July 2

July 2, 2014:  Wednesday, 13th week, Ordinary Time

Readings

• Am 5:14-15, 21-24  Seek good, not evil, that you may live; then will the Lord be with you!  I spurn your feasts, reject your offerings, and won't listen to your songs.  Let your offerings be justice and goodness.

• Ps 50:7-13, 16bc-17  "To the upright I will show the saving power of God."  I will testify against you, but not for your sacrifices.  You profess my covenant with your mouth but hate discipline...

• Mt 8:28-34  Two savage demoniacs cried to Jesus, “What have you to do with us, Son of God?”  A herd of swine was feeding, and they pleaded, “If you drive us out, send us into the swine.”  “Go!” he said, and they entered the swine, and the herd rushed into the sea and drowned.  The swineherds ran to the town and reported everything, and everyone came out to meet Jesus and beg him to leave.

Music

• Praise the one who breaks the darkness/ Edwards* (gospel)
• Psalm 50/ Attwood
• The God of glory sends his summons forth/ Watts* (psalm)
• The Lord, the Sovereign, sends his summons forth/ Watts* (psalm)
• The mighty God, Jehovah, speaks* (psalm)
• Thus speaks the Lord to wicked men* (psalm)
• The mighty God, The Eternal hath thus spoke/ Whittingham* (psalm)
• Psalm 50:  Let God, who called the worlds to be/ Mowbray*
• Psalm 50:  To the upright I will show the saving power of God/ Celoni

*Listening tips:  You can click on most of my music links and hear the song, but when you click links to Hymnary, you usually get song info, lyrics, plus links to audio (MIDI and/or MP3) and/or sheet music (PDF, Sibelius, and/or MusicXML).   Fortunately, there's free software to hear and read the music, including Adobe Reader, media players built into your systems, Scorch, and MuseScore.

Reflections

• Creighton:  Jesus cleanses the town of two demoniacs, but the residents beg him to leave.  How often do I invite Christ into my life but not like what happens when he's in control?  My challenge is to accept God's grace and be ready for any tests.

• One Bread One Body:  Even when society uses smooth words to "spin" evil actions or twists God's commands to appear restrictive and intolerant, we must seek the good.

• Passionist:  Amos tells Israel not to misinterpret their current good future; only through justice in caring for others will God accept their offerings.  In the gospel, Jesus encountered resistance caring for others; after the exorcism, he was begged to go.  Where does the Lord call me to be "prophet"?

• DailyScripture.net:  The demonic force was described as 'legion,' 6,000 strong.  Jesus took pity on the men; he'll free us from anything that binds us.

• Universalis:  Our Lady of Budslau:  See  National Sanctuary of the Mother of God of Budslau

• Sacred Space

Apparel

• "Scales of justice" pin:  Let justice prevail at the gate, surge like water (1st reading)
• Cow/bull pin:  " I won't accept your stall-fed peace offerings."  (1st reading); Do I eat the flesh of strong bulls?  (psalm)
• Bird tie pin:  I know all the birds of the air. (psalm)
• "Flying pig" pin [though I've also used it for an angel]:  Demons entered the swine; the herd rushed down the bank (gospel)
• Green in shirt and tie:  Ordinary Time (season)

(Oops, forgot my peace-sign tie bar,, for the 1st reading :-)

Dress your life!