June 23, 2016

June 23

June 23, 2016:  Thursday, 12th week, Ordinary Time

See 13 connections with today?
Legend below
Listen
I appreciate your commitment to a world free of the death penalty.  One sign of hope is that people's opposition to the death penalty is growing.  The death penalty is unacceptable, however grave the crime.  It's an offense to the inviolability of life and to human dignity; it contradicts God’s plan and merciful justice.  It's not in line with any just purpose of punishment; it fosters vengeance instead.  “Thou shalt not kill” applies to the innocent and the guilty alike.  The Jubilee of Mercy is an auspicious occasion for promoting more evolved forms of respect for human life and dignity.  The inviolable, God-given right to life also belongs to criminals too.
Work not only for the abolition of the death penalty, but also the improvement of prison conditions, so that they fully respect the human dignity of the incarcerated.  “Rendering justice” isn't seeking punishment for its own sake; punishment should rehabilitate the offender.  The penal justice system must be open to the possibility of the guilty party’s reinsertion in society.  There is no fitting punishment without hope!  Punishment without room for hope, is torture, not punishment.
Read

  • 2 Kgs 24:8-17  Jehoiachin reigned three months in Jerusalem, doing evil in God's sight.  King Nebuchadnezzar's officials attacked Jerusalem, and Jehoiachin surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar, who took him captive, carried off the treasures, and deported all Jerusalem.  He deported Jehoiachin and led captive the king’s mother, wives, functionaries, and chief men.  He appointed his uncle Mattaniah king, changing his name to Zedekiah.
  • Ps 79:1b-2-5, 8, 9  "For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us."  The nations have defiled your temple, laid Jerusalem in ruins, and fed your dead servants to the birds.  Will you be angry and jealous forever?  May your compassion quickly come to us.
  • Mt 7:21-29  “Only those who do my Father's will will enter the Kingdom.  Many will say, ‘Didn't we do mighty deeds in your name?,’ but I'll say, ‘I never knew you; depart, you evildoers.’  One who acts on my words is like a wise man who built his house on rock; it stood despite rain, floods, and winds.  One who doesn't act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand; rain, floods, and winds ruined it.”  The crowds were astonished, for he taught with authority.
Archbishop Gregory homily

Reflect
    • One Bread, One Body:  "Saved from the pits of hell":  Atrocities happen, and are described in Scripture, so we see the results of sin and repent....
    • Passionist:  If we do things "in Jesus’ name" for show, to draw attention to ourselves, or to serve our own purpose, we can be doing them without knowing Jesus.  When it's about us, Jesus is out of the picture.  Jesus is just calling us to do God’s will: “Only the one who does the will of my Father" will enter the kingdom of heaven.  When we seek to know God’s love for us and for all; when we seek to do God’s will in all things, we find the peace the world can't give.  When a wise person builds a house on rock, the storms may come, but the house doesn't collapse.  We needn't collapse in a rough storm because we know God is there for us, even when we may not feel him.  May we let go of wanting God’s glory, and only want God’s love and will.
      St. Thomas Garnet, SJ
    • DailyScripture.net:  "The wise who built their house upon the rock":  If you could foresee a threat to your life, home, and goods, you'd do what you could to avoid disaster.  Jesus' audience knew storms swept through their land unannounced and likely remembered the proverb, "When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm."  The foundation we build on determines how we survive life's storms and trials.  We may fool one another, but we can't deceive God who sees our heart.  Our sincerity can only be proved by our practice.  Our choices reveal our character.  If we make the Lord Jesus and his word our foundation, then nothing can shake us nor keep us from God's presence and protection.
      • Etheldreda: austere religious, abbess of coed monastery
      • Thomas Garnet:  priest, martyr, forgave his betrayers:  “I'm a priest of the blessed Society of Jesus, though unworthy....  This is the happiest day I've seen.”
    Dress legend
    • Gold-colored accessories:  King of Babylon broke up the gold utensils... (1st reading)
    • 'Skeleton,' 'bird,' 'beast' tie pins:  They gave your servants' corpses to the birds, their flesh to beasts (1st reading)
    • 'Blood drop' pin:  They poured out their blood (1st reading)
    • 'Bird' tie pin:  "The nations have given your servants' corpses as bird food" (psalm)
    • 'Car' tie pin:  "Didn't we 'drive' out demons in your name?" (gospel)
    • 'Owl,' 'rock' tie pins:  If you listen to and act on my words, you'll be like a wise man who built on rock (gospel)
    • 'Fool' tie:  If you don't, you'll be like a fool who built on sand (gospel)
    • Orange suspenders:  "Lord, will your jealousy burn like fire?" (psalm)  "Technology on Fire:  Igniting ministry," DISC 2016 theme
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