hildegard vision 1

 

fallen flowers july 24 2006 taken

 

july 26 2006

Memorial of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Jer 1:1, 4-10 The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah,of a priestly family in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin. The word of the LORD came to me thus: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.“Ah, Lord GOD!” I said,“I know not how to speak; I am too young.” But the LORD answered me, Say not, “I am too young.” To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD. Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, See, I place my words in your mouth! This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms, To root up and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish,to build and to plant.

Ps 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5-6ab, 15 and 17 R. (see 15ab) I will sing of your salvation.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;let me never be put to shame.In your justice rescue me, and deliver me;incline your ear to me, and save me.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
Be my rock of refuge,a stronghold to give me safety,for you are my rock and my fortress.O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
For you are my hope, O Lord;my trust, O God, from my youth.On you I depend from birth;from my mother’s womb you are my strength.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
My mouth shall declare your justice,day by day your salvation.O God, you have taught me from my youth,and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R. I will sing of your salvation.

Eph 2:13-18
Brothers and sisters:
In Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, he who made both one
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God,
in one body, through the cross,
putting that enmity to death by it.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Mt 13:1-9 On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down,and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep,and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
The memorial of the conception of the Blessed Mother Mary. The good fertile rich soil yields a great harvest of fruit. The seeds need to be planted on the rich soil. The seeds are the Word of God. There are times and places that are the best for planting the seed. There are places it is wasted to plant the seed and it will be carried off or the young plants dry up and die.

The Lord is my life, my refuge and my salvation. The Lord is my reason for giving thanks and praise. The psalm says "incline your ear to me" and the Gospel says "whoever has ears ought to hear." I see that for me the message that I will carry through this day is to be especially tuned in and focused on listening.

The second reading is saying that we should all be reconciled in Christ through the cross. In the first reading Jeremiah tells us that God knew us even before we were formed in the womb. God will give me the words that I need to speak. God will send me to root up, tear down, build and plant in nations and kingdoms. There is to be no fear God will deliver me.

I am grateful for another day of life and beauty and pray today for the listening heart and mind of Christ and a spirit that is willing. For a ready obedience to whatever God may be calling me to today.