June 26, 2016

13th Sun., Ordinary Time

June 26, 2016:  Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

  • 'Cups' tie:  Lord, my portion and cup (psalm)
  • 'Heart' tie bar:  My heart exhorts me; my heart is glad (psalm)
  • 'Hand' tie pin:  With the Lord at my right hand I won't be disturbed; you'll show me the delights at your right hand (psalm); "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom" (gospel)
  • 'Holy Spirit' chain:  Live by the Spirit; Spirit vs. flesh (2nd reading)
  • Orange suspenders, DISC 2015 T-shirt:  "Lord, shall we call down fire from heaven?" (gospel); DISC 2016 ("Technology on fire:  Igniting ministry") just ended
  • 'Bird' tie pin:  "Birds have nests, but the Son has nowhere to rest his head" (gospel)
  • 'Skeleton' tie pin:  "Let the dead bury their dead" (gospel)
  • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season
Listen


For gospel
From Ed Bolduc's blog, Setting the Tone
Pope Francis at Armenia Divine Liturgy
“There is one body, one Spirit,… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all,...”  Saints Bartholomew and Thaddeus who first proclaimed the Gospel here, and Peter and Paul who reign with Christ in heaven, rejoice to see our affection and our longing for full communion.  May abundant blessings of the Most High fill the earth through the intercession of the Mother of God, the saints and doctors, and the martyrs.  May the Holy Spirit make all believers one.  Come, Holy Spirit, bestow on us your fire of love and unity, and “may the cause of our scandal be dissolved by this love.”
May the Armenian Church walk in peace and may our communion be complete.  May a desire for unity rise up in us, not for “submission of one to the other, or assimilation, but rather acceptance of all the gifts that God has given to each.  This will reveal to the world the mystery of salvation accomplished by Christ through the Spirit.”
Let us respond to the saints' appeal, let us listen to the voices of the poor and of victims of hatred who suffered and died for the faith.  Let us pay heed to the youths who seek a future free of past divisions.  May a radiant light shine forth, and may the light of forgiving, reconciling love join the light of faith.  As the Apostles, with their hesitations and uncertainties, ran towards the empty tomb, drawn by hope, so may we follow God’s call to full communion and hasten towards it.
Read
  • 1 Kgs 19:16b, 19-21  “Anoint Elisha as prophet to succeed you.”  Elijah came upon Elisha and threw his cloak over him.  Elisha / Elijah:  “Let me kiss my parents goodbye, and I'll follow you.” / “Go back!”  Elisha left, slaughtered the oxen, boiled their flesh, gave it to his people to eat, then left and followed Elijah.
  • Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-11  "You are my inheritance, O Lord."  I bless the Lord and set him before me.  You won't abandon me or let me undergo corruption.  You'll show me the path to life.
Yoke (1st and 2nd readings)
Animate
  • Gal 5:1, 13-18  Christ set us free; don't submit again to slavery.  Don't use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.  If you bite and devour each other, don't be consumed.  Live by the Spirit, and you won't gratify the desire of the flesh....
  • Lk 9:51-62  Jesus, determined to journey to Jerusalem, sent messengers ahead.  They entered a Samaritan village, but he wasn't welcome there because he was headed for Jerusalem.  James and John asked, "Shall we call down fire to consume them?" Jesus rebuked them, and they journeyed on.  Along the way, someone said, "I'll follow you wherever you go." / "The Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."  Another:  "Let me go bury my father first." / "Let the dead bury their dead.  You, go proclaim the kingdom."  Another:  "I'll follow you, but first let me say farewell to my family." / "No one who looks back is fit for the kingdom."
Reflect
    • Creighton:  Jesus explained that to follow him, you have to be ready to leave the comforts of home.  Jesus asks me to live my faith. I can best experience and share God's love when I extend out of my comfort zone.  There's always something I can do to get in the way of following Jesus.  Daily responsibilities can be distractions.  Pray about what gets in the way, what's distracting.  How can I support others who get bogged down?
    • One Bread, One Body:  "Fireplace?"  James and John asked, "Lord, shall we call down fire?"  Jesus reprimanded them.  Jesus proclaimed, "I came to light a fire on the earth!"  Sometimes Jesus wants to call down fire, sometimes no.  Elijah could call down fire, but at least once "the Lord wasn't in the fire."  Why is the Lord in some fire and not in others?  The Lord is in the fire of discipleship.  Elijah's power to call down fire surrounded the calling of Elisha.  After Jesus rebuked John and James, he focused on the call to discipleship.  At Pentecost tongues as of fire came to rest on 120 disciples, and 3,000 were baptized.  The Lord wants us to call down fire if we call forth disciples....
    • Passionist:  As Jesus “resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,” he likely didn't know exactly how things would unfold, but he knew his Father wanted him to go.  Our life is also a journey, perhaps with dead ends, dark alleys, distractions, acceptance, rejection, and doubts.  But every so often Jesus gently holds out his hand, and we know we're on the right path, that any detours beforehand are unimportant.  He knows where he's going and we can trust that's where we want to be too.
    • DailyScripture.net:  "No one who looks back":  Jews and Samaritans were opposed.  Jewish pilgrims who passed through Samaritan territory were mistreated, even assaulted, but Jesus, a Jew, traveled through Samaritan territory an  he also asked for hospitality in one of their villages!  When they rebuffed Jesus' offer of friendship, his disciples were understandably indignant and wanted retribution, but Jesus rebuked his disciples for their intolerance.  Jesus was headed for his death that would reconcile Jew, Samaritan and Gentile with God and each other in Christ.  Tolerance is needed today, but we can be tolerant of the wrong thing or for the wrong motive.  Love seeks the highest good of both neighbor and enemy.  Do I seek the good of those who cause me trouble?  The Lord gives us the grace to put aside whatever might keep us from doing his will, but the would-be disciples made excuses.  If we put God first and don't look back, everything else will fall into place....
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    June 25, 2016

    June 25

    June 25, 2016:  Saturday, 12th week, Ordinary Time

    See 16 connections with today?
    Legend below
    Listen

    What is the Lord asking us to build in our lives, and upon what is he calling us to build?  Stable foundations upon which we can tirelessly build and rebuild the Christian life:
    Memory: Recall what the Lord has done in and for us and that he chose, loved, called, and forgave us.  The memory of a people also needs to be preserved.  God remembers your faithfulness to the Gospel even in adversity.
    Faith:  There's always a danger that can dim the light of faith:  the temptation to reduce it to something from the past, something important but belonging to another age, to be kept in a museum.  Once locked up in history, faith loses its power, beauty, and openness.  Faith is born/reborn from a lifegiving encounter with Jesus, from experiencing his mercy.  Renew this encounter daily.  Read the word of God and in prayer open your hearts to his love.  Let your encounter with the Lord’s tenderness enkindle joy in your hearts.  This renews us and makes us free, open, ready, available.  When he calls, say yes.  He knows us, loves us, and wants to free us from fear and pride.  By making room for him, we become capable of radiating his love.  Thus you can keep evangelizing.  The Church and world need this in these troubled times.
    Merciful love:  Disciples' lives are based on the love we receive from God and offer others.  In our love, the Church is rejuvenated and made beautiful.  Concrete love is the Christian’s visiting card, for it's by our love that everyone will know we're his disciples.  Build and rebuild paths of communion, creating bridges of unity and working to overcome our divisions.
    The Spirit of the Lord is with those who carry glad tidings to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, and console the afflicted.  God dwells in those who love him.  God dwells wherever there's love, shown especially by courageous and compassionate care for the weak and the poor.  We need available, open Christians ready to serve, not overcome by weariness or discouraged by adversity.  We need people who help those in need with actions, not merely words.  We need societies of greater justice, where people can lead dignified lives and be fairly remunerated for their work.
    How can we become merciful, with all our faults?  St. Gregory of Narek, word and voice of Armenia, plumbed the depths of human misery but balanced human weakness with God’s mercy, trusting in the Lord, “giver of gifts, root of goodness… voice of consolation, news of comfort, joyful impulse… unparalleled compassion, inexhaustible mercy… the kiss of salvation.”  He was certain “the light of God’s mercy is never clouded.”  He's a master of life, teaching us to recognize our need of mercy.  Despite our own failings and injuries done to us, we must open our hearts to the Lord, “the God who is ever near, loving and good,” “filled with love,… a fire consuming sin.”
    Read
    • Lam 2:2, 10-14, 18-19  The Lord has consumed the dwellings of Jacob and brought her king down.  Old men strew dust on their heads, maidens bow their heads.  I weep.  Children faint and die.  Who can heal you?  Your prophets didn't lay bare your guilt.  Cry out to God; let your tears flow.  Pour out your heart and lift up your hands to the Lord for the lives of your little ones.
    • Ps 74:1b-7, 20-21  "Lord, forget not the souls of your poor ones."  Remember your flock, the tribe you redeemed.  Your foes triumph.  Look to your covenant.  May the humble not retire in confusion; may the afflicted and poor praise you.
    • Mt 8:5-17  Centurion / Jesus:  “My servant is home paralyzed.” / “I'll come cure him.” / “I'm not worthy to have you enter; only say the word and he'll be healed.  I'm subject to authority with soldiers subject to me...." / “I haven't found such faith.  Many will come and recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom, but the children of the Kingdom will be driven out.”  [to centurion:]  “Go; as you've believed, let it be done.”  His servant was healed.
    Jesus entered the house of Peter and saw his mother-in-law in bed with a fever.  He touched her, the fever left, and she waited on him.  Later they brought many to him, and he drove out spirits and cured the sick, fulfilling He took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.
    Reflect
        Jesus healing the servant of a Centurion/ Veronese
      • One Bread, One Body:  "Fire extinguisher":  Solomon built a temple in Jerusalem; the Lord was pleased and came to dwell in it.  The next 300 years, Jerusalem was spared from attack.  Eventually the people neglected the Lord's commands and fell into sin and injustice.  Many false prophets fueled this attitude with false visions.  They falsely predicted divine protection, not judgment and accountability.  In 587 B.C., Babylon besieged Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and the Lord didn't intervene; Jerusalem's inhabitants were killed or exiled.  We want to hear about hope and security, but we also need to hear about our guilt.  We need to keep hearing about our propensity to sin.  "If you think you're standing upright, watch out lest you fall!"
      • Passionist:  "Redemption continues":  Centurions held the army together:  disciplined, loyal, steady, reliable.  Today's centurion loved his slave, and Jesus was moved.  This chemistry between centurion and slave gives hope.  “…After winning the Presidency, [Lincoln] made the unprecedented decision to incorporate his rivals into his political family… The powerful competitors who had originally disdained him became colleagues who helped him steer the country through its darkest days” (Goodwin, Team of Rivals).  Such leaders are still among us.  Redemption continues.
      • DailyScripture.net:  "Say the word and my servant will be healed":  Jews hated Romans because they represented everything the Jews stood against:  pagan beliefs, idol worship, immoral practices, and suppression of the Israelites' claim to be a nation governed by God's law.  Centurions were the backbone of the Roman army, each in charge of 100 soldiers. "They must be men who can command,... not overanxious to rush into the fight, but ready to hold their ground, and die at their posts" (Polybius).  The centurion was courageous and faith-filled; he risked ridicule and mockery by seeking Jesus' help, but he approached Jesus with confidence and humility.  He was an extraordinary man; he loved his slave, though slaves were treated as property.  He believed Jesus could heal his slave....
      • Universalis:  St. Luan (Moluag, Lua, Murlach, or Lugaidh), bishop, founded 100 monastic settlements
      Dress legend
      • 'Eyeball' pin:  My eyes are worn out from weeping; your prophets had false visions; let there be no repose for your eyes (1st reading)
      • 'Grain' pin:  In vain they ask, “Where's the grain?” (1st reading)
      • 'Heart' tie bar:  Pour out your heart like water in the Lord's presence (1st reading)
      • 'Hands' tie:  Lift up your hands to the Lord (1st reading); Jesus touched Peter's mother-in-law's hand and healed her (gospel)
      • 'Sheep' tie bar:  Why are you angry with your sheep? Remember your flock... (psalm)
      • 'Tree' pin:  Your foes are like men coming up with axes to trees (psalm)
      • 'Hammer' pin:  With chisel and hammer they hack at the sanctuary (psalm)
      • Orange suspenders:  They set your sanctuary on fire (psalm); "Technology on fire:  Igniting ministry" DISC 2016 theme
      • 'Tech words' "geek tie":  “Say the word and my servant will be healed." (gospel); Technology on Fire (again), Don Crawley's "Compassionate geek" workshop
      • 'Silverware' tie bar:  "Many will come and recline at the heavenly banquet..." (gospel)
      • 'Car' tie pin:  "...but the children of the Kingdom will be 'driven' out into darkness"; Jesus 'drove' out evil spirits (gospel)
      • Green in shirt:  Ordinary Time season
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      June 24, 2016

      John the Baptist's birth

      June 24, 2016:  Birth of St. John the Baptist

      See some 20 connections with today?
      Legend below

      Listen*

      • John/ Winter (Medical Mission Sisters) (gospel) [leadsheet and note]
      Vigil
        Animate
      • Jer 1:4-10  Lord / Jeremiah:  "Before you were born, I formed and dedicated you and appointed you prophet." / “I'm too young!” / “Don't say that or be afraid; I'm with you.  You'll go where I send you and speak what I command.  I set you over nations to tear down and build."
      • Ps 71:1-4a, 5-6ab, 15ab, 17  "Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength."  Hear, rescue, and deliver me; you're my hope and trust.  I'll declare your justice and salvation.
      • 1 Pt 1:8-12  Though you haven't seen Jesus, you love and believe in him and rejoice as you attain the salvation that prophets searched for and investigated...
      • Lk 1:5-17  Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous God's eyes but old and childless.  Angel to Zechariah:  “Your prayer has been heard.  Elizabeth will bear you a son; name him John.  Many will rejoice; he'll be great in God's sight, filled with the Spirit.  He'll turn children of Israel to the Lord and prepare a people fit for the Lord.
      Daytime
      • Is 49:1-6  The Lord called and formed me:  "You're my servant.  Through you Jacob and Israel will be gathered to me.  I'll make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth."
      • Ps 139:1b-3, 13-15  "I praise you, for I am wonderfully made."  You've formed me and know me....
        "His name is John" (Animate)
      • Acts 13:22-26  Paul:  “God raised up David as king and brought to Israel a savior, Jesus, from his descendants.  John heralded him by proclaiming a baptism of repentance, saying, ‘One is coming after me; I'm not worthy to unfasten his sandals.’  This word of salvation has been sent to you....”
      • Lk 1:57-66, 80  Elizabeth gave birth; her neighbors and relatives rejoiced.  They were going to name him Zechariah, but she said, “No:  John.” / “But none of your relatives has that name.”  They made signs asking his father; he wrote, “John,” all were amazed, his mouth was opened, he spoke blessing God, fear came upon the neighbors, and everyone talked about it:  “What will this child be?  God is with him."  The child grew and became strong in spirit...
      Reflect
        • Creighton:  This celebration, known as Little Christmas, begins with "A man sent by God came to testify to the light, to prepare a people for the Lord." The 1st reading starts as if spoken by John the Baptist, but it's about the dignity of the people of God, being prepared to make the One God known. God's glory will be seen through the Servant Israel.  Israel’s role is to share their faith, to spread to the nations.  The little will extend God’s love.  John longed for the Christ as Israel did; both became agents of revelation.  Paul explains that from David’s descendants the the Savior would appear.  Luke says John knew who he was and was not.  All four Gospels speak of John and his role in preparing Israel and the gospels' readers to accept Jesus as Messiah and John as his forerunner.
        Nativity of Saint John the Baptist/ Gentileschi
        Today we remember his birth.  Jews celebrated birth into the People of God at circumcision.  Luke uses two announcements by an angel to two unsuspecting persons of faith:  Zechariah and Mary.  Their sons were born into faithful families and learned obedience to God by being obedient to the Law.
        Neighbors and relatives marvel when John is named, as shepherds will at Jesus' birth.  Wondering, being perplexed, doubting, and challenging are healthy responses to God's work in and around us.  Listen to the invitations of the Gospel, our Church, and God, and we pray with our excuses, doubts, fears, speechless hearts, and waiting minds to see what else God will do with and through us.
        • One Bread, One Body:  "Decreasing returns":  Augustine noted we celebrate John the Baptist's birthday after the summer equinox, when daylight begins to lessen in the northern hemisphere, and we celebrate Jesus' birthday after the winter equinox, when daylight begins to increase; he connected this with John's statement, "[Jesus] must increase, while I must decrease."  May there be more of Jesus in my life, less of me, till I can say, "No longer I live, but Christ lives in me."  As you decrease and lose your life, consumed by the fire of God, you won't be obliterated but will discover yourself.  When you "throw away" your life for the Lord, he'll "make you a light to the nations" so his "salvation may reach the ends of the earth."  When John directed his disciples to Jesus, away from himself, the Lord lifted John up to heaven, and we still celebrate him.
        • Passionist:  'John' (Yochanan) = Hebrew Yahweh ('God') + khä·nan ('gracious'):  God is gracious!  John the Baptist can strike us as scary.  “He told the crowds, 'You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?'"  He cleared the path of sin and opened the door to God.  God's holiness demands conversion.  With Pope Francis' encouragement of God’s mercy, we must be attentive to Jesus' first sermon:  “The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”   To preach God's mercy means eventually to remove the virus of sin.  We sinners can indeed be touched by God’s grace before our conversion but run the risk of losing God’s gift by not turning away from sin.  John the Baptist leapt with joy at the presence of the unborn Jesus.  From his birth he experienced the ecstasy of Jesus.  John’s ministry was one of the good news of God’s care for the human race; even his name means God is kind.   But salvation ultimately means the destruction of sin.  “Call his name Jesus; he will save his people from their sins.”  We, like John, must try to disinfect the virus of sin and clear the path for God’s mercy.
          The Birth of John the Baptist/ Tintoretto
        • DailyScripture.net:  "The hand of the Lord was with him":  John was named from above, and Elizabeth was determined to see God glorified through him.  'John' means "the Lord is gracious."  In the births of John and Jesus, God's grace breaks forth into a broken, hopeless world.  John’s miraculous birth shows God's mercy and favor in preparing his people for its Savior's coming.  John's passion was to point others to Christ and God's kingdom.  John was filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb.  The Spirit in John made him the forerunner of the Messiah.  The Spirit led John into the wilderness to be tested and grow in the word of God.  John broke prophetic silence by speaking God's word, chiding God's people for their unfaithfulness, and trying to awaken repentance in them.  When God acts to save us, he fills us with his Spirit and makes our faith come alive.  The Lord is always ready to renew us in faith, hope, and love and to make our life an offering to God.
        • Universalis:  John the Baptist (only saint other than Mary and Joseph to have two feast days), prophet from before his birth, leaping in the womb to announce Jesus, proclaimed the fulfillment of all prophecies, and so his own obsolescence.  With courage he spread the news that he was the least in the kingdom of heaven.
        Dress legend*
        • 'Hand' tie pin:  the Lord extended his hand to Jeremiah (1st reading v); "rescue me from the hand of the wicked" (psalm v); "the hand of the Lord was with [John]" (gospel d)
        • 'Plant' pin:  "I set you ... to build and to plant" (1st reading v)
        • 'Rock' tie pin:  "You're my rock and fortress" (psalm v)

        Opening the Archdiocese of Atlanta Door of Mercy
        at The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
        (It has a lock, but it's unlocked!)
        • 'Eyeball' pin:  Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes; John will be great in the sight of the Lord (gospel v)
        • 'Angel' pin:  An angel appeared and spoke to Zechariah (gospel v)
        • 'Holy Spirit' chain:  John will be filled with the Holy Spirit (gospel v)
        • 'Hearts with arrows' suspenders:  "He made me a sharpened arrow" (1st reading d); John will go before the Lord to turn the children of Israel's hearts (gospel v); I found David a man after my own heart (2nd reading d); all who heard these things [re naming of John and restoration of Zechariah's speech] took them to heart (gospel d)
        • 'Phone' tie bar (forgot to pack; see here):  The Lord 'called' me from birth (1st reading d)
        • 'Sword' tie pin:  The Lord made of me a sharp-edged sword (1st reading d)
        • Sandals (not shown):  "I'm not worthy to unfasten his sandals" (2nd reading d)
        • 'Children around the world' tie:  John will turn the children of Israel to the Lord (gospel v); I set you over the nations (1st reading v); I'll make you a light to the nations (1st reading d)
        • White and red shirt, white socks, 'decapitated skeleton' tie pin:  white for today's celebration, red and pin for John's martyrdom

        *:  v=vigil reading, d=daytime reading
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        June 23, 2016

        June 23

        June 23, 2016:  Thursday, 12th week, Ordinary Time

        See 13 connections with today?
        Legend below
        Listen
        I appreciate your commitment to a world free of the death penalty.  One sign of hope is that people's opposition to the death penalty is growing.  The death penalty is unacceptable, however grave the crime.  It's an offense to the inviolability of life and to human dignity; it contradicts God’s plan and merciful justice.  It's not in line with any just purpose of punishment; it fosters vengeance instead.  “Thou shalt not kill” applies to the innocent and the guilty alike.  The Jubilee of Mercy is an auspicious occasion for promoting more evolved forms of respect for human life and dignity.  The inviolable, God-given right to life also belongs to criminals too.
        Work not only for the abolition of the death penalty, but also the improvement of prison conditions, so that they fully respect the human dignity of the incarcerated.  “Rendering justice” isn't seeking punishment for its own sake; punishment should rehabilitate the offender.  The penal justice system must be open to the possibility of the guilty party’s reinsertion in society.  There is no fitting punishment without hope!  Punishment without room for hope, is torture, not punishment.
        Read

        • 2 Kgs 24:8-17  Jehoiachin reigned three months in Jerusalem, doing evil in God's sight.  King Nebuchadnezzar's officials attacked Jerusalem, and Jehoiachin surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar, who took him captive, carried off the treasures, and deported all Jerusalem.  He deported Jehoiachin and led captive the king’s mother, wives, functionaries, and chief men.  He appointed his uncle Mattaniah king, changing his name to Zedekiah.
        • Ps 79:1b-2-5, 8, 9  "For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us."  The nations have defiled your temple, laid Jerusalem in ruins, and fed your dead servants to the birds.  Will you be angry and jealous forever?  May your compassion quickly come to us.
        • Mt 7:21-29  “Only those who do my Father's will will enter the Kingdom.  Many will say, ‘Didn't we do mighty deeds in your name?,’ but I'll say, ‘I never knew you; depart, you evildoers.’  One who acts on my words is like a wise man who built his house on rock; it stood despite rain, floods, and winds.  One who doesn't act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand; rain, floods, and winds ruined it.”  The crowds were astonished, for he taught with authority.
        Archbishop Gregory homily

        Reflect
          • One Bread, One Body:  "Saved from the pits of hell":  Atrocities happen, and are described in Scripture, so we see the results of sin and repent....
          • Passionist:  If we do things "in Jesus’ name" for show, to draw attention to ourselves, or to serve our own purpose, we can be doing them without knowing Jesus.  When it's about us, Jesus is out of the picture.  Jesus is just calling us to do God’s will: “Only the one who does the will of my Father" will enter the kingdom of heaven.  When we seek to know God’s love for us and for all; when we seek to do God’s will in all things, we find the peace the world can't give.  When a wise person builds a house on rock, the storms may come, but the house doesn't collapse.  We needn't collapse in a rough storm because we know God is there for us, even when we may not feel him.  May we let go of wanting God’s glory, and only want God’s love and will.
            St. Thomas Garnet, SJ
          • DailyScripture.net:  "The wise who built their house upon the rock":  If you could foresee a threat to your life, home, and goods, you'd do what you could to avoid disaster.  Jesus' audience knew storms swept through their land unannounced and likely remembered the proverb, "When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm."  The foundation we build on determines how we survive life's storms and trials.  We may fool one another, but we can't deceive God who sees our heart.  Our sincerity can only be proved by our practice.  Our choices reveal our character.  If we make the Lord Jesus and his word our foundation, then nothing can shake us nor keep us from God's presence and protection.
            • Etheldreda: austere religious, abbess of coed monastery
            • Thomas Garnet:  priest, martyr, forgave his betrayers:  “I'm a priest of the blessed Society of Jesus, though unworthy....  This is the happiest day I've seen.”
          Dress legend
          • Gold-colored accessories:  King of Babylon broke up the gold utensils... (1st reading)
          • 'Skeleton,' 'bird,' 'beast' tie pins:  They gave your servants' corpses to the birds, their flesh to beasts (1st reading)
          • 'Blood drop' pin:  They poured out their blood (1st reading)
          • 'Bird' tie pin:  "The nations have given your servants' corpses as bird food" (psalm)
          • 'Car' tie pin:  "Didn't we 'drive' out demons in your name?" (gospel)
          • 'Owl,' 'rock' tie pins:  If you listen to and act on my words, you'll be like a wise man who built on rock (gospel)
          • 'Fool' tie:  If you don't, you'll be like a fool who built on sand (gospel)
          • Orange suspenders:  "Lord, will your jealousy burn like fire?" (psalm)  "Technology on Fire:  Igniting ministry," DISC 2016 theme
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