June 27, 2023

June 27

June 27, 2023:  Tuesday, 12th week, Ordinary Time


Listen


For Psalm 15
Pope Francis

Read
  • Gn 13:2, 5-18 Abram was rich in livestock, silver, and gold.  Lot also had flocks, herds, and tents, so the land couldn't support them bothAbram told Lot, “Let there be no strife between us or between our herdsmen.  Please separate from me; go the way you want, and I'll go the other.”  Lot chose the Jordan Plain, seeing how well watered it was, and they separated; Abram stayed in Canaan,while Lot pitched his tents near Sodom.   Sodom's inhabitants were wicked.  The Lord told Abram, “Look around; I'll give you and your descendants all the land you see.  I'll make your descendants too numerous to count.”  Abram settled at Hebron and built an altar to the Lord there.
  • Ps 15:2-4ab, 5  "He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord."  Those who walk blamelessly, think the truth, honor those who fear God, and don't slander, harm, take up reproach, lend at usury, or accept bribes will never be disturbed. 
  • Mt 7:6, 12-14  “Don't give what's holy to dogs, or your pearls to swine, lest they trample them then tear you to pieces.  Do to others what you'd have them do to you.  Enter through the narrow gate; many take the wide gate to destruction, but few find the narrow gate to life.”
Reflect
  • Creighton:  Imagine Lot and Abram's frustration, irritation, and squabbles.  It can be easy for me to be uncharitable, frustrated, and self-focused.  May we choose love and peace.
  • One Bread, One Body:  “Deciding aright”:  To make the right decision, we must ask the right question, we must not automatically choose the easy way; we must decide by faith, choose the road less traveled, and give our lives to Christ.
  • Passionist:  If someone doesn't want what you offer, why give it to them?  People with no faith background can’t accept what they don’t understand, but we should continue to be Christ to them.  Persevere:  fight distractions, focus on what's important to reach God, pray for mercy and for determination to fight the good fight, to focus on his path, and to continue to share with love.
  • DailyScripture.net:  "Don't throw your pearls before swine":  Pearls were of great value, worn as jewels to make one appear more beautiful.  Holiness, likewise, is a jewel that radiates the beauty of God's truth and goodness through how we think, speak, act, and treat others.  The Talmud calls something that appears incongruous an "ear ring in a swine's snout"; Jesus' "pearls before swine" and "not giving dogs what is holy" expressions are similar.  Swine were considered unclean, and wild dogs were considered unfit for close contact.  Jesus’ concern is with keeping the faith and way of life God entrusted to us.  Before Communion the early church proclaimed:  Holy things to the holy, and the Didache  stated, "Only the baptized may eat or drink of your Eucharist; the Lord has said, 'Don't give what's holy to dogs.'"
Jesus summed up and upgraded Old Testament law and prophets with the golden rule.  God's law of love requires more than not hurting others but rather seeking others' good and giving our best for them.  God's love fuels our love for others.  If we empty ourselves of what's unkind, unloving, and unforgiving, we'll have room for kindness, goodness, mercy, and charity.  May we love others and treat them like we want God to treat us.  Holy Spirit, transform my life with the fire of God's love.
Jesus reinforced his lesson about choosing the way to peace with God with the illustration of a narrow gate opening to a life of security and happiness.  Psalms begins with an image of one who has chosen to follow the way of those obedient to God's word, not those who act contrary to it.  Our choices affect our lives.  Do my choices move me towards loving and following God?  "Let me love you, Lord, and see myself as I am, a pilgrim, a Christian called to respect and love all I touch....  Help me conquer anger with gentleness, greed by generosity, apathy by fervor.  Help me forget myself and reach out." (Clement XI) 
Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Early Cyrillic: thanks, St. Cyril
  • St. Cyril of Alexandria, bishop, fought Nestorian heresy.  Read his writings online.
  • Mary, Our Lady (Mother) of Perpetual (Unfailing) Help
  • St. John Southworth, priest, martyr
  • Bl. Nykyta Budka, priest, martyr
  • Bl. Vasyl Velychkovsky, bishop, abbot
Dress legend
  • 'Cow' pin, silver- and gold-colored accessories:  Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold (1st reading); golden rule (gospel)
  • 'Sheep' tie bar:  Lot had flocks (1st reading)
  • "?" pin:  "Isn't the whole land at your disposal?" (1st reading)
  • 'Scales' brooch:  Do justice; live in the Lord's presence (psalm)
  • 'Walker' tie pin:  Those who walk blamelessly will never be disturbed (psalm)
  • 'Heart' pin:  Those who think the truth in their heart...
  • 'Car with mouth' pin:  ...and don't slander with their tongue will live in the Lord's presence (psalm)
  • 'Money bag' pin:  Those who don't lend at usury won't be disturbed (psalm)
  • 'Dogs' tie:  Don't give dogs what's holy... (gospel)
  • 'Pearl' tie pin:  ...or throw your pearls... (gospel)
  • 'Swine' suspenders:  ...before swine... (gospel)
  • 'Precious feet' pin:  ...lest they be trampled underfoot (gospel)
  • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season
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