Author: Gerry Palermo

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Psalm 33:12-13, 14-15, 20-21; Luke 4:38-44

Summary

I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.
Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor. For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building (1 COR 3:6-9).

Reflection

The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives. At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. (Lk 4:18, 40).

Personal Reflection

How do I walk? Walking according to the manner of man or walking according to the manner of God?

Candidly, I would say… depends on the day. I wish that were not true but there it is.

Nevertheless, when we do the right thing, it is the Lord who causes the growth. An important thing to remember when:

1. You feel as though you have done nothing or so very little.
2. You think the good you have done failed.
3. You start thinking as men (with jealousy, rivalry — fleshly people not spiritual people).

At sunset tonight, pray for the cure of the sick and pray for the freedom of those oppressed by evil.
In this way you are walking according to the manner of God.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090226.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry

A full time resident had a yard sign references.  Scripture below. These will be my contemplation here at Tybee Island.

Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God (Jos 24:18b).

No one can serve two masters.m He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (Mt 6:24).

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18; Psalm 128:1-2, 4-5; Matthew 23:27-32

Summary

The beatitudes and the woes of the gospel of Matthew can be read as powerful moral counter-images.

• The beatitudes are what should be.
• The woes are what often happens.

Paul captures the praxis of the issue by declaring: On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you. Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us (2 Thes 3:8b-9). They worked at the Beatitudes.

In the Catholic tradition we use a technique called Examination of Conscience. Usually a person is encouraged to use the Ten Commandments as the comparative list to assess the day (evening time). Perhaps for tonight use the Beatitudes and Woes. A kick-start to an old tradition.

1. When have I lived a beatitude today? (Chapter 5 Matthew)
2. When have I lived the woe today? (Chapter 23 Matthew)

Condensed as:

1. Humility vs. Spiritual Gatekeeping
2. Seeking God vs. Self-Promotion
3. Spiritual Clarity vs. Blind Materialism
4. Heartfelt Mercy vs. Rule-Bound Rigidity
5. Internal Reality vs. External Image
6. Authentic Integrity vs. Deadly Pretense
7. Suffering for Truth vs. Suppressing Truth

Reflection

Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
(Ps 128:1-2)

Personal Reflection

Help us, Lord, to walk in your ways.

Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him (1 Jn 2:5).

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082626.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17; Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13; Matthew 23:23-26

Summary

Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach (a prayer at ordination).

We ask you, brothers and sisters, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him, not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly. He has also called you through our Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught (2 Th 2:1-2a, 14-15a).

Reflection

Why do we strain at gnats (fuss over minor things) and swallow camels (for example: substituting entire legitimate laws with oddities and novelties)?

The ‘woes’ Jesus outlines in our gospel portion today has its center on hypocrisy which can be described as having these components:

1. Double Standard – rules for you but not for me.
2. False Pretense – pretending to be kind, virtuous or honest.
3. Hidden Actions – private actions not in harmony with their public words/actions.
4. Misaligned Primacy – placing minor things ahead in importance to more important things.

(This hurts to write but) the mistake of gnats and camels is in direct proportion to the hypocrisy that births them. What distortion in me makes the gnat look enormous and the camel invisible?

The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart (Heb 4:12).

If we want to remove our obsession with gnats and the error of swallowing camels it requires we ask ourselves what hypocrisy am I tainted or tempted with? Our psalmist brings us some key indicators of a life not consumed with the wrong things:

1. Treat people with equity.
2. Be joyful and help others with their joy.
3. With constancy be just.

Then you have visibly received the Gospel of Christ.

Personal Reflection

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word (2 Th 2:16-17).

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082526.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Greetings on this the Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
Readings: Revelation 21:9b-14; Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18; John 1:45-51

Summary

• The angel spoke to me, saying, “Come here. I will show you (Rev 21:9).
• “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” (Jn 1:46)

Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
(Ps 145:12-13)

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” (Jn 1:45).

Reflection

A consistent theme in sacred scripture is the Day of Visitation. Thus it was for Nathanael.
For him it was a visitation of of truth and correction, mercy/salvation and vindication, all in one.
It was a visitation of historical reference (Jacob), personal spiritual movement, and the revealing of eschatological horizon. It was a visitation of community (Philip).

Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (Jn 1:49-51)

All because he answered the offer to Come and see.

Personal Reflection

When Pope John Paul II came to NYC, I was too busy to go.
Over the course of my life, I cannot count the number of festivals and gatherings I did not attend due to responsibilities or, just as often, a lack of interest/motivation.

But in the most important of all invitations, may we never fail to answer the call to Come and see.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/feast-saint-bartholomew-apostle

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry