8th Sunday Ordinary

March 2, 2014:  8th Sunday, Ordinary Time

Readings

• Is 49:14-15  Can a mother forget her infant?  Even should she, I will never forget you. 

• Ps 62:2-3, 6-9  "Rest in God alone, my soul."  He is my rock, hope, safety, refuge, and salvation.  Trust in him; pour out your hearts before him. 

• 1 Cor 4:1-5  We're servants of Christ, stewards of God's mysteries.  Stewards must be trustworthy.  Don't judge.  God will bring what's hidden to light; then everyone will receive God's praise.

• Mt 6:24-34  No one can serve two masters.  You cannot serve God and mammon.  Don't worry about your life, body, or clothes.  Birds don't sow or reap, but your Father feeds them, and you're more important.  Flowers don't work, but look how they're clothed!  Your Father knows what you need; won't God provide for you?  Seek first the God's kingdom and righteousness, and all will be given you too.

Pope Francis

• Angelus:  Trust in Providence, and help those in need.  While people live in poverty, Jesus reminds us we can't serve two masters:  God and wealth.  As long as people try to accumulate for themselves, there won't be justice.  A heart occupied by selfish desire is empty and has little room for faith.  To make sure no one lacks bread, water, clothing, housing, work, or health, recognize we're brothers and sisters, God's children, and act accordingly.  By turning to God we'll have the justice, reconciliation, and peace we need.

Reflections

• Creighton:  Worry protects me from hurt and helps me foresee concerns, but excessive focus on security is serving a false god.  In the First principle and foundation of his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius of Loyola says we should be "indifferent," free, in balance, using things that help us achieve the end for which we're created and shunning what gets in the way.

• One Bread One Body:  Am I really secure in God's love?  Depending on myself is quite insecure.

• Passionist:  Isaiah's "I won't forget you" is in line with the gospel's "God will provide for you."  Lent, which starts Wednesday, began to prepare penitents for readmission to the sacraments.  Since they were fasting and wearing sack cloth and ashes, "Don't worry about what you'll eat, drink, or wear; isn't life more than food and the body more than clothes?" had special meaning for them.  Let's begin our own Lenten observance "seeking God's kingdom and righteousness."

• Universalis:  St. Chad, bishop, king

• Sacred Space

Music

• Though the mountains may fall/ Schutte (1st reading)
• I will never forget you/ Landry (1st reading)
• Isaiah 49/ Edwards (chapter of 1st reading)
• Only in God/ Foley (psalm)
• Only in God / Talbot (psalm)
• All that is hidden/Farrell (2nd reading)
• Seek ye first/ Lafferty (gospel)
• All good gifts, from Godspell/ Schwartz (gospel); see Aug. 27 for more about the song including original German text and march tune. 

Apparel

• "Rock" tie pin:  God alone is my rock (psalm)

• "Hearts" suspenders:  Pour out your hearts before God (psalm), when the Lord comes, he'll manifest the motives of our hearts (2nd reading)

• "Clock" tie bar:  don't judge before the appointed time (2nd reading)

• "Scales of justice" pin:  The Lord is my judge; I don't care who else judges me.  Don't judge. (2nd reading)

• "Penny pincher" button:  you can't serve God and mammon (gospel)

• "Flowers" pin: learn from the wild flowers (gospel)

• Tie with birds:  look at the birds... (gospel)

• All clothing:  don't worry about your clothes; life is more than clothing (gospel)

Dress your life!

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