July 4 Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Reflection This Independence Day throughout our nation we are reminded in our Psalms response that: One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. We need to remember that we did not create ourselves but came into being created through the word of God: created by love to love. While we may celebrate our autonomy and independence and freedom as a country, we can never live autonomous and independent from the love that created us. As with every human relationship, our relationship with God is interdependent. Love, creating and calling upon love within that creation for a response to love. While we may feel that it is an duty or obligation that we are called to serve Love never seeks duty or obligation. It is in the sacraments that the understanding of the invisible God made visible, within the relational union of love, is expressed in celebration and gives witness to being loved. Therefore we who receive the word of God and sacraments of that word are asked and invited to become the love and the mercy they contain. Abba (Daddy), Help us to rejoice in thanksgiving today. In our creation, in our life, living in our interdependent relationship with You, may we grow stronger and more secure in this relationship with You that we will become even more that which You created us in love. We ask this through Your heart of love and mercy, through You who are Love and Mercy itself. Amen Reading 1 Am 8:4-6, 9-12 Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land! “When will the new moon be over,” you ask, “that we may sell our grain, and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat?” We will diminish the containers for measuring, add to the weights, and fix our scales for cheating! We will buy the lowly man for silver, and the poor man for a pair of sandals; even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!” On that day, says the Lord GOD, I will make the sun set at midday and cover the earth with darkness in broad daylight. I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentations. I will cover the loins of all with sackcloth and make every head bald. I will make them mourn as for an only son, and bring their day to a bitter end. Yes, days are coming, says the Lord GOD, when I will send famine upon the land: Not a famine of bread, or thirst for water, but for hearing the word of the LORD. Then shall they wander from sea to sea and rove from the north to the east In search of the word of the LORD, but they shall not find it. Responsorial Psalm ps 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131 R. (Matthew 4:4) One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart. R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. With all my heart I seek you; let me not stray from your commands. R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times. R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. The way of truth I have chosen; I have set your ordinances before me. R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Behold, I long for your precepts; in your justice give me life. R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. I gasp with open mouth in my yearning for your commands. R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Gospel Mt 9:9-13 As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 12:47:08 +0000
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