Sunday and Weekday thoughts reflections inspired by the Scriptures of the day.

Hi AGAIN EVERYONE. HERE ARE SOME REFLECTIONS FOR THIS COMING SUNDAY AND THE WEEKDAYS OF THE COMING WEEK.  GOD BLESS.

 

FR. PAUL.

 

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Shavuot begins at sunset

No wrapping required

What do you give to someone who has everything? Gift-giving can be a stressful if the receiver doesn't want for anything. When it comes to God, maker of everything, the problem is compounded. Burnt offerings are out of fashion. Does God get bored with expressions of praise? Jesus recalls that Hosea said God wants love and understanding, just as we do. To this end the Jewish community will hold all-night Bible studies on Shavuot, remembering how Moses taught them the mind of God. We, too, grow closer to God by reading what's on the divine mind.

Today's readings: Hosea 6:3-6; Romans 4:18-25; Matthew 9:9-13

"For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."

 

Monday, June 9

Feast of Ephrem, deacon, doctor

Verses versus heresy

Born into a city of influential Gnostic sects and an educated Jewish population, Ephrem the Syrian (306-373) apparently had little opportunity to promote the orthodoxy of the recently formed Nicene Creed in his homeland. But the gift that he had been given, which no one could deny, was a proficiency in verse. Ephrem schooled himself in the meters and hymn-forms popular around him and adopted them to promote the Nicene message. Saint Ephrem's hymns were so skillfully crafted that they gained renown not only in his own city but in many hymn traditions, subsequently spreading the church's doctrine. What earthly gifts have you been given that you can use to spread the gospel?

Today's readings: 1 Kings 17:1-6; Matthew 5:1-12

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

 

Tuesday, June 10

Jump to it

Today's reading from 1 Kings offers a vivid example of the risk involved in trusting God when the evidence may be scant. How many of us, during a time of drought and famine, would have sufficient trust in God to offer a stranger our last morsel of food, solely based on the promise that if we did so, God would provide for our own needs? It takes a good amount of "salt," as today's gospel puts it, to take that kind of leap of faith. The woman in 1 Kings had the salt. How about us?

Today's readings: 1 Kings 17:7-16; Matthew 5:13-16

"The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth."

 

Wednesday, June 11

Feast of Barnabas, apostle

Help is on the way

Saint Barnabas earned his name—which means "son of encouragement"—because of his work for the early Christian community, taking the recent convert Saint Paul under his wing, representing the original apostles at Antioch, and with Paul going on missions to the Gentiles. Barnabas was willing to do his part, whether leading or supporting others. How can you be a daughter or son of encouragement today?

Today's readings: Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3; Matthew 5:17-19

"Barnabas . . . was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith."

 

Thursday, June 12

A show of strength

According to the folks at forgiveness.com, 94 percent of people surveyed in an overseas Gallup poll said it was important to forgive. But in the same survey only 48 percent said they usually tried to forgive others. What's holding us back? The benefits (better physical and mental health) are well-documented, yet somehow we see forgiveness as a sign of weakness—a victory for those who have offended or abused us. In fact, the opposite is true: Forgiveness is a sign of strength. It is how you show your enemies you are not defeated. As Oscar Wilde wisely advised: Always forgive your enemies—nothing annoys them so much! Forgiveness is possible—and for Jesus, it is more important than showing up to church with cash in hand.

Today's readings: 1 Kings 18:41-46; Matthew 5:20-26

"First be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift."

 

Friday, June 13

Hearing a who

The prophet Elijah had a lot on his plate. Defending the one true God, battling kings and even other prophets, and going through quite a bit of hardship on the process. And when he went to talk with God on God's own mountain, conditions were not calm. The wind blew strong enough to split rocks. Then an earthquake rolled the ground. Oh, and there was fire, too—did we mention that? But God was not "in" the wind, the quake, or the fire. Rather God was in a "tiny whispering sound." That was what awed Elijah and led him to cover his face. Sometimes the voice of God isn't found in spectacular special effects but in the smallest, quietest way. Can you hear it?

Today's readings: 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-16; Matthew 5:27-32

"After the fire was a sound of sheer silence."

 
Saturday, June 14
Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Promises, promises

Jesus can be devastatingly clear, maddeningly simple. In our culture, supporting one's word of honor with an oath generally happens only in a courtroom and in bad gangster movies in which hoodlums regularly swear on their "mother's grave." Jesus envisions a spirit so clear and guileless that oaths are unnecessary, and not even the notion of equivocation is entertained. Mary is a model of one who when she said Yes, meant Yes. As a mother she likely taught Jesus the same simple honesty. Following through on what we've promised to God in baptism reflects not only good character but a heart open to the scrutiny of anyone, even the clear light of the Holy Spirit.

Today's readings: 1 Kings 19:19-21; Matthew 5:33-37

"Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the evil one."

 

 

©2008 by TrueQuest Communications, L.L.C. Phone: 800-942-2811; e-mail: mail@takefiveforfaith.com; website: www.TakeFiveForFaith.com. Licensed for noncommercial use. All rights reserved. Scripture quotes come from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.

 
Contributors: Father Paul Boudreau, Alice Camille, Daniel Grippo, Father Larry Janowski, Ann O'Connor, Sean Reynolds, Joel Schorn, and Patrice J. Tuohy