Year of Saint Joseph
Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"
Saints: The First Martyrs of the See of Rome (1st century)
Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 23 Excommunication for Faults
Mass: Gn 21:5, 8-20a; Resp Ps 34; Mt 8:28-34
Which of you desires life, and takes delight in prosperous days?
MARY, QUEEN OF MARTYRS,
PRAY FOR US.
Beginning today, and for the following days, Saint Benedict presents us with his penal code, that is, among other things, the consequences of our behavior, when we are stubborn, disobedient or proud, or when we grumble (See Ch 23-30, then in a few later chapters to come). Also what happens when we refuse to accept responsibility for our behaviors and also to make amends, especially as we are offered mercy and love, first of all by Jesus, and then through those who care for us. I thought of these things too when considering today's Gospel. Jesus drives out demons and causes all sorts of commotion, so much so that the people beg Him to leave town. We can be a stubborn and stiff-necked people with hard hearts. As we go together, in faith and united prayer, striving to love the Lord God with our whole heart, soul, and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves, we turn to Saint Benedict for, to me, some of the most beautiful verses in the penal code. How are they relevant to your particular vocation, wherever you find yourself, at home, at work, or in community?
The abbot must exercise the utmost care and concern for wayward brothers, because it is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick. Therefore, he ought to use every skill of a wise physician and send in senpectae, that is, mature and wise brothers who, under the cloak of secrecy, may support the wavering brother, urge him to be humble as a way of making satisfaction, and console him lest he be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Rather, as the Apostle also says: Love let for him be reaffirmed, and let all pray for him.
(Rule of Saint Benedict, Ch 27:1-4 The Abbot's Concern for the Excommunicated)
We ought to put aside vain and useless concerns and go straight to the glorious and venerable norm which is our tradition, and we should consider what is good, pleasing and acceptable in the sight of Him who made us. Let us fix our gaze on the blood of Christ, realizing how precious it is to His Father, since it was shed for our salvation and brought grace of repentance to the world.
(From a letter to the Corinthians by Clement I, pope, in Office of Readings, June 30)
THE FIRST MARTYRS OF THE SEE OF ROME,
SAINT JOSEPH,
PRAY FOR US.
Today's photo: Blue flax. The color reminds me of periwinkle in a classic box of Crayola crayons. A box of 64. 😊
© Gertrude Feick 2021
No comments:
Post a Comment