July 20

July 20, 2018:  Friday, 15th week, Ordinary Time

• 'Houses' tie:  "Put your house in order" (1st reading)

• '"Boundless mercy" sign' button:  "This will be the sign for you" (1st reading); "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" (gospel); the Lord's mercy in answering Hezekiah's prayer (1st reading) and saving him (canticle)

• 'Grain' pin:  Jesus' disciples picked and ate grain (gospel)

• 'Blood drop' pin:  Martyrdom of St. Apollinaris

• Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season

Listen

For the gospel

• Lord of the Sabbath, hear us pray/ Doddridge:  lyrics+

• Mercy not sacrifice/ The Work of the People

• My days, I said, are now cut off (though lyrics aren't Yahweh directive-compliant); for music, check out 8888/LM (long meter) or 8888D/LMD (long meter double); the links are MIDI audio (how to play) (canticle)

Pope Francis to New Evangelization conference

Go out and proclaim the Good News.  May you be challenged to missionary discipleship and transformation, setting your vision beyond the Philippine archipelago to Asia and beyond.  It's vital that the church go forth and preach the Gospel to all, always, without hesitation, reluctance, or fear.  Gospel joy is for everyone.  Find inspiration in Jesus who manifested the face of the God of Mercy in his command that the disciples feed the multitude.

Read

Hezekiah's prayer
(animate)

• Is 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8  As Hezekiah was dying, Isaiah told him:  “The Lord says:  Put your house in order; you won't recover.”  Hezekiah prayed and wept, and the Lord told Hezekiah through Isaiah, “I've heard your prayer and will give you 15 years and rescue and shield the city.”  Hezekiah / Isaiah:  “What's the sign?” / “The Lord will make the shadow... retreat 10 steps.”  It did.

• Is 38:10-12abcd, 16  "You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die."  I said, “I shall see the Lord no more in the land of the living,” but those live whom the Lord protects....

• Mt 12:1-8  Pharisees seeing Jesus' disciples picking and eating grain on the sabbath / Jesus:  “What your disciples are doing on the sabbath is unlawful.” / “When David was hungry, he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering reserved for priests; something greater is here.  If you understood 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you wouldn't have condemned these men.  The Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

Reflect

• Fr. Reynaldo Matunog homily video:  Implore God's mercy; the Lord will save you.

• Creighton:  Today's gospel focuses on Jesus trying to help Pharisees realize there's something more important than prohibiting work on the Sabbath.  How do I reconcile my desires and wants with actual needs?  Do I lose sight of what's most important?

• One Bread, One Body:  "Now is the time":  God, Lord of time, added 15 years to Hezekiah's life, stopped time for Joshua, and reversed time.  The Lord has given us time to serve him to advance his kingdom; we can by repentance, evangelization, holiness, and prayer, now. Make the most of the opportunity "Now is the acceptable time, the day of salvation!"

• Passionist:  “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”  We must begin with mercy to understand who God is and what God wants.  In today's gospel Pharisees challenge Jesus whose disciples are violating the Sabbath; Jesus reminds them of times people have broken the Law but were innocent because of extenuating circumstances. Do we judge others starting from the law, or mercy?

Learn this

• DailyScripture.net:  "Mercy, not sacrifice":  The Sabbath was set apart to praise God, his work, and his saving actions, to remember and celebrate the goodness of God and his work.  It was intended to bring everyday work to a halt and to provide needed rest and refreshment.  The Pharisees scolded the apostles not for plucking and eating corn but for doing it on the Sabbath.  Jesus argues that human need trumps ritual.  While ritual sacrifice is important to God, mercy and kindness in response to human need are more so.  How do I honor God in my treatment of others?

Lord, make us walk in your way:  where there's love and wisdom, there's no fear or ignorance; where there's patience and humility, there's no anger or annoyance; where there's poverty and joy, there's no greed or avarice; where there's peace and contemplation, there's no restlessness; where there's the fear of God, no enemy can enter; where there's mercy and prudence, there's no excess or harshness.... (Francis of Assisi)

• Universalis:  St. Apollinaris, bishop, martyr

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