July 12, 2021 Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

2021년 7월 12일 연중 제15주간 월요일  

오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp 

제1독서

<우리는 이스라엘 백성을 지혜롭게 다루어야 할 것이다. 그러지 않으면 그들이 더욱 번성할 것이다.>

탈출기. 1,8-14.22
그 무렵 8 요셉을 알지 못하는 새 임금이 이집트에 군림하게 되었다.
9 그가 자기 백성에게 말하였다.
“보아라, 이스라엘 백성이 우리보다 더 많고 강해졌다.
10 그러니 우리는 그들을 지혜롭게 다루어야 할 것이다.
그러지 않으면 그들이 더욱 번성할 것이고,
전쟁이라도 일어나면, 그들은 우리 원수들 편에 붙어
우리에게 맞서 싸우다 이 땅에서 떠나가 버릴 것이다.”
11 그래서 이집트인들은 강제 노동으로
그들을 억압하려고 그들 위에 부역 감독들을 세웠다.
그렇게 하여 이스라엘 백성은 파라오의 양식을 저장하는 성읍,
곧 피톰과 라메세스를 짓게 되었다.
12 그러나 그들은 억압을 받을수록 더욱 번성하고 더욱 널리 퍼져 나갔다.
이집트인들은 이스라엘 자손들을 두려워하게 되었다.
13 그리하여 이집트인들은 이스라엘 자손들을 더욱 혹독하게 부렸다.
14 진흙을 이겨 벽돌을 만드는 고된 일과 온갖 들일 등,
모든 일을 혹독하게 시켜 그들의 삶을 쓰디쓰게 만들었다.
22 마침내 파라오가 온 백성에게 명령하였다.
“히브리인들에게서 태어나는 아들은 모두 강에 던져 버리고,
딸은 모두 살려 두어라.”

 

복음

<나는 평화가 아니라 칼을 주러 왔다.>

마태오 10,34ㅡ11,1
그때에 예수님께서 사도들에게 말씀하셨다.
34 “내가 세상에 평화를 주러 왔다고 생각하지 마라. 평화가 아니라 칼을 주러 왔다.
35 나는 아들이 아버지와, 딸이 어머니와
며느리가 시어머니와 갈라서게 하려고 왔다.
36 집안 식구가 바로 원수가 된다.
37 아버지나 어머니를 나보다 더 사랑하는 사람은 나에게 합당하지 않다.
아들이나 딸을 나보다 더 사랑하는 사람도 나에게 합당하지 않다.
38 또 제 십자가를 지고 나를 따르지 않는 사람도 나에게 합당하지 않다.
39 제 목숨을 얻으려는 사람은 목숨을 잃고,
나 때문에 제 목숨을 잃는 사람은 목숨을 얻을 것이다.
40 너희를 받아들이는 이는 나를 받아들이는 사람이고,
나를 받아들이는 이는 나를 보내신 분을 받아들이는 사람이다.
41 예언자를 예언자라서 받아들이는 이는 예언자가 받는 상을 받을 것이고,
의인을 의인이라서 받아들이는 이는 의인이 받는 상을 받을 것이다.
42 내가 진실로 너희에게 말한다.
이 작은 이들 가운데 한 사람에게
그가 제자라서 시원한 물 한 잔이라도 마시게 하는 이는
자기가 받을 상을 결코 잃지 않을 것이다.”
11,1 예수님께서 열두 제자에게 다 지시하시고 나서,
유다인들의 여러 고을에서 가르치시고 복음을 선포하시려고
그곳에서 떠나가셨다.

July 12, 2021

 Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Daily Readings — Audio

Daily Reflections — Video

http://www.usccb.org/bible/ 

Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass 

Reading 1

Ex 1:8-14, 22
A new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to power in Egypt.
He said to his subjects, “Look how numerous and powerful
the people of the children of Israel are growing, more so than we ourselves!
Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase;
otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemies
to fight against us, and so leave our country.”

Accordingly, taskmasters were set over the children of Israel
to oppress them with forced labor.
Thus they had to build for Pharaoh
the supply cities of Pithom and Raamses.
Yet the more they were oppressed,
the more they multiplied and spread.
The Egyptians, then, dreaded the children of Israel
and reduced them to cruel slavery,
making life bitter for them with hard work in mortar and brick
and all kinds of field work—the whole cruel fate of slaves.

Pharaoh then commanded all his subjects,
“Throw into the river every boy that is born to the Hebrews,
but you may let all the girls live.” 

Responsorial Psalm

124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8

R. (8a) Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Had not the LORD been with us–
let Israel say, had not the LORD been with us–
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive,
When their fury was inflamed against us. 
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept 
the raging waters.
Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave us
a prey to their teeth. 
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
We were rescued like a bird 
from the fowlers’ snare;
Broken was the snare, 
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

 

Gospel

Mt 10:34-11:1

Jesus said to his Apostles:
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth.
I have come to bring not peace but the sword.
For I have come to set
a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one’s enemies will be those of his household.

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,
and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

“Whoever receives you receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet’s reward,
and whoever receives a righteous man
because he is righteous 
will receive a righteous man’s reward."

When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples,
he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

 As I first read the first line from the Gospel today, I could not help but feel some resistance. “Jesus said, ‘Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth.’” I have to admit that on some level, I really do want Jesus to bring peace to the earth!  I do wish that my expression of faith and commitment to discipleship to smoothly bring peace to the divided, messy and tumultuous parts of my life.  But, we are clearly being warned, instructed and invited into another understanding of discipleship.  This understanding of discipleship doesn’t value convenience, ease, a lack of wrinkles or “smooth-sailing” pathway.

Our country is so divided, our Church in the United States, and throughout the world, is so divided, too. And, I imagine that there is division, strife and animosity in the various groups and families that each of us are a part of.  It seems sometimes, that we get caught in valuing other external loyalties.  In the Gospel reading here, Jesus instructs us there to be shaken out of our little bubbles, and remember that being a disciple can be difficult and countercultural. 

I was recently reflecting on a colleague in anticipating of writing a nomination letter for her to receive a mission-related award.  The person for whom I wrote the supporting letter exemplifies how to live in this tension well.  She lives the various aspects of her life…her actions, words, values – in personal and professional spheres – in a way that consistently shows her orientation towards Christ and living a life of discipleship.  She doesn’t create division or ignore the tension that can surface with conflicting loyalties. But, she’s able to navigate it well by gently and intentionally confirming her commitment, and our shared commitment, to Christian discipleship. 

My colleague will often choose the choice that is more simple, more loving and more generous (it is evident she is a discerner of the magis).  She will often think out loud about the best way to care for those on the margins as we move forward with our work.  While she no doubt has strong, loving relationships, she knows she also had to make some hard choices in life to follow Jesus and live in a way that is consist with his values.

My reflection left me with some questions for further prayer; perhaps some of them might be helpful for you…

• Being a disciple often involves discovering our deepest sense of self. When have I experienced consolation and joy in living from my deepest sense of self as a companion of Christ?
• Being a disciple is countercultural – following Jesus involves choices about loyalties, values, actions, which can sometimes (often) be in conflict with what the world asks of us or what the world pulls us toward. When, recently, have I felt the countercultural tension of being a Christian disciple in our world?
• Jesus warns us a bit as he instructs in this Gospel passage: that we have to struggle to put Christ first among our other values, relationships and loyalties: essentially, not putting anything else above our relationship with him.  When have I put other values or priorities above living in a way that prioritizes my love of Christ and those on the margins?
• We save our lives by losing them in our efforts and energies to lift up the dignity of and good of others.  What small efforts could I do or what areas might I be invited to give my energies towards the good of others? 

Let us continue to pray for each other, as we continue to discern, each day, our path as disciples of Christ.  May we seek to listen to Christ as he guides us, even along a path that can be countercultural, tense or disruptive to an easier or more comforting lifestyle.

 http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp

 

LIVING IN REALITY

“He who will not take up his cross and come after Me is not worthy of Me.” —Matthew 10:38

Jesus is a real Person. He came from heaven to earth, and lived among human beings (Jn 1:14). During the three years of His public ministry, Jesus often had no place to lay His head and no home in which to sleep (Lk 9:58). He suffered rejection and intense persecution. He suffered physically and emotionally (Lk 19:41; Jn 19:33-35). Finally, He was unjustly condemned to death. For our salvation, He carried a real cross, was nailed upon it, and died for our sins.

Jesus cuts through the confusion and falsehoods in our culture by calling us to follow Him and carry our own daily crosses (Lk 9:23). If we actually do this, we will be so preoccupied with the demands of carrying this cross, following in His footsteps, and dying to ourselves that confusion will likely be replaced by clarity. To do this, we must “fix [our] eyes on Jesus” (Heb 3:1) to such an extent that we won’t have time or energy for much else. But Jesus will then count us worthy of Himself (Mt 10:38).

Tell Jesus: You “must increase, while I must decrease” (Jn 3:30).

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, fill me with such a love for You that I will consider You my greatest Treasure (Mt 13:44) and give all I have to possess You.

Promise:  “Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” —Ps 124:8

Praise:  An invalid for many years, Teresa ministers to her caregivers by her kind words.

 http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/

 Why does Jesus describe his mission and the coming of God's kingdom in terms of conflict, division, and war? Jesus told his disciples that he did not "come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). The "sword" which Jesus speaks of here is not a physical weapon that cuts people down, but a spiritual weapon that cuts through the inner core of our being to expose the corruption of sinful thoughts and intentions as well as the lies and deception of Satan and his kingdom of darkness.

Sword of the Spirit
Scripture describes God's word as a sharp two-edged sword that "pierces to the division of soul and spirit... discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12, Revelations 19:15). Scripture also describes "God's word" as the "sword of the Spirit" which has power to destroy every spiritual stronghold that keep people in bondage to sin, deception, and Satan (Ephesians 6:17). Jesus came to rescue us from slavery to sin and to set us free to live as citizens of God's kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

Spiritual warfare
Jesus' mission was an act of war against the spiritual forces who oppose the kingdom of God and his rule over the earth. That is why Jesus identified Satan as the ruler of this world whom he will cast out (John 12:31). The battle Jesus had in mind was not an earthly conflict between individuals and nations, but a spiritual warfare between the forces of Satan and the armies of heaven. Jesus came to wage war against the spiritual powers of this present world that turn the minds and hearts of people away from God and his kingdom of joy, peace, and goodness.

Kingdom of light versus kingdom of darkness
The Scriptures make clear that there are ultimately only two kingdoms or powers and that they stand in opposition to one another - God's kingdom of light and Satan's kingdom of darkness. John the Apostle contrasts these two opposing kingdoms in the starkest of terms: We know that we are of God, and the whole world is in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19). The Scriptures describe the "world" as that society of people who are opposed to God and his kingdom of righteousness, truth, and goodness. Jesus came to overthrow Satan's power and to set us free from everything that would hold us back from knowing, loving, and serving God who has loved each one of us with boundless mercy, compassion, and goodness.

God must take first place in our lives
Jesus told his disciples that if they followed him it would be costly because they must put God's kingdom first and obey his word. Whenever a great call is given it inevitably causes division between those who accept and reject it. When Jesus remarked that division would cut very close to home his listeners likely recalled the prophecy of Micah: a man's enemies are the men of his own household (Micah 7:6). The love of God compels us to choose who will be first in our lives. To place any relationship or any other thing above God is a form of idolatry. Jesus challenges his disciples to examine who they love first and foremost. A true disciple loves God above all else and is willing to forsake all for Jesus Christ. Jesus insists that his disciples give him the loyalty which is only due to God, a loyalty which is higher than that owed to spouse or kin. It is possible that family and friends can become our enemies if the thought of them keeps us from doing what we know God wants us to do.

The just reward
True love for God compels us to express charity towards our neighbor who is created in the image and likeness of God. Jesus declared that any kindness shown and any help given to the people of Christ will not go unrewarded. Jesus never refused to give to anyone in need who asked for his help. As his disciples we are called to be kind and generous as he is. Jesus sets before his disciples the one goal in life that is worth any sacrifice and that goal is the will of God which leads to everlasting life, peace, and joy with God. Does the love of Jesus Christ compel you to put God first in all you do (2 Corinthians 5:14)?

Lord, no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has conceived the things you have prepared for those who love you. Set us ablaze with the fire of the Holy Spirit, that we may love you in and above all things and so receive the rewards you have promised us through Christ our Lord. (from A Christian's Prayer Book)

Psalm 124:1-8

1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, let Israel now say --
2 if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us,
3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;
4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us;
5 then over us would have gone the raging waters. 6 Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth!
7 We have escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped!
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: How peace requires a sword, by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD)

"What sort of peace is it that Jesus asks them to pronounce upon entering each house? And what kind of peace is it of which the angels sing, 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace'? And if Jesus came not to bring peace, why did all the prophets publish peace as good news? Because this more than anything is peace: when the disease is removed. This is peace: when the cancer is cut away. Only with such radical surgery is it possible for heaven to be reunited to earth. Only in this way does the physician preserve the healthy tissue of the body. The incurable part must be amputated. Only in this way does the military commander preserve the peace: by cutting off those in rebellion. Thus it was also in the case of the tower of Babel, that their evil peace was ended by their good discord. Peace therefore was accomplished. (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 35.1)

 

 

More Homilies

July 15, 2019 Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time