hawk photo taken this morning sept 3 2006

 

sept 1 2006 Reflection on the Pope's message today

Those who meet Jesus," he said, "those who let themselves be attracted by Him and are ready to follow Him even unto the sacrifice of their lives, personally experience, as He did on the cross, how only the 'grain of wheat' that falls to earth and dies brings 'much fruit'."

"This is the way of Christ, the way of total love that triumphs over death," said Pope Benedict, adding: "This is the experience enjoyed by those true friends of God, the saints, who have recognized and loved in their brethren, especially in the poorest and most needy, the face of God long contemplated with love and prayer. They are encouraging examples for us to follow."

"In order to enter into communion with Christ and contemplate His face," the Pope went on, our lives must be "illuminated by the truth of love which overcomes indifference, doubt, lies and egoism."

Pope Benedict made this address today in Italy near Abruzzi. It is love that gives the gift to be able to truly give myself freely and totally, authenically as a full Christian. This is a suffering and a joy to be able to live this life completely centered in Christ. I pray today for the love and enthusiasm of being an authentic Christian.

I had just learned in reading yesterday that the word enthusiasm comes from the root "entheos" which means "in God" My strength and abililty to live life to the fullest comes in fulfillment for me "in God".

spiderwort photo taken this month

 

september 3 206

Dt 4:1-2, 6-8 Moses said to the people: “Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. In your observance of the commandments of the LORD, your God,which I enjoin upon you, you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it. Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,who will hear of all these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’ For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole lawwhich I am setting before you today?”

Ps 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5
R. (1a) One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue.
R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent.Whoever does these things shall never be disturbed.
R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27 Dearest brothers and sisters: All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their afflictionand to keep oneself unstained by the world.


Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. -. For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,“Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded,“Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me,teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He summoned the crowd again and said to them,“Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile. “From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

What I understand from the Gospel reading this morning is that it is of no use to have a clean exterior if a person's interior is unclean. The things within a person's mind and heart can be unclean filled with arrogance, folly, envy, evil an more that ruin that person.

In the first reading Moses promises to the people a nation of God but warns that they not add or subtract from the law of God. Both readings today are guides for living a life as God's chosen people with the promise of the rewards and justice of God for those who are faithful in their thoughts, heart and acts. I pray this morning for a day lived in love of the Lord with obedience to the will of God and an openness to see the face of Jesus in all people.