Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) July 4, 2021

A Word from The Pain of Suspicion Francis By Fr. Mark Haydu, LC [Religious] freedom remains one of America’s most bright and luminous painting from his wisdom as they remember him as precious possessions. A 1905 by Maurice Denis shows the the carpenter, son of and Mary. And, as my brothers, the Child Jesus in Nazareth, apparently Those humble roots don’t justify the United States Bishops, have teaching the other children. Nazareth knowledge and power with which he reminded us, all are called highlights the peace, beauty, and joy of spoke. Perhaps envy or jealousy blinded to be vigilant, precisely as those years when Jesus was growing in them and brought Jesus to quote the Old good citizens, to preserve wisdom and strength right before Mary’s Testament, “A prophet is not without and defend that freedom eyes. honor except in his native place and from everything that would The little dovelike white ribbons among his own kin and in his own threaten or compromise it. on the heads of the kneeling children house” (Mark 6:4). —Visit to the White House, September indicate the knowledge and spirit Jesus Their closed hearts pained Jesus, as 23, 2015 was imparting. he would have most certainly wanted to Yet when Jesus returns to Nazareth show all the love and power of God to as an adult, things were quite different. his fellow Nazoreans. Scripture says Jesus The townspeople were suspicious of was amazed at their lack of faith. We can also limit everything Jesus wants to do in and for us with our lack of belief in him and his power. Perhaps those of us who are closest to Sunday Readings him through daily prayer and regular 2:2–5 sacraments are the least convinced of his Son of man, I am sending you power. Dare to let Jesus in and do with to the Israelites, a nation of rebels you what he wants! + who have rebelled against me. 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 Perhaps those who I am content with weaknesses, are closest to Jesus insults, hardships, persecutions, and • Does my familiarity with Jesus constraints, for the sake of Christ. through prayer and lead me to routine and lack of Mark 6:1–6 regular sacraments faith? Is he not the carpenter, the son are the least convinced • In what ways have I seen of Mary?...He was amazed at their of his power. Jesus work and answer lack of faith. prayer?

© 2021 Liguori Publications l Liguori.org Are “Those People” Us?

By Kathleen M. Basi

ou would think that in a society male or female (see Galatians 3:28). A Ythat prizes knowledge—in a modern litany might speak to religion, world shaped by the ability to study race, sexual orientation, or political the microscopic building blocks of the affiliation. human person—we would have moved It’s not easy to overcome our biases. beyond defining people by stereotypes. But nobody ever said following Jesus Yet reality indicates otherwise. It’s a sad would be easy. In fact, Jesus made it clear truth about human nature that we are that the Christian journey involves dying really good at building walls to divide to oneself. What also must die is our own us from them and not nearly as good at unacknowledged prejudices. + breaking those walls down. Forwarded emails, written in inflammatory language, make blanket statements about Muslims, Protestants, We’d all like to think Catholics, liberals, and conservatives. we’re the exception Neighbors protest in response to a home being built nearby for to subtle bigotry. underprivileged kids or disabled adults. We make assumptions about people’s character based on the way they dress, circles, does our gaze automatically slide their political affiliation, or physical past certain individuals to people who characteristics. feel a little more…well…like us? We’d all like to think we’re the When we separate people into exception to such subtle bigotry. We’d us versus them, we give ourselves like to think we respect the gift of life in permission, however unconsciously, to whatever form God gives it—disabilities see them as less than. Jesus asks more and all—but how many of us answer from us. In one Gospel story after questions about our unborn children another, he challenges us to tear down Lord, you accept everyone with “as long as the baby’s healthy” or the barriers erected by humanity. with unconditional love. forward emails of poor taste? We know that Jesus came for We readily admit that “those people” everyone—it’s a tenet of our faith. It’s Help me overcome my fear (whoever they may be) are just as a lot easier to say those words, though, of others so I can love and important as we are in the eyes of than to acknowledge that our hearts accept them as you do. God. But when it comes to making out aren’t opened as wide as Jesus’. birthday invitations for our children’s Paul urged the Galatians not to consider —From Faithful Meditations for Every Day in Ordinary Time, Rev. Warren J. Savage celebrations or expanding our own social themselves as Jew or Greek, slave or free, and Mary Ann McSweeny

Monday, Weekday: Thursday, Weekday: Gn 44:18–21, WEEKDAY Gn 28:10–22a / Mt 9:18–26 23b–29; 45:1–5 / Mt 10:7–15 READINGS Tuesday, Weekday: Friday, Weekday: Gn 32:23–33 / Mt 9:32–38 Gn 46:1–7, 28–30 / Mt 10:16–23 July 5–10 Wednesday, Weekday: Saturday, Weekday: Gn 49:29–32; Gn 41:55–57; 42:5–7a, 17–24a / Mt 10:1–7 50:15–26a / Mt 10:24–33

© 2021 Liguori Publications, a ministry of the Redemptorists. One Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057. Scripture quotations in this publication are from the New American Bible, revised edition, © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC. The Pope Francis quotation is used with July 4, 2021 permission and copyright © 2020 Libreria Editrice Vaticana. All rights reserved. 1-800-325-9521. Liguori.org. Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) July 11, 2021

A Word from Our Tradition of Service Pope Francis By Fr. Mark Haydu, LC Our lives are woven together and sustained by ordinary lessed Fra Angelico, a fifteenth- in Rome in the third century, giving coins people—often forgotten B century Dominican brother, was to the poor and lame of the city. people—who do not appear also a famous painter—so much so that Indeed, for the Church, those most in newspaper and magazine St. John Paul II made him the patron of in need are those who most interest headlines…doctors, nurses, painters. His chapel for Pope Nicholas V, us, because they are the ones who supermarket employees, dedicated to Deacon St. Lawrence, patron most interested Christ. From the very cleaners, caregivers…and of Rome, still survives in the Vatican. beginning, Jesus sent out his apostles, so very many others who The emperor reportedly told St. two by two, to prepare people to receive have understood that no Lawrence to show him the treasures of the his preaching. They were to heal the sick, one reaches salvation by Church, and so he brought the poor before cast out demons, and preach the gospel themselves. the Roman emperor, saying that these are of salvation. He did not concentrate his —Extraordinary moment of prayer, the Church’s true treasures. Fra Angelico’s efforts only on the influential, although March 27, 2020 wonderful 1449 fresco, St. Lawrence he didn’t avoid them, but rather invested Giving Alms, shows Lawrence, who served his efforts in forming his apostles in preaching and service. Christ has entrusted the Church with that same mission, and it continues Sunday Readings to fulfill this charge worldwide. No 7:12–15 continent or country is without the The LORD took me from following presence of the , with the flock, and the LORD said to me, its missionaries and institutions who “Go, prophesy to my people Israel.” care for the materially, intellectually, and spiritually poor. We should be proud to be Ephesians 1:3–14 or 1:3–10 part of such a worldwide force for good In him we have redemption by that has served so many for so long. + his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the For the Church, the riches of his grace. neediest are those who • How do I participate in the Church’s mission of serving Mark 6:7–13 most interest us, because [Jesus said,] “Whatever place does the poor? not welcome you…leave there and they are the ones who • What more can I do to shake the dust off your feet in most interested Christ. educate my children or others testimony against them.” in this important aspect?

© 2021 Liguori Publications l Liguori.org saved from it. The clear line between One World, Two Views good and evil as it applies to the world was blurred. And so, one enters religious By Fr. Bruce Lewandowski, CSsR life not to flee the world but to engage it more fully and experience salvation by remember watching an elementary- living in it. I school principal deal with a child who Two distinct worldviews continue to was sent to the office for bad behavior. exist in the Church and in religious life She asked the youngster, “Do you know today. Are they simply two paths leading what you did?” Tearfully, without to the same destination? The one you hesitation, the child answered, “Yes, I’m espouse will determine the direction of bad.” The principal countered saying, your life. Condemn the world as evil and “No, you’re not bad. You just did a bad run away from it or run toward the world thing.” and embrace it in all its goodness? These For centuries the world has been are not easy questions to answer, that is, labeled by Catholics as depraved, unless you remember the time you got horrible, and bad. Men and women in sent to the principal’s office. Were you religious life struggled to understand bad? Or did you just do a bad thing? + how to view, interact with, and engage the world around them. Why is it that saintly founders such as Francis of When you were Assisi, Ignatius of Loyola, Vincent de reprimanded as a child, Paul, , Teresa of Ávila, were you bad or did you Catherine McAuley, Frances Cabrini and so many others were attracted to the different understanding. The Dogmatic just do a bad thing? monastery, the convent, and ministry Constitution of the Church (Lumen among the economically poor, sick, Gentium) and The Pastoral Constitution uneducated, and marginalized? Certainly, on the Church in the Modern World it was because Jesus called them by (Gaudium et Spes) articulated a different his word and example. But wasn’t it worldview and helped redefine our also because of their worldview? Their understanding of the relationship vocations grew from their understanding between the Church and the world. The Lord, you offered your of good and evil, that people needed world and all that is in it is good, and it is to be saved from the world and that not only worthy of the Church’s attention, life in humble service to good people were needed to do the but the Church’s embrace. Interaction humanity. Empower me with saving. Those who saw the world as with the world and all who are in it your Spirit, that I may be a God-forsaken ran to religious life, fleeing can offer us an experience of grace and from the world, in the hope of finding goodness. With Vatican II, it became humble servant of love and salvation for themselves and others. more and more difficult to clearly compassion to all people. After the Second Vatican Council define the world as good or evil, and —From Faithful Meditations for Every Day (1962–1965), however, some men and consequently, to understand that people in Ordinary Time, Rev. Warren J. Savage women entered religious life with a are so unequivocally in need of being and Mary Ann McSweeny

Monday, Weekday: Thursday, St. : WEEKDAY Ex 1:8–14, 22 / Mt 10:34—11:1 Ex 3:13–20 / Mt 11:28–30 READINGS Tuesday, Weekday: Friday, Weekday: Ex 2:1–15a / Mt 11:20–24 Ex 11:10—12:14 / Mt 12:1–8 July 12–17 Wednesday, St. : Saturday, Weekday: Ex 3:1–6, 9–12 / Mt 11:25–27 Ex 12:37–42 / Mt 12:14–21

© 2021 Liguori Publications, a ministry of the Redemptorists. One Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057. Scripture quotations in this publication are from the New American Bible, revised edition, © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC. The Pope Francis quotation is used with July 11, 2021 permission and copyright © 2020 Libreria Editrice Vaticana. All rights reserved. 1-800-325-9521. Liguori.org. Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) July 18, 2021

A Word from The Source of All Forgiveness Pope Francis By Fr. Mark Haydu, LC For leadership there is only one road: service. There is n his 1622 painting The Penitent St. angel pointing to heaven reminds her no other way. If you have I , Giovanni Francesco that these nails no longer bind him. Or many qualities—the ability Barbieri, known as Guercino, portrays as the angel would tell Mary Magdalene to communicate, etcetera— Mary Magdalene with shoulders in the garden, “He is not here, for he has but you are not a servant, uncovered and disheveled hair. These been raised” (Matthew 28:6). your leadership will fail, it is details remind us of her shameful past Many mistakenly conflate Mary useless, it has not power to without defining her present. Rather, it is Magdalene with the unknown woman gather [people] together. her humble, penitent spirit from which from Luke 7:36–50. The woman offers —Address to Pontifical Colleges and her heroic love for Jesus springs. The an act of humility by breaking into the Residences of Rome, May 12, 2014 sinful Mary, who had been forgiven so dinner party of Simon and sobbing over much, is also one who has loved much. the feet of Jesus. She bathes his feet with One angel holds out before her tears of repentance and dries them with the symbols of the passion to remind her lovely hair. Despite the confusion, we Magdalene of the ransom her Beloved admire this woman’s and Mary’s humility. paid to set her free from sin. A second Neither were too proud to repent. The painting is calledThe Penitent St. Mary Magdalene because Mary looks purposely like a person kneeling Sunday Readings in confession. Speaking with head 23:1–6 downcast, she admits her failures. And as I will raise up shepherds for them in confession, the representative of God who will shepherd them so that they sits on the other side encouraging her to need no longer fear or be terrified; consider Jesus’ passion, love, and mercy. none shall be missing. The angel in the center reminds Mary to whom she is really confessing. By Ephesians 2:13–18 pointing to heaven, we are all reminded Now in Christ Jesus you who once of the source from whom all forgiveness were far off have become near by comes. + • Am I humble enough to the blood of Christ. It is Mary Magdalene’s admit my faults to myself and others? Mark 6:30–34 humble, penitent spirit His heart was moved with pity for • How often do I ask them, for they were like sheep from which her heroic love forgiveness from my loved without a shepherd. for Jesus springs. ones and in confession?

© 2021 Liguori Publications l Liguori.org “Be Not Afraid”

By Kathleen M. Basi

director of religious education we can approach difficult topics with A once told me that as grade-school our children as coseekers in the way of children begin to process the world, Christ, returning to subjects in greater they come to their parents and teachers depth as their understanding grows… with questions. We need to answer and as ours does the same. those questions, she said, because the Perhaps then, it won’t feel so difficult window isn’t open all that long. If you to trust God to give us the words when don’t answer their questions honestly, we need them and the wisdom to know sometime around the fourth grade they when to respond, “You don’t need to quit asking questions like: know that yet.” Honesty is not easy when • How can we say “thou shalt not kill” the subject matter is difficult. But God and fight wars and execute prisoners? whispers to us today the same three • What does gay mean? words that are woven into the entire • Why don’t so-and-so’s parents live narrative of salvation history: “Be not together? afraid.” + • What is contraception? • Why are those people fighting with the police? Parents, it’s crucial we use • Why would someone shoot our faith in answering schoolkids? will demonstrate their knowledge in • What does climate change mean? inappropriate ways or contexts. We are the tough questions • Why do those children have flies afraid of having to admit to our kids the of our children. around their mouths? many ways we have not lived up to what we profess to believe. We are afraid of For many adults, answering questions being seen as frauds. Most of all, we are like these is terrifying. We are jaded, afraid of screwing up our kids. embittered, and overwhelmed by the And yet despite it all, we have to scope of the world’s problems. When we answer. Children’s views of the world are try to put into words what we believe, being formed whether we participate Lord, you are the Good it often seems simplistic—a woefully in the process or not. We might as well Shepherd who cares inadequate answer to reality. Trying to make sure they get the right formation— for all people. Help me be explain God and the world to children the one guided by Christ and his Church. brings into sharp relief the inadequacy of The tough questions will always be a good shepherd of love our own faith and understanding of both. tough, but constantly seeking greater and compassion. We are afraid to scar our children’s wisdom and understanding for ourselves —From Faithful Meditations for Every Day innocence. We are afraid of being takes away some of the pressure to “get it in Ordinary Time, Rev. Warren J. Savage labeled intolerant. We are afraid our kids right” for our kids in one shot. Instead, and Mary Ann McSweeny

Monday, Weekday: Thursday, St. Mary Magdalene: Sg 3:1–4b WEEKDAY Ex 14:5–18 / Mt 12:38–42 or 2 Cor 5:14–17 / Jn 20:1–2, 11–18 READINGS Tuesday, Weekday: Friday, Weekday: Ex 14:21—15:1 / Mt 12:46–50 Ex 20:1–17 / Mt 13:18–23 July 19–24 Wednesday, Weekday: Saturday, Weekday: Ex 16:1–5, 9–15 / Mt 13:1–9 Ex 24:3–8 / Mt 13:24–30

© 2021 Liguori Publications, a ministry of the Redemptorists. One Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057. Scripture quotations in this publication are from the New American Bible, revised edition, © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC. The Pope Francis quotation is used with July 18, 2021 permission and copyright © 2020 Libreria Editrice Vaticana. All rights reserved. 1-800-325-9521. Liguori.org. Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) July 25, 2021

A Word from Gifts To Be Shared Pope Francis By Fr. Mark Haydu, LC [The Church] is not a fortress but a tent able to enlarge he multiplication of the loaves and wants to satisfy them. He asks her space and give access to T and fish was a scene commonly what provisions they have, and all they all. Either the Church “goes sculpted on the tombs of Christians in can muster is two fish and five loaves. forth” or she is not a Church; ancient Rome. These early Christians, an Andrew questions what good that is for either she is on a journey ocean away, not only heard the story but so many. Implicit is that it may be better always widening her space believed it and sealed their lives with it. to save what little there is for themselves. so that everyone can enter, What powerful message of life and death Jesus sees things differently. He gives or she is not a Church. did they find? thanks for the little they have and has —General Audience, October 23, 2019 Aside from being a symbol of the the apostles give it away. He knows the Eucharist, the center of early Christian Father will multiply this generosity. worship then as today, this miracle is a Rather than look at what they have as a call to generosity. By giving your life to scarcity of goods, he sees them as gifts to Jesus, he can multiply it and raise it up to share. new life. This is the radical change of heart that Jesus sees the hunger of the crowd Jesus asks of us. Everything we have is a gift to be shared. When we live in love, and not in selfish fear of how to satisfy ourselves, then God multiplies what little Sunday Readings we have and provides everything we 2 Kings 4:42–44 need. [Elisha said,] “Thus says the LORD: When the Gospel declares the apostles You will eat and have some left had collected twelve baskets of leftovers, over.” the text shouts that God is a God of abundance, not of scarcity. + Ephesians 4:1–6 I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live…with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing The multiplication of the • Am I generous with my time, with one another through love. loaves and fish teaches us treasure, and talent? John 6:1–15 that everything we have • Do I multiply what I have by Then Jesus took the loaves, is a gift to be shared. giving it to God and others, gave thanks, and distributed them allowing him to return it to to those who were reclining. me twelvefold?

© 2021 Liguori Publications l Liguori.org The Power of “I Don’t Know”

By Fr. Bruce Lewandowski, CSsR

would like to know how a text us to an experience of mystery and the I message gets from one cell phone divine. It’s easy to pray to the God we to another. And how does it get there know and can understand, visualize, without getting mixed up with other and imagine, the God we have grown text messages? Where do text messages comfortable with. It’s heroic to admit that go after they are deleted? Is there a “text we don’t know. This simple admission message landfill” somewhere with old can unlock doors of knowledge and texts, emoticons, and selfies? Is text open us to the revelation of God still “air space” unlimited? Are billions of unknown. + text messages responsible for global warming? The more I think about it, the more I am baffled by the whole thing. For me, this is like asking, “How many angels can stand on the head of pin?” It This simple admission brings me to the point of saying what I can unlock doors never want to admit: I don’t know! of knowledge and The words of philosopher Maimonides are hard to swallow: “Teach open us to God. thy tongue to say, ‘I do not know,’ and thou shalt progress.” We do anything and everything to get around the words, “I to what we don’t know. The truth is that don’t know.” We fake it, avoid it, pretend, there is a lot we don’t know. In a world tell lies, talk around it, and do anything where everything appears to have an but say it. Maybe the drive for power explanation or can at least be figured or the need for acceptance or the desire out to some extent, there is still so much to feel safe keep us from admitting more about ourselves, others, the world, this simple fact. It could simply be the and God that goes unexplained or is feeling that saying, “I don’t know” is an beyond explanation. So much remains a admission of weakness, perhaps stupidity. mystery. Lord, you are the bread No one wants to be seen as weak, lacking When we surrender to the power of that satisfies hungry hearts. in experience or intelligence. “I don’t know,” the unknown becomes Remove the selfishness What power in just three words! accessible to us. Curiosity is awakened. Teachers have based educational Curiosity can lead to contemplation, from my heart, that I may be techniques, programs, and plans on these contemplation to understanding, and generous to people in need. words, helping learners understand that understanding to mystical experience —From Faithful Meditations for Every Day education begins when we get past the and the transcendent. Admitting and in Ordinary Time, Rev. Warren J. Savage illusion that we know it all and surrender accepting that we don’t know disposes and Mary Ann McSweeny

Monday, Sts. Joachim and Anne: Thursday, St. Martha: Ex 40:16–21, 34–38 / WEEKDAY Ex 32:15–24, 30–34 / Mt 13:31–35 Jn 11:19–27 or Lk 10:38–42 READINGS Tuesday, Weekday: Friday, Weekday: Lv 23:1, 4–11, 15–16, 27, Ex 33:7–11; 34:5b–9, 28 / Mt 13:36–43 34b–37 / Mt 13:54–58 July 26–31 Wednesday, Weekday: Saturday, St. Ignatius of Loyola: Ex 34:29–35 / Mt 13:44–46 Lv 25:1, 8–17 / Mt 14:1–12

© 2021 Liguori Publications, a ministry of the Redemptorists. One Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057. Scripture quotations in this publication are from the New American Bible, revised edition, © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC. The Pope Francis quotation is used with July 25, 2021 permission and copyright © 2020 Libreria Editrice Vaticana. All rights reserved. 1-800-325-9521. Liguori.org.