February 20, 2018

Feb. 20

February 20, 2018:  Tuesday, 1st week, Lent

  • "I ♥ my dad" tie:  Pray:  Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name... (gospel)
  • 'Fruit' pin:  God's Word is fruitful (1st reading)
  • 'Eyeball' tie pin:  The Lord has eyes for the just (psalm)
  • 'Heart' pin:  God is close to the brokenhearted (psalm)
  • 'Crown' tie bar:  "Thy Kingdom come" (gospel)
  • Blue shirt:  As rain that waters the earth and makes it fertile, so my word... (1st reading)
  • Purple suspenders:  Lenten season
Listen
For the gospel

    • Our Father/ Malotte (seems to be at Mass in Italy, and this setting wouldn't be my first choice for assembly singing at Mass anywhere)
    • Familiar Our Father chant (though sung more slowly and, unfortunately, less 'spoken on pitch')
  • Look it up/ Presley, Orrall:  Country song with verse about how hard it is for us to forgive ("Jesus has [forgiveness] in store for you, but I don't...")  This Bailey/Lowe cover avoids the original's bad language.  lyrics+ ("as we forgive our debtors")
For Psalm 34
Read

  • Is 55:10-11  My word shall be fruitful:  it won't return to me void but shall do my will.
  • Ps 34:4-7, 16-19  "From all their distress God rescues the just."  The Lord has eyes for the just and is close to the brokenhearted; he saves the crushed in spirit.
  • Mt 6:7-15  Your Father knows what you need.  Pray:  “Our Father....  Deliver us from evil.”  If you forgive, your Father will forgive you; if you don't, he won't.
Gospel-related bonus
  • The Our Father has inspired other prayers:  see Alternative Lord's Prayers including from the New Zealand Prayer Book, Emerging Church Movement, Dominican Sisters 1993 Retreat (Kansas), and a "retranslation" from the Aramaic
  • "Don't let us fall into temptation" vs. "Lead us not into temptation":  read Pope Francis and the Catechism
Reflect

  • Creighton:  The 1st reading has beautiful imagery of the dependable water cycle.  Isaiah says God's word is also dependable in accomplishing God's will.  In a drought or flood, we can focus on unmet needs, but hard times pass and we manage; sustained through periods of distress, we continue our work.  The weather analogy can help us in our spiritual struggles.  God is preparing a journey for us and preparing us to thrive in it.  We struggle with forgiveness; past wrongs sting, and we can stew in our own juices.  Injustice will be rectified, but the wait is awful; knowing the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit can be of little consolation.  We may need time to heal, but then we need to get moving!  Fear, including that more hurt likely awaits us, can hold us back.  Lord, deliver us from the fear that keeps us from trusting in you and advancing.  Our Father sustains us even as he invites us to ask for sustenance; food and forgiveness are part of that.  Lord, deliver us from our complaints and fault-finding.  Help us see your goodness and mercy, even in those who disappoint us.  The Word you sent has become flesh, dwelt among us, and showed us love and mercy.  May we distribute those gifts and so accomplish your purposes.
    Fr. Chris referred to this
  • One Bread, One Body:  "The Spirit teaches us the Our Father":  Prayer is communicating with God, who is Love, so it's one of the most important aspects of being human.  It's an awesome privilege and power.  "We don't know how to pray," but the Spirit "helps us in our weakness."  The Spirit helps us pray by crying out in our hearts "Abba" ("Father"); amazingly, God has adopted us, so prayer is communicating with our own Father.  The Spirit makes us holy. We pray that through our holiness God's name be made holy.  The Spirit convicts us regarding the sinfulness of building our own kingdom and doing our own will, so we pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done."
  • Passionist:  People trespass against me all the time.  May I forgive better, like I pray in the Our Father....
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Your Father knows what you need":  Isaiah says God's word is like the rain and melting snow that makes barren ground spring to life and become fertile.  God's word can penetrate our hearts and give them new life.  If we let it take root, it'll transform us into the likeness of God and empower us to walk in his way of love.  "Aren't you occupied with Christ?  Then why don't you talk with him?  By reading Scripture, we listen to Christ" (Ambrose).  God is eager to receive his prodigal children.  That is why Jesus gave us the prayer that dares to call God "Our Father" and teaches us how to ask God for what we really need.  When we ask God for help, he responds with mercy.  He expects us to be good to and forgive others as he treats us; his love for us burns away hatred, resentment, and bitterness till only goodness and forgiveness remain.  "God's mercy is beyond description. While he's offering a model prayer, he teaches a way of life and how to be judged with mercy. We can treat our sins against God with gentle indulgence but severely exact reparation for sins against ourselves; all who doesn't forgive from the heart those who do them wrong will only obtain from this prayer his own condemnation, not mercy" (St. John Cassian).  How do I treat others?
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