Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot
Lectionary: 387
Lectionary: 387
Thus says the LORD:
Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God;
you have collapsed through your guilt.
Take with you words,
and return to the LORD;
Say to him, “Forgive all iniquity,
and receive what is good, that we may render
as offerings the bullocks from our stalls.
Assyria will not save us,
nor shall we have horses to mount;
We shall say no more, ‘Our god,’
to the work of our hands;
for in you the orphan finds compassion.”
I will heal their defection, says the LORD,
I will love them freely;
for my wrath is turned away from them.
I will be like the dew for Israel:
he shall blossom like the lily;
He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,
and put forth his shoots.
His splendor shall be like the olive tree
and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.
Again they shall dwell in his shade
and raise grain;
They shall blossom like the vine,
and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols?
I have humbled him, but I will prosper him.
“I am like a verdant cypress tree”—
because of me you bear fruit!
Let him who is wise understand these things;
let him who is prudent know them.
Straight are the paths of the LORD,
in them the just walk,
but sinners stumble in them.
Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God;
you have collapsed through your guilt.
Take with you words,
and return to the LORD;
Say to him, “Forgive all iniquity,
and receive what is good, that we may render
as offerings the bullocks from our stalls.
Assyria will not save us,
nor shall we have horses to mount;
We shall say no more, ‘Our god,’
to the work of our hands;
for in you the orphan finds compassion.”
I will heal their defection, says the LORD,
I will love them freely;
for my wrath is turned away from them.
I will be like the dew for Israel:
he shall blossom like the lily;
He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,
and put forth his shoots.
His splendor shall be like the olive tree
and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.
Again they shall dwell in his shade
and raise grain;
They shall blossom like the vine,
and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols?
I have humbled him, but I will prosper him.
“I am like a verdant cypress tree”—
because of me you bear fruit!
Let him who is wise understand these things;
let him who is prudent know them.
Straight are the paths of the LORD,
in them the just walk,
but sinners stumble in them.
Responsorial Psalm PS 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-13, 14 AND 17
R. (17b) My mouth will declare your praise.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
Behold, you are pleased with sincerity of heart,
and in my inmost being you teach me wisdom.
Cleanse me of sin with hyssop, that I may be purified;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
Behold, you are pleased with sincerity of heart,
and in my inmost being you teach me wisdom.
Cleanse me of sin with hyssop, that I may be purified;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
Gospel MT 10:16-23
Jesus said to his
Apostles:
“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves;
so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
But beware of men,
for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.
Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel
before the Son of Man comes.”
“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves;
so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
But beware of men,
for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.
Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel
before the Son of Man comes.”
Meditation: Sheep in the midst of wolves -
wise and innocent
What does Jesus mean when he says his disciples must be sheep
in the midst of wolves (Matthew 10:16)? The prophet Isaiah foretold a
time when wolves and lambs will dwell in peace (Isaiah 11:6
and 65:25). This Old Testament prophecy certainly refers to the second coming
of Christ when all will be united under the Lordship of Jesus after he has put
down his enemies and established the reign of God over the heavens and the
earth (Ephesians 1:10 and Revelation 11:15). In the meantime, the disciples
must expect opposition and persecution from those who oppose the Gospel and the
coming of God's kingdom.
The readiness to serve and face hardship for Christ and his
kingdom
Jesus never hesitated to tell his disciples what they might expect if they chose to follow him. Here Jesus says to his disciples: This is my task for you at its grimmest and worst - do you accept it? This is not the world's way of recruitment for service and toil with promise of honor and reward. After the British defeat at Dunkirk (June 1940), Churchill offered his country blood, toil, sweat, and tears.
Jesus never hesitated to tell his disciples what they might expect if they chose to follow him. Here Jesus says to his disciples: This is my task for you at its grimmest and worst - do you accept it? This is not the world's way of recruitment for service and toil with promise of honor and reward. After the British defeat at Dunkirk (June 1940), Churchill offered his country blood, toil, sweat, and tears.
This is not the message we prefer to hear when the Lord Jesus
commissions us in his service for the advancement of God's kingdom and the
battle against Satan's kingdom of darkness and death. Nonetheless, our
privilege is to follow in the footsteps of the Lord and Master who willingly
laid down his life for us in order to bring us victory over Satan, sin, and
death. Are you willing to accept hardship and suffering in serving the Lord
Jesus Christ?
"Lord Jesus, help me to patiently and joyfully accept the
hardships, adversities, and persecution which come my way in serving you and
your kingdom of love, truth,and goodness. Strengthen my faith and give me
courage that I may not shrink back from doing your will."
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Divisions in the Family. |
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July 11, 2014. Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot
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Matthew 10:16-23
Jesus said to his Apostles: "Behold, I am sending you
like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as
doves. But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and
scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and
kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you
over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You
will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who
speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand
over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up
against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because
of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute
you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the
towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, you are the one constant in my life. You are my
beginning and my end. I love you as my savior. I trust you as my closest
companion. I hope in you as the one who will welcome me into eternal joy.
Petition: Grant me, Lord, a deeper union with you as the only one
who will never fail me.
1. Trust, But Not Too Much: A key paradox of Jesus was that he
loved us so much that he underwent the horrors of crucifixion to redeem us
and give us a chance at salvation. Yet, he also knows our weaknesses. He
knows how fickle the human heart can be. "Jesus would not trust himself
to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about
human nature. He himself understood it well" (John 2:24-25).
Likewise, Christ warns us not to put too much faith in other people. Like us,
everyone else has weaknesses. Our faith in them should be relative and
realistic. It shouldn´t be on the same level as our faith in Christ. Do I put
"too much" faith in others? Do I realize that expecting too much
from them leaves me open to needless anguish?
2. Betrayal for Siblings: Christ is the rock against which the
waves of humanity crash. His demands cut to the heart of each of us, and
require a personal response. How each person responds is a mystery. Some will
say yes, some will say no. The division within each person can echo in
divisions within families. Little wonder that kin can be our fiercest foes.
Christ´s own show of steadfastness assures us that he remains more loyal than
even family members. Can I accept that following Christ can cause friction
with my loved ones? Can I offer up my trials for their salvation?
3. Love Without Sacrifice: Christ never promised his followers an
easy life. If he had, there would be no shortage of disciples. He knows what
really makes us mature in love: sacrifice. Sacrifice purifies us, ennobles
us. Love without sacrifice is a fairy tale. To love means to share in
another´s pain. "When men and women demand to be autonomous and totally
self-sufficient," said Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI in a speech February
9, 2008, "they run the risk of being closed in a self-reliance that …
reduces them to an oppressive solitude." Similarly, if we close
ourselves to God´s pleasure, we stay stuck in our littleness. Can I accept
suffering for Christ as a way to break out of the cocoon of my comfort?
Conversation with Christ: Jesus, it´s not easy being your
follower. Opposition can arise on all sides, even from within the family.
Help me bear all this well, for love of you. Grant me the serenity to
persevere in the faith. I offer my sacrifices for the salvation of those who
oppose my following you.
Resolution: I will pray or make a sacrifice for a family member who
is away from the faith.
FRIDAY,
JULY 11, MATTHEW 10:16-23
(Hosea 14:2-10; Psalm 51)  KEY VERSE: "Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves" (v 16). READING: When Jesus sent his twelve apostles to proclaim God's reign, he warned them that they would suffer persecution. His followers would be like innocent sheep among ravenous wolves. While they must be unblemished in their personal conduct, they also must be shrewd in their dealings with those who opposed them. Though the apostles would be arrested and mistreated by both religious and political leaders, they need not be concerned about how they would defend themselves. The Spirit of God would enable them to be faithful witnesses (Greek: martus, by analogy, a martyr). The apostles would face hostility and betrayal even from their own families, but they must not lose confidence. Those who persevered to the end would be saved. REFLECTING: Do I have the courage to profess my faith despite opposition from others? PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to live a life of courageous faithfulnes
Memorial of Benedict, abbot
 Benedict was the twin brother of St. Scholastica. While studying in Rome, Benedict was dismayed by the lack of discipline of his fellow students. He fled to the mountains near Subiaco, living as a hermit in a cave for three years. Benedict's virtues caused a group of monks to prevail upon him to become their spiritual leader. He founded the monastery at Monte Cassino where he wrote the Rule of his order. Benedict continued to attract followers, and eventually established twelve monasteries. It is said that Benedict had the ability to read consciences, was able to prophesy and forestall attacks of the devil. He destroyed pagan statues and altars, and drove demons from groves that were sacred to pagans. At one point there were over 40,000 monasteries guided by the Benedictine Rule. A summation of the Rule is: "Pray and work" (ora et labora). Though Benedict was not the founder of Christian monasticism, since he lived two and a half to three centuries after its beginnings in Egypt, Palestine, and Asia Minor, he had great influence on monastic life. |
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Startling Qualities
The really significant stuff—God, love, forgiveness, joy,
friendship, thanksgiving—are always invisible and visible at the same time. The
give and take between what’s seen and unseen is what makes our relationships
with God and others so compelling, even startling.
My mouth will declare your praise
The beauty of olives and the fragrance of Lebanon are promised to
those who look to the Lord.Hosea continues—disloyalty will be healed, orphans will be comforted, for the way of the Lord is one of completion and fruitfulness. Jesus, in a forewarning to those about to join him on his journey, tells of a life that will require both strength and weakness. The strength of courage against adversity, and a ‘weakness’ which will allow openness to the spirit. To be on mission with Jesus requires both flexibility to the journey’s demands and the ability to respond fully to each occasion. God grant us such a daily mix of strength and weakness, and the discernment to know the appropriate response to each situation—to be as ‘cunning as serpents yet as harmless as doves’.
July
11
St. Benedict
(480?-543)
St. Benedict
(480?-543)
It is unfortunate that no contemporary biography was written of a
man who has exercised the greatest influence on monasticism in the West.
Benedict is well recognized in the later Dialogues of St.
Gregory, but these are sketches to illustrate miraculous elements of his
career.
Benedict
was born into a distinguished family in central Italy, studied at Rome and
early in life was drawn to the monastic life. At first he became a hermit,
leaving a depressing world—pagan armies on the march, the Church torn by
schism, people suffering from war, morality at a low ebb.
He soon
realized that he could not live a hidden life in a small town any better than
in a large city, so he withdrew to a cave high in the mountains for three
years. Some monks chose him as their leader for a while, but found his
strictness not to their taste. Still, the shift from hermit to community life
had begun for him. He had an idea of gathering various families of monks into
one “Grand Monastery” to give them the benefit of unity, fraternity, permanent
worship in one house. Finally he began to build what was to become one of the
most famous monasteries in the world—Monte Cassino, commanding three narrow
valleys running toward the mountains north of Naples.
The Rule
that gradually developed prescribed a life of liturgical prayer, study, manual
labor and living together in community under a common father (abbot).
Benedictine asceticism is known for its moderation, and Benedictine charity has
always shown concern for the people in the surrounding countryside. In the
course of the Middle Ages, all monasticism in the West was gradually brought
under the Rule of St. Benedict.
Today the
Benedictine family is represented by two branches: the Benedictine Federation
and the Cistercians.
Comment:
The Church has been blessed through Benedictine devotion to the liturgy, not only in its actual celebration with rich and proper ceremony in the great abbeys, but also through the scholarly studies of many of its members. Liturgy is sometimes confused with guitars or choirs, Latin or Bach. We should be grateful to those who both preserve and adapt the genuine tradition of worship in the Church.
The Church has been blessed through Benedictine devotion to the liturgy, not only in its actual celebration with rich and proper ceremony in the great abbeys, but also through the scholarly studies of many of its members. Liturgy is sometimes confused with guitars or choirs, Latin or Bach. We should be grateful to those who both preserve and adapt the genuine tradition of worship in the Church.
Quote:
“Rightly, then, the liturgy is considered as an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ. In the liturgy the sanctification of man is manifested by signs perceptible to the senses...; in the liturgy full public worship is performed by the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, that is, by the Head and his members.
“Rightly, then, the liturgy is considered as an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ. In the liturgy the sanctification of man is manifested by signs perceptible to the senses...; in the liturgy full public worship is performed by the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, that is, by the Head and his members.
“From this it follows
that every liturgical celebration, because it is an action of Christ the priest
and of his Body the Church, is a sacred action, surpassing all others” (Vatican
II, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 7).
Patron Saint of:
Europe
Kidney disease
Poisoning
Schoolchildren
Europe
Kidney disease
Poisoning
Schoolchildren
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 10,16-23
Lectio:
Friday, July 11, 2014
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father,
through the obedience of Jesus,
your servant and your Son,
you raised a fallen world.
Free us from sin
and bring us the joy that lasts for ever.
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 10,16-23
Jesus said to his disciples: “Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as snakes and yet innocent as doves. 'Be prepared for people to hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, as evidence to them and to the gentiles. But when you are handed over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes, because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.
'Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will come forward against their parents and have them put to death. You will be universally hated on account of my name; but anyone who stands firm to the end will be saved.
If they persecute you in one town, take refuge in the next; and if they persecute you in that, take refuge in another. In truth I tell you, you will not have gone the round of the towns of Israel before the Son of man comes.
3) Reflection
• To the community of his disciples, called and gathered together around him and invested with his same authority as collaborators, Jesus entrusts them directives in view of their future mission.
• Matthew 10, 16-19: Danger and trust in God. Jesus introduces this part of his discourse with two metaphors: sheep in the midst of wolves; prudent as serpents, simple as the doves. The first one serves to show the difficult and dangerous context to which the disciples are sent. On the one hand, the dangerous situation is made evident in which the disciples sent on mission will find themselves; on the other the expression “I send you” expresses protection. Also regarding the astuteness of the serpent and the simplicity of the dove Jesus seems to put together two attitudes: trust in God and prolonged and attentive reflection on the way in which we should relate with others.
Jesus, then, following this gives an order that seems, at first sight, filled with mistrust: «beware of men...”, but, in reality, it means to be attentive to possible persecutions, hostility, and denouncement. The expression “will deliver you” does not only refer to the accusation in the tribunal but, above all, it has a theological value: the disciples who is following Jesus can experience the same experience of the Master of “being delivered in the hands of man” (17, 22). The disciples must be strong and resist in order “to give witness”, The fact of being delivered to the tribunal should become a witness for the Jews and for the Pagans, it is the possibility to be able to draw them to the person and the cause of Jesus and, therefore, to the knowledge of the Gospel. This positive implication is important as a result of witnessing: characterized by the credible and fascinating faith.
• Matthew 10, 20: the divine help. So that all this may take place in the mission-witness of the disciples it is essential to have the help that comes from God. That is to say that we should not trust our own security and resources, but the disciples in critical, dangerous and aggressive situations, for their lives found help and solidarity in God. For their mission as disciples is also promised the Spirit of the Father (v.20), he is the one who acts in them when they are committed in their mission of evangelization and of witnessing, the Spirit will speak through them.
• Matthew 10, 21-22: Threat-consolation. Once again the announcement of threat is repeated in the expression “will be delivered”: Brother will betray brother, a father against his son, the sons against the parents. It is a question of a true and great disorder in the social relationships, the breaking up of the family. Persons who are bound by the most intimate family relationships – such as parents, children, brothers and sisters – will fall in the misfortune of mutually hating and eliminating one another. In what sense does such a division of the family have to do with the witness in behalf of Jesus? Such breaking up of the family relationships could be caused by the diverse attitudes that are taken within the family, regarding Jesus. The expression “you will be hated” seems to indicate the theme of the hostile acceptance on the part of the contemporaries and of those he sent. The strong sense of the words of Jesus find a comparison in another part of the New Testament: «Blessed are you if you are insulted for the sake of Christ’s name, because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, rests upon you. No one of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or evil doer or as a spy. But if one suffers as a Christian, do not blush, because of this name, rather give glory to God”. After the threat, follows the promise of consolation (v.3). The greatest consolation for the disciples will be that of “being saved”, of being able to live the experience of the Saviour, that is to say, to participate in his victories.
• To the community of his disciples, called and gathered together around him and invested with his same authority as collaborators, Jesus entrusts them directives in view of their future mission.
• Matthew 10, 16-19: Danger and trust in God. Jesus introduces this part of his discourse with two metaphors: sheep in the midst of wolves; prudent as serpents, simple as the doves. The first one serves to show the difficult and dangerous context to which the disciples are sent. On the one hand, the dangerous situation is made evident in which the disciples sent on mission will find themselves; on the other the expression “I send you” expresses protection. Also regarding the astuteness of the serpent and the simplicity of the dove Jesus seems to put together two attitudes: trust in God and prolonged and attentive reflection on the way in which we should relate with others.
Jesus, then, following this gives an order that seems, at first sight, filled with mistrust: «beware of men...”, but, in reality, it means to be attentive to possible persecutions, hostility, and denouncement. The expression “will deliver you” does not only refer to the accusation in the tribunal but, above all, it has a theological value: the disciples who is following Jesus can experience the same experience of the Master of “being delivered in the hands of man” (17, 22). The disciples must be strong and resist in order “to give witness”, The fact of being delivered to the tribunal should become a witness for the Jews and for the Pagans, it is the possibility to be able to draw them to the person and the cause of Jesus and, therefore, to the knowledge of the Gospel. This positive implication is important as a result of witnessing: characterized by the credible and fascinating faith.
• Matthew 10, 20: the divine help. So that all this may take place in the mission-witness of the disciples it is essential to have the help that comes from God. That is to say that we should not trust our own security and resources, but the disciples in critical, dangerous and aggressive situations, for their lives found help and solidarity in God. For their mission as disciples is also promised the Spirit of the Father (v.20), he is the one who acts in them when they are committed in their mission of evangelization and of witnessing, the Spirit will speak through them.
• Matthew 10, 21-22: Threat-consolation. Once again the announcement of threat is repeated in the expression “will be delivered”: Brother will betray brother, a father against his son, the sons against the parents. It is a question of a true and great disorder in the social relationships, the breaking up of the family. Persons who are bound by the most intimate family relationships – such as parents, children, brothers and sisters – will fall in the misfortune of mutually hating and eliminating one another. In what sense does such a division of the family have to do with the witness in behalf of Jesus? Such breaking up of the family relationships could be caused by the diverse attitudes that are taken within the family, regarding Jesus. The expression “you will be hated” seems to indicate the theme of the hostile acceptance on the part of the contemporaries and of those he sent. The strong sense of the words of Jesus find a comparison in another part of the New Testament: «Blessed are you if you are insulted for the sake of Christ’s name, because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, rests upon you. No one of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or evil doer or as a spy. But if one suffers as a Christian, do not blush, because of this name, rather give glory to God”. After the threat, follows the promise of consolation (v.3). The greatest consolation for the disciples will be that of “being saved”, of being able to live the experience of the Saviour, that is to say, to participate in his victories.
4) Personal questions
• What do these dispositions of Jesus teach us today for understanding the mission of the Christian?
• Do you know how to trust on divine help when you experience conflicts, persecutions and trials?
• What do these dispositions of Jesus teach us today for understanding the mission of the Christian?
• Do you know how to trust on divine help when you experience conflicts, persecutions and trials?
5) Concluding Prayer
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
sustain in me a generous spirit.
Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will speak out your praise. (Ps 51,12.15)
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
sustain in me a generous spirit.
Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will speak out your praise. (Ps 51,12.15)
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