July 19, 2017

July 19

July 19, 2017:  Wednesday, 15th week, Ordinary Time

See a dozen connections with today?
Legend below
Listen
For 1st reading
  • Ex 3:1-6, 9-12  Moses, leading the flock, came to Horeb, God's mountain, where an angel appeared to him in fire flaming out of a bush that, surprisingly, wasn't consumed.  When he decided to look and approached, God called from the bush, “Moses!  Come no nearer!  Take off your sandals; you're standing on holy ground.  I am the God of your father, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  I've heard the Israelites' cry and seen the Egyptians oppress them.  I'll send you to Pharaoh to lead them out.” / “Who am I that I should go to him and lead them out?” / “I'll be with you....”
  • Ps 103:1b-4, 6-7  "The Lord is kind and merciful."  Bless the Lord!  He pardons my iniquities, heals my ills, redeems my life, crowns me with kindness and compassion, secures the rights of the oppressed.  He made known his ways to Moses and the children of Israel.
  • Mt 11:25-27 [Hear it proclaimed by Bishop Brennan] “I give you praise, Father, for you've revealed to the childlike things hidden from the wise.  You handed everything over to me.  No one knows me but you, and no one knows you except me and who I wish.”
Reflect

  • Creighton:  To escape retribution, Moses fled to Midian, where he lived, married, became a shepherd, and tended his father-in-law's flock.  While moving the sheep to a cooler area, he saw a bush engulfed in flames but not burning up.  God called to him, said he was on holy ground, sent him to save his people from bondage, and assured him he'd be with him.
How would we react?  As Moses only expected normal challenges shepherds face, we usually know what to expect.  Though God may not call us from a burning bush, he's surely with us, and so we're on holy ground.  We'll hear God if we're open and listen.  May we answer, “Here I am!” and remember he promised to remain with us.
The end of the gospel tells us we can know God since Jesus wished to reveal him to us.  May we come to know God more personally.

  • One Bread, One Body:  "Mountain range":  There are many mountains in life:  Mt. Gerizim, mountain of blessings, Mt. Ebal, mountain of curses, Mt. Sinai (Horeb), mountain of the commandments, Mt. Carmel, mountain of restoring our covenant with God and overcoming idolatry.  Jesus wants us to walk with him to Mt. Calvary, by which we draw "near Mt. Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem."  To start climbing the range, we need to begin as Moses did on Horeb, where we see God in the bush consuming us by the fire of his love, hear him call our name and reveal his; it's holy ground where we take off our shoes, humble ourselves, and enter into fear of the Lord, the beginning of wisdom and much of Christian life. There God calls us to set his people free.
  • Passionist:  In Sunday's homily I spoke of a poor child beginning grade school in India who though not Christian or "learned" wound up evangelizing me.  After Mass I stood outside and let more people evangelize me, people worried about their future, family, health, immigration status, marriage:  suffering people turning to God.  To be evangelized, I need to listen to others, not judge or offer "solutions" when I don’t know the story.
Moses went from a privileged childhood to an outlaw.  When God calls him, he answers and is sent to save the Hebrews.  Jesus is moved by people who come to him and cry for help and healing. He praises the poor, the oppressed, and the suffering for coming to him, as being wiser than the "learned" who disrespect, discount, and dehumanize them.
    St. John Plessington
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Heavenly things revealed to infants":   Jesus' prayer tells us God is Father, Lord, and Creator and cares for his children.  He warns that pride can keep us from knowing and loving God.  Pride, a cold heart, or stubbornness shut God out.  Pride (inordinate self-love, exaggerated self-assessment) makes us cold and indifferent towards God and closes us to truth and wisdom.  Jesus contrasts pride with simplicity and humility.  The simple see purely and acknowledge their dependence on and trust in God; they seek the greatest good, God himself.  Humility inclines us towards grace and truth; the only soil grace can take root in, it allows God to do all.  Jesus makes it possible for us to know God personally; in him we see God's perfect love....
  • Universalis:  John Plessington, priest, martyr:  “If a priest ordained by authority from Rome is to die as a traitor, what's to become of all Church of England clergy?  The Church of Rome ordained their first bishops....”
Dress legend
  • 'Sheep' tie bar:  While leading Jethro's flock,... (1st reading)
  • 'Mountain' tie pin:  ...Moses came to Horeb, the mountain of God,... (1st reading)
  • 'Angel' pin:  ...where an angel appeared to him... (1st reading)
  • 'Fire' pin:  ...in fire... (1st reading)
  • 'Tree' pin:  ...flaming out of a bush,... (1st reading)
  • 'Phone' tie bar:  ...where God 'called' out to him (1st reading)
  • Sandals (not shown):  "Remove your sandals" (1st reading)
  • 'Crown' tie bar:  The Lord crowns you with kindness and compassion (psalm)
  • 'Hand' tie pin:  The Father 'handed' everything over to Jesus (gospel)
  • 'Owl' tie pin:  God has revealed to the childlike things the wise don't see (gospel)
  • 'Children' tie:  "The cry of the 'children' of Israel has reached me" (1st reading); you've revealed hidden things to the childlike (gospel)
  • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season
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