Friday June 16th Mass Readings

1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-16 At the mountain of God, Horeb, Elijah came to a cave, where he took shelter. But the word of the LORD came to him, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;t he LORD will be passing by.” A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD —but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake— but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire— but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice said to him, “Elijah, why are you here?” He replied, “I have been most zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. But the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to the sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.” The LORD said to him,“Go, take the road back to the desert near Damascus. When you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king of Aram. Then you shall anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as king of Israel,and Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, as prophet to succeed you.”

Ps 27:7-8a, 8b-9abc, 13-14 R. (8b) I long to see your face, O Lord. Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call; have pity on me, and answer me. Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks. R. I long to see your face, O Lord. Your presence, O LORD, I seek. Hide not your face from me; do not in anger repel your servant. You are my helper: cast me not off. R. I long to see your face, O Lord.I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD. R. I long to see your face, O Lord.

Reading II Rom 8:14-17 Brothers and sisters: For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a Spirit of adoption,
through whom we cry, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him.

Mt 5:27-32 Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna. “It was also said,Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

The ways that God appears are varied. In the first reading it is in a tiny, gentle breeze not in a grant or tremendous or dramatic way. God loves the disciples of God as beloved sons and daughters while to each other they are brothers and sisters. "if only we suffer with (Christ)" we will be glorified with him. Only following in love is not enough, but to be willing to suffer because of our love and suffer with a loving heart...is to me the Christian part of living a Gospel life. The Gospel calls for fideltity to God and to each other. Adultery is a violoation of love it is contrary to God's loving, gentle, caring ways. God's laws are laws of love. How we treat each other is how we live our lives in Christ. A life that can not be lived fully without the willingness to sacrifice in love for what is God's way. I pray today to greet the God in all I meet.

Morning Glory

 

June 15th 2006

1 Kgs 18:41-46 Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink,for there is the sound of a heavy rain. ”So Ahab went up to eat and drink, while Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, crouched down to the earth, and put his head between his knees. “Climb up and look out to sea,” he directed his servant, who went up and looked, but reported, “There is nothing.” Seven times he said, “Go, look again!” And the seventh time the youth reported,“There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Elijah said, “Go and say to Ahab, ‘Harness up and leave the mountain before the rain stops you.’” In a trice the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain fell. Ahab mounted his chariot and made for Jezreel. But the hand of the LORD was on Elijah,who girded up his clothing and ran before Ahabas far as the approaches to Jezreel.

PsalmPs 65:10, 11, 12-13
R. (2a) It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.You have visited the land and watered it;greatly have you enriched it.God’s watercourses are filled;you have prepared the grain.
R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.Thus have you prepared the land: drenching its furrows, breaking up its clods, Softening it with showers, blessing its yield.
R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.You have crowned the year with your bounty,and your paths overflow with a rich harvest;The untilled meadows overflow with it,and rejoicing clothes the hills.
R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.

Reading II Rom 8:14-17 Brothers and sisters:
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
but you received a Spirit of adoption,
through whom we cry, “Abba, Father!”
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs,
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
if only we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him.

Gospel Mt 5:20-26 Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment,and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

It is a simple lesson in the Gospel to settle differences at the time, quickly with anyone. It is not good to leave differences unsettled with a person. It is a situation that many times could be resolved easily be a few words at the time when a disagreement arises but if left unadress it becomes more difficult to remedy over time. I was just speaking with a colleague yesterday and remarking that I admired her ready abililty to address issues with others at the time. Responding in truth is important to good communications and connections with people. I pray this morning with "right relations" with all who I encounter. I pray for a loving and honest way with all.