Memorial of Saint Monica
Lectionary: 426
Lectionary: 426
You yourselves
know, brothers and sisters,
that our reception among you was not without effect.
Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated,
as you know, in Philippi,
we drew courage through our God
to speak to you the Gospel of God with much struggle.
Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives,
nor did it work through deception.
But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel,
that is how we speak,
not as trying to please men,
but rather God, who judges our hearts.
Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know,
or with a pretext for greed–God is witness–
nor did we seek praise from men,
either from you or from others,
although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ.
Rather, we were gentle among you,
as a nursing mother cares for her children.
With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you
not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well,
so dearly beloved had you become to us.
that our reception among you was not without effect.
Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated,
as you know, in Philippi,
we drew courage through our God
to speak to you the Gospel of God with much struggle.
Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives,
nor did it work through deception.
But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel,
that is how we speak,
not as trying to please men,
but rather God, who judges our hearts.
Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know,
or with a pretext for greed–God is witness–
nor did we seek praise from men,
either from you or from others,
although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ.
Rather, we were gentle among you,
as a nursing mother cares for her children.
With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you
not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well,
so dearly beloved had you become to us.
Responsorial PsalmPS 139:1-3, 4-6
R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
GospelMT 23:23-26
Jesus said:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin,
and have neglected the weightier things of the law:
judgment and mercy and fidelity.
But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,
but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean.”
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin,
and have neglected the weightier things of the law:
judgment and mercy and fidelity.
But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,
but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean.”
Meditation : "You
have neglected justice, mercy and faith"
Do you allow any blindspots to blur your vision of God's kingdom
and his ways? Jesus went to the heart of the matter when he called the
religious leaders of his day blindPharisees
and hypocrites! The word
hypocrite means actor – someone who puts on a show to draw attention to
themselves. The scribes regarded themselves as legal experts since they devoted
their lives to the study of the law of God contained in the five books of Moses
(Torah). They divided the 613 precepts of the Law of Moses [Rabbi Simlai,bTalmud
Makkoth 24a]]into thousands of tiny rules
and regulations. They were so exacting in their interpretations and in trying
to live them out, that they had little time for much else. By the time they
finished compiling their interpretations it took no less than fifty volumes to
contain them! Jesus chastised them for neglecting the more important matters of
religion, such as justice and the love of God. In their misguided zeal they had
lost sight of God and of his purpose for the law.Jesus used the example of tithing to show how far they had missed the mark. God had commanded a tithe of the first fruits of one's labor as an expression of thanksgiving and honor for his providential care for his people (Deuteronomy 14:22; Leviticus 27:30). The scribes, however, went to extreme lengths to tithe on insignificant things (such as tiny plants) with great mathematical accuracy. They were very attentive to minute matters of little importance, but they neglected to care for the needy and the weak. Jesus admonished them because their hearts were not right. They were filled with pride and contempt for others. They put unnecessary burdens on others while neglecting to show charity, especially to the weak and the poor. They meticulously went through the correct motions of conventional religion while forgetting the realities.
Jesus used a humorous example to show how out of proportion matters had gotten with them. Gnats were considered the smallest of insects and camels were considered the largest of animals in Palestine. Both were considered ritually impure. The scribes went to great lengths to avoid contact with gnats, even to the point of straining the wine cup with a fine cloth lest they accidently swallowed a gnat. The stark contrast must have drawn chuckles as well as groans.
What was the point of Jesus' humorous lesson? The essence of God's commandments is love – love of God and love of neighbor. God is love and everything he does flows from his love for us. True love is unconditional, costly, and sacrificial – it both embraces and lifts the burdens of others. Do you allow the love of God to transform your whole life – including the way you think of others, speak of them, and treat them?
"Lord Jesus, fill me with your love and mercy that I may always think, speak, and treat others with fairness, kindness, patience, and goodness."
www.dailyscripture.net
 First Things First |
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Memorial of Saint
Monica
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Matthew 23:23-26
Jesus said: "Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have
neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It
is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. You blind
guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel! "Woe to you, scribes
and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the
plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind
Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may
become clean.
Introductory Prayer: Lord,
I come to you again in prayer. Even though I cannot see you, I know through
faith that you are present in my life. I hope in your promise to be with me.
I love you, and I know you love me. Accept this prayer as a token of my love.
Petition: Lord, help me to dedicate my life to weightier matters rather
than mere appearances.
1. Tithed Up in Knots: When God originally commanded his people to
tithe, it was so that they would acknowledge him as the source of all the
gifts in their lives. It was to be the recognition on their part that all
they had was from him, that he is Lord, and that his law is the way to
salvation. Yet it became easy for the Israelites to fall into legalism and
forget the true purpose of the tithe. They observed the letter of the law and
forgot the meaning of the law: acknowledge the sovereignty of God. In the
end, all we are and all we have belongs to God. We have to use our talents,
wealth and possessions all for him and his kingdom. Is there some area in
which I do not acknowledge his sovereignty in my life?
2. What Really Counts: What are the weightier matters of the law?
Jesus speaks of justice and mercy and faith. When we neglect these, we are
distorting true religion, for true religion is not a question of formalisms
and actions to appease God, but rather of turning our hearts to his word. We
need to make our hearts more like his, in charity and mercy toward others.
How many times do we miss the most important things and work only at side
issues? How often do we try to please God in the wrong way, by supposing we
are doing his will when really we are only doing our own will instead? How
often do we forget the true essence of devotion to the law of God?
3. Interior Cleaning: “First clean the inside of the cup…” We
should tend to our soul and make sure the intentions behind our actions are
holy motivations. We need to check our heart frequently so that we can work
with purity of intention. Sometimes we work only to present an appearance to
others, to appear virtuous and holy, but inside we are filled with negative
judgments, such as lack of charity. Virtue comes from within the heart of a
person, where the Spirit dwells and inspires as he wills. We need to be
attentive to the Holy Spirit and follow his lead.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, you know what is in my heart. Purify
it and recast it in the image of your divine heart, so that I may love you
and love others as you love them. Let me put aside all vanity and desire for
appearances that does not give glory to you.
Resolution: I will examine my conscience as to the motives of my actions
each day, making sure I am inspired by mercy, justice and faith.
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 27
MATTHEW 23:23-26
(1 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Psalm 139)
KEY VERSE: "Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!" (v 24)
READING: Jesus lamented the false standards of the scribes and Pharisees who scrupulously adhered to the letter of the law while refusing to obey its spirit. The Mosaic law commanded that a tithe be paid on the important crops of corn, oil and wine in gratitude for God's blessings (Dt 14:22-23). The religious leaders applied the law even to the smallest garden herb. They took great pains with matters that had little importance (a"gnat") while neglecting justice, mercy and fidelity, the law's weightier purpose (a "camel"). Jesus condemned their preoccupation with external purification rituals while ignoring inner holiness. Because they were blind and corrupt, they could not lead others to faith.
REFLECTING: Am I more concerned more with my outer appearance than with inner holiness?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, cleanse me of all unrighteousness.
Memorial of Monica
A Christian from birth, Monica was married by arrangement to a pagan official in North Africa who was much older than she, and although generous, was also violent tempered. His mother lived with them and was equally difficult, which proved a constant challenge to Monica. She had three children; Augustine, Navigius, and Perpetua. Through her patience and prayers, she was able to convert her husband and his mother to the Catholic faith in 370. He died a year later. Perpetua and Navigius entered the religious life. Augustine was much more difficult, as Monica had to pray for him for 17 years, begging the prayers of priests who, for a while, tried to avoid her because of her persistence at this seemingly hopeless endeavor. One priest did console her by saying, "it is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish." This thought, coupled with a vision that she had received strengthened her. Augustine was baptized by St. Ambrose in 387. Monica died later that same year in the Italian town of Ostia, on the way back to Africa from Rome. Monica is the patron of mothers, wives and widows, of difficult marriages, disappointing children, victims of adultery, unfaithfulness, and abuse.
August 27
St. Monica
(322?-387)
The circumstances of St. Monica’s life could have made her a
nagging wife, a bitter daughter-in-law and a despairing parent, yet she did not
give way to any of these temptations. Although she was a Christian, her parents
gave her in marriage to a pagan, Patricius, who lived in her hometown of
Tagaste in North Africa. Patricius had some redeeming features, but he had a
violent temper and was licentious. Monica also had to bear with a cantankerous
mother-in-law who lived in her home. Patricius criticized his wife because of
her charity and piety, but always respected her. Monica’s prayers and example
finally won her husband and mother-in-law to Christianity. Her husband died in
371, one year after his baptism.
Monica
had at least three children who survived infancy. The oldest, Augustine (August
28) , is the most famous. At the time of his father’s death, Augustine was 17
and a rhetoric student in Carthage. Monica was distressed to learn that her son
had accepted the Manichean heresy (all flesh is evil) and was living an
immoral life. For a while, she refused to let him eat or sleep in her house.
Then one night she had a vision that assured her Augustine would return to the
faith. From that time on, she stayed close to her son, praying and fasting for
him. In fact, she often stayed much closer than Augustine wanted.
When he
was 29, Augustine decided to go to Rome to teach rhetoric. Monica was
determined to go along. One night he told his mother that he was going to the
dock to say goodbye to a friend. Instead, he set sail for Rome. Monica was
heartbroken when she learned of Augustine’s trick, but she still followed him.
She arrived in Rome only to find that he had left for Milan. Although travel
was difficult, Monica pursued him to Milan.
In Milan,
Augustine came under the influence of the bishop, St. Ambrose, who also became
Monica’s spiritual director. She accepted his advice in everything and had the
humility to give up some practices that had become second nature to her (see
Quote, below). Monica became a leader of the devout women in Milan as she had
been in Tagaste.
She
continued her prayers for Augustine during his years of instruction. At Easter,
387, St. Ambrose baptized Augustine and several of his friends. Soon after, his
party left for Africa. Although no one else was aware of it, Monica knew her
life was near the end. She told Augustine, “Son, nothing in this world now
affords me delight. I do not know what there is now left for me to do or why I
am still here, all my hopes in this world being now fulfilled.” She became ill
shortly after and suffered severely for nine days before her death.
Almost
all we know about St. Monica is in the writings of St. Augustine, especially
his Confessions.
Comment:
Today, with Internet searches, e-mail shopping, text messages, tweets and instant credit, we have little patience for things that take time. Likewise, we want instant answers to our prayers. Monica is a model of patience. Her long years of prayer, coupled with a strong, well-disciplined character, finally led to the conversion of her hot-tempered husband, her cantankerous mother-in-law and her brilliant but wayward son, Augustine.
Today, with Internet searches, e-mail shopping, text messages, tweets and instant credit, we have little patience for things that take time. Likewise, we want instant answers to our prayers. Monica is a model of patience. Her long years of prayer, coupled with a strong, well-disciplined character, finally led to the conversion of her hot-tempered husband, her cantankerous mother-in-law and her brilliant but wayward son, Augustine.
Quote:
When Monica moved from North Africa to Milan, she found religious practices new to her and also that some of her former customs, such as a Saturday fast, were not common there. She asked St. Ambrose which customs she should follow. His classic reply was: “When I am here, I do not fast on Saturday, but I fast when I am in Rome; do the same and always follow the custom and discipline of the Church as it is observed in the particular locality in which you find yourself.”
When Monica moved from North Africa to Milan, she found religious practices new to her and also that some of her former customs, such as a Saturday fast, were not common there. She asked St. Ambrose which customs she should follow. His classic reply was: “When I am here, I do not fast on Saturday, but I fast when I am in Rome; do the same and always follow the custom and discipline of the Church as it is observed in the particular locality in which you find yourself.”
Patron Saint of:
Alcoholics
Married women
Mothers
www.americancatholic.orgAlcoholics
Married women
Mothers
LECTIO: MATTHEW
23,23-26
Lectio:
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father,
help us to seek the values
that will bring us enduring joy in this changing world.
In our desire for what you promise
make us one in mind and heart.
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.
help us to seek the values
that will bring us enduring joy in this changing world.
In our desire for what you promise
make us one in mind and heart.
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 23,23-26
Jesus said: 'Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you
hypocrites! You pay your tithe of mint and dill and cummin and have neglected
the weightier matters of the Law-justice, mercy, good faith! These you should
have practised, those not neglected. You blind guides, straining out gnats and
swallowing camels!
'Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of cup and dish and leave the inside full of extortion and intemperance. Blind Pharisee! Clean the inside of cup and dish first so that it and the outside are both clean.
'Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of cup and dish and leave the inside full of extortion and intemperance. Blind Pharisee! Clean the inside of cup and dish first so that it and the outside are both clean.
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today presents two other times that this expression
was used: ‘Alas for you...’ when Jesus speaks against the religious leaders of
his time. The two ‘Alas for you...’ of today denounce the lack of coherence
between word and attitude, between exterior and interior. Today we continue our
reflection which we begun yesterday.
• Matthew 23, 23-24: The fifth ‘Alas for you...’ against those who insist on the observance and forget mercy. You pay your tithe of mint and dill and cummin and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law: justice, mercy and fidelity”. This fifth ‘Alas for you...’ of Jesus is against the religious leaders of that time and can be repeated against many religious of the following century even up to our time. Many times, in the name of Jesus, we insist on details and we forget mercy. For example, Jansenism reduces lived faith to something arid, insisting on the observance and penance which led people away from the way of love. The Carmelite Sister Teresa of Lisieux grew in the Jansenism environment which marked France at the end of the XIX century. Beginning from a personal painful experience, she knew how to recover the gratuity of love of God, a force which should animate the observance of the norms from within; because without love, the observance makes an idol of God.
• Matthew 23, 25-26: The sixth ‘Alas for you...’ against those who clean things on the outside and are dirty inside. “You clean the outside of the cup and dish and leave the inside full of extortion and intemperance. In the Sermon on the Mountain, Jesus criticises those who observe the letter of the Law and transgress the spirit of the Law. He says: "You have heard how it was said to our ancestors, You shall not kill, and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say to you anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court. Anyone who calls his brother ‘Fool’ will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and anyone who calls him ‘Traitor’ will answer for it in hell fire. You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery, but I say this to you, if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt 5, 21-22. 27-28). It is not sufficient to observe the letter of the Law. It is not sufficient not to kill, not to rob, not to commit adultery, not to swear in order to be faithful to what God asks of us. The one who observes fully the Law of God is the one who, besides observing the letter, goes deeply to the root and pulls out from within “the desires of extortion and intemperance” which may lead to murder, theft, and adultery. The fullness of the law is realized in the practice of love.
• Matthew 23, 23-24: The fifth ‘Alas for you...’ against those who insist on the observance and forget mercy. You pay your tithe of mint and dill and cummin and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law: justice, mercy and fidelity”. This fifth ‘Alas for you...’ of Jesus is against the religious leaders of that time and can be repeated against many religious of the following century even up to our time. Many times, in the name of Jesus, we insist on details and we forget mercy. For example, Jansenism reduces lived faith to something arid, insisting on the observance and penance which led people away from the way of love. The Carmelite Sister Teresa of Lisieux grew in the Jansenism environment which marked France at the end of the XIX century. Beginning from a personal painful experience, she knew how to recover the gratuity of love of God, a force which should animate the observance of the norms from within; because without love, the observance makes an idol of God.
• Matthew 23, 25-26: The sixth ‘Alas for you...’ against those who clean things on the outside and are dirty inside. “You clean the outside of the cup and dish and leave the inside full of extortion and intemperance. In the Sermon on the Mountain, Jesus criticises those who observe the letter of the Law and transgress the spirit of the Law. He says: "You have heard how it was said to our ancestors, You shall not kill, and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say to you anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court. Anyone who calls his brother ‘Fool’ will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and anyone who calls him ‘Traitor’ will answer for it in hell fire. You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery, but I say this to you, if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt 5, 21-22. 27-28). It is not sufficient to observe the letter of the Law. It is not sufficient not to kill, not to rob, not to commit adultery, not to swear in order to be faithful to what God asks of us. The one who observes fully the Law of God is the one who, besides observing the letter, goes deeply to the root and pulls out from within “the desires of extortion and intemperance” which may lead to murder, theft, and adultery. The fullness of the law is realized in the practice of love.
4) Personal questions
• There are two expressions of ‘Alas for you...’ two reasons to
receive the criticism from Jesus. Which of these two applies to me?
• Observance and gratuity: Which of these applies to me?
• Observance and gratuity: Which of these applies to me?
5) Concluding Prayer
Proclaim God’s salvation day after day,
declare his glory among the nations,
his marvels to every people! (Ps 96,2-3)
www.ocarm.orgdeclare his glory among the nations,
his marvels to every people! (Ps 96,2-3)
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