August 31, 2016

Aug. 31

August 31, 2016:  Wednesday, 22nd week, Ordinary Time

  • 'Hands' pin:  He laid his hands on each of them and cured them (gospel)
  • 'Infants' tie: "I talked to you as infants in Christ." (1st reading)
  • 'Cow' pin: I fed you milk because you couldn't take solid food (1st reading)
  • 'Olympics' pin:  "When there's rivalry, you're not behaving as spiritual people." (1st reading)
  • 'Plant' pin:  "I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth." (1st reading)
  • 'Clock' pin:  "Our soul waits for the Lord" (psalm)
  • 'Hearts' suspenders:  The Lord fashioned our hearts; our hearts rejoice in him (psalm)
  • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season
Listen

  • Fat baby/ Grant (1st reading:  can't take solid food)

  • Fever/ Cooley, Blackwell (gospel-inspired :-)


Pope Francis Audience
Jesus Christ saves those whom people reject:  In the gospel account of Jesus curing the woman with hemorrhages, the woman, considered impure according to the law, trusts in Jesus’ mercy and saving power to free her from her illness and isolation.  The woman, with deep faith, reaches out and touches his garment in a gesture of quiet prayer and a sign of hope and courage.  Jesus’ response of tenderness acknowledged her dignity; he treats her with love and heals her.
Faith in Christ brings salvation; it offers healing, restores right relationships and affirms our dignity.  How often have we felt inwardly rejected because of our sins?  But the Lord says, “Courage!  Come; I don't reject or discard you.”  This is a time of grace, forgiveness, and Mercy, and Jesus asks us all to trust in his word and, having experienced his mercy, be a leaven of that mercy.


Read
    "You can't take solid food"
    (Animate)
  • 1 Cor 3:1-9  I had to speak with you as infants in Christ; you couldn't, and can't, take solid food.  When there's jealousy and rivalry, you're not spiritual.  Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, only God, who causes the growth.  We're God’s co-workers; you're God's field, God’s building.
  • Ps 33:12-15, 20-21  "Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own."  God looks down on everyone; he made them and knows their works.  We wait for and rejoice and trust in the Lord, our help and shield.
  • Lk 4:38-44  They interceded with Jesus about Simon's mother-in-law, afflicted with a severe fever.  He rebuked the fever, it left her, and she got up and waited on them.  All who had sick people brought them to him, and he cured them all.  Jesus left for a deserted place, but they found him and tried to keep him from going.  “I've been sent to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom, so I must go to the other towns too.”
Reflect
    • Creighton:  The focus of Ordinary Time liturgy is Christ's work in accomplishing the Father’s mission.  Today's readings challenge us to consider that God’s perspective on his kingdom is different from ours.  From the psalm:  “God beholds all who dwell on the earth; he fashioned our hearts and knows our works”; God has the “insider” view, knowing the speed every individual and community can move and grow.  God’s pace may seem slow sometimes and lightning fast other times, and his choices of people may seem strange to me.  In today’s gospel Jesus doesn't stay to finish all the work but moves on.  God’s way isn't my way!  Lord, give me discernment, patience, and humility....
    • One Bread, One Body:  "One bread, one body":  The Corinthians couldn't function well because they were "infants in Christ," spiritually weak from spiritual malnutrition, inability to take solid food.  Division results in spiritual malnutrition, weakness, and deprivation.  Jesus prays for our unity.  "Preserve the unity which has the Spirit as its origin and peace as its binding force."  "Forgive each other."  "Be ministers of reconciliation, even to laying down your life.  "If you recall someone has anything against you, go be reconciled."  "How good and pleasant where brethren dwell in unity!"  Be one, in communion, through, with, and in Jesus.
      Christ Healing the Mother of Simon Peter’s Wife/ Bridges
    • Passionist:  Cure, restore, purify, renew, mend, remedy, repair, make right, rehabilitate, rejuvenate, reinvigorate, resuscitate, reconcile, settle, patch, recuperate, cleanse, recover, heal:  so many ways to express the need for personal, spiritual, emotional, or physical transformation.  We cry to God in our broken relationships, pain, resistance, fragile health....  In the gospel about healing the sick, we recognize the people crying out in faith for Jesus’ saving power and love.  We're all like the gospel's sick:  outcast, isolated, sore, brokenhearted.  Challenging as it is, I have to ask for help from "our help and our shield.”  As in the gospel, Jesus touches even the most scarred and injured.  However we may feel, God grabs us, holds us, and shows his love.  How often have things seemed hopeless?   How often have I been impatient with God?  But God always walks with us.  Bring your brokenness to Jesus; he's waiting.  Who is God using to reach and heal you?  How is God working in/through you to reach out to another?...
    • DailyScripture.net:  "He laid his hands on everyone and healed them":  When Peter brought Jesus to his home for the Sabbath meal, Jesus heard Peter's prayer and healed his mother-in-law.  Jesus' healings demonstrated his power and authority, the "good news."  Jesus put human need ahead of all else, showed compassion and concern for all in need, gave people God's word, and healed them.  Do I allow Jesus to be Lord and Healer in my life, family, and community?  He's ready to restore us to health and to active service and care of others.

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