June 16, 2021: Wednesday, 11th week, Ordinary Time
 |
| See about a dozen connections with today? Legend below |
For the gospel
- In secret/ Celoni: sheet music, updated from Ash Wednesday debut
- Secret prayer/ Crosby: lyrics+
- When you are praying/ Gillette: lyrics; or sing it to the Amazing Grace tune
For Psalm 112
- Day by day, from a prayer of today's St. Richard of Chichester set to music long before Godspell (1971 cast, 2011 revival) and often since (e.g. How)
We don't only pray; we've been prayed for, received in Jesus’ dialogue with the Father, in communion with the Spirit. Prayer is one of the most evident features in Jesus’ life; his dialogue with the Father was the core of his existence. Jesus prayed all his life, but his prayer became more intense as he approached his Passion and Death. Jesus offers us total salvation that gives hope in the victory of life over death. In the last days of his final Passover, Jesus is immersed in prayer: In the agony in the Garden, where he addressed God as 'Abba,' Papa, expressing intimacy and trust; and on the Cross, where again he calls on the Father.
On the Cross, our salvation is accomplished. When Jesus cried out, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit," he offered everything. Jesus' prayer becomes the model for our prayer. He prayed for everyone, for me, for you. Each of us can say, 'Jesus prayed for me at the Last Supper and on the Cross." Have courage and hope, experience Jesus' prayer, and go forward, so our life might glorify God...
- 2 Cor 9:6-11 If you sow sparingly, you'll reap sparingly; if you sow bountifully, you'll reap bountifully. God loves a cheerful giver and will give you all you need. The one who supplies seed and bread will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness....
- Ps 112:1bc-4, 9 "Blessed those who fear the Lord" and delight in his commands. Light shines through darkness for the gracious, merciful, and just who give generously.
- Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 When you give alms, don't blow a trumpet to win praise; don't let your left hand know what your right is doing. When you pray, don't stand so others see you; go to your room and pray in secret. When you fast, don't look gloomy so others think you're fasting. When you give alms, pray, and fast in secret, your Father will see and repay you."
Reflect
- Fr. Chris Bazyouros homily video: Give generously of yourself...
- Creighton: How do we balance the importance of helping our neighbor against Jesus' “Take care not to perform righteous deeds so people may see them”? Maybe the hidden message is not to shy away being generous, but to not expect to be recognized for them. We all need to serve God and others, to help loved ones, neighbors, the poor, and our church because it's the right thing, not in hope of being recognized as nice, generous, kind, and considerate.
- One Bread, One Body: Giving-Living: God gives bountifully, no matter what we deserve. When humanity was giving sparingly, God gave his Son. Our giving affects our receiving more than God’s giving. When we give bountifully, we open ourselves to receive God’s gifts. We can't function well without giving. When we cut back giving, we start to choke spiritually; we can't catch the breath of the Spirit. But when we give from the heart, the Spirit fills us, and we breathe freely and pray, fast, worship, witness, work, and serve better. When we're down, may we give, not buy...
- Passionist: Jesus tells his disciples that others will see our almsgiving, prayer, and fasting, but that our religious practice must be for and in God, not for others to see and approve of. Jesus instructs us to treat each other as God treats us. Our actions should honor God. Almsgiving makes us participants in God’s mercy, prayer puts us in communion with God, and fasting fills our hearts, giving us clarity and purpose.
-
DailyScripture.net: "When you pray, fast, and give alms": Jews considered prayer, fasting, and almsgiving the cardinal works of the religious life. Do you pray, fast, and give alms to draw attention to yourself, or to give glory to God? True piety is loving devotion to God, an attitude of awe, reverence, worship and obedience, a gift and work of the Spirit that enables us to devote our lives to God. The reward is communion with the Father, fullness of life, happiness, love and joy. "When I'm united to you, there will be no more sorrows or trials; full of you, my life will be complete." (St. Augustine, Confessions) The Lord renews us with hearts of love and compassion so we may serve him and others with generous hearts.
- Today's saint, from Universalis: Richard of Chichester, turned around farm, bishop. reformer: “Thank you, my Lord Jesus Christ, for the benefits you bestowed on me, for the pains and insults you bore for me. You know, Lord, I'm ready to bear insults, torments, and death for you; and as you know this, have mercy on me, for to you I commend my soul.” See above for music for his famous prayer, which is a theme of the 2nd week of the Spiritual Exercises (text): "I want... interior knowledge of the Lord, Who for me became man, that I may more love and follow Him" (1st day, contemplation on the Incarnation, 3rd prelude). More on the connection at Three things I pray.
Dress legend
- 'Smiling face' pin: God loves a cheerful giver (1st reading)
- 'Plant' pin: as you sow, so shall you reap (1st reading)
- 'Street light' tie bar: Light shines through darkness for the upright (psalm)
- 'Horn' tie pin: If you delight in the Lord's commands, your 'horn' shall be exalted (psalm)
- 'Hands' tie: When you give, don't let your left hand know what your right is doing (gospel)
- 'Eyeball' pin: Don't pray so others may see you; your Father will see... (gospel)
- 'Money bag' tie pin: ...and repay you (gospel); Paul's fundraising (1st reading); riches shall be in the house of those who fear the Lord (psalm)
- 'Angel with trumpet' pin: "When you give alms, don't blow a trumpet" (gospel)
- Green shirt: Ordinary Time season
No comments:
Post a Comment