Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) July 4, 2021 A Word from The Pain of Suspicion Pope 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 Joseph 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 Ezekiel 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’. Saint 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 Amos 7:12–15 continent or country is without the The LORD took me from following presence of the Catholic Church, 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.