July 6, 2018

Maria Goretti

July 6, 2018:
Friday, 13th week, Ordinary Time
St. Maria Goretti, Virgin Martyr

See 18 connections with today?Legend below
Listen

For Communion antiphon
For the gospel
Pope Francis
Lampedusa visit anniversary homily:  The blood of the refugees and migrants lost at sea cries out to our conscience.  The response to the Lord’s appeal, “Where is your brother?” hasn't been enough; we continue to grieve thousands of deaths.  Many of the poor brought to ruin are migrants and refugees who keep knocking at the door of prosperous nations.
In his invitation, “Come to me...,” Jesus promises refreshment and freedom to the oppressed, but he needs our hands to fulfill his promise.  The Lord needs our voice to protest the injustices committed.  Above all, he said, “the Lord needs our hearts to show his merciful love towards the least, the outcast, the abandoned, the marginalized.”
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees murmuring against his eating with tax collectors and sinners:  “Go learn the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’” pointing his finger at the hypocrisy of those who didn't want to dirty their hands, condemning their closed hearts that built walls, not bridges.  The response to migrants must be solidarity and mercy.  May refugees and migrants be witnesses of hope in a world averse to sharing....
At Laudato Si anniversary conference:  Your presence is a sign of your commitment to take steps to save the planet and the life it sustains, knowing ‘everything is connected,’ a principle at the heart of integral ecology.  There's a real danger we'll leave future generations only rubble, deserts, and refuse.
May concern for our common home be translated into concrete action.  Governments must honor the Paris Agreement to avoid the worst consequences of the climate crisis.  The COP24 Summit and Global Climate Action Summit could prove milestones on that path.  Financial institutions also have an important role, as part of both problem and solution.  All this presupposes deeper transformation, a change of heart and mind, an "ecological conversion" (Pope St. John Paul).  We must make space for young people and indigenous peoples to foster an integral ecology.  Though there are challenges including special interests, please keep working for radical change; injustice is not invincible.
Read
  • Am 8:4-6, 9-12  You who trample upon the poor say, “When can we sell our grain and display the wheat?  We'll diminish the measuring containers, add to the weights, and cheat with our scales!  We'll buy the poor and sell even the wheat's refuse!” God:  "I'll make the sun set at noon, turn your feasts to mourning and your songs into lamentations, cover you with sackcloth and make you bald, make you mourn, and bring your day to a bitter end.  I'll send famine, not of bread but my word."  You'll search for the word of the Lord but not find it.
  • Ps 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131  "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."  Blessed all who seek and follow God.  I long for your precepts; let me not stray, and give me life.
  • Mt 9:9-13  Jesus said to Matthew, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed.  Pharisees, seeing tax collectors and sinners sitting with Jesus:  “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  Jesus:  “The well don't need a doctor; the sick do.  I didn't come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Reflect
  • Creighton:  “What can I do with you?”  Today's gospel gives a hint of what the Lord is to do with us.  Jesus broadens and nuances the Ten Commandments that relate to our relationships to God and others.  He invited Matthew to follow him, then invited himself to eat at Matthew’s table, with sinners.  Jesus invites Matthew, and us, to follow and eat with him, to invite him into our space, to offer and accept hospitality, to break bread with those who never impose or expect to be included (the sick, poor, homeless, marginalized, addicts, refugees, orphans...).  May we learn the meaning of mercy by living mercy, 'mercying.'
What is the Lord to do with us?  What are we to do with those who exasperate and threaten us?  Love and mercy....
  • One Bread, One Body:  "Stop the famine":  Matthew resembled the 1st-reading cheaters.  Nothing has changed since then; people and land continue to be exploited.  You can't serve both God and the things of the world.  Love of money is the root of evil.  A life rooted in pursuit of worldly riches can result in a famine of hearing God's word.  As Jesus called Matthew, so he calls us; his word reaches into our hearts can lead us to salvation.  It's unlikely any faithful Jew could have imagined Matthew/Levi changing from money-loving to God-serving, but Jesus can convert anyone through his Word.  May we always spread God's Word....
    The calling of St. Matthew/ Caravaggio
  • Passionist:  In today's gospel, after Jesus calls Matthew, a sinner to the Jews, to be his disciple, they dine with other tax collectors and sinners, the Pharisees are scandalized, and Jesus replies, "I came to call sinners."  The Pharisees aren't at the table; they don’t see themselves as sinners and wouldn't want to be around them. When we don’t see ourselves as sinners; rationalizing (“It was only a white lie.” “I didn't hurt anyone.” “Everyone else is doing it.” “I’m not as bad as....”), we distance ourselves from Jesus and don’t let him fulfill his mission. To be closer to him, we need to recognize ourselves as sinners and accept his invitation to dine with him and enjoy forgiveness, grace, and healing.
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Mercy, not sacrifice":  What did Jesus see in Matthew—a yearning heart ready to follow him?  "Why didn't Jesus call Matthew when he called Peter, John, and the rest?  He came to each when he knew they'd respond.  He called Matthew when he knew he'd surrender. Similarly, he called Paul when he was vulnerable, after the resurrection, like a hunter, for he who knows our hearts and minds knows when we're ready.  Jesus waited till his fame spread and he knew Matthew had been softened for full responsiveness.  (John Chrysostom, Homily XXX.1)
Divine physician Jesus sought those in greatest need, when others were so preoccupied with their 'religion' that they neglected people who needed help.  Ironically, the 'righteous' were as needy as those they neglected.  Jesus often quoted, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice." As we thank God for the mercy shown us, may we show mercy to others....
"Lord Jesus, let us come to you:  Warm our cold hearts with your selfless love.  Cleanse our sinful hearts with your precious blood.  Strengthen our weak hearts with your Spirit.  Fill our empty hearts with your presence.  Possess our hearts always and only for yourself." (Augustine)
    • Maria Goretti, virgin, martyred at 11 for refusing to be raped, forgave her attacker-murderer who later repented and spent his last years in a monastery
    • Moninne founded community of hermits and convent
Dress legend
  • 'Sheep' tie bar:  Amos was a shepherd (1st reading)
  • 'Ruler' tie bar:  "We'll cheat with our measures..." (1st reading)
  • 'Scales' pin:  "...and scales" (1st reading); in Your justice give me life (psalm)
  • Silver-colored accessories:  "We'll buy the lowly man for silver..." (1st reading)
  • Sandals (not shown):  "...and the poor man for a pair of sandals" (1st reading)
  • 'Sun' pin:  "I'll make the sun set at midday" (1st reading)



  • Balding head (not shown):  "I'll make every head bald" (1st reading)



  • 'Clef' pin:  "I'll turn your songs into lamentations" (1st reading)
  • 'Wheat' pin:  "When can we sell our grain?" (1st reading);  "One doesn't live by bread alone..." (psalm)
  • 'Car with mouth' pin:  Live by every word from God's mouth (psalm)
  • 'Baseball in mitt,' 'Olympics' tie pins:  "Go 'out' to all the world" (psalm)
  • 'Heart' clip:  I seek You with all my heart (psalm)
  • 'Silverware' tie bar:  "I'll turn your feasts into mourning" (1st reading); Jesus was at table in Matthew's house (gospel)
  • 'Money bag' tie pin:  “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors?” (gospel)
  • 'Doctor's office' tie:  “Sick people need a doctor" (gospel)
  • 'WWJD' pin:  "Follow me" (gospel)
  • 'Phone' tie bar:  I came to 'call' sinners (gospel)
  • Red in shirt, 'blood drop' pin:  St. Maria Goretti's martyrdom
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