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2012년 7월 5일 연중 제13주간 목요일
제1독서
아모스 예언서 7,10-17
그 무렵 10 베텔의 사제 아마츠야가 이스라엘 임금 예로보암에게 사람을 보내어 말하였다. “아모스가 이스라엘 집안 한가운데에서 임금님을 거슬러 음모를 꾸미고 있습니다. 이 나라는 그가 하는 모든 말을 더 이상 참아 낼 수가 없습니다. 11 아모스는 이런 말을 해 댑니다. ‘예로보암은 칼에 맞아 죽고, 이스라엘은 제 고향을 떠나 유배를 갈 것이다.’”
12 그런 뒤에 아마츠야가 아모스에게 말하였다. “선견자야, 어서 유다 땅으로 달아나, 거기에서나 예언하며 밥을 벌어먹어라. 13 다시는 베텔에서 예언을 하지 마라. 이곳은 임금님의 성소이며, 왕국의 성전이다.”
14 그러자 아모스가 아마츠야에게 대답하였다. “나는 예언자도 아니고, 예언자의 제자도 아니다. 나는 그저 가축을 키우고, 돌무화과나무를 가꾸는 사람이다. 15 그런데 주님께서 양 떼를 몰고 가는 나를 붙잡으셨다. 그러고 나서 나에게 ‘가서 내 백성 이스라엘에게 예언하여라.’ 하고 말씀하셨다.
16 그러니 이제 너는 주님의 말씀을 들어라. 너는 ‘이스라엘을 거슬러 예언하지 말고, 이사악의 집안을 거슬러 설교하지 마라.’ 하고 말하였다. 17 그러므로 주님께서 이렇게 말씀하신다. ‘네 아내는 이 성읍에서 창녀가 되고, 네 아들딸들은 칼에 맞아 쓰러지며, 네 땅은 측량줄로 재어 나누어지고, 너 자신은 부정한 땅에서 죽으리라. 그리고 이스라엘은 제 고향을 떠나 유배를 가리라.’”
복음
마태오 9,1-8
그때에 1 예수님께서는 배에 오르시어 호수를 건너, 당신께서 사시는 고을로 가셨다. 2 그런데 사람들이 어떤 중풍 병자를 평상에 뉘어 그분께 데려왔다. 예수님께서 그들의 믿음을 보시고 중풍 병자에게 말씀하셨다. “얘야, 용기를 내어라. 너는 죄를 용서받았다.”
3 그러자 율법 학자 몇 사람이 속으로, ‘이자가 하느님을 모독하는군.’ 하고 생각하였다.
4 예수님께서 그들의 생각을 아시고 말씀하셨다. “너희는 어찌하여 마음속에 악한 생각을 품느냐? 5 ‘너는 죄를 용서받았다.’ 하고 말하는 것과, ‘일어나 걸어가라.’ 하고 말하는 것 가운데에서 어느 쪽이 더 쉬우냐?
6 이제 사람의 아들이 땅에서 죄를 용서하는 권한을 가지고 있음을 너희가 알게 해 주겠다.” 그런 다음 중풍 병자에게 말씀하셨다. “일어나 네 평상을 가지고 집으로 돌아가거라.” 7 그러자 그는 일어나 집으로 갔다.
8 이 일을 보고 군중은 두려워하며, 사람들에게 그러한 권한을 주신 하느님을 찬양하였다.
http://www.usccb.org/calendar/index.cfm?showLit=1&action=month
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings-audio.cfm
July 5, 2012
Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam,
king of Israel:
“Amos has conspired against you here within Israel;
the country cannot endure all his words.
For this is what Amos says:
Jeroboam shall die by the sword,
and Israel shall surely be exiled from its land.”
To Amos, Amaziah said:
“Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah!
There earn your bread by prophesying,
but never again prophesy in Bethel;
for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.”
Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet,
nor have I belonged to a company of prophets;
I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.
The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me,
‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’
Now hear the word of the LORD!”
You say: prophesy not against Israel,
preach not against the house of Isaac.
Now thus says the LORD:
Your wife shall be made a harlot in the city,
and your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword;
Your land shall be divided by measuring line,
and you yourself shall die in an unclean land;
Israel shall be exiled far from its land.
R. (10cd) The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town.
And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
“Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”
At that, some of the scribes said to themselves,
“This man is blaspheming.”
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said,
“Why do you harbor evil thoughts?
Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
But that you may know that the Son of Man
has authority on earth to forgive sins”—
he then said to the paralytic,
“Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
He rose and went home.
When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe
and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
think charitably
Jesus healed a paralytic, saying,
"Your sins are forgiven." Some
scribes thought, "He blaphemes!"
Jesus said, Why do you think evil
things?" Matthew 9:2-4
President. Truman said this prayer
often: "Oh! Almighty and Everlasting
God, Creator of Heaven, Earth, and
the Universe. Help me to be, to
think, and to act in a way that is
right, because it is right; make me
truthful, honest, and honorable in
all things; make me intellectually
honest, for the sake of right and
honor and without thought of
reward to me. Give me the ability
to be charitable, forgiving, and
patient with my fellowmen; help me
to understand their motives and
their short comings--even as you
understand mine! Amen."
What is a prayer I pray regularly?
He prays best who loves best
All things both great and small;
For the dear Lord, who loves us,
He made and loves all.
Samuel. Taylor. Coleridge
http://www.franciscanretreats.net/
In today’s Gospel story Jesus heals the paralytic and tells him to pick up his stretcher and go home. This is the same miracle narrated in the other Gospels where the paralytic’s friends take the roof off the place where Jesus is teaching the crowd and lower the paralytic into the presence of Jesus. This miracle is clearly the result of the faith of the friends of the paralytic and not necessarily of the paralytic himself. These friends believed if they could get their friend into the presence of Jesus, Jesus would heal him.
The faith we have is not only for ourselves and our own benefit but also to help others to meet Jesus, to discover that he is the way, the truth and the life. Others will follow where our faith leads them if our faith is strong enough to enable us to lead. Let us pray that we may show others how beneficial it is for our own happiness and peace and all-round wellness to believe and hope in Jesus in order that they may see the results in their own lives and do the same.
http://www.evangeli.net/gospel/gospel.html
Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home
Today, we find one of the many evangelic manifestations evidencing the merciful goodness of the Lord. They all show many aspects, rich in details. Jesus' compassion, mercifully exerted, goes from resurrecting the dead or healing a leper to forgive a public woman sinner and going through the healing of many ailments and acceptance of repented sinners. The latter can also be found in parables, as the lost sheep, the lost drachma or the prodigal son.
Today's Gospel is another instance of the Saviour's mercy, in two different aspects at the same time: the illness of the body and the sickness of the soul. And, the soul being more important Jesus starts with it. He knows the sick man has repented of his faults, He sees his faith and that of those bringing him, and says: «Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven» (Mt 9:2).
Why does He start like this without his having been asked to do so? He is, of course, aware of what the paralytic is thinking and He knows this is what he will appreciate the most, for when facing the sanctity of Jesus, the paralytic might feel confused and ashamed of his own faults and scared that they may hamper his healing. So the Lord wants to calm him first. Jesus does not care whether some teachers of the law murmur in their hearts. Not only, but a part of his message is to prove He has come to show his mercy towards sinners, and He now proclaims it.
And so, it happens that, while those blinded by their pride, think of themselves as if they were the only just ones and cannot accept Jesus' claim, those that sincerely consider themselves as sinners, do take Him in. It is towards those God condescends to forgive them. As St. Augustine says: «Great misery is a proud man, but a humble God's mercy is even greater». And, in this case, the divine mercy goes even further: as an additional complement of his forgiveness He heals the paralytic too: «Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home» (Mt 9:6). Jesus wants the sinner's joy to be complete.
We must reaffirm our confidence in him. But, we should remember we are also sinners, so let us not close ourselves to his Grace.
http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
I begin this reflection on an ecumenical note. As I reflect on these Readings, I am concurrently reading the book, A Thousand Splendid Suns. In that book, the characters are Muslim and I note the solace brought to them by words in the Koran and of their relationship with God. As I read the Psalm, I am reminded of parallels, solace, and comfort across religions and spiritualities.
I am a registered nurse, and, like many health providers for the past 10 years in the U.S., nurses, and all health providers, emphasize Evidence-Based Research practice when planning, implementing, and evaluating patient care. Health science students are educated and socialized to be informed and knowledgeable of research studies, of critically analyzing research studies, and, to apply the best research practices for quality patient outcomes. Gone are the days of implementing one’s preferred intervention, of doing things because of tradition, and of providing patient care based on anecdotal experiences. I note the parallel between myself in my professional life and the scribes in the Gospel in their spiritual lives, i.e., “show me the evidence.” In some countries and cultures across time and space, some people rely on evidence for decision-making in many aspects of their lives. Some do not. One could hypothesize the scribes thought Jesus was blaspheming because they did not have the evidence. The Gospel story tells us Jesus provided evidence so they could better understand. What is your typical response in 2010? Are you one of the scribes or one who believes without evidence?
I visualize the Gospel scene of today, July 1st, and I have unanswered questions. Visualize a town with a group of people gathered. One person is paralyzed and on a stretcher. What were the people’s behaviors that resulted in Jesus “seeing their faith?” Why did Christ say “…your sins are forgiven?” versus initially restoring his mobility? Were the people gathered demonstrating “their faith” for spiritual forgiveness or physical healing? In that culture at that time, how does this relate to the belief that one’s sins caused one’s illnesses? Fast forward to 2010. What would a 2010 scene look like? How would Christ recognize people’s behavior and “seeing their faith?”
In this Gospel scene, what do you see? Reflect on? What are the strengths and limitations of being a Christian who needs evidence to believe? What are the strengths and limitations of being a Christian who does not need evidence to believe?
http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/
"Why do you think evil in your hearts?"
What cripples the mind and heart and stiffles the healing power of love? Sin and unforgiveness for certain! Sin cripples us more than any physical ailment can. Sin is the work of the kingdom of darkness and it holds us in eternal bondage. There is only one solution and that is the healing, cleansing power of Jesus' forgiveness. Jesus’ treatment of sinners upset the religious teachers of the day. When a cripple was brought to Jesus because of the faith of his friends, Jesus did the unthinkable. He first forgave the man his sins. The scribes regarded this as blasphemy because they understood that only God had authority to forgive sins and to unbind a man or woman from their burden of guilt. Jesus claimed an authority which only God could rightfully give. Jesus not only proved that his authority came from God, he showed the great power of God's redeeming love and mercy by healing the cripple of his physical ailment. This man had been crippled not only physically, but spiritually as well. Jesus freed him from his burden of guilt and restored his body as well.
The Lord is every ready to bring us healing of mind, body, and soul. His grace brings us freedom from the power of sin and from bondage to harmful desires and addictions. Do you allow anything to keep you from Jesus' healing power?
"Lord Jesus, through your merciful love and forgiveness you bring healing and restoration to body, mind, and soul. May your healing power and love touch every area of my life – my innermost thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and memories. Pardon my offences and transform me in the power of your Holy Spirit that I may walk confidently in your truth and goodness."
Psalm 19:7-10
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
http://www.daily-meditations.org/index2.html
If only we could see things as Christ does!
Christ entered His hometown and a paralytic was brought to Him. Christ's first concern was for the condition of the man's soul, and He forgave his sins. This infuriated the people and they questioned His ability to do so. (read Matthew 9:1-8)
Eternity has already begun for each of us. The moment we were conceived in our mother's womb, our eternity began! That we will always be -- is an awesome thought! This gospel helps us keep our focus on what is really important. Our lives are often fast-paced and we can easily allow the concerns of life to overwhelm us. The reality is that each decision and action we make has an impact on our future. Often it takes some tragedy in our personal or family life to readjust those priorities.
One way to help us keep on track with our spiritual goals and priorities is to take time early each day and map out our priorities. A prayer to the Holy Spirit to show us the way through the day is also important. Then at the end of each day a brief re-examination of the day will help us to realize how we are doing.
We will not be perfect, but at least God knows that we are striving to be as perfect as we can be. God knows that we are human and He still finds delight in each of us!
~ Joan of Jesus, OCDS
http://www.contemplative.com/weekday_readings.htm
One of the struggles in my prayer is that I want to cling to my sins not so much to repeat them but rather that sorrow over them and the regret cling to me. It is a form of self-reliance. I cannot get over the fact that I could sin or that I could fail in important matters. To be in grace is to be in seminal innocence restored. God in his forgiveness does not remember my particular sins anymore. The words of Jesus are a creative power in themselves. If the sea and the wind obey his word, and if the paralytic takes up his mat and walks, the state of our troubled souls obey him equally. “Have courage. Son, daughter, your sins are forgiven.” My life of prayer is sustained by the sacramental absolution of the Church in Reconciliation-Penance. The Church is in constant praise that such power remains with men so ordained to the ministry. The faith of the Church carries me on my mat into the presence of the forgiving Lord. The faith and hope of my prayer open the flood gates of forgiving mercy. My prayer is to rest in the total and absolute forgiveness of Christ. All that the Lord does is total and absolute. Rest in that.
http://goodnews.ie/calendar.php
Fergus Kerr OP wrote a highly significant book entitled Theology after Wittgenstein (first published in 1986), in which he identified two great pathologies of the western mind: the divide between the individual and the community, and the divide between body and mind; and he showed how Wittgenstein’s philosophy represents the healing of these divides.
In today’s gospel reading we see how close this is to the healing work of Jesus. In the story we see both of these divides being bridged by Jesus.
Individual and community:
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic....” He did not enquire about the paralytic’s own faith. Peter Chrysologus (5th century) had this to say: “God does not inquire into the wants of those who are deliriously ill.... A doctor does not inquire into or examine the wishes of such a patient.” The point, I think, is that we are always a community of faith. For about four centuries now the western world has laboured under philosophies that are profoundly individualistic; all meaning is thought to repose in the individual rather than in the society or even the family. It was on this basis that the theory of Limbo (only recently disowned by the Church) was constructed. Even new-born babies, dying at birth or soon after, were thought to be on their own before God; the faith of their parents had no bearing on their destiny, and they could not be buried in consecrated ground. This, even though St Paul, writing about marriage between believers and unbelievers, had written: “The unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy” (1 Corinthians 7:14). We need not imagine that we have entirely cast off the individualistic mindset.
Body and mind:
The other great divide in western philosophies has been that between body and soul (or, depending on the particular interest, body and mind, or body and spirit). St John Chrysostom (4th century) wrote, “[Christ] heals the paralysis in both soul and body. The healing of the soul is made evident through the healing of the body, even while the body still remains a creature crawling on the ground.” Central to the Christian faith is the affirmation that the Word became flesh. It is amazing that a portion of the world shaped in large measure by the Christian faith we should ever have been tempted to divide body and spirit. But that is what we inherited and passed on.
The two great divides were expressed together in a leaflet that was handed out at a parish mission in my childhood. On it were written the words: “Remember, man, thou hast but one soul to save.” No community, no life of the body; just one soul. (And there were no women in the world in those days!) It was a far cry from St Paul’s teaching that we are the body of Christ and members of one another: see Col 1:18; Rom 12:4-5; 1 Cor 12:13). Pius XII attempted to reinvigorate this teaching in 1943 in Mystici Corporis. "The unbroken tradition of the Fathers from the earliest times,” he wrote, “teaches that the Divine Redeemer and the Church which is His Body form but one mystical person, that is to say, the whole Christ." We still have much need for healing at these two sick places of the soul.
http://www.presentationministries.com/
THE BATTLE OF THE MIND | ||
"Some of the scribes said to themselves, 'The Man blasphemes.' Jesus was aware of what they were thinking." 뾏atthew 9:3-4 | ||
Everyone present had the opportunity to have a part in Jesus' healing the paralyzed man. Jesus did the healing and the forgiving. The man's friends had faith enough to bring the paralyzed man to Jesus (Mt 9:2). The man himself had courage to repent and receive Jesus' forgiveness for his sins (Mt 9:2). The crowd had the opportunity to respond to the healing with praise (Mt 9:8). The scribes too could have participated by faith, repentance, and/or praise. Instead of taking part in the healing, they decided to oppose it. They did this not by saying anything but by thinking "evil thoughts" (Mt 9:4). In their minds, they accused Jesus of blasphemy, and this made them obstacles to healing and forgiveness instead of participants in them (Mt 9:3). What about your thoughts? Do they give glory to God? Are they thoughts of peace or of affliction? (Jer 29:11) The Lord can read your mind, so your thoughts either include you or distance you from God's work. That's why "your thoughts should be wholly directed to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous, or worthy of praise" (Phil 4:8). | ||
Prayer: Jesus, purify my mind and be Lord of it. | ||
Promise: "The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul." 뾒s 19:8 | ||
Praise: Bl. Junipero spent thirty-four years building up the Church in California |
http://www.judeop.org/daily_bread.htm
http://www.judeop.org/dailyreflections.htm
The important word in this sentence is "their." Jesus responds to the faith of the people who make the effort to bring the paralytic to him. I have just spent a few days with some friends who contacted me some months ago to pray for a woman who had been their babysitter. The woman had suffered a stroke after delivering a premature infant by caesarian section. This stroke put her in a coma and her life hung in the balance for weeks. Requests went out over the internet and came my way as well and I remembered the lady in my prayers. During my visit I was shown newspaper articles telling of her recovery which everyone, including her doctors can only ascribe to the power of prayer. I happen to know the lady in question.
The lines from Matthew remind us how important it is to be among the "their" in those prayers for others. Each morning I go for a walk and pray the rosary and remember all the people in my life that I can possibly recall. At the end, I add the intention, "for all those who have asked for my prayers" just in case I may have forgotten someone. I want to be among the "their" who pray for all of you. I hope you will add your prayers to the "their." AMEN
http://biblereflection.blogspot.com/
Very often in life, we are asked to make a choice between doing what
is right and doing what is acceptable. Doing the right thing is harder
than i t seems to be; it is a conscious action that takes courage,
fortitude, and strength of character that comes with maturity. We are
constantly reminded that God always did what was right, and that we
ought to emulate Him in everything we do. While this is a noble
pursuit, it is a very difficult one. We were made in His image and
likeness, but that does not mean that we possess His wisdom, power, or
strength. We must remember that God will always be there — whether we
welcome Him or not — to guide, to assist, and to love us.
In the Gospel, Jesus is exercising his authority over everything. By
disregarding the sickness, and driving it out from the paralytic's
body, he is showing us that he has the final say in everything. We
cannot love as deeply as Jesus loved; one of the few ways that we can
hope to express our love and devotion is by placing our trust fully
and wholly in Jesus and the Father.
May we always pray for guidance in doing the right thing; and if we
have the opportunity to help, in spite of the criticisms we may
receive, may we have the courage to continue.
The way Amos rants against injustice one might think that Israel was the most decadent of all the nations in history. But it has been noted that his prophecy falls at a time of peace and prosperity and, presumably, some care for neighbor. We might say that greed and hatred are not necessarily prominent in Israel as they are built into all social structures with as much frequency as the corner store. In Latin America today, for example, after generations of naming the problem, political corruption is growing exponentially. A recent seminar in Ecuador notes that the increased corruption has its roots in the drug trade and the desire of politicians to assure their reelections.
As he indicates in the first reading, Amos is not thrilled about denouncing injustice. He was a simple farmer and shepherd until the Lord called him to warn the northern kingdom of its sins. Now he has no choice but to preach as God directs him. The man’s lot induces our pity as even the priests of the land find his message overbearing.
Eventually, Jesus will come to hack at the root of sin. The gospel today, of course, relates how he forgives sin. His absolution is not meant as only the removal of an external blotch. Much more wonderfully, he provides the grace that leads those whom he touches beyond sin into the community of righteousness. There may still be need for prophets in this community, but we should be able to note some progress against corruption and other injustices.
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