Josaphat

November 12, 2014:  St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

• 'Peace sign' tie bar: Be peaceable (1st reading)
• 'Sheep' tie bar: The Lord is my Shepherd (psalm)
• Red shirt: martyrdom of St. Josaphat
• Green and blue in suspenders: verdant pastures, restful waters (psalm)
• 'Stick figures' tie pin: ten lepers (gospel)
• 'Country stamps' tie:  the one who returned to give thanks was a foreigner (gospel)

Listen

Gospel-inspired

• Ten lepers/ Winter [about composer]
• My tribute (To God be the glory)/ Crouch: gospel reharmonization (related tutorial)

• An outcast among outcasts/ Leach (lyrics+)
• Look at the world/ Rutter: Thallander Festival (at the COLA, composer-conducted), Baptist youth choir (with movement)
• For the beauty of the earth: traditional, Rutter-arranged
• I thank my God/ Fabing
• All things bright and beautiful/ Rutter

For the psalm

• The Lord's my shepherd/ Dumosch
• The Lord is my Shepherd/ Thompson
• Psalm 23: The Lord is my Shepherd/ Crandal
• The Lord is my Shepherd/ Blakesley
• More

Pope Francis audience

The Lord continues to shepherd his flock with love through bishops, priests, and deacons.  They should be holy people of faith, kind, gentle, patient, prudent, and concerned for others, as all spiritual leaders should be.  They can't be authoritarian or call attention to themselves.  Only by acknowledging their ministry as God's gift can they serve with humility, generosity, wisdom, and compassion.  They must be able to learn, ask for help. and listen, even to those far from faith and the Church.  May our ordained ministers be sustained in their efforts to be living icons of the Father’s love and concern.

Read

• Ti 3:1-7  Be obedient, open to good, peaceable, considerate, and gracious.  We were once foolish, disobedient, deluded, slaves to pleasures, and hateful, but God's kindness and love appeared; he saved us through baptism and renewal by the Spirit so that we might become heirs in hope of eternal life.

• Ps 23:1b-6  "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want."  You give me rest, refreshment, guidance, and courage.  I'll dwell in your house...

• Lk 17:11-19  Ten lepers / Jesus:  (from a distance) “Have pity on us!” / “Show yourselves to the priests.”  They were cleansed.  One Samaritan, realizing it, returned to thank Jesus.  “Weren't ten cleansed?  Has only this foreigner returned to give thanks?  Go; your faith has saved you.”

Reflect

• Creighton:  Neither leprosy nor Jesus had borders.  Nine of the lepers are likely Jews who knew to show themselves to the priests (Lv 14:2-32).  Today's gospel is often used on Thanksgiving Day.

• One Bread One Body:  The healed Samaritan leper, Mary of Bethany, and a woman known as a sinner all went to Jesus' feet.  We should throw ourselves at his feet and embrace, kiss, and perfume them, repenting of sin and praising God.

• Passionist:  Did the healing distract "the other nine" from returning to Jesus?  The greatest gift we receive can be a source of weakness.  The life, strength, creative thinking, and particular gifts/talents God has entrusted to me can become means to forget or turn against God and others.  As Jesus gave himself, may we give our gifts to help others.

St. Josaphat

• DailyScripture.net:  It's rare that a Samaritan leper would be with the Jewish ones; did adversity bring them together?  They asked Jesus for mercy (vs. healing).  Mercy ("sorrowful at heart") is sorrow at another's misfortune but goes farther than empathy to remove suffering; the merciful share others' suffering as if it were theirs and do all they can to relieve it.  God's mercy brings healing of mind, heart, and body.  Gratitude is homage of the heart....  Do I express gratitude to God for his help and mercy?  Am I kind and merciful to others?

• Universalis:  St. Josaphat, bishop, Ruthenian-Roman reconciler, martyr

• Sacred Space

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