Aug. 5

August 5, 2025:  Tuesday, 18th week, Ordinary Time

See a dozen connections with today?
Legend below

Listen

For Psalm 51

• Psalm 51:  Be merciful, O Lord/ Celoni:  sheet music and demo; 2nd-grade setting

• Have mercy on us for we have sinned/ Petty

• Be merciful, O Lord/ Angrisano, Modlin

• Miserere mei, Deus/ Allegri

• Be merciful, O Lord/ Haugen

• More settings

• Be thou my vision/ Forgaill, Rutter:  another; to SLANE tune (1st reading)

For gospel

• Turn your eyes upon Jesus/ Lemmel

• Precious Lord, take my hand/ Dorsey

• How can I keep from singing?/ Lowry

Pope Leo to Hiroshima bishop:  Pursue peace

Nuclear arms offend our humanity and betray the dignity of creation.  Hiroshima and Nagasaki remain living reminders of the horrors of nuclear weapons.  The survivors' stories summon us to build a safer world and foster peace.  As Pope Francis said, war is always a defeat for humanity; true peace demands laying weapons down, especially those that can cause a catastrophe.  Hiroshima and Nagasaki urge us to reject the illusion of security founded on mutually assured destruction.  We must forge a global ethic rooted in justice, fraternity, and the common good.  May this anniversary call the international community to renew its commitment to pursuing lasting, unarmed, disarming, peace.

Read

• Nm 12:1-13  Miriam and Aaron complained, “Is it through Moses alone, or doesn't the Lord speak through us too?”  Lord to the 3:  “If there's a prophet among you, I'll reveal myself in visions and dreams, but not so with Moses, with whom I speak plainly face to face!  Why did you speak against Moses?”  In anger he turned Miriam into a snow-white leper!  When Aaron saw her, he told Moses, “Please don't charge us with this sin!  Don't let her be like this.”  Moses to Lord, “Please heal her!”

• Ps 51:3-7, 12-13  "Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned."  Wash me from my guilt.  I acknowledge my offense.  A clean heart create for me....

• Mt 14:22-36  Jesus made the disciples get into a boat then went to pray.  When waves tossed the boat, he walked on the sea toward them.  Seeing him, they were terrified:  “It's a ghost!”  Jesus / Peter:  “Don't be afraid.” / “Lord, if it's you, command me to come to you.” / “Come.”  He walked on the water toward Jesus but became frightened and started to sink:  “Lord, save me!”  Jesus, catching him:  “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”  They got into the boat, and the wind subsided.  “Truly, you're the Son of God.”  At Gennesaret, people touched his cloak and were healed.

• or Mt 15:1-2, 10-14  Pharisees and scribes / Jesus:  “Why do your disciples break elders' tradition, not washing their hands before eating?” / “It's not what enters one’s mouth that defiles you but what comes out.”  Disciples / Jesus:  “They took offense at what you said.” / “Every plant my Father didn't plant will be uprooted.  Let them alone; they're blind guides of the blind.  If a blind man leads a blind man, both fall.

Reflect

Walking on Water/ Aivazovsky

• Creighton:  How often have we imagined a reunion to look similar to what we’ve seen in the movies?  But usually there's hesitation, even awkwardness. When Jesus commanded Peter to walk on water to him, Peter began with confidence but then realized he was out of his comfort zone and hesitated.  When Jesus asks something of me, my faith can falter.  Peter called out to the Lord, and Jesus and caught him.  Pray, aware of Christ's open arms, and run to his embrace.

• One Bread, One Body:  "Repair shop":  When wrongly rebuked, Moses responded by praying for the healing of his tormentor.  He prayed for Miriam after she accused him, and she was healed.  Jesus prayed and suffered for his accusers, and those who repented and received him were given eternal life.  Bearing wrongs, he completed the greatest work of mercy, dying for his enemies.  Many have dedicated their lives to reparation, but repairers aren't keeping pace with sin.  Will you work for Jesus by doing repair work?

• Passionist:  Moses had a special place in God’s eyes; he spoke with God face to face, but Miriam criticized Moses.  When things don’t go the way we want, do we listen and discern, or just criticize?  

Re the gospel, do you find it strange no one in the boat recognizes Jesus?  After Jesus announces himself, Peter decides to get out and walk toward him.  Peter tries to lead a church that is tossed around, trying to keep his eyes on Jesus.  May we look not at the abyss of negativity but at Jesus.

• DailyScripture.net:  "It is I; don't fear":  Though the disciples were experienced, they feared for their lives, but Jesus came to them.  Do I look for the Lord when in difficulty?  Peter acted on impulse. Much failure in Christian life is due to acting on impulse without counting the cost. Peter's failures made him love and trust the Lord more....

Dress legend

• Archdiocese of Los Angeles pin, C3 Tech Conference lanyard:  #C3CON is today and tomorrow

• Flesh-colored suspenders:  "Let [Miriam] not be like the stillborn babe that comes forth from its mother's womb with flesh half consumed" (1st reading)

• Blue, green, and white shirt (oops; packed the wrong shirt):  Peter:  "Lord, if it's you, command me to come to you on the water" (gospel); white for "snow-white" Miriam (1st reading), green for Ordinary Time season

• 'Boats' tie:  Jesus and disciples in storm-tossed boat (gospel)

• 'Mountain' tie pin: Jesus went up on the mountain to pray (gospel)

• 'Heart' pin:  "A clean heart create for me, O God" (psalm)

• "Boundless mercy" pin:  "Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned" (psalm)

• 'Holy Spirit' chain:  "Take not your Holy Spirit from me" (psalm)

• 'Walker' tie pin:  Jesus and Peter walking on water (gospel)

• 'Hand' tie pin:  Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter (gospel); "Why don't your disciples wash their hands?" (gospel)

• '?' tie pin:  Six questions in 1st reading and gospels

• 'Plant' pin:  "Every plant my Father didn't plant will be uprooted (alt. gospel)

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