July 27, 2015

July 27

July 27, 2015:  Monday, 17th week, Ordinary Time


  • 'Ten commandment tablets' tie: Moses, seeing the idolatry, broke the tablets (1st reading)
  • 'Golden calf' tie pin (note strategic placement over the 1st commandment):  The Israelites formed a calf and danced around it (1st reading)
  • 'Angel' pin:  "My angel will go before you." (1st reading)
  • 'Bird' tie pin:  The birds come and dwell in the mustard bush (gospel)
  • 'Fish' pin for yesterday's loaves and fishes miracle (gospel)
  • Green in shirt and suspenders:  Ordinary Time season
Listen


Pope Francis Angelus

Jesus satisfies not only material hunger, but the most profound of hungers, the hunger for meaning in life, the hunger for God.  In the face of people's suffering, loneliness, poverty, and difficulties, what can we do?  Complaining doesn't solve anything, but we can offer what we have.  We certainly have time, talent, expertise.... Who among us doesn't have his or her "five loaves and two fish"?  If we put them in the hands of the Lord, we'll bring more love, peace, justice, and joy into the world.  God can multiply our gestures....

Read
    Adoration of the Golden Calf/ Poussin
  • Ex 32:15-24, 30-34  Moses, coming down with the two God-given tablets of the commandments:  “I hear cries of revelry.”  Seeing them dancing around a golden calf, he angrily threw the tablets down and broke them, fused the calf, ground it to powder, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink.  Moses / Aaron:  “How is it that you led them to this?” / They asked me to make them a god because they didn't know what happened to you.  I threw their gold into the fire, and the calf came out.”  Moses to people:  “You committed a grave sin.  Maybe I can make atonement to the Lord.”  Moses / Lord:  “If you would only forgive them!  Otherwise, strike me from your book.” / “I'll only strike out the sinner.  Go lead the people; my angel will go before you....”
  • Ps 106:19-23  "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good."  Our fathers made and adored a calf; they forgot the God who saved them.  He spoke of exterminating them, but Moses withstood him to turn back his wrath.
  • Mt 13:31-35  “The Kingdom is like a mustard seed a person sowed, the smallest seed that becomes the largest plant.”  “The Kingdom is like yeast a woman mixed with flour till the whole batch was leavened.”  Jesus spoke to them only in parables to fulfill, I will open my mouth in parables....
Reflect
    • Creighton:  The mustard seed parable evokes movement from something tiny to an all-embracing entity; the parable, about the woman, leaven, and dough, recalled a familiar experience for Israelites of Jesus’ time.  Jesus invited them to see how a tiny movement could affect society at large.  May I be that mustard seed or pinch of yeast, alive to God and sensitive to others' needs.
      Mustard bush
    • Passionist:  "A New Reformation":  We can succumb to the sin of “them and us,” projecting guilt on others and distancing ourselves.  We can have our own "golden calf."  Pope Francis reminds us that ours is consumerism.  The parable of the yeast suggests we can improve society by good example.
    • DailyScripture.net:  As tiny mustard seeds grow to big trees, God's kingdom starts from small beginnings in receptive hearts and transforms from within.  As leaven (and heat) transform dough to rich, wholesome bread, God's kingdom transforms all who receive the life Christ offers.  When we allow his word to take root, the Spirit makes us holy.  "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the power belongs to God, not us" (2 Cor 4:7, Saturday's 1st reading).
      • Titus Brandsma, Carmelite priest, philosopher, journalist, outspoken against Nazism, martyr; see official Carmelite page.
      • Robert Sutton, convert, priest, martyr:  "I lived and died in the light of the Catholic faith."
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