The Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

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June 10, 2018

Genesis 3:9-15, Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35

We return to the readings of Ordinary Time and we start right at the beginning of our faith journey with the Book of Genesis story that tells of our human creation in God’s image and explains the beginning of sin in our relationships. God has given us free choice, which we do not always use wisely, and we cause separation from one another and from God because we think we know better. This separation causes us great pain.

Jesus talks about this separation in the Gospel as he tries to explain that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. He was countering the charges that he was influenced by Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus, though, shows just the contrary. He tries to build community among the believers by saying that anyone who does the will of God is brother and sister and mother. He knows that forming community is essential for one’s holiness.

The Pope writes about our need to stay close to community in our journey of holiness. He writes that when we live apart from others, it is difficult to fight against the snares and temptations of the devil and the selfishness of the world. Bombarded by many enticements, we can grow too isolated, lose our sense of reality and inner clarity, and easily succumb to these allurements.

If we examine some of the major tragedies that we commit against each other in our country, whether it is a horrific shooting, deadly violence, mistreatment of children, or another senseless action, we often find that a person has withdrawn from society and was viewed as quirky. Acquaintances will remark, “We saw the person around the area, but we never really knew anything about him or her.”

As a community, we cannot sit on the sidelines and passively let potential tragedies escalate, but we must become gently intrusive into each other’s lives. We want to respect boundaries and freedom, but we need to balance it with care for the other person. We need to balance our need for personal safety with the safety of the individual about whom we are concerned. As the slogan goes, ‘if we see something, say something.’ Involves authority responsibly and make sure you show the person you care for him or her. We cannot let a person in pain retreat and withdraw from community where the person’s pain increases.

The Pope writes that “the common life, whether in the family, the parish, the religious community or any other, is made up of everyday things.” He asks us to pay attention to the tiny details of love that show members’ care for one another and creates and open environment. This small attention of care counteracts the growing consumerist individualism that tends to isolate us and causes painful separation. Our well-being is in remaining connected with one another and it affirms the call for unity that Jesus sets before us. God gave us the gift of free-will. Let us choose to stand with one another in unity.

Scripture for Daily Mass

First Reading: 

Monday: (Acts 11) In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart.

Tuesday: (1 Kings 17) The brook near where Elijah was hiding ran dry, because no rain had fallen in the land. So the LORD said to Elijah: "Move on to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there.
I have designated a widow there to provide for you."

Wednesday: (1 Kings 18) Elijah appealed to all the people and said, "How long will you straddle the issue? If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him." The people, however, did not answer him.

Thursday: (1 Kings 18) Ahab mounted his chariot and made for Jezreel. But the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, who girded up his clothing and ran before Ahab as far as the approaches to Jezreel.

Friday (1 Kings 19) Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by." A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake— 
but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire— but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.

Saturday (1 Kings 19) Elijah set out, and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he was following the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him. Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow you."

Gospel: 

Monday: (Matthew 5) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

Tuesday: (Matthew 5) You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.

Wednesday (Matthew 5) Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.

Thursday (Matthew 5) Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

Friday (Matthew 5) You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Saturday (Matthew 5) You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

Saints of the Week

June 3: Charles Lwanga and 22 companion martyrs from Uganda (18660-1886) felt the wrath of King Mwanga after Lwanga and the White Fathers (Missionaries of Africa) censured him for his cruelty and immorality. The King determined to rid his kingdom of Christians. He persecuted over 100 Christians, but upon their death new converts joined the church.

June 5: Boniface, bishop and martyr (675-754), was born in England and raised in a Benedictine monastery. He became a good preacher and was sent to the northern Netherlands as a missionary. Pope Gregory gave him the name Boniface with an edict to preach to non-Christians. We was made a bishop in Germany and gained many converts when he cut down the famed Oak of Thor and garnered no bad fortune by the Norse gods. Many years later he was killed by non-Christians when he was preparing to confirm many converts. The church referred to him as the "Apostle of Germany."

June 6: Norbert, bishop (1080-1134), a German, became a priest after a near-death experience. He became an itinerant preacher in northern France and established a community founded on strict asceticism. They became the Norbertines and defended the rights of the church against secular authorities.

June 9: Ephrem, deacon and doctor (306-373), was born in the area that is now Iraq. He was ordained a deacon and refused priestly ordination. After Persians conquered his home town, Ephrem lived in seclusion where he wrote scriptural commentaries and hymns. He was the first to introduce hymns into public worship.

June 9: Joseph de Anchieta, S.J., priest (1534-1597), was from the Canary Islands and became a leading missionary to Brazil. He was one of the founders of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janiero. He is considered the first Brazilian writer and is regarded as a considerate evangelizer of the native Brazilian population. Alongside the Jesuit Manuel de Nobrega, he created stable colonial establishments in the new country.

This Week in Jesuit History

·      Jun 3, 1559. A residence at Frascati, outside of Rome, was purchased for the fathers and brothers of the Roman College.

·      Jun 4, 1667. The death in Rome of Cardinal Sforza Pallavicini, a man of great knowledge and humility. While he was Prefect of Studies of the Roman College he wrote his great work, The History of the Council of Trent.

·      Jun 5, 1546. Paul III, in the document Exponi Nobis, empowered the Society to admit coadjutors, both spiritual and temporal.

·      Jun 6, 1610. At the funeral of Henry IV in Paris, two priests preaching in the Churches of St Eustace and St Gervase denounced the Jesuits as accomplices in his death. This was due primarily to the book De Rege of Father Mariana.

·      Jun 7, 1556. Peter Canisius becomes the first provincial superior of the newly constituted Province of Upper Germany.

·      Jun 8, 1889. Poet Gerard Manley Hopkins died at the age of 44 in Dublin. His final words were "I am so happy, so happy." He wrote, "I wish that my pieces could at some time become known but in some spontaneous way ... and without my forcing."

·      Jun 9, 1597. The death of Blessed Jose de Ancieta, Brazil's most famous missionary and the founder of the cities of Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro.