July 9, 2015

July 9

July 9, 2015:  Thursday, 14th week, Ordinary Time

  • 'Eyeball' pin:  "Bring your young brother to me that my eyes may look on him." (1st reading)
  • 'Chain links' tie bar:  "Joseph was bound with chains" (psalm)
  • 'Ruler' tie bar:  "The 'ruler' of the peoples set him free...  and made him 'ruler' of all his possessions"  (psalm)
  • 'Hand' tie pin:  Proclaim, "The Kingdom of heaven is at 'hand'"  (gospel)
  • Sandals (not shown):  "Don't take... sandals" (gospel)
  • 'Peace sign' tie bar:  "As you enter a house, wish it peace"  (gospel)
  • 'Precious feet' pin (oops; forgot):  "If they don't receive or listen to you,... shake the dust from your feet."  (gospel)
  • Green in shirt, suspenders, and tie:  Ordinary Time season
Listen

Pope Francis to Bolivian civil authorities
Each of us shares a calling to work for the common good, to allow groups and their members access to their own fulfillment.  May your efforts contribute to greater respect for the human person, and to social peace.  The natural environment is closely related to the social, political, and economic environment.  Lay the foundations of an integral ecology, one capable of respecting human dimensions in resolving social and environmental issues.
Because everything is related, we need one another.  Cultural life is important; it's not only about science and the arts but also esteem for local traditions.  Also needed is ethical and moral education to cultivate solidarity and shared responsibility.  Acknowledge religion's role in the development of culture and benefits to society.  Christians bear a message of salvation to ennoble, inspire, and lead to ways of acting that transcend individual interest, to readiness to make sacrifice, and to other virtues that help us live as one.
Material wealth can lead to selfishness, conflict, social disintegration, corruption, discouragement, and damage.  The common good, however, embraces what brings a people together:  purpose, values, and ideas that help us to look beyond our individual horizons.  Groups have a responsibility to work for unity and social development.  Christians are called to be a leaven in society.  The Gospel doesn't belong to the Church; the Church is at its service.  Faith illuminates and guides consciences and history; don't restrict it to a subjective experience.  It challenges us to foster spirituality and Christian commitment in social projects.
The family is threatened by violence, sexism, addiction, unemployment, urban unrest, and abandonment of the elderly and children; failure to assist families leaves the most vulnerable defenseless.  Improve diplomatic relations to avoid conflicts and advance dialogue.  Build bridges, not walls, and find shared, reasonable, equitable, lasting solutions.
Read
  • Gn 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5  Judah / Joseph: "We told you we have an aged father and young brother your servant told us to return with.  When we told our father, he begged us not to take him lest disaster befall him.”  Joseph had everyone else withdraw, sobbed, and told his brothers, “I'm Joseph.  Is my father OK?”  They were dumbfounded.  “You sold me, but don't be distressed or reproach yourselves; God sent me here to save lives.”
  • Ps 105:16-21  "Remember the marvels the Lord has done."  When the Lord called down a famine, he sent  Joseph, sold as a slave.  When the Lord's word proved him true, the king set him free and made him ruler of his possessions.
  • Mt 10:7-15  “Proclaim, ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’  Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.  Without cost you received; without cost give.  Don't take money, sack, or sandals; laborers deserve their keep.  Wherever you enter, stay with a worthy person.  If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let it return to you.  If they won't receive or listen to you, go and shake the dust from your feet....”
Reflect
    • Creighton:  Joseph forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery; he sensed it was part of God’s plan to use him to save lives.  It can be harder to forgive a wrong that negatively affects your life, but all things work for good for those God calls. Pain often occurs in the family, where we most often have to forgive; there's jealousy not unlike Joseph's brothers'. / The psalm's retelling is about recognizing God sends some people ahead to prepare for salvation; Joseph knew he was called to do that.  Joseph suffered, but his suffering was necessary for God's work.  This prepares us for Jesus who by suffering saves us. / Jesus calls us to proclaim the Kingdom is at hand.  We need to repent and believe the Gospel.  Each of us has a way to demonstrate the Lord works through us.  Sometimes we don’t respect and appreciate each other's callings.  We need to repent if we bring suffering on others and to extend forgiveness to those who bring suffering to us.  Just as Joseph forgave his brothers and Jesus forgave his executioners, we must forgive those who don't understand our call to service.
      The recognition of Joseph by his brothers
      (Cornelius)
    • One Bread One Body:  "Dust cover":  We're dust and can pick up dust along the way—rejection, persecution, resentment, unforgiveness—but must shake it off to serve in God's kingdom.  Through forgiveness and healing, we let the Lord dust us off.  Joseph was almost murdered, then sold into slavery, falsely accused of rape, and sentenced to years in prison, but he still forgave his brothers.  Jesus was grimy on the cross but spotless inside, praying, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing...."
    • Passionist:  Jesus empowered the Twelve and sent them out to do what he did.  As we identify with Jesus by doing his works, so can we expect to share his suffering.  We can't escape the Cross, but the One we follow mounted it and overcame darkness. / Joseph shows us that choosing love is possible and the better choice; his forgiveness overcomes his brothers' pain and sorrow, but they can't believe he can forgive them.   We too might find it hard to accept forgiveness from God and others, but may we forgive as we serve and lead people to our tender, forgiving Shepherd....
    • DailyScripture.net:  Jesus gave his disciples a commission to speak in his name and act with his power.  We pray, "your kingdom come; your will be done...."  Jesus commissioned his disciples to carry on his works of healing and mercy. What we freely receive from Jesus we must freely pass on to others, serving with charity, peace, and simplicity, proclaiming God’s kingdom.  Travel light, taking what's essential and leaving the rest behind, to concentrate on speaking God's word.  Poverty of spirit frees us from preoccupation with possessions and makes room for God’s provision.  The Lord wants us to be dependent on him.
      • St. Augustine Zhao Rong, priest and martyr, and 119 companions, martyrs; see Vatican.VA.
      • 19 Gorcum Martyrs
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