Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 379
Lectionary: 379
Seek good and not evil,
that you may live;
Then truly will the LORD, the God of hosts,
be with you as you claim!
Hate evil and love good,
and let justice prevail at the gate;
Then it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts,
will have pity on the remnant of Joseph.
that you may live;
Then truly will the LORD, the God of hosts,
be with you as you claim!
Hate evil and love good,
and let justice prevail at the gate;
Then it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts,
will have pity on the remnant of Joseph.
I hate, I spurn your feasts, says
the LORD,
I take no pleasure in your solemnities;
Your cereal offerings I will not accept,
nor consider your stall-fed peace offerings.
Away with your noisy songs!
I will not listen to the melodies of your harps.
But if you would offer me burnt offerings,
then let justice surge like water,
and goodness like an unfailing stream.
I take no pleasure in your solemnities;
Your cereal offerings I will not accept,
nor consider your stall-fed peace offerings.
Away with your noisy songs!
I will not listen to the melodies of your harps.
But if you would offer me burnt offerings,
then let justice surge like water,
and goodness like an unfailing stream.
Responsorial
Psalm50:7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 16BC-17
R. (23b) To the upright I will
show the saving power of God.
“Hear, my people, and I will speak;
Israel, I will testify against you;
God, your God, am I.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“For mine are all the animals of the forests,
beasts by the thousand on my mountains.
I know all the birds of the air,
and whatever stirs in the plains, belongs to me.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“If I were hungry, I should not tell you,
for mine are the world and its fullness.
Do I eat the flesh of strong bulls,
or is the blood of goats my drink?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Hear, my people, and I will speak;
Israel, I will testify against you;
God, your God, am I.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“For mine are all the animals of the forests,
beasts by the thousand on my mountains.
I know all the birds of the air,
and whatever stirs in the plains, belongs to me.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“If I were hungry, I should not tell you,
for mine are the world and its fullness.
Do I eat the flesh of strong bulls,
or is the blood of goats my drink?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
AlleluiaJAS 1:18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 8:28-34
When Jesus came to the territory
of the Gadarenes,
two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him.
They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.
They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God?
Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”
Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.
The demons pleaded with him,
“If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.”
And he said to them, “Go then!”
They came out and entered the swine,
and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea
where they drowned.
The swineherds ran away,
and when they came to the town they reported everything,
including what had happened to the demoniacs.
Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus,
and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.
two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him.
They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.
They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God?
Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”
Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.
The demons pleaded with him,
“If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.”
And he said to them, “Go then!”
They came out and entered the swine,
and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea
where they drowned.
The swineherds ran away,
and when they came to the town they reported everything,
including what had happened to the demoniacs.
Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus,
and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.
For the readings of
the Optional Memorial of Saint Junípero Serra, please go here.
Meditation: Jesus frees
those who are bound up
Do
you ever feel driven by forces beyond your strength? Two men who were possessed
and driven mad by the force of many evil spirits found refuge in the one person
who could set them free. Both Mark and Luke in their Gospel accounts of this
incident describe this demonic force as a legion (Mark 5:9 and Luke 8:30). A
legion is no small force but an army 6,000 strong! For the people of Palestine
who were often hemmed in by occupied forces, a legion - whether human or
supernatural - struck terror! Legions at their wildest committed unmentionable
atrocities. Our age has also witnessed untold crimes and mass destruction at
the hands of possessed rulers and their armies.
No force can withstand Christ's power and authority
What is more remarkable - the destructive force of these driven and possessed men, or their bended knee at Jesus' feet imploring mercy and release (Luke 8:28)? God's word reminds us that no destructive force can keep anyone from the peace and safety which God offers to those who seek his help. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. ..Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your habitation (Psalm 91:7,9).
Jesus took pity on these men who were overtaken by a legion of evil spirits. The destructive force of these demons is evident for all who can see as they flee and destroy a herd of swine. After Jesus freed the demoniacs the whole city came out to meet him. No one had demonstrated such power and authority against the forces of Satan as Jesus did. They feared Jesus as a result and begged him to leave them. Why would they not want Jesus to stay? Perhaps the price for such liberation from the power of evil and sin was more than they wanted to pay.
Jesus will free us from anything that binds us
The Lord Jesus is ready and willing to free us from anything that binds us and that keeps us from the love of God. Are you willing to part with anything that might keep you from his love and saving power?
No force can withstand Christ's power and authority
What is more remarkable - the destructive force of these driven and possessed men, or their bended knee at Jesus' feet imploring mercy and release (Luke 8:28)? God's word reminds us that no destructive force can keep anyone from the peace and safety which God offers to those who seek his help. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. ..Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your habitation (Psalm 91:7,9).
Jesus took pity on these men who were overtaken by a legion of evil spirits. The destructive force of these demons is evident for all who can see as they flee and destroy a herd of swine. After Jesus freed the demoniacs the whole city came out to meet him. No one had demonstrated such power and authority against the forces of Satan as Jesus did. They feared Jesus as a result and begged him to leave them. Why would they not want Jesus to stay? Perhaps the price for such liberation from the power of evil and sin was more than they wanted to pay.
Jesus will free us from anything that binds us
The Lord Jesus is ready and willing to free us from anything that binds us and that keeps us from the love of God. Are you willing to part with anything that might keep you from his love and saving power?
"Lord
Jesus, unbind me that I may love you wholly and walk in the freedom of your way
of love and holiness. May there be nothing which keeps me from the joy of
living in your presence."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: Christ is triumphant over the forces
of demons, by Peter Chrysologus (400-450 AD)
"[Jesus]
said to them, 'Go!' The foul-smelling animals are delivered up, not at the will
of the demons but to show how savage the demons can become against humans. They
ardently seek to destroy and dispossess all that is, acts, moves and lives.
They seek the death of people. The ancient enmity of deep-rooted wrath and
malice is in store for the human race. Demons do not give up easily unless they
are forcibly overcome. They are doing the harm they are ordered to do.
Therefore the foul-smelling animals are delivered up that it may be made clear
to the demons that they have permission to enter the swine but not to enter
humans. It is by our vices that we empower them to do harm. Similarly, by our
power of faith we tread on the necks of demons. They become subject to us under
Christ who is triumphant." (excerpt from SERMONS 16.8)
[Peter Chrysologus (400-450 AD) was a renowned preacher and bishop of Ravena in the 5th century]
[Peter Chrysologus (400-450 AD) was a renowned preacher and bishop of Ravena in the 5th century]
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, MATTHEW 8:28-34
Weekday
(Amos 5:14-15, 21-24; Psalm 50)
Weekday
(Amos 5:14-15, 21-24; Psalm 50)
KEY VERSE: "They cried out, `What have you to do with us, Son of God?'" (v. 29).
TO KNOW: After Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee (v. 23-27) he and his disciples arrived on the shore in the region of the Gadarenes (Gerasenes in Mk 5:1, Lk 8:26). In this rugged, pagan territory, Jesus was confronted by two demoniacs (just one in Mark and Luke's gospels). The demons recognized Jesus as the Son of God who had come to establish God's reign and destroy the powers of evil. When they tried to block Jesus’ mission to proclaim the gospel, he sent these vile spirits into a herd of swine (considered "unclean" by the Jews). The animals rushed headlong over a cliff and were drowned in the sea, a symbol of destructive forces (Gn 1:1-2). However, the people were more fearful of Jesus' power than the presence of evil, and they beseeched him to leave them.
TO LOVE: Am I an instrument of liberation or oppression of others?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, free me from any evil that attempts to corrupt my life.
Optional Memorial of Saint Junipero Serra, priest
Miguel Joseph Serra was born in 1713 on the Spanish island of Mallorca, Spain. At age of 16, Serra joined the Franciscan Order, taking the name Junipero after a friend of Saint Francis. In 1749, Padre Serra was sent to the western missionary territories of North America. In 1768 he took over missions in the Mexican provinces of Lower and Upper California. A tireless worker, Padre Serra was largely responsible for the foundation and spread of the Church on the West Coast of the United States. He founded twenty-one missions, converted thousands of Native Americans, and trained many of them in European methods of agriculture, cattle husbandry, and crafts. One of the missions was Mission San Juan Capistrano established in 1776, the only Mission church named for Fr. Serra. The structure is also believed to be the oldest church still standing in California. Padre Serra died at Mission San Carlos Borromeo and is buried there. Recognized as “The Father of the California Missions,” a bronze statue of Fr. Serra has been placed in the Statuary Hall of our Nation’s Capital. Fr. Serra was canonized on September 23, 2015, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., by Pope Francis.
JULY 1 - CANADA DAY
On July 1, 1867, the British government (under Queen Victoria) approved a plan which allowed Canada to become an independent country with its own government. This new nation, which remained loyal to Britain, was called the Dominion of Canada. At that time, the new Dominion of Canada had only four provinces (Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick). The country now consists of 10 provinces and three territories. In 1879, July 1 became a statutory holiday, known as Dominion Day. However, no official celebrations were held until the 50th anniversary in 1917 and the 60th anniversary in 1927.
Wednesday 1 July 2020
Wednesday 1 July 2020
Amos 5:14-15, 21-24. To the upright I will show the saving power
of God – Psalm 49(50):7-13, 16-17. Matthew 8:28-34.
They implored him to leave their neighbourhood
Jesus cured two men who had been violent and feared outcasts.
Instead of celebrating, people wanted him to go. He was bad for business.
Nothing changes.
In the Philippines, people go into bars to rescue underage
youths forced into the sex trade and take them to rehabilitation centres. This
is dangerous work. When the legal spotlight focused on Asia, child sex tourists
found the Pacific Islands more attractive. Creditably, Australia has removed
passports from registered sex offenders to prevent such travel.
Following the repeal of the Medevac Bill, we are back to the
situation where asylum seekers in off-shore detention may die for lack of
effective medical treatment. It was more important for the federal government
to look strong on border protection than to save lives.
We can protest, advocate and demand medical treatment for asylum
seekers and the end of offshore detention.
Saint Junipero Serra
Saint of the Day for July 1
(November 24, 1713 – August 28, 1784)
 |
| A bronze statue of Saint Junipero Serra by sculptor Arthur Putnam stands on the grounds of the Presidio Hill in San Diego. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec) |
Saint Junipero Serra’s Story
In 1776, when the American Revolution was beginning in the east,
another part of the future United States was being born in California. That
year a gray-robed Franciscan founded Mission San Juan Capistrano, now famous
for its annually returning swallows. San Juan was the seventh of nine missions
established under the direction of this indomitable Spaniard.
Born on Spain’s island of Mallorca, Serra entered the Franciscan
Order taking the name of Saint Francis’ childlike companion, Brother
Juniper. Until he was 35, he spent most of his time in the classroom—first as a
student of theology and then as a professor. He also became famous for his
preaching. Suddenly he gave it all up and followed the yearning that had begun
years before when he heard about the missionary work of Saint Francis
Solano in South America. Junipero’s desire was to convert native peoples in the
New World.
Arriving by ship at Vera Cruz, Mexico, he and a companion walked
the 250 miles to Mexico City. On the way Junipero’s left leg became infected by
an insect bite and would remain a cross—sometimes life-threatening—for the rest
of his life. For 18 years, he worked in central Mexico and in the Baja
Peninsula. He became president of the missions there.
Enter politics: the threat of a Russian invasion south from
Alaska. Charles III of Spain ordered an expedition to beat Russia to the
territory. So the last two conquistadors—one military, one
spiritual—began their quest. José de Galvez persuaded Junipero to set out with
him for present-day Monterey, California. The first mission founded after the
900-mile journey north was San Diego in 1769. That year a shortage of food
almost canceled the expedition. Vowing to stay with the local people, Junipero
and another friar began a novena in preparation for St. Joseph’s day, March 19,
the scheduled day of departure. On that day, the relief ship arrived.
Other missions followed: Monterey/Carmel (1770); San Antonio and
San Gabriel (1771); San Luís Obispo (1772); San Francisco and San Juan
Capistrano (1776); Santa Clara (1777); San Buenaventura (1782). Twelve more
were founded after Serra’s death.
Junipero made the long trip to Mexico City to settle great
differences with the military commander. He arrived at the point of death. The
outcome was substantially what Junipero sought: the famous “Regulation”
protecting the Indians and the missions. It was the basis for the first
significant legislation in California, a “Bill of Rights” for Native Americans.
Because the Native Americans were living a nonhuman life from
the Spanish point of view, the friars were made their legal guardians. The
Native Americans were kept at the mission after baptism lest they be corrupted
in their former haunts—a move that has brought cries of “injustice” from some
moderns.
Junipero’s missionary life was a long battle with cold and
hunger, with unsympathetic military commanders and even with danger of death
from non-Christian native peoples. Through it all his unquenchable zeal was fed
by prayer each night, often from midnight till dawn. He baptized over 6,000
people and confirmed 5,000. His travels would have circled the globe. He
brought the Native Americans not only the gift of faith but also a decent
standard of living. He won their love, as witnessed especially by their grief
at his death. He is buried at Mission San Carlo Borromeo, Carmel, and was
beatified in 1988. Pope Francis canonized him in Washington, D.C., on
September 23, 2015.
Reflection
The word that best describes Junipero is zeal. It
was a spirit that came from his deep prayer and dauntless will. “Always
forward, never back” was his motto. His work bore fruit for 50 years after his
death as the rest of the missions were founded in a kind of Christian communal
living by the Indians. When both Mexican and American greed caused the
secularization of the missions, the Chumash people went back to what they had
been—God again writing straight with crooked lines.
Lectio Divina: Matthew 8:28-34
Lectio Divina
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Ordinary Time
1. Ordinary Time
Father,
You call Your children
to walk in the light of Christ.
Free us from darkness
and keep us in the radiance of Your truth.
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.
You call Your children
to walk in the light of Christ.
Free us from darkness
and keep us in the radiance of Your truth.
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 8:28-34
When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs
who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could
travel by that road. They cried out, "What have you to do with us, Son of
God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?" Some
distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with him,
"If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine." And he said to
them, "Go then!" They came out and entered the swine, and the whole
herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. The swineherds
ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including
what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet
Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.
3) Reflection
• Today’s Gospel stresses the power of Jesus over the devil. In
our text, the devil and the power of evil is associated with three things: 1)
the cemetery, the place of the dead. The death which kills
life! 2) The pig, which was considered an impure animal. The
impurity which separates from God! 3) The sea, which was
considered the symbol of chaos before creation. The chaos which
destroys nature. The Gospel of Mark, from which Matthew takes his information,
associates the power of evil with a fourth element which is the
word Legion (Mk 5:9), the name of the army of the Roman Empire.
The Empire oppressed and exploited the people. Thus, it is
understood that the victory of Jesus over the Devil had an enormous importance
for the life of the communities of the years 70’s, the time when Matthew wrote
his Gospel. The communities lived oppressed and marginalized, because of the
official ideology of the Roman Empire and of the Pharisees, which was renewed.
The same significance and the same importance continue to be valid today.
• Matthew 8:28: The force of evil oppresses, ill-treats and
alienates people. This first verse describes the situation of the people
before the coming of Jesus. In describing the behavior of the two
demoniacs, the Evangelist associates the force of evil with the cemetery and
with death. It is a deadly power, without a goal, without direction,
without control and a destructive power, which causes everyone to fear.
It deprives people of their conscience, self-control, and autonomy.
• Matthew 8:29: Before the simple presence of Jesus the
force of evil breaks up and disintegrates. Here is described the first
contact between Jesus and the two possessed men. We see that there is
total disproportion. The power, that at first seemed to be so strong, melts and
disintegrates before Jesus. They shouted, “What do you want with us,
Son of God? Have you come to torture us before the time?” They become
aware that they are losing their power.
• Matthew 8:30-32: The power of evil is impure and has no
autonomy, nor consistency. The Devil does not have power over his
movements. It only gets the power to enter into the pigs with the
permission of Jesus! Once they entered into the pigs, the whole herd charged
down the cliff into the sea and perished in the water. In the opinion of the
people, the pig was a symbol of impurity, which prevented the human being from
relating with God and from feeling accepted by Him. The sea was the
symbol of the existing chaos before creation and which, according to the belief
of that time, continued to threaten life. This episode of the pigs which
threw themselves into the sea is strange and difficult to understand. But the
message is very clear: before Jesus, the power of evil has no autonomy, no
consistency. Anyone who believes in Jesus has already conquered the power
of evil and should not fear!
• Matthew 8:33-34: The reaction of the people of that
place. The herdsmen of the pigs went to the city and told the story to the
people, and they all set out to meet Jesus. Mark says that they saw the
“possessed” man sitting down, dressed and in his right mind” (Mk 5:15). But the
pigs were still gone! This is why they asked Jesus to leave their
neighborhood. For them, the pigs were more important than the person who
recovered his senses.
• The expulsion of the demons. At the time of Jesus,
the words Devil or Satan were used to indicate the power of evil
which drew persons away from the right path. For example, when Peter tried to
divert Jesus from His mission, he was Satan for Jesus (Mk 8:33). Other
times, those same words were used to indicate the political power of the Roman
Empire which oppressed and exploited people. For example, in the
Apocalypse, the Roman Empire is identified with “Devil or Satan” (Rev
12:9). While at other times, people used the same words to designate
evils and illnesses. They spoke of devil, dumb spirit, deaf spirit,
impure or unclean spirit, etc. There was great fear! In the time of
Matthew, in the second half of the first century, the fear of demons
increased. Some religions from the East taught worship of spirits.
They taught that some of our mistaken gestures could irritate the spirits, and
these, out of revenge, could prevent us from having access to God and deprive
us of divine benefits. For this reason, through rites and writings,
intense prayer and complicated ceremonies, people sought to appease these
spirits or demons in such a way that they would not cause harm to life.
These religions, instead of liberating people, nourished fear and anguish. Now,
one of the objectives of the Good News of Jesus was to help people to liberate
themselves from this fear. The coming of the Kingdom of God meant the
coming of a stronger power. Jesus is “the strongest
man” who can conquer Satan, the power of evil, snatching away from its
hands a humanity imprisoned by fear (cf. Mk 3:27). For this reason the
Gospels insist on the victory of Jesus over the power of evil, over the devil,
over Satan, over sin and over death. The Gospels encourage communities to
overcome this fear of the devil! Today, who can say “I am completely
free?” Nobody! Then, if I am not totally free, there is some part of me
which is possessed by other powers. How can these forces be cast away?
The message of today’s Gospel continues to be valid for us.
4) Personal questions
• What oppresses and ill-treats people today? Why is it that so
much is said about casting out the Devil today? Is it good to insist so
much on the Devil?
• How is the meaning of a statement different when we use the term “evil” or “evil forces” versus “Evil One” or Satan or the Devil? How does modern society try to downplay the existence of Satan? Is this important?
• Who can say that he/she is completely free or liberated? Nobody! And then, we are all somewhat possessed by other forces which occupy some space within us. What can we do to expel this power from within us and from society?
• What is freedom? What is free-will? What is choice? If I go along with the crowd, am I free? Have I freely decided or have I acquiesced? Others, including Satan, cannot force us, but we can “go along”. We may not say “yes”, but did we really say “no” to evil today?
• How is the meaning of a statement different when we use the term “evil” or “evil forces” versus “Evil One” or Satan or the Devil? How does modern society try to downplay the existence of Satan? Is this important?
• Who can say that he/she is completely free or liberated? Nobody! And then, we are all somewhat possessed by other forces which occupy some space within us. What can we do to expel this power from within us and from society?
• What is freedom? What is free-will? What is choice? If I go along with the crowd, am I free? Have I freely decided or have I acquiesced? Others, including Satan, cannot force us, but we can “go along”. We may not say “yes”, but did we really say “no” to evil today?
5) Concluding Prayer
Yahweh is tenderness and pity,
slow to anger, full of faithful love.
Yahweh is generous to all;
His tenderness embraces all His creatures. (Ps 145:8-9)
slow to anger, full of faithful love.
Yahweh is generous to all;
His tenderness embraces all His creatures. (Ps 145:8-9)
