One another, Sunday11B

June 16, 2024

Ezekiel 17:22-24; Ps 92 (91); 2 Corinthians 5:6-10; Mark 4:26-34

To the God who lifts up the lowly, exalts the humble, and blesses the poor with every good thing, let us pray:

For our Church and parish community, that our work and worship together may proclaim he kindness and faithfulness of our God: let us pray to the Lord.

For those who serve our Church as pastors and teachers, that, through their ministries, the Word of God may take root  in our lives: let us pray to the Lord.

For those in government and public service, that, in all laws and public policies, they may seek to uphold the sacred dignity of every man, woman, and child: let us pray to the Lord.

For all farmers and food producers, that God will bless their labors with a bountiful harvest for the benefit of all: let us pray to the lord.

For those who have dedicated themselves to the service of the poor and the oppressed, that their efforts may reap  an abundant harvest of compassion and justice: let us pray to the Lord.

For our deceased relatives and friends [especially _________], that they may “flourish (forever) in the house: let us pray to the Lord.

For the prayers we now offer in the silence of our hearts [Pause...]: let us pray to the Lord.

Accept the gift of our prayers, O Lord, which we offer for every member of our human family Like the crest of the cedar tree, may we welcome all who come to us in need;

like the harvested seed, may we grow in love and faith; like the mustard seed, may we praise you in even the smallest act of kindness and joy. We ask these things in the name of our Lord and Teacher, Jesus Christ.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024az, June 16). Eleventh Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061624.cfm

-Cormier, J. (1995). Lord, Hear Our Prayer: Prayer of the Faithful for Sundays, Holy Days, and Ritual Masses.

The Word today, W11B

June 17 - June 22, 2024

Monday 17 June

1 Kings 21:1-16 Our reading today tells the first half of a very nasty abuse of power by a king and his wife. The rest of the story will be heard tomorrow, when the culprits get their comeuppance.

Matthew 5:38-42 We are always tempted to meet violence with violence. Jesus’ alternative is radical.

Tuesday 18 June

1 Kings 21:17-29 This reading is the second part of the yesterday’s nasty story. The powerful monarch is reproved by the proclamation of the prophet, who does not mince his words. The king does respond and even repents…nevertheless, the wheels of justice are set in motion.

Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus quotes the usual attitude—love your neighbor, hate your enemy—and then gives a series of penetrating arguments to offer his alternative vision.

Wednesday 19 June

St Romuald, abbot

2 Kings 2:1, 6-14 This reading tells the very famous story of Elijah and his (underused!) chariot. Behind the drama stands a very ordinary question: when a great spiritual leader departs or dies, will anything of his leadership remain? Yes…but it all depends!

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 These two paragraphs surround the Lord’s Prayer and represent a Jewish devotional triad: alms, prayer and fasting. Any attraction to showiness in religion is resolutely set aside.

Thursday 20 June

The Irish Martyrs

Ecclesiasticus 48:1-15 The book of Ecclesiasticus was written long after the life and ministry of Elijah – perhaps some six centuries later. The ancient prophet was still admired and treasured. Today we have a poetic, even glowing account of his career.

Matthew 6:7-15 The introduction to the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew is central and helps us understand the prayer and its brevity. In reality, the Lord’s Prayer is not so much a prayer as a form of words but a method or series of steps in prayer.

Friday 21 June

St Aloysius Gonzaga, religious

2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20 Our story today is complex: a king’s mother tries to do away with all the surviving members of the royal family. It is not uplifting but also not uncommon in imperial families. Nevertheless, you will notice that there is one survivor, a baby, who ensures that David’s line continues. In this way, the writer tries to show that God’s own faithfulness to the house of David cannot be set aside even by unspeakable horror. The Psalm which follows captures the true meaning of this difficult reading.

Matthew 6:19-23 Our gospel is a challenge and at the centre of that challenge we hear the words of Jesus: For where you treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Saturday 22 June

Sts. John Fisher, bishop, and Thomas More, martyrs or St Paulinus of Nola, bishop

2 Chronicles 24:17-25 Today we have once more a difficult story: a king who turns away from God to idols and even has God’s prophet put to death. The clue about the reading is in the Psalm which follows: even though the kings of Judah were sometimes very unfaithful to God, yet, God remained true to his promise to the house of David. There is some good news— Gospel—in God’s continued fidelity.

Matthew 6:24-34 This is a favorite passage from the Sermon on the Mount, prized by people well beyond frontiers of Christianity. The vision is Jesus is not “airy-fairy” detachment, but a costly choice of values and attitudes, grounded in faith in God. We might feel there’s risk of sheer impracticality but this is overcome by the general statement: “You heavenly father knows you need all these things.”

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024az, June 16). Eleventh Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061624.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/

SOCL, Sunday11B

Sunday June 16, 2024

Jesus spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.

See

Sleep, which has the power to mend the tangled threads of worry, serves as a miraculous therapy that nurtures the soul on a daily basis. It is beautifully echoed in the passage from John 11, where it is said, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right." This highlights the profound healing and rejuvenating effects of sleep. At times, it is more beneficial to allow situations to unfold naturally, as indicated by the idea that things will fall into place by themselves. This concept is widely understood by parents who have learned to have faith in the inherent process of development and maturation. In today's society, the prevalent error lies not in being passive but in engaging in excessive and overly meticulous activism, which can easily escalate into unnecessary meddling. Some aspects of life simply require patience and the bravery to refrain from unnecessary interference in order to blossom and reach their full potential.

Listen

Ezekiel 17:22-24; Ps 92 (91); 2 Corinthians 5:6-10; Mark 4:26-34

Reflect

(Mark 4:26-34)

-If you sow seeds, or watch plants grow, you have ample opportunities to pause in wonder at the whole process of growth. It takes place imperceptibly and comes to fruition in beautiful flowers, majestic trees and abundant harvests.

-Jesus uses this as a parable about the growth of the Kingdom of God, the kingdom of right relationships with God and with one another. There too growth is slow, development is imperceptible, and then without realizing it you have a mature relationship. Recall the stages of such development in your life and relationships, and give thanks.

-In the second parable Jesus invites us to reflect on the importance and significance of relationships in our lives as they grow and mature. This is true both of our relationship with God and with others around us. When have you found a relationship in which you could “make nests in its shade”?

Pray

O God, at whose bidding the seed will sprout and the shoot grow towards full stature, hear the prayer of your assembled people. Make us trust in your hidden ways, that we may pray with confidence and wait for your kingdom now growing in our midst. We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Act

-Prioritize Sleep: Ensure you get enough rest each night to support physical and mental well-being.

-Practice Patience: Trust the natural process of growth and avoid micromanaging.

-Embrace Non-Interference: Recognize when to step back and let things unfold on their own.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024az, June 16). Eleventh Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061624.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/