Greetings on this the Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: SIR 48:1-14; PS 97:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7; MT 6:7-15
Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Praise Those Who Serve the Lord
It is right and proper to praise those who serve the Lord faithfully. The praise is twofold. Firstly, their love, docility and obedience unto to the Lord. Secondly, the mighty works the Lord has done using this person we praise. Our first reading today, is just such an example. From The Wisdom of Ben Sira, Yeshua [Jesus], son of Eleazar, son of Sira. In chapters 44 through 50, we have the praises of the Heros of Israel. Today’s portion is about Elijah. It’s a summary of the life of Elijah as Prophet and willing disciple of the Lord.
An historical biblical footnote. The most ancient fragment of the Old Testament is the Song of the Sea, Exodus 15, sung by Moses and Miriam.
We praise the people who show us the hesed (loving-kindness) of the Lord.
Praise Those Who Teach of the Lord
We are in the continuous reading of the Gospel of Matthew and Jesus’ teaching of true and good praise and worship. Like Ben Sira, we praise Jesus with the same two ways: love and works. The praise today is the gift of prayer itself. Jesus’ very own prayer for us.
Just as Moses and Miriam taught the Israelites to praise and worship as recorded in Exodus 15 and Deuteronomy 32, both as praise and as summary of the wonderous works of the Lord, so too Jesus. This is how you are to pray. He informs us that the Commandments, of Exodus 20 (ritual 34) and Deuteronomy 5, are encapsulated in forgiveness.
“If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
Reflection
The Our Father has two major sections that spiritually align with the two major sections of the Ten Commandments.
Commandments One to Three (Relation with the Lord)
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Commandments Four to Ten (Relation with one another)
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Personal Reflection
Tomorrow we celebrate Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious. It is in persons we see the mighty acts of God as a loving God (x-ref Moses, Miriam, Elijah and the Heros of Israel). For faith in the Divine to be real and efficacious, I must experience it in the personhood of another, either directly or as witness to the saving power upon another. Then, only then, can I (we, you, us) join Thomas, “My Lord and my God!”.
Sacred Readings
Full readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062024.cfm
First Reading
[Regarding Elijah] Whose glory is equal to yours? You brought a dead man back to life from the nether world, [Regarding the Lord] by the will of the LORD.
Responsorial
Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Gospel Acclamation
You have received a spirit of adoption as sons through which we cry: Abba! Father!
Gospel
‘Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.’
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 