July 1, 2017

Junípero Serra

July 1, 2017:  St. Junípero Serra, Priest

See 15 connections with today?
Legend below
Listen
Magnificat settings (canticle)
Read
  • Gn 18:1-15  The Lord appeared to Abraham, who saw three men, then ran to greet them:  “Bring water, bathe your feet, rest, and let me bring you food.” / "OK.”  Abraham, Sarah, and a servant prepared it.  Men / Abraham:  “Where's your wife Sarah?” / “In the tent.” / “When I return next year, Sarah will have a son.”  Sarah laughed.  God to Abraham:  “Why did she laugh?  Is anything too marvelous for the Lord to do?  I'll return to you next year, and Sarah will have a son.”  Sarah, afraid / God:  “I didn’t laugh.” / “Yes you did.”
  • Lk 1:46-50, 53-55  "The Lord has remembered his mercy."  “I proclaim God's greatness, for he's looked with favor on his servant.  He's done great things for me, has mercy, filled the hungry, sent the rich away empty,  helped Israel, remembering the promise he made to Abraham and his children.”
  • Mt 8:5-17  Centurion / Jesus:  “My servant is home paralyzed.” / “I'll come cure him.” / “I'm not worthy to have you enter; only say the word and he'll be healed.  I'm subject to authority with soldiers subject to me...." / “I haven't found such faith.  Many will come and recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom, but the children of the Kingdom will be driven out.”  [to centurion:]  “Go; as you've believed, let it be done.”  His servant was healed.
Jesus entered the house of Peter and saw his mother-in-law in bed with a fever.  He touched her, the fever left, and she waited on him.  Later they brought many to him, and he drove out spirits and cured the sick, fulfilling He took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.
Reflect
  • Creighton:  Today’s readings deal with faith:  Sarah doesn't really have faith, though she should.  The centurion has unquestioning faith.  The canticle is from the Magnificat, Mary's song of faith and obedience.
Jesus healing the servant of a Centurion/ Veronese
Abraham's hospitality was rewarded.  God promised him a son, but his wife laughed, knowing there's no way she could bear a son at her age.  But Abraham had faith, and a year later Sarah was nursing.  The centurion knows Jesus can heal his servant with a word, without a visit.  May we be like Abraham and the centurion, with strong faith, accepting of miracles....
  • One Bread, One Body:  "Blessed are the hospitable":  In offering hospitality to three strangers, he offered it to God and two angels. "Show hospitality, for by that means some have unknowingly entertained angels."  "Be generous in offering hospitality." When we give someone water, we'll be rewarded.  When we feed the hungry or give drink to the thirsty, we're serving God.  Hospitality is required of Christian leaders.  We should offer hospitality without complaining and beg people to accept it.  Hospitality is a privilege.  Jesus will offer his faithful ones hospitality at the end of the world.
    St. Junipero Serra
  • Passionist:  The conclusion of the 1st reading, "Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?," the angel Gabriel will also say to Mary when she wonders how she can bear a child.  Abraham’s hospitality is rewarded with God’s presence.  “Let mutual love continue.  Show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels.....”  The story of Abraham, Sarah, and their visitors reminds us that God brings life where we think there can't be any.  The biblical people feared barrenness, the shame of not being able to engender life, but our God of life and love can bring life and joy into situations we consider empty and barren.  Even when we're suffering or lonely, we can reel God present and renewing us.  Offering kindness and respect to strangers can bring them hope and make us an instrument of God’s love.
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Say but the word...":  Jews hated Romans because they represented everything the Jews stood against:  pagan beliefs, idol worship, immoral practices, and suppression of the Israelites' claim to be a nation governed by God's law.  Centurions were the backbone of the Roman army, each in charge of 100 soldiers. "They must be men who can command,... not overanxious to rush into the fight, but ready to hold their ground, and die at their posts" (Polybius).  The centurion was courageous and faith-filled; he risked ridicule and mockery by seeking Jesus' help, but he approached Jesus with confidence and humility.  He was an extraordinary man; he loved his slave, though slaves were treated as property.  He believed Jesus could heal his slave....
Dress legend
  • 3-ruby pin:  Abraham saw three men...  (1st reading)
  • 'Wheat' pin:  "Knead fine flour and make rolls" (1st reading)
  • 'Cow' pin:  Abraham had a tender, choice steer prepared; he got curds and milk too (1st reading)
  • 'Feet' pin:  "Bathe your feet" (1st reading)
  • 'Tree' pin:  Abraham waited on them under the tree (1st reading)
  • 'Magnificat' pin:  Today's canticle, from the Magnificat; "say the word and my servant will be healed" (gospel; it's my only one-word pin :-)
  • 'Hand' tie pin:  Jesus touched Peter's mother-in-law's hand and healed her (gospel)
  • 'Food' tie:  Abraham and Sarah provided food to the men (1st reading); the Lord has filled the hungry (canticle); heavenly banquet (gospel)
  • 'Silverware' tie bar:  "Many will come and recline at the heavenly banquet..." (gospel)
  • 'Car' tie pin:  "...but the children of the Kingdom will be 'driven' out into darkness"; Jesus 'drove' out evil spirits (gospel)
  • Green and white in shirt and tie:  Green for Ordinary Time, white for St. Junípero Serra
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)