Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 30 The Manner of Reproving Young Children
Mass: Is 66:10-14c; Resp Ps 66; Gal 6:14-18; Lk 10:1-12, 17-20

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth, sing praise to the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise. Say to God: "How tremendous are your deeds!"

HEART OF JESUS, IN WHOM THE FATHER WAS WELL PLEASED,
HAVE MERCY ON US.

It was the Holy Father in his Angelus Address that made me think of something I have shared before. The Holy Father said this: "Each of us can think of the name he received on his baptism: the name that is 'written in heaven', in the heart of God the Father. And it is the joy of this gift that makes every disciple a missionary, one who walks in the company of the Lord Jesus, who learns from Him to spend himself, unreservedly, for others, free from himself and his own possessions." I thought of what a friend asked then answered: "What is a name?" "It is the song you sing when you see someone!"

How can that not bring a smile to your face? Our smile broadens when we think that each one of our names, the song sung by the Lord who is with us, is "'written in heaven", in the heart of God the Father." There is freedom to be unencumbered disciples, that is, those who "carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way"; Disciples who graciously accept hospitality by those who offer it, eat and drink whatever is offered, and who are not anxious, saddened, or troubled when rejected or scorned; Disciples who seek the peace the world cannot give.

We, like the seventy-two appointed by the Lord, are to be joyful disciples, those who rejoice because our names are written in the heart of Jesus, in whom the Father was well pleased. 

The disciples must preach and teach in such a way that the word enters the heart to be sown on good earth where it has the possibility of growing.

(John Shea, The Spiritual Wisdom of the Gospels)

It is because Jesus wanted us that he chose us. And because he wanted us, we on our part can also choose him, everyday anew … What counts is that we entrust ourselves to his love, a love which is always the first to choose.

(André Louf, Mercy in Weakness)

LET THE PEACE OF CHRIST CONTROL YOUR HEARTS; 
LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY.

Today's photo: Water lily, Koi pond, Our Lady of New Clairvaux Abbey, Vina, CA.