Daily word, 21 Jul 18

Fifteenth Saturday of the Year (21 Jul 2018)

Mi 2. 1-5; Ps 10; Mt 12. 14-23

Homily of Fr. Paul Panaretos, S.J. on 8-day Directed Retreat

Three Windows

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etreat invites us to get in touch with our emotions—with the deeper, rest of ourselves. Our scriptures offer us three windows to help us do that. Prophet Micah, a psalm and Pharisees. Micah was a contemporary of Prophet Isaiah. Jerusalem was central to each one’s ministry. Isaiah was a native of Jerusalem; Micah was not: and not from another city but from the foothills of Judea. Micah was resisted and mocked more sharply because he was an outsider as well as a prophet, especially when he sounded punishment. When he sounded salvation some wagged their heads suspicious of his words. Are we trusting God? God’s word to us as God embraces us on retreat?

Window2: the Church prays our responsorial psalm monthly. God will not forget the poor is one of its refrains.¹ It offers me close felt-connection with Pope Francis. At his election another cardinal said to him, “Don’t forget about the poor,” Francis recalled. “And that’s how in my heart came the name Francis of Assisi [to take as pope].”² Feeling connected to Pope Francis and his mission increases my sensitivity to the poor. Do we notice God connecting with us? How are we responding?

Window3: Others connect with Francis in various ways. The ways often stir greater affection for God. The gospel selection offers a contrast: religious professionals rejecting God’s desire with hearts full of malice. In a synagogue Jesus had just healed a man’s withered hand.³ The Pharisees could not absorb the wonder of the moment. They bolted from the synagogue; with their hated rivals, the Herodians,⁴ they conspired how to put Jesus to death. Theirs was strong hatred of Jesus!

Jesus held out hope for Pharisees: those who hate strongly can turn to love strongly. You and I may not hate, but other emotions can distance us from God. What is our emotional temperature? are we warming to God, to Jesus, to Mary? Don’t fear emotions; welcome Jesus or his mother or other sainted people to join you as you are. As we get in touch with them we get in touch with our true selves.

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1. Office of Readings, Tuesday, Week 1 of the 4-Week Psalter.
2. Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes.
3. Matthew 12.9-13.
4. Mark 3.6.

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Wiki-image Jesus healed the man with a withered hand PD-US