The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to relate to God through praise that clarifies through the prompting of the Spirit our mission as children of God.
In the reading from the Book of Sirach, Elijah and Elisha are praised as heroes of Israel.
* [48:12–16] Elisha continued Elijah’s work (vv. 12–14), but the obstinacy of the people eventually brought on the destruction of the kingdom of Israel and the dispersion of its subjects. Judah, however, survived under the rule of Davidic kings, both good and bad (vv. 15–16). (Sirach, CHAPTER 48, n.d.)
Psalm 97 praises the Glory of God’s Reign.
* [Psalm 97] The hymn begins with God appearing in a storm, a traditional picture of some ancient Near Eastern gods (Ps 97:1–6); cf. Ps 18:8–16; Mi 1:3–4; Heb 3:3–15. Israel rejoices in the overthrowing of idol worshipers and their gods (Ps 97:7–9) and the rewarding of the faithful righteous (Ps 97:10–12). (Psalms, PSALM 97, n.d.)
The Lord’s Prayer is presented in the Gospel of Matthew.
* [6:9–13] Matthew’s form of the “Our Father” follows the liturgical tradition of his church. Luke’s less developed form also represents the liturgical tradition known to him, but it is probably closer than Matthew’s to the original words of Jesus. (Matthew, CHAPTER 6, n.d.)
Mike Cherney shares that his prayer today involves “keeping my eye on the ball.” As a very wise person under whom he had the opportunity to study wrote: Pondering and noticing interior movements of attraction and heaviness are at the heart of Ignatian discernment. Discernment involves prayer and weighing facts and feelings about the several good choices which ultimately leads to a choice about what is the best fit for an individual. (Doug Leonhardt SJ)
Dear Lord,
Far too frequently I lose my focus due to age and fatigue.
I often come home feeling that I am too tired to do much of anything.
Actions become tasks rather than movements toward that “best fit”.
It is easier to carry out prescribed behaviors than to invest the energy needed for insight.
Real prayer as well as weighing facts and feelings often fall to the wayside.
Help me to persevere. (Creighton U. Daily Reflection, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Blessed are they who recognize their Father!,” by Tertullian, 160-225 A.D.
"Our Lord so frequently spoke to us of God as Father. He even taught us to call none on earth father, but only the one we have in heaven (Matthew 23:9). Therefore, when we pray to the Father, we are following this command. Blessed are they who recognize their Father! Remember the reproach made against Israel, when the Spirit calls heaven and earth to witness, saying, 'I have begotten sons and they have not known me' (Isaiah 1:2). In addressing him as Father we are also naming him God, so as to combine in a single term both filial love and power. Addressing the Father, the Son is also being addressed, for Christ said, 'I and the Father are one.' Nor is Mother Church passed over without mention, for the mother is recognized in the Son and the Father, as it is within the church that we learn the meaning of the terms Father and Son." (excerpt from ON PRAYER 2.2-6) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 6:7-15 comments on the gift that Jesus gave us—that we are able to call God our Father and that we can be secure in knowing that we are his beloved sons or daughters. This is the core of our identity, the foundation of our existence. But we can often forget this truth because we are used to being identified by what we do, not by who we are. For example, how would people describe you? They might identify you by your occupation: lawyer, nurse, teacher, laborer. Or they might say you are good at business, sports, or art. All well and good, but if we think of our worth in terms of our performance, then we can easily fall into a performance approach with God—as if we have to somehow earn the privilege of being a child of God.
We are able to work from a relationship with the Father, not for a relationship with him. We do the work because of God’s love for us and through the grace he gives us, not to get into his good graces. Today, pray the Our Father slowly several times, lingering over those first two words. Then thank and praise God for inviting you to call him “Father” and for asking you to join him in building his kingdom on earth. “Our Father, hallowed be thy name!” (Meditation on Matthew 6:7-15, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler shares that the Book of Sirach from the 2nd century BCE praises the heroes of Israel in contrast to the Greek heroes. The New Testament connects the return of Elijah to Jesus and to John the Baptist. Friar Jude reminds us that the relationship with “Abba” opens our heart to forgiveness during the tribulations which arise in trying to live as Christians.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces editor Mary Ford-Grabowsky who described Sister José Hobday (1929–2009) a modern Franciscan whose life exemplified her faith commitment to activism and contemplation, as a Seneca elder, a prominent Roman Catholic leader, and a Franciscan sister who adheres fully to St. Francis’s radical ideal of holy poverty. . . . She is also a mystic and contemplative; she is an earth warrior and elder guide on the wisdom path; and above all, she is an impassioned servant of the poor, especially poor Native Americans.
Simple living is as close as the land on which we stand. It is as far-reaching as the universe that makes us gasp. Simple living is a relaxed grasp on money, things, and even friends. Simplicity cherishes ideas and relationships. They are treasured more because simplicity doesn’t cling nor try to possess things or people or relationships. Simplicity frees us within, but it frees others, too. . . . Simple living is a statement of presence. The real me. This simplicity makes us welcome among the wealthy and the poor alike. . . . We will not be happy living selfishly in a small world. We must live in awareness and in association with the whole real world. Our universe. Our cosmos. Our environment. Our earth. Our air. Our water supply. Our country. Our neighbor. Our car. Our homes. All are part of simple living. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)
As the Spirit prompts us to live simply, we find patience and forgiveness in our prayer that praises the Love of our Father.
References
Creighton U. Daily Reflection. (n.d.). Online Ministries. Retrieved June 16, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/061622.html
Matthew, CHAPTER 6. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 16, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/6?7
Meditation on Matthew 6:7-15. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 16, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/06/16/411977/
Psalms, PSALM 97. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 16, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/97?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Simplicity Is about Freedom. Daily Meditations Archive: 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/simplicity-is-about-freedom-2022-06-16/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Your Heavenly Father Knows What You Need. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved June 16, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=jun16
Sirach, CHAPTER 48. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 16, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/sirach/48?1
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