August 13, 2016: Saturday, 19th week, Ordinary Time
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| See 11 connections with today? Legend below |
- Turn back, O man/ Bax: Holst-arranged original, choral (Old 124th tune sheet music), racy setting from Godspell (musical, movie) revival, lyrics (1st reading)
- Tell me the stories of Jesus/ Parker child-sung, lyrics+ (gospel)
- Our children, Lord, in faith and prayer/ Haweis: tune (gospel)
- O God, great Father, Lord, and King/ Hoss: tune (gospel)
- Do not turn away the children/ Gillette: Beach Spring tune (gospel)
- Child of sin and sorrow, filled with dismay/ Hastings: tune (1st reading)
Allowing ill will to take root leads to resentment. 'Oὐ λογίζεται τò κακόν' means “takes no account of evil,” “is not resentful.” The opposite, forgiveness, is rooted in a positive attitude seeking to understand and excuse others' weaknesses. “Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing.” But we keep looking for faults, imagining evils, and presuming bad intentions, so resentment deepens. A spouse's every mistake or lapse can harm the family's stability. When we see every problem as serious, we risk undue harshness with others' failings. The just desire to see our rights respected turns into a thirst for vengeance rather than a defense of our dignity.
When we're offended or let down, forgiveness is possible and desirable but not easy. Family communion can only be preserved through great sacrifice requiring openness of each to understanding, forbearance, pardon, and reconciliation. Selfishness, discord, tension, and conflict can attack and even mortally wound family communion.
Forgiving others requires understanding and forgiving ourselves. Our mistakes, or criticism we've received, can lead to loss of self-esteem. We become distant, cold, and afraid in our relationships. Blaming becomes falsely reassuring. Pray over your history, accept yourself, learn how to live with your limitations, and forgive yourself, to have the same attitude towards others.
This assumes we've had the experience of God's forgiveness and have known a love prior to our efforts, a love that opens doors, promotes, and encourages. If we accept that God’s love is free and unconditional, we'll be able to show boundless love and forgive others; otherwise, our family life will be a place of tension and mutual criticism. (IV:105-108)
- Ez 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32 Lord: "What's the meaning of 'Fathers have eaten green grapes, thus their children’s teeth are on edge'? No one will repeat this in Israel, for all lives are mine; only the sinner shall die. The virtuous shall live but those who practice abominations shall die and it'll be their fault. I'll judge you according to your ways. Turn from your crimes, and make for yourselves a new heart and new spirit. Return and live!
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| Jesus Christ with the children / Suffer the Children/ Bloch |
- Ps 51:12-15, 18-19 "Create a clean heart in me, O God." Give me back the joy of your salvation. You won't spurn a contrite, humble heart.
- Mt 19:13-15 Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them. Jesus: “Let them come to me, for the Kingdom belongs to such as these.”
- One Bread, One Body: "Childish or childlike?" When Jesus sees children, he thinks of his Father's kingdom. Being like children of the kingdom means becoming lowly, choosing poverty of spirit, living below our means, living so faithfully for the Lord that we become "persecutable," resisting temptations to pride, and being innocent of evil: being dependent on him as children are on their parents. Without Him we can do nothing.
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| SS. Pontian and Hippolytus |
- Passionist: In today's gospel Jesus highlights the most vulnerable in society and invites us to become childlike. We must hold on to joy, trust, and humility but put aside childish pettiness. We, the body of Christ, must reach out and share Christ's human touch, bringing 'our' children to Jesus. When do we unknowingly put obstacles in their way? If they encounter unconditional love, they're more likely to accept themselves as loved later in life; otherwise, it's more of a struggle. The cross exists even as we strive to help bring about the kingdom. Lord, give us a new heart and spirit; transform our mourning into dancing.
- DailyScripture.net: "Let the children come to me": Parents brought their children to Jesus for him to lay hands on them; they knew of his healing power. Jesus rebuked his disciples for hindering them. The disciples may have wanted to shield Jesus from the nuisance, but Jesus delighted in children and demonstrated that God's love is for everyone. God comes to each person to touch them with his love and power....
- Today's saints, from Universalis
- SS. Pontian and Hippolytus, priests and martyrs, reconciled pope and antipope
- St. Fachtna (Fachanan) of Ross, bishop
- Bl. William Freeman, priest, martyr: "I came here to die for my faith, the true ancient and Catholic faith."
Dress legend
- 'Fruit' pin: "Proverb: 'Fathers have eaten green grapes, thus their children’s teeth are on edge'" (1st reading)
- 'Clothes' tie: "One who... clothes the naked..." (1st reading)
- 'Scales of justice' pin: "...and judges fairly... is virtuous and shall live"; "I judge you, house of Israel" (1st reading)
- 'Penny' tie bar: "But one who exacts usury or practices other abominations shall die, and it'll be their own fault" (1st reading)
- 'Heart' pin: "Make for yourselves a new heart" (1st reading); "Create a clean heart in me, O God." (psalm)
- NEW 'Children' pin, 'hand' tie pin: "Children were brought to Jesus... that he might lay his hands on them and pray." (gospel)
- 'Blood drop' pin: Martyrdom of SS. Pontian and Hippolytus
- Green shirt: Ordinary Time season
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