Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Thus
says the LORD: For three crimes of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke my
word; because they sell the just man for silver, and the poor man for a pair of
sandals. They trample the heads of the
weak into the dust of the earth, and force the lowly out of the way. Amos 2:6-7a
A
scribe approached and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you
go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have
dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest
his head.” Matthew 8:19-20
Piety
Today’s Psalm and corresponding readings call to mind a
song that was popular when I was growing up.
The refrain included the line: “And they’ll know we are Christians by
our love.” Jesus wants us to be known not by what we say but by what we
do. “Why
do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, though you
hate discipline and cast my words behind you?” Psalm 50:16bc-17
Study
The scribe calls Jesus, “Teacher.” When Jesus replies to the scribe, he reveals the
true identity -- that he is the Son of Man.
However, the would-be follower is not willing to give up the comfort of
his home and bed, so only commits to following Jesus in word, not deed.
Contrast that to the insight in the Sunday Gospel from
St. Peter yesterday which revealed a different truth: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living
God.”
These readings point out what should be first and
foremost – be a true follower. Burying
the dead was a commitment of the utmost importance. However, Jesus even challenges that by asking
people not to delay for a moment the decision to be “follow me.”
Action
Make a list of all that you have to do today. Check your “To Do” list against the tripod of
piety, study and action. Where do they
fall on the list among your priorities? What
action/love will you express?
This blog started in order to keep the team for the Men’s
106th Cursillo together while their “formation” was on hiatus. In essence, we are all in team formation and all in hiatus until the lay
director calls upon us to be on an active team.
Who is there to support you as you experience dry
spells and dark nights? Your team, your
group and your parish family are primary supporters.
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