June 8, 2017

June 8

June 8, 2017:  Thursday, 9th week, Ordinary Time

Find about a dozen connections with today?
Legend below
Listen

Read
  • Tb 6:10-11; 7:1bcde, 9-17; 8:4-9a  Raguel gives Sarah to Tobiah in marriage:  She's yours.  May the Lord prosper you both.”  In the bedroom Tobiah and Sarah pray for mercy and deliverance:  “Blessed are You.  From your Adam and Eve came all humanityI take my wife for a noble purpose.  Show us mercy and allow us to live a long and happy life.
  • Ps 128:1-5  "Blessed are those who fear the Lord" and walk in his ways!  You'll eat the fruit of your handiwork.  Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine, your children like olive plants.  The Lord bless you: may you see prosperity all your life. 
  • Mk 12:28-34  Scribe / Jesus:  “What's the first of the commandments?” / The Lord our God is Lord alone!  Love the Lord with your heart, soul, mind, and strength.  The 2nd:  Love your neighbor as yourself.“Well said, teacher.  Loving God and neighbor is worth more than all offerings and sacrifices.” / “You're not far from God's Kingdom.”
Reflect
    Tobias' and Sara's wedding night/ Steen
  • Creighton:  The consoling story of Tobiah and Sarah reminds us of God’s merciful relationship with each one of us and calls us to focus on God and not the past.  It's a story of love that trusts and invites us to put ourselves in God's healing hands.  That love is what Jesus refers to in today's gospel in his answer to the scribe.  Jesus opened the scribe's eyes also forms us in love of God and neighbor.  How do we respond to his call to love?  Tobiah and Sarah expressed their response in their prayer.
  • One Bread, One Body:  "You'd think we'd pray":  If you were marrying someone whose previous husbands all died on their wedding night, you'd think you'd pray, but none of Sarah's former husbands apparently did.  In times of death, war, and other hard times you'd think we'd also pray, especially when God commanded us to.  May we do so....
    Mk 12:34
  • Passionist:  God's Kingdom is not a state, place, or plan.  Jesus used stories, parables, and encounters to illustrate being held within, surprised by, or carried by God's presence.  God's Kingdom is manifested and made visible when we choose good and love like God.  Jesus' answer to the scribe refers to relationship with God, others, and self; he blended two streams of Hebrew thought and teaching about love.  Heart, mind, and strength are the facets of human effort (in Jesus’ time) and so remind us to give our all in relating to God and others.  Jesus names love of God, neighbor, and self as primary commandments.  May we have those values, attitudes, and way of life....
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Love the Lord with your heart, soul, mind, and strength":  Pharisees prided themselves in the knowledge of the law, studying its 613 precepts with rabbinic commentaries. When they tested Jesus, he startled them with his simplicity and mastery.  God only requires that we love as he loves. Our love is a response to his.  The more we know of God's love and truth, the more we love what he loves and reject what's against his will.  Faith and hope strengthen us in the love of God.
"We love you, O God, and want to love you more.  Grant that we may love you as much as we desire and ought.  Dearest friend, who has so loved and saved us, the thought of whom is so sweet, come dwell in our hearts; that you keep watch over our lips, steps, and deeds, and we shall not need to be anxious for our souls or bodies.  Give us love, sweetest of gifts, that knows no enemy.  Give us pure love, born of your love for us, that we may love others as you love us.  O most loving Father of Jesus, warm our hearts, frozen in sin, cold to you and others, by your fire.  Help and bless us in your Son." (Anselm, paraphrased)
Dress legend
  • 7-branch Menorah, wedding ring (not shown):  Sarah's marriages (1st reading)
  • 'Peace sign' tie bar:  "May the Lord grant you peace" (1st reading)
  • 'Hand' tie pin:  Raguel took his daughter by the hand and gave her to Tobiah (1st reading)
  • 'Scroll' pin:  Sarah's mother Edna brought a scroll (1st reading)
  • 'Phone' tie bar:  'Call' down your mercy on us (1st reading)
  • 'Fruit' pin:  "You who fear the Lord shall eat the fruit of your handiwork"; "your wife shall be like a fruitful vine" (psalm)
  • 'Commandments' tie:  "What's the first commandment?" (gospel)
  • '1' button (thanks, OneLife LA):  "What's the first of the commandments?" / "The Lord is One; there's no other" (gospel)
  • 'Fire' pin:  Loving God and neighbor is worth more than burnt offerings (gospel)
  • 'Heart' tie bar:  Love the Lord with your heart...  (gospel)
  • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season

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