July 18, 2016

July 18

July 18, 2016:  Monday, 16th week, Ordinary Time
Camillus de Lellis, Priest

See 12 connections with today?
Legend below
Listen



For 1st reading
*listening tips
Pope Francis to Together 16
 

Something in your heart moves you and makes you restless, because a young person who's not restless is an old person.  Youthfulness breeds restlessness.  Do you know what your restlessness is?  Find the One who can give you an answer, and you won't be frustrated.  God doesn't leave anyone disillusioned.  Jesus planted the restlessness in you, and he's waiting for you.

Read
  • Mi 6:1-4, 6-8  The Lord's plea:  "O my people, what have I done to you, or how have I wearied you?  I brought you up from Egypt, from slavery I released you; I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam." / With what shall I come before the Lord?  Offerings, calves, rams, oil, my firstborn...?  What the Lord requires:  do right, love goodness, and walk humbly with your God.
  • Ps 50:5-6, 8-9, 16bc-17, 21, 23  "To the upright I will show the saving power of God."  Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you.  Why recite my statutes and profess my covenant with your mouth while you hate discipline and disregard my words?  I'll correct you.  Those who offer praise as a sacrifice glorify me; I'll save those who go the right way.”
  • Mt 12:38-42  Scribes and Pharisees / Jesus:  “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” / “No sign will be given to this evil generation except the sign of Jonah.  As Jonah was in the whale three days, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth.  At the judgment, the men of Nineveh, who repented, will condemn this generation; and there is something greater than Jonah here.  The queen of the south, who came to hear Solomon's wisdom, will condemn this generation; and there is something greater than Solomon here.”
Reflect

    • Creighton:  God's job is to take care of us, and ours is to let him.  In the 1st reading God says he's taken care of his people, so they don't need to worry.  They worried about making sacrifices and suffering for God's favor, but God says suffering is unnecessary, just doing right, loving goodness, and walking humbly with God.  The psalm says the greatest sacrifice is praise of God and appreciation of his care....
    • One Bread, One Body:  "Who's really on trial?"  Today's readings portray courtroom scenes:  Micah announces a cosmic court session, and the psalm continues the scene.  In the gospel, the scribes and Pharisees, who would have known the other readings, try to become Jesus' judge, unsatisfied though they'd heard and seen his preaching and miracles.  Jesus doesn't answer them the way they want and so is eventually pronounced guilty.  The queen of Sheba shows the best way to get an answer from God, seeking the truth, gaining some of  Solomon's wisdom instead of standing on her authority.  Jesus the Truth and the Spirit of Truth are likewise found by those who seek with openness....
      St. Camillus de Lellis
    • Passionist:  We may be tempted to seek certainty or proof we're on the right track and our trust is warranted.  But those who asked Jesus for a sign in today's gospel were skeptical of him and doubted his credentials; they sought "proof" that would fit him into their mold.  Jesus’ reply exposed their intentions and went on to say some things can't be proven the ways we’d like.  When we ask for a sign, we must look to our deeper experiences, foundational memories, or our community for guidance.  In the gospel Jesus cites the example of Jonah and foreshadows his resurrection, a sign we must also look to for reassurance and confidence.  The sign of the resurrection was in the disciples' lives; the risen Jesus turned their lives around, and they became signs for others by their witness, preaching and example.  We inherit their witness and benefit from the witness of those who have gone before us.  May we be like them, ‘signs’ of Jesus to all we meet.
    • DailyScripture.net:  "An adulterous generation seeks for a sign":  Jesus warned his generation when they demanded a sign from him, as they did from others to authenticate their claims.  Jesus faulted them for spiritual adultery; adultery was a scriptural image for apostasy or infidelity to God.  When the religious leaders pressed Jesus to prove his claim to be Messiah, he says he himself is all the sign they need.  The Ninevites recognized God's warning through Jonah and repented, and Queen of Sheba recognized God's wisdom in Solomon, but the leaders in Jesus' time didn't accept the signs before their eyes:  John the Baptist and Jesus.  Simeon prophesied that Jesus was destined for the fall and rising of many, and a sign that spoken against.  Jesus confirmed his message with miracles in preparation for the sign of his resurrection....
    Dress legend
    • 'Question mark' tie pin:  O my people, what have I done to you?  With what shall I come before the Lord?  (1st reading)
    • 'Cow' pin:  Shall I come to God with 1-year-old calves? (1st reading); I take no steer from your house (psalm)
    • 'Walker' tie pin:  Walk humbly with your God (1st reading)
    • 'Scales of justice' pin:  God himself is the judge (psalm)
    • 'Eyeball' pin:  I'll draw your deeds up before your eyes (psalm)
    • 'Signs' (with words) tie:  “We wish to see a sign from you” (gospel); "you cast my words behind you" (psalm)
    • 'Whale' tie pin:  As Jonah was in the whale's belly... (gospel)
    • 'Crown' tie bar:  The queen of the south will condemn this generation... (gospel)
    • 'Owl; tie pin:  ...because she came to hear Solomon's wisdom (gospel)
    • Green in tie:  Ordinary Time season

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