total giving":   Self-denial is a necessity, not an option.  When Jesus tells us to lose our lives, we should feel privileged.  We're not doing the Lord a favor by answering his call; he's doing us one by showing mercy and calling us....

• DailyScripture.net:  Every decision we make shapes our character and future.  Money and possessions can't buy heaven, mend a broken heart, or cheer a lonely person.  Jesus asks what will a person give in exchange for their life?  All we have is God's gift.  True disciples give all they have for a life of joy with God.  What cross is Christ asking me to take up today?  It'll lead to victory and freedom....

• Universalis

• Pope St. Sixtus II and companions, martyred 4 days before St. Lawrence, same year as St. Cyprian; see Catholic Encyclopedia.

• St. Cajetan, priest, champion of the poor and sick, church reformer, founded Theatines to preach, administer sacraments, celebrate liturgy: “Don't receive Christ in the Blessed Sacrament to use him as you judge best, but give yourself and let him receive you in this Sacrament, so that he ... may do to and through you what he wills” (letter to Elisabeth Porto).  See Catholic Encyclopedia.

• Bl. Nicholas Postgate, priest, martyr

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