July 14, 2016

Kateri Tekakwitha

July 14, 2016:  St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin



  • 'Peace sign' tie bar:  Lord, you give us peace (1st reading)
  • 'Skeleton' tie pin:  Your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise (1st reading)
  • 'Stone' tie pin:  Zion's stones are dear to your servants (psalm)
  • 'Olympics' tie pin:  "From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth." (psalm)
  • 'Children at school' pin:  School for "learn from me" (gospel), children for yesterday's gospel
  • 'Doctor's office' tie:  Ministry of St. Camillus to the sick
  • Green and white shirt:  White for virgin St. Kateri, green for Ordinary Time season
Listen

Pope Francis Amoris Laetitia capsule
Seeds of the Word and imperfect situations

The Gospel of the family nourishes seeds still waiting to grow, and is the basis for caring for wilting plants not to be neglected.  Building on the gift of Christ in the sacrament, married couples may be led to a deeper grasp and fuller integration of this mystery. 
Redemption illuminates and fulfills creation.  Marriage is fully understood in the light of the sacrament of Matrimony: only in contemplating Christ does one come to know the truth about human relationships.  It helps to understand spouses' good in a Christocentric key, including unity, openness to life, fidelity, indissolubility and, mutual support towards complete friendship with the Lord.  Positive elements also exist in forms of marriage found in other religious traditions.  Anyone who wants to bring into this world a family which teaches children to overcome evil and shows the Spirit is at work, will encounter our gratitude and appreciation.

The light of Christ enlightens every person.  Seeing things with Christ's eyes inspires the Church’s care for the faithful who are married civilly or divorced and remarried.  The Church loves those who participate in her life imperfectly, seeking their conversion and encouraging them to do good, take care of each other, and serve the community.  When a couple in an irregular union attains stability through a public bond and has deep affection, responsibility towards their children, and overcomes trials, it's an opportunity to lead them to the sacrament of Matrimony.

Pastors are obliged to exercise careful discernment of situations.  Factors may limit the ability to make a decision.  Pastors are to avoid judgments that don't account for their complex situations, and be attentive to how people experience and endure distress.  (III:73-75)
Read
  • Is 26:7-9, 12, 16-19  The path of the just you make level.  We yearn for and look to you who give us peace and have accomplished all we've done.  We cried out to you; we can't bring salvation, but your dead shall live. 
    My yoke is easy
  • Ps 102:13-14ab, 15-21  "From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth" to hear prisoners' groaning and release those doomed to die.  You abide forever.  All shall revere you when you've regarded the prayer of the destitute.
  • Mt 11:28-30  “Come to me, you who are burdened, and I'll give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.  My yoke is easy, my burden light.”
Reflect
      St. Kateri Tekakwitha
      (link includes pronunciation)
    • Creighton:  Perhaps the 'labor' in today's gospel is labor in the Kingdom, because the other readings are about spiritual struggles.  It's exhausting when we yearn for the Lord but are bound by sin.  We anguish over our yearnings to do right but can't do much without the Lord.  We pray for mercy, and Jesus offers it.  Today's gospel speaks of the Lord's mercy.   Mercy is an offering of peace with God, God’s way of helping us. Today Jesus offers us release from our burdens, a release to live, an invitation to take up the yoke of Christ to life in justice, peace, and praise, without overwhelming burden.  May we proclaim the good news that Jesus saves us from our anxieties and insecurities and frees us to live more abundantly.  The good news gives us confidence to look to the Lord for joy.
    • One Bread, One Body:  "Love alone":  The Lord calls you to come to him for his sake, not so much for what he can do for you:  "Though the fig tree blossom not nor fruit be on the vines, though the yield of the olive fail and the terraces produce no nourishment, though the flocks disappear and there be no herd in the stalls, yet will I rejoice in the Lord...."  Come to Jesus not to be served, but to serve and to give your life, in unconditional love....
      St. Camillus de Lellis
    • DailyScripture.net:  "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me":   The Jews used the image of a yoke to express submission to God:  the yoke of the law, the commandments, the kingdom, God.  Jesus says his yoke is 'easy' (in Gk same as 'well-fitting').  Yokes were tailor-made for the oxen.  Jesus invites us to be yoked with him, united in life, will, and heart, in love, trust, and obedience.  Jesus says his "burden is light."  No burden is too heavy when given and carried in love.  When we yoke our lives with Jesus, he carries our burdens with us and gives us strength to follow him....
    Special greetings to and prayers for the communities at
    St. Kateri Tekakwitha parish, Santa Clarita
    and St. Camillus Center, Los Angeles

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