Wednesday
of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 367
Lectionary: 367
When
the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind,
he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here;
the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.”
“As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live,
I will not leave you,” Elisha replied.
And so the two went on together.
Fifty of the guild prophets followed and
when the two stopped at the Jordan,
they stood facing them at a distance.
Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up
and struck the water, which divided,
and both crossed over on dry ground.
When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha,
“Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.”
Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.”
“You have asked something that is not easy,” Elijah replied.
“Still, if you see me taken up from you,
your wish will be granted; otherwise not.”
As they walked on conversing,
a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them,
and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
When Elisha saw it happen he cried out,
“My father! my father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!”
But when he could no longer see him,
Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two.
Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle that had fallen from him,
and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan.
Wielding the mantle that had fallen from Elijah,
Elisha struck the water in his turn and said,
“Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?”
When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over.
he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here;
the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.”
“As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live,
I will not leave you,” Elisha replied.
And so the two went on together.
Fifty of the guild prophets followed and
when the two stopped at the Jordan,
they stood facing them at a distance.
Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up
and struck the water, which divided,
and both crossed over on dry ground.
When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha,
“Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.”
Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.”
“You have asked something that is not easy,” Elijah replied.
“Still, if you see me taken up from you,
your wish will be granted; otherwise not.”
As they walked on conversing,
a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them,
and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
When Elisha saw it happen he cried out,
“My father! my father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!”
But when he could no longer see him,
Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two.
Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle that had fallen from him,
and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan.
Wielding the mantle that had fallen from Elijah,
Elisha struck the water in his turn and said,
“Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?”
When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 31:20, 21, 24
R.
(25) Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
How great is the goodness, O LORD,
which you have in store for those who fear you,
And which, toward those who take refuge in you,
you show in the sight of the children of men.
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence
from the plottings of men;
You screen them within your abode
from the strife of tongues.
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
Love the LORD, all you his faithful ones!
The LORD keeps those who are constant,
but more than requites those who act proudly.
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
How great is the goodness, O LORD,
which you have in store for those who fear you,
And which, toward those who take refuge in you,
you show in the sight of the children of men.
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence
from the plottings of men;
You screen them within your abode
from the strife of tongues.
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
Love the LORD, all you his faithful ones!
The LORD keeps those who are constant,
but more than requites those who act proudly.
R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
AlleluiaJN 14:23
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him
and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him
and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 6:1-6, 16-18
Jesus
said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,
and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,
and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
Meditation: When you pray, fast, and
give alms
Why
did Jesus single out prayer, fasting, and almsgiving for his disciples? The
Jews considered these three as the cardinal works of the religious life. These
were seen as the key signs of a pious person, the three great pillars on which
the good life was based. Jesus pointed to the heart of the matter. Why do you
pray, fast, and give alms? To draw attention to yourself so that others may
notice and think highly of you? Or to give glory to God?
The
Lord warns his disciples of self-seeking glory - the preoccupation with looking
good and seeking praise from others. True piety is something more than feeling
good or looking holy. True piety is loving devotion to God. It is an attitude
of awe, reverence, worship and obedience. It is a gift and working of the Holy
Spirit that enables us to devote our lives to God with a holy desire to please
him in all things (Isaiah 11:1-2).
Completely
united with God our Father
What is the sure reward which Jesus points out to his disciples? It is communion with God our Father. In him alone we find the fulness of life and happiness, truth and beauty, love and joy. Saint Augustine, the great fourth century bishop of Hippo, wrote the following prayer in his Confessions: When I am completely united to you, there will be no more sorrows or trials; entirely full of you, my life will be complete.
What is the sure reward which Jesus points out to his disciples? It is communion with God our Father. In him alone we find the fulness of life and happiness, truth and beauty, love and joy. Saint Augustine, the great fourth century bishop of Hippo, wrote the following prayer in his Confessions: When I am completely united to you, there will be no more sorrows or trials; entirely full of you, my life will be complete.
The
Lord rewards those who seek him with humble and repentant hearts. He renews us
each day and he gives us new hearts of love and compassion that we may serve
him and our neighbor with glad and generous hearts. Do you want to grow in your
love for God and for your neighbor? Seek him expectantly in prayer, with
fasting, and in generous giving to those in need.
“Lord
Jesus, give me a lively faith, a firm hope, a fervent charity, and a great love
for you. Take from me all lukewarmness in meditating on your word, and dullness
in prayer. Give me fervor and delight in thinking of you and your grace. Fill
my heart with compassion for others, especially those in need, that I may
respond with generosity.”
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Pray with the angels, by John
Chrysostom, 547-407 A.D.
"When you pray, it is as if you were entering
into a palace - not a palace on earth, but far more awesome, a palace in
heaven. When you enter there, you do so with complete attentiveness and fitting
respect. For in the houses of kings all turmoil is set aside, and silence
reigns. Yet here you are being joined by choirs of angels. You are in communion
with archangels and singing with the seraphim, who sing with great awe their
spiritual hymns and sacred songs to God, the Lord of all. So when you are
praying, mingle with these voices, patterning yourself according to their
mystical order. It is not to human beings that you are praying but to God, who
is present everywhere, who hears even before you speak and who knows already
the secrets of the heart. If you pray to this One, you shall receive a great
reward. 'For your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly.' He did
not merely say he would give it to you but reward you, as if he himself had
made a pledge to you and so honored you with a great honor. Because God himself
is hidden, your prayer should be hidden." (excerpt
from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 19.3)
Wednesday 15 June, 2016
Wed 15th. 2 Kings 2:1,
6-14. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord—Ps 30(31):20, 21,
24. Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18.
Acts of charity and good.
Acts of charity and good.
‘ … And
your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’
The temptation
to brag about good works or deeds is an easy trap to fall into. Almsgiving or
charity can make us feel good and it’s easy to want to share that with others.
It can also be a way to ‘big-note’ oneself, seeking praise or
self-glorification. It can also lead a person to pass judgement on others who
may not participate in almsgiving to the same level.
Today, let us
pray for a more charitable heart and a strong desire to do good things for
other people because it is the right thing to do, and not for any personal
reward.
MINUTE
MEDITATIONS
|
One With God
|
We discover that to be pure of heart does not make us lonely and
alone, but makes us one with everything God has made—ultimately, one with God
himself. That is being at peace: being one with God and embracing his whole
world.
June 15
St. Marguerite d’Youville
(1701-1771)
St. Marguerite d’Youville
(1701-1771)
We
learn compassion from allowing our lives to be influenced by compassionate
people, by seeing life from their perspective and reconsidering our own values.
Born
in Varennes, Canada, Marie Marguerite Dufrost de Lajemmerais had to interrupt
her schooling at the age of 12 to help her widowed mother. Eight years later
she married Francois d'Youville; they had six children, four of whom died
young. Despite the fact that her husband gambled, sold liquor illegally to
Native Americans and treated her indifferently, she cared for him
compassionately before his death in 1730.
Even
though she was caring for two small children and running a store to help pay
off her husband's debts, Marguerite still helped the poor. Once her children
were grown, she and several companions rescued a Quebec hospital that was in
danger of failing. She called her community the Institute of the Sisters of
Charity of Montreal; the people called them the "Grey Nuns" because
of the color of their habit. In time, a proverb arose among the poor people of
Montreal, "Go to the Grey Nuns; they never refuse to serve." In time,
five other religious communities traced their roots to the Grey Nuns.
The
General Hospital in Montreal became known as the Hotel Dieu (House of God) and
set a standard for medical care and Christian compassion. When the hospital was
destroyed by fire in 1766, she knelt in the ashes, led the Te Deum (a
hymn to God's providence in all circumstances) and began the rebuilding
process. She fought the attempts of government officials to restrain her
charity and established the first foundling home in North America.
Saint John
XXIII, who beatified her in 1959, called her the "Mother of Universal
Charity." She was canonized in 1990.
Comment:
Saints deal with plenty of discouragement, plenty of reasons to say, "Life isn't fair" and wonder where God is in the rubble of their lives. We honor saints like Marguerite because they show us that, with God's grace and their cooperation, suffering can lead to compassion rather than to bitterness.
Saints deal with plenty of discouragement, plenty of reasons to say, "Life isn't fair" and wonder where God is in the rubble of their lives. We honor saints like Marguerite because they show us that, with God's grace and their cooperation, suffering can lead to compassion rather than to bitterness.
Quote:
"More than once the work which Marguerite undertook was hindered by nature or people. In order to work to bring that new world of justice and love closer, she had to fight some hard and difficult battles" (Pope John Paul II, canonization homily).
"More than once the work which Marguerite undertook was hindered by nature or people. In order to work to bring that new world of justice and love closer, she had to fight some hard and difficult battles" (Pope John Paul II, canonization homily).
LECTIO DIVINA: MATTHEW
6,1-6.16-18
Lectio
Divina:
Wednesday,
June 15, 2016
1)
OPENING PRAYER
Almighty
God,
our hope and our strength,
without you we falter.
Help us to follow Christ
and to live according to your will.
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
our hope and our strength,
without you we falter.
Help us to follow Christ
and to live according to your will.
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2)
GOSPEL READING - MATTHEW 6,1-6.16-18
Jesus
said to his disciples: 'Be careful not to parade your uprightness in public to
attract attention; otherwise you will lose all reward from your Father in
heaven.
So
when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the
hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win human admiration. In
truth I tell you, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left
hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret,
and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.
'And
when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers
standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them.
In truth I tell you, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your
private room, shut yourself in, and so pray to your Father who is in that
secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward
you.
'When
you are fasting, do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they go
about looking unsightly to let people know they are fasting. In truth I tell
you, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put scent on your head and
wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who
sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in
secret will reward you.
3)
REFLECTION
• The
Gospel of today continues the meditation on the Sermon on the Mountain. In the
previous days we have reflected at length on the message of chapter 5 of
Matthew’s Gospel. In today’s Gospel and the following days we meditate on the
message of chapter 6 of this Gospel. The sequence of chapters 5 and 6 can help
us to understand it. The passages in italics indicate the text of today’s
Gospel. The following is the schema:
Matthew
5, 1-12: The Beatitudes: solemn opening of the New Law
Matthew 5, 13-16: The new presence in the world: Salt of the earth and Light of the world
Matthew 5, 17-19: The new practice of justice; relationship with the ancient law
Matthew 5, 20-48: The new practice of justice: observing the new Law.
Matthew 6, 1-4: The new practice of piety: alms
Matthew 6, 5-15: The new practice of the works of piety: prayer
Matthew 6, 16-18: The new practice of the works of piety: fasting
Matthew 6, 19-21: New relationship to material goods: do not accumulate
Matthew 6, 22-23: New relationship to material goods: correct vision
Matthew 6, 24: New relationship to material goods: God and money
Matthew 6, 25-34: New relationship to material goods: abandonment in Providence.
Matthew 5, 13-16: The new presence in the world: Salt of the earth and Light of the world
Matthew 5, 17-19: The new practice of justice; relationship with the ancient law
Matthew 5, 20-48: The new practice of justice: observing the new Law.
Matthew 6, 1-4: The new practice of piety: alms
Matthew 6, 5-15: The new practice of the works of piety: prayer
Matthew 6, 16-18: The new practice of the works of piety: fasting
Matthew 6, 19-21: New relationship to material goods: do not accumulate
Matthew 6, 22-23: New relationship to material goods: correct vision
Matthew 6, 24: New relationship to material goods: God and money
Matthew 6, 25-34: New relationship to material goods: abandonment in Providence.
Today’s
Gospel treats three themes: alms giving (6, 1-4), prayer (6, 5-6) and fasting
(6, 16-18). These are three works of piety of the Jews.
•
Matthew 6,1: Be careful not to parade your uprightness to attract
attention. Jesus criticises those who do the good works to be seen by
men (Mt 6,1). Jesus asks to build up interior security not in what we do for
God, but in what God does for us. From the advise that he gives there results a
new type of relationship with God: “Your Father who sees all that is
done in secret will reward you” (Mt 6,4). "Your Father
knows what you need before you ask him” (Mt 6, 8). "If
you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive your
failings” (Mt 6, 14). It is a new way which opens itself now to have
access to the Heart of God our Father. Jesus does not allow that the practice
of justice and of piety be used as a means for self promotion before God and
before the community (Mt 6, 2.5.16).
•
Matthew 6, 2-4: How to practice almsgiving. To give alms is a
way of sharing, very recommended by the first Christians (Ac 2, 44-45; 4,
32-35). The person who practices alms giving and sharing to promote herself
before others merits to be excluded from the community, as it happened to
Ananias and Saphira (Ac 5, 1-11). Today, in society as well as in the Church,
there are persons who make great publicity of the good that they do to others. Jesus
asks the contrary: to do good in such a way that the left hand does not know
what the right hand does. It is the total detachment and the total gift in
total gratuity of the love which believes in God the Father and imitates all
that he does.
•
Matthew 6, 5-6: How to practice prayer. Prayer places the
person in direct relationship with God. Some Pharisees transformed prayer into
an occasion to show themselves before others. At that time, when the trumpet
sounded in the three moments of prayer, morning, noon and evening, they should
stop in the place where they were to pray. There were people who sought to be
in the corners in public places, in such a way that everybody would see that
they were praying. Well then, such an attitude perverts our relationship with
God. This is false and has no sense. This is why, Jesus says that it is better
to close up oneself in our room to pray in secret, maintaining the authenticity
of the relationship. God sees you even in secret, and he always listens to you.
It is a question of a personal prayer, not of a community prayer.
•
Matthew 6, 16-18: How to practice fasting. At that time the
practice of fasting was accompanied by some very visible external gestures: not
to wash one’s face, not to comb one’s hair, use sober dresses. These were
visible signs of fasting. Jesus criticises this form of fasting and orders to
do the contrary, and thus others cannot become aware that you are fasting:
bathe, use perfume, and comb your hair well. In this way, only your Father who
sees in secret knows that you are fasting and he will reward you.
4)
PERSONAL QUESTIONS
•
When you pray, how do you live your relationship with God?
• How
do you live your relationship with others in the family and in community?
5)
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Yahweh,
what quantities of good things you have in store
for those who fear you,
and bestow on those who make you their refuge,
for all humanity to see. (Ps 31,19)
for those who fear you,
and bestow on those who make you their refuge,
for all humanity to see. (Ps 31,19)
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