At Their Proper Time

August 3, 2007

Friday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

These are the festivals of the LORD which you shall celebrate at their proper time with a sacred assembly. Leviticus 23:1

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith. Matthew 13:57-58

Piety

Let us pray: God, your native place is everywhere because you made the land and all that it holds. Help us to remain good stewards of your creation and to give proper care to all living things that surround us. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/080307.shtml

The right time.

The right place.

The right attitude.

The right way.

Seconds matter.

Never were those facts more evident than in watching the photos and videos coming out of Minneapolis the past two days. Men, women and children, were casually driving to and from home, work, school, baseball games and more. In four seconds, many plunged to their death. Others to catastrophic injuries and other trauma. And still others who were just seconds in front or behind them were spared.

Are we giving the Lord proper “oblation?” We don’t follow Leviticus to the letter of the “law”. But in our own way, do we set aside time, place and treasure for the Lord?

Maybe we don’t produce sheaves of fruit or glean our corn crop, but do you offer sacrifice of a portion of whatever it is that you produce in sacrifice?

Do you celebrate the events that mark your journey in life? Today is not just another day. It is today! Not tomorrow. Not yesterday. But unique, one-time-only today.

What if you were in that temple hearing Jesus? How would you react? What might Jesus and Matthew observe about your attitude and disposition? Would you be the righteous one whose position would spur Jesus to save the entire town?

Action

Those who were unlucky enough to be in the temple this day with Jesus missed out upon being able to witness the miraculous. The obstacles to their faith left them with a plank in their own eye. Don’t be blinded to the miracles around you today.

Sunrise is at 6:10 a.m. Sunset is at 8:18.

After a clear cool night, we are in for a perfect summer day. Celebrate the day with the proper attitude and disposition giving thanks for all you produce in life and offering to God and to those less fortunate a share of the fruits of your labor.