Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr
Readings: Dt 10:12-22; Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20; Mt 17:22-27
Notes: Moses encourages us to Think! Jesus encourages us to Think!
Faith is not thoughtless!
This week our attention in the continuous readings is the person of Joshua.
But Hoshea, son of Nun, Moses called Joshua. (Num 13:17).
The Lord was with Moses, so he is with Joshua; and, especially, in the crossing of the Jordan River, which is patterned after the crossing of the Red Sea (UCCB, NARB, https://bible.usccb.org/bible/joshua/0).
From Wednesday’s reading:
Now Joshua, son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of wisdom,
since Moses had laid his hands upon him;
and so the children of Israel gave him their obedience,
thus carrying out the LORD's command to Moses.
- Today we have Saint Maximilian Kolbe who had his own Exodus even at Auschwitz.
- Tomorrow we have the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Each had their role, distinct and holy, as do you.
Think!
The collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes,” he said.
Think!
Reflection
Father Kolbe’s death was not a sudden, last-minute act of heroism. His whole life had been a preparation. His holiness was a limitless, passionate desire to convert the whole world to God. And his beloved Immaculata was his inspiration.
Source: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-maximilian-mary-kolbe/
First Reading
Moses said to the people: “And now, Israel, what does the LORD, your God, ask of you but to fear the LORD, your God, and follow his ways exactly, to love and serve the LORD, your God, with all your heart and all your soul, to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD which I enjoin on you today for your own good?
Think!
Yet in his love for your fathers the LORD was so attached to them as to choose you, their descendants, in preference to all other peoples, as indeed he has now done.
Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and be no longer stiff-necked. For the LORD, your God, is the God of gods, the LORD of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who has no favorites, accepts no bribes; who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him. So you too must befriend the alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.
Responsorial
Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Gospel Acclamation
God has called you through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel
As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were overwhelmed with grief.
Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?” When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt.
[Think!]
Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry