August 21

August 21, 2013:  St. Pius X, Pope

Jgs 9:6-15  Abimelech made king. Jotham: “Trees went to anoint a king: olive, fig, vine, declined; buckthorn accepted."

Ps 21:2-7  Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

Mt 20:1-16 Kingdom is like a landowner who hired laborers at dawn, 9, 12, 3, and 5, paid all the same. "Are you envious because I'm generous? Last will be first; first last."

"Clocks" tie:  various times
landowner hired workers (gospel)

• "Tree" pin:  trees being asked to be king (1st)
• "Scales" pin:  St. Pius X reformed canon law

• Claddagh tie pin:  crown for anointing of king (1st reading)
• "Silverware" tie bar:  St. Pius X promoted frequent reception of Holy Communion

St. Pius X quotation:  "I was born poor, I have lived poor, and I wish to die poor."

Today's word cloud

St. Bernard

August 20, 2013:  St. Bernard, abbot and doctor

Jgs 6:11-24a  Gideon:  "Why all this?  Where wondrous deeds?  Lord abandoned us to Midian."  "Save Israel."  "How?"  "I'll be with you."  "Give sign."  Lord's fire rose from rock to consume meat and cakes.  "I've seen Lord."  "Don't fear."  Gideon built Yahweh-shalom altar.

Ps 85:9, 11-12, 13-14  "The Lord speaks of peace to his people."  Lord proclaims peace, kindness, truth, justice, gives benefits, salvation.

Mt 19:23-30  "Easier for camel to pass needle's eye than for rich to enter Kingdom."  “Who can be saved?”  "For God all is possible.”  Peter:  "We gave everything, followed you.  What do we get?"  "You'll sit on thrones, receive hundredfold, eternal life.  First will be last; last first."

• "Signs" tie:  Lord's "sign" to Gideon (1st)

• "Rock" tie pin:  rock from which food-devouring fire erupts (1st)

• "Eyeball" tie pin:  Gideon:  "I have seen the Lord" (1st)

• "Question mark" tie pin:  Questions:  disciples' ("Who then can be saved?") and Peter's ("What will there be for us who have given up everything and followed you?") (gospel) 

"Peace" pin:  "Lord speaks of peace to his people" (psalm),
altar called Yahweh-shalom (1st)

Bonus

St. Bernard of Clairvaux writings,
recommended by Msgr. Lorenzo Miranda:

• Commentary on the Song of Songs, sermons on the God's love experienced through contemplative union.  Imagine Jesus' hand lifting you out of the mud and drawing you to himself... (other formats)

• On Consideration, written for a pope but good for all leaders (other formats)

Word cloud of today's readings

August 19

August 19, 2013:  Monday, 20th week, Ordinary Time 

Jgs 2:11-19  Israel offended/abandoned Lord, followed other gods, disobeyed.  Angry Lord delivered them to plunderers/enemies/disaster/distress.  Lord took pity:  raised up judges for them, saved them from enemies.  People relapsed.

Ps 106:34-35, 36-37, 39-40, 43ab, 44 "Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people." They served idols, sacrificed to demons, became defiled. Angry Lord still regarded them.

Mt 19:16-22  Youth/Jesus: “What must I do to gain eternal life?” "Keep commandments.” "What else?” “Sell everything; give to poor; follow me," Possessions-laden youth left sad.

"Scales" pin:  judges (1st reading)

Red shirt:  Lord's anger (1st, psalm)

"Question mark" tie pin:  rich young man's three questions, Jesus' one question

Word cloud of today's readings

August 18

August 18, 2013:  20th Sun., Ordinary Time

Jer 38:4-6, 8-10  Princes:  “Put Jeremiah to death; he wants our people's ruin."  Prophet thrown into cistern.

Ps 40:2, 3, 4, 18  Lord, come to my aid!

Heb 12:1-4  Run race, ridding self of burdens/sin, keeping eyes on Jesus, who endured cross, took seat at God's throne, endured sinners' opposition.

Lk 12:49-53  Jesus:  “I came to set earth on fire, establish division, not peace."

Music connection

Psalm 40:  Lord, come to my aid  (stream or download robo-sung lyrics)

I used a proposed revision of the New American Bible psalms, from a green paperback, that didn't get approved but IMHO was a great translation.  The robo-audio is from the above  Noteworthy-manuscripted leadsheet via score flattening (to eliminate repeat marks), exporting to nwctxt, converting via Niversoft or NWC2MusicXML, opening in Melody Assistant, choosing a voice in Virtual Singer, exporting as MP3, uploading to Google Sites, and linking.  Too bad Lucy and I didn't record it;  we do it right vs. how I lazily manuscripted, and human voice is hard to beat.  It was first sung at the 8-20-1995 Mass in the Don Bosco Tech chapel before an Archdiocesan Catholic Center picnic, as the psalm, with Sr. Chris Machado as cantor.]

Apparel

"Concentric ovals" tie pin:  looking down into cistern (1st reading)
[admittedly a stretch]

"Clock" tie pin:  "I waited for the Lord" (psalm)

"Eyeball" tie pin:  "many shall look on in awe and trust in the Lord" (psalm),
keep eyes fixed on Jesus (2nd reading)

"Running" tie pin (disregard bowling ball :-):
"Run the race" (2nd reading)

"Blood donor" pin:  fire (red color, shape of drop) (gospel)
[another stretch, but not as bad as the cistern]

Finally, the orange T-shirt is for the fire (gospel).


Roamin' Catholic report

When I don't play or sing at my home parish, I try to "roam" elsewhere.  Music included:

• All the ends of the earth/ Dufford; note the bass guitar
• The cry of the poor/ Foley, but please don't sing it as a song in place of the day's responsorial psalm
• Go make a difference/ Angrisano and Tomaszek

Word cloud from today's readings, over fire image for gospel: 

Hover over it

August 17

August 17, 2013:  Sat., 19th week, Ordinary Time 

Jos 24:14-29  Joshua at Shechem:  “Fear, serve Lord; cast out other gods.  Decide today."  "Lord delivered/protected us, did miracles,  We will serve the Lord, our God."  Joshua recorded covenant, set stone as witness, died at 110.

Ps 16:1-2a, 5, 7-8, 11  You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Mt 19:13-15  Jesus lays hands on children:  "Let them come; Kingdom belongs to such as these"

Music connection

For You are my God, © 1970 John B. Foley, S.J.:  setting of Psalm 16
audio/video, sheet music

Apparel connections

Stone tie pin:  stone as witness to covenant (1st reading)

Heart tie pin:  "my heart exhorts me" (psalm)

People tie pin:  children coming to Jesus (gospel)

Life connection

My dad, a faithful and childlike servant, died 40 years ago today.  Dad, please keep praying for us!

Wordle of today's readings
(I discovered another "word cloud" site, Tagxedo, so will try that another day.)

Confession:  I used recycled photos because these pins don't work well with my Saturday-informal outfit.  The exercise still gets me to spend time with the readings.  Thanks for understanding. ☺

August 16

August 16, 2013:  Friday, 19th week, Ordinary Time

Jos 24:1-13  Joshua to Israel:  “Lord led Abraham, multiplied descendants, gave Isaac, sent Moses, smote Egypt, led you out, destroyed Amorites, saved you from Balaam, delivered Jericho, gave you land and food."

Ps 136:1-3, 16-18, 21-22, 24  His mercy endures forever.

Mt 19:3-12  Pharisees tested Jesus:  “Divorce OK?”  “Don't separate what God joined...though some are incapable of marriage.”

Music connection

Eternal is his mercy/ Joncas; sheet music for update:  God's love is everlasting

Apparel connections

• "Kids on grass by school bus" tie:  land and progeny (1st reading), Jesus teaching Pharisees (gospel)
• "Hearts" suspenders:  God's wonder-working mercy (psalm), marriage (gospel)
• "Question mark" tie pin:  Pharisees' questions to Jesus (gospel)

Why the blog?

I believe not only that "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Tim 3:16, emphasis mine) but also that the readings of the day, which not only cycle through the Bible but also factor in seasons like Advent and special celebrations like the Transfiguration, merit special attention. In the same way Cardinal Mahony's Gather Faithfully Together encourages reflection on Sunday's readings in advance, I've sought to read and pray about the readings for years, using whatever tricks I can to stay faithful. Planning appropriate music for weekly celebrations has kept me in touch with Sunday readings, but I was less consistent with daily ones before getting the idea (last year?) to factor them into my choice of what to wear. The "dress" exercise challenges me beyond these connections (which I find fun) to the more important issue of making my daily life more in tune with God's Word. I've only been posting for less than a month; I hope to maintain the discipline to "make the connections."

Wordle of today's readings

Assumption

August 15, 2013:  Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab  Signs:  sun-clothed stars-crowned woman, moon under feet, with child, wailing, laboring; 7-headed 10-horned dragon with diadems; tail hurled stars; stood before woman to devour child.  Bore son, destined to rule, caught up to God.  “Salvation, power, God's Kingdom, Anointed's authority have come.”

Ps 45:10, 11, 12, 16  The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.

1 Cor 15:20-27 Death, resurrection came through man,  In Adam all die; in Christ shall all be brought to life.  

Lk 1:39-56 Elizabeth:  “Blessed you; blessed the fruit of your womb.  Infant leaped."  Mary:  "Magnificat:  soul proclaims Lord's greatness; spirit rejoices.  All will call me blessed.  Almighty has done great things; holy his Name.  He has mercy, showed strength, scattered proud, cast down mighty, lifted up lowly, filled hungry, sent rich away, helped Israel, remembered his promise.”

Gospel connection

Apparel connections

• "Shooting star" tie pin:  woman's crown, hurled stars (1st reading)

• Crucifix:  death and resurrection through Jesus (2nd reading)

• Claddagh tie pin:  crown (dragon, queen, God's kingdom: 1st reading and psalm), heart (God's mercy: gospel)

• Blue shirt:  Mary (gospel)

• "Sun" tie:  woman clothed with the sun (1st)

Music connections

• Since by man came death, from Messiah (2nd reading)
• Holy is his name  (gospel), with lyrics (note good but seldom sung v. 2), music to buy 
• Ave Maria/ Schubert (we did it in G, not original B♭)
• Hail, holy Queen, Sister Act version (wish we did it like this at the 8am Mass :-)
• Up, up, and away  (I've resisted playing this at Mass :-)

Wordle of today's readings

St. Max

August 14, 2013:  St. Maximilian Kolbe

Readings

• Dt 34:1-12 Lord shows Moses: “This is the land I swore I'd give; you won't cross." Moses dies at 120, unequaled. Israel mourns, obeys Joshua. 

• Ps 66:1-3a, 5, 8, 16-17 Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire!

• Mt 18:15-20 If brother sins against you, talk alone before going with others, Church, or treating like tax collector. What you bind/loose on earth will have been bound/loosed in heaven. If two agree in prayer, it shall be granted by Father. Where 2-3 gather in my name, there am I in midst.

Music

Song based on psalm: Lift up your hearts, by Roc O'Connor, SJAudio:  original, or newer (led by Heart of Jesus music ministry)  (Don't look for our 80's version from the Santa Clara Univ. Mission Church, with Boss "Dr. Rhythm" drum machine. :-)

• Red shirt:  fire (psalm response), martyrdom of St. Maximilian Kolbe (who protected refugees in WWII and when prisoner at Auschwitz volunteered to die in place of Gajowniczek who had wife and children)
• Brown suspenders:  the land Lord showed Moses (1st reading)

 "Eyeball" tie pin (on suspenders):  see God's tremendous works! (psalm)

• Two-jewel tie pin:  speaking with sinner one-on-one (gospel), two gathering with God in the midst of them (later in gospel)
• "People" tie pin:  visiting sinner if one-one fails (gospel), three gathering with God in the midst of them (later in gospel)

"Knot with two jewels" tie pin (on suspenders):  two jewels for earth and heaven, knot for bind/loose "syncing" (gospel)

(Not about dress) I've wondered about "whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Mt 18:18, from gospel), often linked to the Sacrament of Reconciliation (assuming it doesn't mean that God rubber-stamps earthly binding/loosing, even by clergy). Under parallel Mt 16:19, the New Jerome Biblical Commentary reads "God shall bind and loose what Peter binds and looses" (1988 ed., p. 659). In the Greek, 'bind' and 'loose' are in the future perfect tense, but in most English versions they're simple future. Perhaps God gives some the gift of recognizing and declaring the loosing/binding God has already done?  See the following:

• Exegetical insight for Matthew 18:18,
• Evidence that the perfect tense... in Matthew 16:19 is mistranslated/ Mantey,
• The perfect tense in Matthew 16:19 and three charismata/ Elbert [refers to charisms: word of knowledge, discernment of spirits, gifts of healing])

Maybe our concept of chronological time just falls short.  Comments welcome!

By the way, there are so many resources online now to show, compare, and explore different Bible texts and translations, such as:

• Blue Letter Bible
• NT Gateway Greek New Testament Texts
• TheBible.org, formerly Great Treasures
• Scripture4all
• Perseus Digital Library
• The Unbound Bible
• GreekBible.com

Feel free to comment on these or other tools you've used.

Update:  see my September 16 post for a relevant patristic reference my colleague Louie read in the Liturgy of the Hours.

Wordle of today's readings:

August 13

August 13, Tuesday, 19th week, Ordinary Time

DT 31:1-8  Moses at 120:  Lord, Joshua will cross Jordan, destroy nations.  Be steadfast, fearless; Lord won't forsake you.

DT 32:3-4AB, 7, 8, 9 AND 12 (responsorial canticle  not from Psalms) The portion of the Lord is his people.

MT 18:1-5, 10, 12-14  “Who's the greatest?”   "Turn; become humble like children.  Receive child; receive me.  Father, like shepherd, doesn't want any lost."

Clock tie pin:  120-year-old Moses (1st reading);

think on days of old, years of the ages (response)

Stone tie pin:  Proclaim greatness of God, the Rock (response)

People tie pin:  Jesus doesn't want to lose them (gospel).

Wordle of today's texts

August 12, St. Jane Frances de Chantal

August 12, 2013, Monday, 19th week, Ordinary Time
St. Jane Frances de Chantal

Dt 10:12-22  Moses:  “Lord asks: fear, follow, love, serve God to whom all belongs; keep commandments.  God loves, chose you, gave you descendants, peace, food; has no favorites, accepts no bribes, executes justice, befriends alien.  Circumcise your heart."

Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20  Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Mt 17:22-27  Son of Man will be handed over, killed, raised.  Capernaum:  Pay the temple tax?  Subjects exempt, but open fish's mouth to get coin to pay ours.

• Claddagh tie pin (with heart and crown):  circumcise your heart; God is Lord (1st reading)

• "People" tie pin:  the descendants God gave Israel (1st)

• "Peace" tie pin:  peace God gave (1st)

• "Fish" tie (and nail polish, survivor from 7-28):  fish with Peter and Jesus' temple tax (gospel)

• "Scales" pin:  God executes justice; so should we (1st reading)
• "Penny pincher" pin:  the coin worth tax for two (gospel)
• Suspenders:  waves of the sea (gospel), color of the land God gave Israel (1st)
• Blue shirt:  the sea (gospel)

Update:  At noon Mass I realized the coin belongs by the fish's mouth so moved it:

Wordle of the readings; click to enlarge: