Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguouri, Bishop and Doctor of the
Church
Lectionary: 404
Moses did exactly
as the LORD had commanded him.
On the first day of the first month of the second year
the Dwelling was erected.
It was Moses who erected the Dwelling.
He placed its pedestals, set up its boards, put in its bars,
and set up its columns.
He spread the tent over the Dwelling
and put the covering on top of the tent,
as the LORD had commanded him.
He took the commandments and put them in the ark;
he placed poles alongside the ark and set the propitiatory upon it.
He brought the ark into the Dwelling and hung the curtain veil,
thus screening off the ark of the commandments,
as the LORD had commanded him.
Then the cloud covered the meeting tent,
and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling.
Moses could not enter the meeting tent,
because the cloud settled down upon it
and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling.
Whenever the cloud rose from the Dwelling,
the children of Israel would set out on their journey.
But if the cloud did not lift, they would not go forward;
only when it lifted did they go forward.
In the daytime the cloud of the LORD was seen over the Dwelling;
whereas at night, fire was seen in the cloud
by the whole house of Israel
in all the stages of their journey.
On the first day of the first month of the second year
the Dwelling was erected.
It was Moses who erected the Dwelling.
He placed its pedestals, set up its boards, put in its bars,
and set up its columns.
He spread the tent over the Dwelling
and put the covering on top of the tent,
as the LORD had commanded him.
He took the commandments and put them in the ark;
he placed poles alongside the ark and set the propitiatory upon it.
He brought the ark into the Dwelling and hung the curtain veil,
thus screening off the ark of the commandments,
as the LORD had commanded him.
Then the cloud covered the meeting tent,
and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling.
Moses could not enter the meeting tent,
because the cloud settled down upon it
and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling.
Whenever the cloud rose from the Dwelling,
the children of Israel would set out on their journey.
But if the cloud did not lift, they would not go forward;
only when it lifted did they go forward.
In the daytime the cloud of the LORD was seen over the Dwelling;
whereas at night, fire was seen in the cloud
by the whole house of Israel
in all the stages of their journey.
Responsorial PsalmPS 84:3, 4, 5-6A AND 8A, 11
R. (2) How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord,
mighty God!
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young–
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
They go from strength to strength.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
I had rather one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young–
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
They go from strength to strength.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
I had rather one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
R. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
GospelMT 13:47-53
Jesus said to the
disciples:
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea,
which collects fish of every kind.
When it is full they haul it ashore
and sit down to put what is good into buckets.
What is bad they throw away.
Thus it will be at the end of the age.
The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous
and throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”
“Do you understand all these things?”
They answered, “Yes.”
And he replied,
“Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven
is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom
both the new and the old.”
When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea,
which collects fish of every kind.
When it is full they haul it ashore
and sit down to put what is good into buckets.
What is bad they throw away.
Thus it will be at the end of the age.
The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous
and throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”
“Do you understand all these things?”
They answered, “Yes.”
And he replied,
“Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven
is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom
both the new and the old.”
When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.
Meditation: The close
of the age and the scribe trained for the kingdom of heaven
What can a story of a dragnet and a great catch
of fish tell us about God's kingdom? The two most common ways of fishing in
Jesus' time was with a casting-net (or hand-net) which was thrown from the
shore and the drag-net or trawl which was let down or cast into the waters from
a boat. As the boat moved through the waters the dragnet was drawn into the
shape of a great cone which indiscriminately took in all kinds of fish and
flotsam and jetsam swept in its path. It usually took several men to haul such
a net to shore.
What is
Jesus' point here? Just as a drag-net catches every kind of fish in the sea, so
the church acts as God's instrument for gathering in all who will come. Just as
the drag-net does not or cannot discriminate, so the church does not
discriminate between the good and the bad, the useless and the useful. God's
kingdom is open to all who will accept and believe. But there will come a time
of separation, at the close of the age, when the angels will send
the good and the bad to their respective destinations. Our duty is to gather in
all who will come. God, in the end, will give the good (those who accept God's
word and obey it) and the bad (those who reject God and his word) the reward
they deserve. God offers the treasure of his kingdom to all who believe in him
and who accept his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Do
you hunger for God and for his everlasting kingdom of righteousness, peace, and
joy?
Parable
of the new and old treasure
What is the point of Jesus' parable about a "scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 13:52)? Scribes were specially devoted to the study and practice of God's word entrusted to Moses (the first five books of the Bible) and in instructing others in how to live according to it. In the Old Testament Ezra was called "the ready scribe of the law of the God of heaven" (Book of Ezra 7:6,21). He received this title because he "had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments" (Ezra 7:10). Ezra's heart was set on the kingdom of heaven because he revered God's word and he taught others through example and instruction to love and obey God's word.
What is the point of Jesus' parable about a "scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 13:52)? Scribes were specially devoted to the study and practice of God's word entrusted to Moses (the first five books of the Bible) and in instructing others in how to live according to it. In the Old Testament Ezra was called "the ready scribe of the law of the God of heaven" (Book of Ezra 7:6,21). He received this title because he "had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments" (Ezra 7:10). Ezra's heart was set on the kingdom of heaven because he revered God's word and he taught others through example and instruction to love and obey God's word.
Why does
Jesus compare a "trained scribe" with a "householder who brings
out of his treasure what is new and what is old" (Matthew 13:52)? Some
people love to store up old prized possessions along with their newly acquired
prizes. Others are eager to get rid of the old to make room for the new. So why
does Jesus seem to emphasize keeping the old along with the new? Why not
replace the old, especially if the new seems to be better or more useful?
Wouldn't a person want to throw away an old pair of shoes and replace them with
a new pair – especially if the old pair became well-worn or torn beyond repair?
But, who in his right mind would throw away an old precious jewel or some old
gold coins simply because they were ancient and maybe tarnished a bit? Precious
gems and gold do not lose their value with age! Like choice vintage wine they
increase in value. Jesus' parable of the "old" and the
"new" certainly points to the "older covenants" which God
made with his covenanted people of the Old Testament, beginning with Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob, and with Moses on Mount Sinai, and with King David the
precursor of the Messiah (Psalm 89:3 and Psalm 110:1). Jesus' parable also
points to the "new covenant" which he came to establish through the
shedding of his blood on the cross and the anointing of his Holy Spirit who
seals the new covenant on the day of Pentecost. Jesus did not come to abolish
the Old Covenant but to fulfill it. The Lord calls us to treasure all of his
word – all of his commandments, promises, precepts, and teaching (Psalm
119:14,72,127,162). Do you promise to keep all of God's commands? The Lord
gives strength, blessing, and joy to those who treasure all of his word.
We would
be impoverished today if we only possessed the treasures of the word of God in
the "Old Testament" Scriptures or if we only knew the treasures of
the "New Testament" Scriptures. Both the Old and New Testament
Scriptures are given by the same eternal Father, inspired by the same eternal
Holy Spirit, and fulfilled by the same eternal Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, who
was with the Father from the beginning and who was sent from heaven to take on
human flesh for our salvation (John 1:1-3,14). There is a profound unity
between the Old and New Testaments. Both are divinely inspired by one and the
same Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16). The Old Testament prepares for the New and the
New Testament fulfils the Old – the two shed light on each other. The Old
Testament prepared the way for the coming of Jesus Christ as the redeemer of all
who would be saved through his sacrifice on the cross. The New Testament lies
hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New. That is why
Jesus interpreted the Old Testament Scriptures for his disciples and explained
how he came to fufill what was promised and foreshadowed in the Old (Luke
24:27). That is why we read the Old Testament in the light of Christ’s saving
death and resurrection. Do you revere the word of God in the Scriptures – both
old and new – and see their fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ?
"Lord
Jesus, may your word take deep root in my heart and transform my way of
thinking, discerning, and acting. May your Spirit open my ears to hear and
understand the word of God in the Scriptures that I may revere and treasure
both the Old and the New Testaments which God has prepared for all who desire
to enter his kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. Help me to be a diligent
student and faithful disciple of your word."
 Powerful Net |
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Memorial of Saint
Alphonsus Liguori, bishop and doctor of the Church
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Matthew 13: 47-53
Jesus said to his disciples: "The
Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of
every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is
good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of
the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous
and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and
grinding of teeth. "Do you understand all these things?" They
answered, "Yes." And he replied, "Then every scribe who has
been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who
brings from his storeroom both the new and the old." When Jesus finished
these parables, he went away from there.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe in your power. I know that you are the Lord of
all history. I trust that you are guiding my life. Thank you for showing me
that you will triumph. Thank you for the triumph you have already achieved in
my heart and in the hearts of so many people. I want to allow you to have
total control over my life.
Petition: Lord, help me to have confidence in the triumph of your
Kingdom.
1. Nothing Escapes the
Kingdom: Christ is reminding
us that all souls and all human history are encompassed in the vision of the
Father. Both the good and the bad will be brought before him. He is able to
see what good and evil has been done. His power extends over all the failures
and successes of human history. I should live with a confidence that God sees
the good I do and will make my efforts to spread his love bear eternal fruit.
2. Evil Does Not Have the Last
Word: I should live with
the confidence that evil does not have the last word. The mercy of God has
imposed a limit on evil and the Lord will come one day to take away the power
of evil. I should use my short time on earth – which I should use today – to
sow all the good I can, aware that this is what will stand steady at the
coming of the eternal kingdom. I should not be so impressed by evil that it
paralyzes me from doing good.
3. Already Home: The Eucharist is an anticipation of God’s
triumph. There we learn to trust that God holds the strings of human history.
There his “net of love” brings his children together to feed and strengthen
them. When I participate in the Mass my confidence in the Lord’s providence
should grow. I should strive to bring others to the Eucharist as well, so
they can experience the peace and happiness of anticipating heaven here on
earth.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I know you are all powerful. I believe
that your Kingdom will triumph. I believe that you will come to judge the
living and the dead. Help me to do all I can to bring others into your
Kingdom so they can experience the joy that comes from knowing you and from
living ready for the coming of your Kingdom.
Resolution: I will invite someone who is struggling in
their faith or who has fallen away from the sacraments to join me this Sunday
at Mass.
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THURSDAY,
AUGUST 1
MATTHEW 13:47-53
MATTHEW 13:47-53
(Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38; Psalm 84)
KEY VERSE: "Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old" (v 53).
READING: Some of Jesus' disciples were fishermen, and so he used illustrations from fishing to speak of God's reign. In Palestine there were two main ways of fishing. One was with the casting-net, which was thrown from the shore. The second way was with the dragnet, a large square net that was weighted and hung from the side of a boat. The net was drawn into the shape of a cone and the fish were swept into it. The net was then pulledto land, and the worthwhile fish were separated from the useless. Jesus used this image to say that good and evil would flourish alongside one another until the end of the age. Jesus' disciples must be like wise scribes (teachers of Judaism's traditions) who were able to understand things both "new and old" (some scholars see this as Matthew's personal signature, v 52). As future leaders of the Church, Jesus' disciples must be able to interpret the ancient truths in the light of the gospel. When Jesus was assured that they understood his message, he was ready to move on in his journey.
REFLECTING: Do I submit myself to the teachings of Jesus?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to discern your truth in everything I hear.
Memorial of Alphonsus Liguori, bishop and doctor of the Church
Alphonsus Liguori was ordained at age 29. He was noted for his simple, clear style of preaching, and his understanding way in the confessional. He was often opposed by Church officials for a perceived laxity toward sinners. He founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Liguorians or Redemptorists). Alphonsus was appointed bishop in 1762, and worked to reform the clergy and revitalize the faithful in thediocese. In 1775 he resigned his office due to his health, and went into what he thought was a prayerful retirement. In 1777 the royal government threatened to disband his Redemptorists. Calling on his knowledge of theology, and his skills as a lawyer, Alphonsus defended the Redemptorists so well that they obtained the king's approval. Alphonsus vowed early to never to waste a moment of his life, and lived that way for over 90 years. He was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1871.
How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord, mighty God!
‘The kingdom of heaven is like a net that brings in all kinds of
things.’The image of the fishing net appears several times in the gospels - recall Peter and the other disciples who were fisherman. We find them mending empty nets and with nets full to breaking point because of an abundant catch.
In today’s gospel the net is a metaphor for the kingdom of God and deals with the day of judgement. While the image of the bad being thrown into the fire is somewhat unsettling, the image of the net is consoling. It reminds us that we are all in this together, that God’s kingdom does not exclude anyone but rather draws all creation back to the Creator. The net reminds us of God’s all-embracing care for us that desires to draw us deeper into his merciful love.
August 1
St. Alphonsus Liguori
(1696-1787)
St. Alphonsus Liguori
(1696-1787)
Moral
theology, Vatican II said, should be more thoroughly nourished by Scripture,
and show the nobility of the Christian vocation of the faithful and their
obligation to bring forth fruit in charity for the life of the world.
Alphonsus, declared patron of moral theologians by Pius XII in 1950, would
rejoice in that statement.
In his
day, Alphonsus fought for the liberation of moral theology from the
rigidity of Jansenism. His moral theology, which went through 60 editions in
the century following him, concentrated on the practical and concrete problems
of pastors and confessors. If a certain legalism and minimalism crept into
moral theology, it should not be attributed to this model of moderation and
gentleness.
At the
University of Naples he received, at the age of 16, a doctorate in both canon
and civil law by acclamation, but she oon gave up the practice of law for
apostolic activity. He was ordained a priest and concentrated his pastoral
efforts on popular (parish) missions, hearing confessions, forming Christian
groups.
He
founded the Redemptorist congregation in 1732. It was an association of priests
and brothers living a common life, dedicated to the imitation of Christ, and
working mainly in popular missions for peasants in rural areas. Almost as an omen
of what was to come later, he found himself deserted, after a while, by all his
original companions except one lay brother. But the congregation managed to
survive and was formally approved 17 years later, though its troubles were not
over.
Alphonsus’
great pastoral reforms were in the pulpit and confessional—replacing the
pompous oratory of the time with simplicity, and the rigorism of Jansenism with
kindness. His great fame as a writer has somewhat eclipsed the fact that for 26
years he traveled up and down the Kingdom of Naples, preaching popular
missions.
He was
made bishop (after trying to reject the honor) at 66 and at once instituted a
thorough reform of his diocese.
His
greatest sorrow came toward the end of his life. The Redemptorists, precariously
continuing after the suppression of the Jesuits in 1773, had difficulty in
getting their Rule approved by the Kingdom of Naples. Alphonsus acceded to the
condition that they possess no property in common, but a royal official, with
the connivance of a high Redemptorist official, changed the Rule substantially.
Alphonsus, old, crippled and with very bad sight, signed the document, unaware
that he had been betrayed. The Redemptorists in the Papal States then put
themselves under the pope, who withdrew those in Naples from the jurisdiction
of Alphonsus. It was only after his death that the branches were united.
At 71 he
was afflicted with rheumatic pains which left incurable bending of his neck;
until it was straightened a little, the pressure of his chin caused a raw wound
on his chest. He suffered a final 18 months of “dark night” scruples, fears,
temptations against every article of faith and every virtue, interspersed with
intervals of light and relief, when ecstasies were frequent.
Alphonsus
is best known for his moral theology, but he also wrote well in the field of
spiritual and dogmatic theology. His Glories of Mary is one of
the great works on that subject, and his book Visits to the Blessed
Sacrament went through 40 editions in his lifetime, greatly
influencing the practice of this devotion in the Church.
Comment:
St. Alphonsus was known above all as a practical man who dealt in the concrete rather than the abstract. His life is indeed a “practical” model for the everyday Christian who has difficulty recognizing the dignity of Christian life amid the swirl of problems, pain, misunderstanding and failure. Alphonsus suffered all these things. He is a saint because he was able to maintain an intimate sense of the presence of the suffering Christ through it all.
St. Alphonsus was known above all as a practical man who dealt in the concrete rather than the abstract. His life is indeed a “practical” model for the everyday Christian who has difficulty recognizing the dignity of Christian life amid the swirl of problems, pain, misunderstanding and failure. Alphonsus suffered all these things. He is a saint because he was able to maintain an intimate sense of the presence of the suffering Christ through it all.
Quote:
Someone once remarked, after a sermon by Alphonsus, "It is a pleasure to listen to your sermons; you forget yourself and preach Jesus Christ."
Someone once remarked, after a sermon by Alphonsus, "It is a pleasure to listen to your sermons; you forget yourself and preach Jesus Christ."
Patron Saint of:
Theologians
Vocations
Theologians
Vocations
LECTIO: MATTHEW
13,47-53
Lectio:
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
God our Father and protector,
without you nothing is holy,
nothing has value.
Guide us to everlasting life
by helping us to use wisely
the blessings you have given to the world.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
without you nothing is holy,
nothing has value.
Guide us to everlasting life
by helping us to use wisely
the blessings you have given to the world.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 13,47-53
Jesus said to the people: 'Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like
a dragnet that is cast in the sea and brings in a haul of all kinds of fish.
When it is full, the fishermen bring it ashore; then, sitting down, they
collect the good ones in baskets and throw away those that are no use. This is
how it will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the
wicked from the upright, to throw them into the blazing furnace, where there
will be weeping and grinding of teeth. 'Have you understood all these?' They
said, 'Yes.'
And he said to them, 'Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom new things as well as old.' When Jesus had finished these parables he left the district.
And he said to them, 'Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom new things as well as old.' When Jesus had finished these parables he left the district.
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today presents the last parable of the Discourse of
the Parables, the story of the dragnet thrown into the sea. This parable is
found only in the Gospel of Matthew without any parallel in the other three
Gospels.
• Matthew 13,47-48: The parable of the dragnet cast into the sea. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that is cast into the sea and brings in a whole haul of all kinds of fish. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then sitting down; they collect the good ones in baskets and throw away those that are no use”. This story is well known by the people of Galilee who live around the lake. This is their work. The story shows clearly the end of a day of work. The fishermen go fishing with only one purpose: to cast the net and to catch a great number of fish, to haul the net ashore and to choose the good fish to take home and to throw away those that are no good. Describe the satisfaction of the fishermen, at the end of the day of a day, being very tired having worked hard. This story must have brought a smile of satisfaction on the face of the fishermen who listened to Jesus. The worse thing is to arrive to the shore at the end of the day without having caught anything (Jn 21,3).
• Matthew 13,49-50: The application of the parable. Jesus applies the parable, or better still gives a suggestion in order that persons can discuss and apply the parable to their life: “This is how it will be at the end of time, the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the upright, to throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth”. How are we to understand this blazing furnace? These are very strong images to describe the destiny of those who separate themselves from God or who do not want to know anything about God. In every city there is a place where to throw the garbage every day. There is a permanent furnace nourished every day by the garbage of every day. The garbage place in Jerusalem was located in a valley called geena, where, at the time of the kings, there was a furnace even to sacrifice to the false gods of Molok. For this reason, the furnace of geena becomes the symbol of exclusion and of condemnation. God is not the one who excludes. God does not want the exclusion and the condemnation of anyone; he wants that all may have life and life in abundance. Each one of us excludes himself/herself.
• Matthew 13,51-53: The end of the discourse of the Parables. At the end of the discourse of the Parables, Jesus concludes with the following question: "Have you understood these things?” They answered: “Yes”. And Jesus finishes the explanation with another comparison which describes the result which he wants to obtain through the parables: “Well, then, every Scribe who becomes a disciple of the Kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom new things as well as old”.
Two points to clarify:
(a) Jesus compares the doctor of the law to the father in the family. What does the father of the family do? “He brings out from his treasure new things and old things”. Education at home takes place through the transmission to the sons and daughters of what the parents have received and learnt along the time. It is the treasure of the family wisdom where the richness of faith is enclosed, the customs of life and many other things that the children learn with time. Now Jesus wants that in the community the persons who are responsible for the transmission of faith be as the father in the family. Just like the parents are responsible for the life of the family, in the same way, these persons who are responsible for the teaching should understand the things of the Kingdom and transmit it to the brothers and sisters in the community.
(b) Here there is the question of a doctor of the law who becomes a disciple of the Kingdom. Therefore, there were doctors of the law who accepted Jesus, and saw in him the one who revealed the Kingdom. Is this what happened to a doctor when he discovers the Messiah in Jesus, the Son of God? Everything which he has studied to be able to be a doctor of the law continues to be valid, but it receives a deeper dimension and a broader purpose. A comparison can clarify what has just been said. In a group of friends one shows a photo, where one sees a man with a severe face, with his finger up, almost attacking the public. Everybody thinks that it is a question of an inflexible person, demanding, who does not allow for any intimacy. At that moment a young boy arrives, he sees the photo and exclaims: “He is my father!” The others look at him and comment: “A severe Father, true?” He answers: “No, and no! He is very affectionate. My father is a lawyer. That photo was taken in the tribunal, while he was denouncing the crime of a great landowner who wanted a poor family to abandon their home where they had lived for many years! My father won the cause. And the poor family remained in the house!” All looked at him again and said: “What a pleasant person!” Almost like a miracle the photo enlightened from within and assumed a different aspect. That very severe face acquired the features of great tenderness! The words of the son, the result of his experience of being the son, changed everything, without changing anything! The words and the gestures of Jesus, result of his experience as a Son, without changing a letter or a comma, enlightened from within the wisdom accumulated by the doctor of the law. And thus, God who seemed to be so far away and so severe acquired the features of a good Father and of enormous tenderness!
4) Personal questions
• Has the experience of Son entered in you and changed your
look, making you discover the things of God in a different way?
• What has the Discourse of the Parables revealed to you about the Kingdom?
5) Concluding Prayer
Praise Yahweh, my soul!
I will praise Yahweh all my life,
I will make music to my God as long as I live. (Ps 146,1-2)
I will praise Yahweh all my life,
I will make music to my God as long as I live. (Ps 146,1-2)
